Forensic Medicine/Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Dual Degree Track
Students who have successfully completed the first year of the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree program at PCOM may apply for a dual degree program which leads to both a DO degree and a
Master of Science in Forensic Medicine degree.
REQUEST PROGRAM INFORMATION
The DO/MS dual degree program provides a core foundation in the theory, principles,
ethics, professional practice and legal aspects of forensic medicine. During an extended
second year in the DO degree program, students complete forensic coursework through
the Philadelphia campus weekend courses and online instruction. Combined, the DO/MS
dual degree program is five years in length.
Gregory McDonald, DO ’89, chair of the forensic medicine program and dean of PCOM's School of Health Sciences, is a member of the Vidocq Society, an organization of forensic experts who help
law enforcement agencies solve cold cases. [Read more].
Dual degree application and curriculum guidelines
Application process
A currently enrolled DO student at PCOM may make application for the dual degree program.
- The student must be in good academic standing and must have successfully completed
the first term of the first year of the DO degree program.
- After completing the necessary application materials, an interview with the program
director is required.
- All first year DO degree remedial coursework must be satisfactorily completed in order
to be accepted into the dual degree program.
Apply now
Applications to the DO/MS dual degree program are available by calling 215-871-6760.
Curriculum guidelines
The dual degree program starts in the winter term of the student's second year of
DO degree studies.
- The student will be required to decelerate his/her second year of the DO degree program
to allow for the additional MS degree coursework.
- The DO/MS dual degree program extends the second year of the DO curriculum over two
years.
Coursework scheduling
Scheduling of coursework for the MS degree is as follows:
- Forensic medicine courses are offered once annually and commence in the winter semester
for the DO/MS dual degree.
- The sequence of coursework is: 501, 502, followed by one of the online courses (504,
506, 513) and the capstone course (508). The order of the online courses is subject
to change and may be extended over the third and fourth years of the DO degree. To
view course descriptions, view the latest course catalog.
- The Capstone Integrated Experience (FMED 508) project must be approved of by the forensic
medicine faculty.
- The following courses will be awarded credit, as they are fulfilled via the DO degree
program: FMED 500-Pathology and FMED 505-Bioethics.
Requirements for good academic standing
The following criteria must be met to maintain good academic standing in the DO/MS
dual degree program:
- A cumulative 3.0 GPA or greater is required to be awarded the MS degree. If a student
does not attain a 3.0 after all coursework is completed, the student will be required
to remediate coursework to increase his/her GPA for degree candidacy.
- Failure to achieve a 2.0 GPA at the end of any term will result in academic probation
from the MS program.
- Students who fail a course must repeat the course the following year and pass it.
Students who do not pass the second attempt at the course will be dismissed from the
MS portion of the dual degree program.
DO/Forensic Medicine dual degree career options
The DO/MS in Forensic Medicine dual degree program prepares graduates for careers
such as forensic pathologist, coroner, medical examiner and expert witness. Learn more about forensic careers.
