About the Program
The Master of Arts in Medical Sciences is designed for students interested in pursuing a career in a health related field including the pursuit of medicine. Students who matriculate, some of whom had applied previously to medical school, come from many universities throughout the US and Canada. The concept is to introduce students to a variety of career opportunities including medicine. Students are required to take a number of medical school courses as well as courses in advanced basic medical sciences. In fact, up to 24 of the 32 required credits of course work can be taken in first-year medical school classes along with medical students. This provides a student an opportunity to improve his or her academic standing and to demonstrate the ability to successfully complete a medical curriculum while continuing preparation for a career in medicine or another health related field.
The Program has been successful in identifying a large number of students who have gone on to careers in medicine and beyond. Optional course work is available in Public Health, Health Care Management, Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine, Clinical Investigation, Bioimaging, Medical Anthropology, Medical Nutritional Sciences, Biomedical Forensics, and Forensic Anthropology. Combined degree programs are available leading to MPH, MBA, and MA in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine degrees. Although the vast majority of students successfully completing the Program go on to medical school (see below), many utilize the program to pursue a PhD, DMD, or DO degree. Others, after completing an MBA, elect a career in health care management. Students completing the MA in Medical Sciences/MA in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine elect a career as a mental health counselor.
The MA in Medical Sciences Program takes four semesters to complete. Because of the unique summer calendar at Boston University, it is possible to complete the degree in Medical Sciences in one full calendar year commencing in the fall semester. It should be pointed out that many students need a full year of grades and sometimes a retake of the MCATs to demonstrate their qualifications for admission to medical school. Consequently, while the Program can be completed in one year, the process of gaining admission to medical school often takes two years to complete.
A thesis is required for the degree. Students have the option of pursuing a laboratory or library based thesis.
