D.O. Program
Q. What is a D.O.?
A. D.O. stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. The Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine is a fully trained physician who prescribes drugs, performs surgery and selectively utilizes all accepted scientific methods of treatment to maintain and restore health. D.O.s graduate from colleges of osteopathic medicine and are qualified to be licensed to practice all branches of medicine and surgery in all 50 states.
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Q. What is the difference between a D.O. and an M.D.?
A. D.O.s employ the osteopathic philosophy which states that D.O.s treat disease in the context of the whole person, considering the function and interrelation of all body systems, as well as such factors as nutrition, environment and psychology. D.O.s also believe that the musculoskeletal system can impede essential blood and nerve supply. To correct disorders that arise from this and restore proper functioning, D.O.s use manipulative therapy as an additional modality of treatment.
Q. What career opportunities will I have as a D.O.?
A. Osteopathic medicine's comprehensive approach serves the general practitioner superbly. Sixty-five percent of D.O.s enter one of the primary care specialties including general practice, general internal medicine, OB/GYN and pediatrics. An osteopathic education will also give you a strong foundation for pursuing any specialty or subspecialty of your choice.
Q. How many osteopathic colleges are there?
A. There are 20 colleges of osteopathic medicine located in various parts of the United States. Some are state-affiliated; others, like PCOM, are private. Enrollments vary from 297 at the New Jersey college to over 1000 at PCOM. Chartered in 1899, PCOM is one of the oldest colleges of osteopathic medicine. Our campus is located on 17 park-like acres that are only 15 minutes from the historic area of Philadelphia and close to Philadelphia's prestigious Main Line.
Q. What is the scope of an osteopathic medical education?
A. Graduates are required to complete a one-year rotating internship in a hospital approved for osteopathic training. They may move on to residency programs at almost any osteopathic or allopathic institution. In seeking residencies, graduates benefit from PCOM's many resources and affiliations in Philadelphia and across the country.
Q. Where will I do my clerkships?
A. PCOM considers the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania its campus. Third and fourth year clinical clerkships take place in 32 affiliated hospitals, five health care centers and in numerous outpatient facilities and physicians' offices, in both rural and urban settings throughout the state. It is also possible to arrange elective rotations throughout the U.S. and around the world.
Q. Who attends PCOM?
A. In 2004, the entering D.O. Class of 2007 consisted of 254 first-time students from 136 different colleges and 27 states. The average class GPA was 3.38, the science GPA was 3.45 and the mean MCAT score was 24. Students averaged 24 years of age; 56 percent are women and 20 percent are under-represented minorities. PCOM encourages nontraditional students. In the entering class, 21 percent have graduate degrees, 28 percent have had other careers and six percent are military veterans. More
Q. How will I finance my education?
A. Tuition is $34,122. Applicants should not be discouraged by the high cost of a medical education. Funds are available. PCOM offers a variety of financial aid programs from scholarships to low-interest loans, and provides counseling and financial planning seminars for all students. More
Q. How do I apply?
A. PCOM participates in AACOMAS, the centralized application service for colleges of osteopathic medicine. Beginning May 15, prospective osteopathic medical students may submit their application through a secure Web server, AACOMAS-On-Line, at www.aacom.org. Applicants may still submit a paper application which may be downloaded and printed from the website or requested by calling (301) 968-4190. PCOM supplemental applications are sent to all applicants upon receipt of the completed AACOMAS application. More
For more information, contact the Office of Admissions at 1-800-999-6998, or e-mail us at admissions@pcom.edu.
BioMedical Sciences Programs
Q. What is the difference between the masterīs program and the certificate program?
A. The certificate program is a one-year program designed to enhance a student's credentials for entering professional school. The masterīs program is an additional year of original bench research added on to the certificate program.
Q. Is this an osteopathic Biomedical Sciences program?
A. No - while the courses are taught by the same faculty that teaches the DO students, the program is not specifically geared towards osteopathic medicine. Although several students apply to the bio-med program in order to enhance their credentials, you must have the same basic science requirements as if you were applying to medical school. If you have not taken the medical college admissions test (MCAT), we will accept the GRE.
Q. Do I need to have a background in science in order to apply for this program?
A. Yes – we look for students who already have a strong background in science and who are looking to add to their science knowledge.
Q. Am I guaranteed a space in the DO program if I successfully complete the Biomedical Sciences program?
A. No – although it is taken into consideration, there are no guarantees of being accepted to the DO program.
Q. Is this program only applicable to DO schools or can I still apply to other medical schools?
A.You can apply to any professional school in which you are interested. Every year we have students applying to dental school, podiatry school, optometry school, allopathic medical school and of course, osteopathic medical school.
Forensic Medicine Programs
Q. How long does it take to complete the program?
A. It takes about two years to complete. The first year is didactic with courses meeting face-to-face on campus one weekend a month. The second year is a combination of online courses and an internship.
Q. What job can I get with this degree?
Forensics is a rapidly growing field and jobs are available in law enforcement, governmental agencies, medical examiners office, coroners offices and hospitals.
Q. What if I don't have a healthcare background?
A. If you don't have a healthcare background, you can come in through the Pathway program. This program prepares students to enter the Master of Science in Forensic Medicine. It starts during the summer and upon successful completion, students continue directly into the Master of Science in Forensic Medicine program that following fall.
Physician Assistant Studies
Q. How long is the program and when does it start?
A. The program is 26 continuous months and starts in June.
Q. Are there minimum scores for the GRE?
A. There are no minimum GRE scores. While we look at GRE scores, they do not play a large part in our decision process.
Q. Is this an osteopathic PA program?
A. No – because of the requirements that all PA programs must have in their curriculum, we have not been able to fit in any courses in osteopathic manipulative medicine. However, it is something that we are still considering and hope to someday incorporate into our curriculum.
Q. With what hospital are you affiliated?
A. We are not affiliated with a specific hospital and we strive to find quality rotation sites for our students through the U.S. By choosing these various locations, we felt this will better prepare our students in dealing with a diverse population of patients.
Q. Where are your rotation sites?
A. Approximately 50% of our rotation sites are in the Philadelphia area. The other 50% are all over the country and can be in such diverse areas as Hawaii, Alaska, California, Washington, rural Georgia, and Florida.
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology
Q. How long is the program and when can I start?
A. The program takes approximately five to seven years to finish. It is a fall start only.
Q. Can the program be taken part-time?
A. Yes – however, the program is essentially part-time in that classes are held in the evenings and on weekends to accommodate the working professional's schedule.
Q. What time are classes held and how many nights a week will I have class?
A. Classes start at 4:15 p.m. and later, and meet one or two nights a week. During the first year, one weekend per month is also required.
Q. In what settings do your graduates usually work?
A. Our graduates work in a variety of settings, including in-patient and out-patient mental health care, private practice, schools, prisons, etc.\
Master of Science in Counseling and Clinical Health Psychology
Q. How long is the program and when can I start?A. The program is two years in length. You can start in any of the four terms offered – Fall, Winter, Spring or Summer. However, we generally encourage students to start in the Fall due to the fact that starting during a different term can elongate the time it takes to complete the program.
Q. What time are classes held and how many nights a week will I have class?
A. Classes start at 4:15 p.m. and later and meet one or two nights a week.
Q.What can I do with this degree when I finish?
A. Our graduates work in a variety of settings including hospitals, mental health clinics, in-patient and out-patient facilities, etc.
Master of Science in Organizational Development and Leadership
Q. How long is the program and when can I start?
A. The program takes approximately two years to finish. You can start in any of the four terms offered – Fall, Winter, Spring or Summer.
Q. What is Organizational Development and Leadership?
A. The program teaches you to lead change in the workplace. It is similar to an MBA, but without the finance focus.
Q. What can I do with this degree when I finish?
A. Most of our graduates use this degree to move up in their current employment.
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies
Q. I'm looking to become an LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor). Is this program for me?
A. Yes – for those with a 48-credit master's in psychology or a related field who need the extra 12 credits in order to reach the 60 credits required to sit for the LPC exam, this is what you are looking for.
Q. Which classes should I take for the LPC?
A. We offer a variety of courses to complete the 12 credits needed. Please contact the state board to find out specifically which classes you need to take.
Q. What is the CBT? Do I need to apply through CAGS in order to take it?
A. CBT is our seminar in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. You do not need to apply through CAGS in order to take part in this program. Please contact the Psychology Department at (215) 871-6442 to find out more about the CBT.
Master of Science in School Psychology
Q. How long is the program?
A. The program is 14 months long.
Q. What time are classes and how many nights per week will I have class?
A. Classes start at 4:15 p.m. and later and are held one or two nights per week.
Q. Can this program be taken part-time?
A. Due to the scheduling of courses, this program is designed for working professionals; however, the courses must be taken in the order in which they are prescribed.
Educational Specialist Certification in School Psychology
Q. How long is the program?
A. The program takes three years to finish. The first two years are didactic and the last year is an internship.
Q. What time are classes and how many nights per week will I have class?
A. Classes start at 4:15 p.m. and later and are held one or two nights per week.
Q. Can this program be taken part-time?
A. Due to the scheduling of courses, this program is designed for working professionals; however, the courses must be taken in the order in which they are prescribed.
Doctor of Psychology in School Psychology
Q. Is this the degree I need to become a school psychologist?
A. Actually, the degree that is needed to become a licensed school psychologist is an educational specialist degree or a master's level certification. Our PsyD in School Psychology is designed for practicing school psychologists to give them a broader knowledge base in counseling and intervention.
Q. How long is the program?
A. The program takes three years to finish.
Q. Can I continue in my current job while in the program?
A. Yes – the program is taught evenings and weekends and can easily be fit into a working professional's schedule.
Q. What time are classes held and how many nights a week will I have class?
A. Classes start at 4:15 p.m. and later and are held one or two nights per week. Also, during the first year, one weekend per month is required.
