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Degree Programs

In addition to conferring the Doctor of Medicine Degree, OU College of Medicine offers a Physician Associate Program and a MD/PhD dual degree program to meet the unique interests of medical students. The college also offers students the option to take MPH coursework.

Doctor of Medicine - MD Program

By conferring the Doctor of Medicine degree, the University certifies that the student is competent to undertake the next step in the physician's education - that of graduate medical education or residency training.

It certifies further that, in addition to the scientific knowledge and skills, the graduate possess qualities of behavior and personality, compassion, responsibility, and integrity-essential to an effective professional life. Medical education ordinarily consists of a minimum of four years of study. 

Students recommended for the Doctor of Medicine degree must be of good moral character, have completed an entire academic course of instruction as enrolled medical students, passed all required subjects and received satisfactory grades. In addition they must meet College requirements regarding the United States Medical Licensing Examination, and meet all financial obligations to the College of Medicine. At the end of the final academic year, students who have fulfilled these requirements will be eligible for the M.D. degree. 

The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine (OUCOM) MD program is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. OUCOM medical students are eligible to sit for the United States Medical Licensure Examination delivered by the National Board of Medical Examiners. Successful completion of this multi-step examination is required for medical licensure in the United States. To learn more about the licensure requirements for each state visit the Federation of State Medical Boards at: https://www.fsmb.org/step-3/state-licensure/

MD/PhD Degree

The MD/PhD program provides training for individuals with strong clinical and basic science interests for research careers in academic medicine.

Offered jointly by the Graduate College and the College of Medicine, the dual degree program consists of four years of medical school and a minimum of three years of graduate study (which occurs between the preclinical and clinical curricula) including dissertation research in an area of basic biomedical science leading to a PhD degree. The work must be conducted under the guidance of a funded clinical and/or basic science investigator who is a member of the Graduate Faculty. The program concludes with clinical studies during the final two years of medical school. Students will receive academic counseling and career guidance, and participate in special seminars and retreats designed to enhance the educational environment. Clinical and basic science investigators at The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center annually receive over $25 million in research funding through external granting agencies. As participating partners, scientists at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation receive $13.5 million annually. All enrolled MD/PhD students receive a stipend plus full tuition throughout their training.

Students must meet all admission standards for both colleges, including compliance with all admissions policies, process, and prerequisites. 

Students are required to adhere to and comply with student policies which include but are not limited to student health requirements (including immunization requirements—as stated in College of Medicine Policy 309), maintenance of training certification, and examination regulations, located in the College of Medicine Policy Manual and the OUHSC Faculty Handbook

Students must fully comply with and adhere to all curriculum, professionalism, promotion, and graduation requirements, standards, and policies for both degree programs. 

Students enrolled in the MD program are expected to comply with the MD program academic calendar (see: Rotation Dates and Academic Calendars)
and enroll in all scheduled MD program coursework. Students enrolled in the graduate college are expected to comply with the OUHSC academic calendar during that portion of his or her training (see The Admissions Academic Calendar ). 

For more information, please visit the MD/PhD Program website.

MPH Coursework

The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, College of Public Health, and the Graduate College are offering students the ability to take MPH coursework (not a joint degree program) for those students that wish to complement their practice with expertise in public health. 

For more information see the MD/MPH policy 409.

Physician Associate Degree

The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine offers the Physician Associate degree. The PA Program is one of the original six accredited programs in the United States and has maintained continuous accreditation since 1972. Our outstanding faculty is accessible and committed to the personal and professional development of our students. The program takes advantage of our place in an academic medical center to teach the next generation of clinicians. With a strong educational foundation our graduates are ready to launch a lifelong career with opportunities to practice in a variety of dynamic settings.

The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Physician Associate Program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). OUHSC PA graduates are eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Successful passage of this examination is required for physician assistant state licensure in the United States. To learn more about licensure requirements for each state visit https://www.aapa.org/download/19739/ or the individual licensing board site links found at https://www.aapa.org/advocacy-central/state-advocacy/state-licensing/list-of-licensing-boards/

For information, please visit the Physician Associate Program website