Pre-Osteopathic Medicine

Osteopathic medicine is a form of medical care founded on the philosophy that all body systems are interrelated and dependent upon one another for good health. Osteopathic physicians use all of the tools available to modern medicine and also incorporate osteopathic manipulative treatment, when appropriate, into the regimen of patient care. Many osteopathic physicians have established their practices in primary care areas of medicine.

Students should consult with advisors to help plan a course of study that complies with the requirements for admission to the schools of osteopathic medicine of the student’s choice. In general, schools of osteopathic medicine will require coursework (usually one year each) in biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and mathematics; these should be courses for majors rather than survey courses intended for non-majors. These courses should be those that the major would take. In addition, some schools of osteopathic medicine may require additional coursework in biochemistry, genetics, physiology, and statistics, along with coursework in English, humanities, and the social sciences. A pre-osteopathic medicine student at USD may use the suggested curriculum for the pre-medicine program as a guide in completing prerequisites.  However, students should also contact the individual osteopathic medical school about requirements specific to that school.

Generally, schools of osteopathic medicine require at least 90 semester hours of coursework and students are encouraged to obtain the Bachelor’s degree. The student is free to major in any area of interest. Admission to a school of osteopathic medicine is based upon such qualities as academic preparation, scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), character and general fitness for the field of osteopathic medicine.  Students may apply to colleges of osteopathic medicine by filing an American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS) application.

For more information contact: American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (http://www.aacom.org); Academic & Career Planning Center, 677-5381; Pre-Med Advisor, 677-5156, Health Professions Advisor, 677-7273 or by visiting the following web site:
http://admissions.usd.edu/academics/majors/pre-health-professions.cfm.