If you’re considering a career in osteopathic medicine, Arizona is the place to be. The state has three osteopathic medical schools: Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, and Midwestern University – Glendale College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The college with the highest ranking is the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, which is AOA-approved and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It also received a 9/10 from Doximity for its clinical experience and teaching facilities.

The University of Arizona College of Medicine is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), which means it meets all requirements set by the U.S. Department of Education for accreditation. LCME accreditation is recognized by most states as satisfying their own standards for approval of medical schools, which means graduates from this school can practice medicine anywhere in the country.

Midwestern University – Glendale College of Osteopathic Medicine has not been accredited by either AOA or LCME but has been approved by HLC since 1990 and has been in operation since 1988; it’s also been recognized as one of America’s best colleges by Forbes Magazine since 2015!

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Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
AZCOM

Location: Glendale, AZ

General Information

Mission Statement

Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine educates students to exhibit professionalism, provide patient care, and serve their communities in order to become qualified osteopathic physicians.

College Description

Midwestern University has a proud and impressive history. Founded in 1900 as the American College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery by J. Martin Littlejohn, PhD, DO, MD. (1865-1947), the organization was incorporated in Chicago, Illinois, to train physicians in a not-for-profit environment. 

Today, Midwestern University is still governed by the strong principles of the founding administration and faculty. We are an independent, not-for-profit corporation organized primarily to provide graduate, and postgraduate education in the health sciences. We are dedicated to the education and development of our students, faculty, and staff in an environment that encourages learning and personal development. 

Campus setting:
Suburban. The 156-acre Glendale Campus boasts a scenic location situated 15 miles outside of downtown Phoenix

Year founded: 1995

Type: Private, non-profit

Accreditation:
Midwestern University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1413; 800/621-7440; www.higherlearningcommission.org).

Institutional affiliation: Midwestern University Downers Grove

Facilities:

Some of the facilities on campus include:

• Sahuaro Hall, with lecture halls, conference rooms, and laboratory classrooms boasting the finest ineducational equipment and medical resources (64,850 sq ft).
• Cholla Hall, with two lecture auditoria, modern pharmacy laboratories, multi-useclassrooms, and a computer lab (37,976 sq ft).
• Ocotillo Hall, with cutting-edge practice labs, classrooms, and a 600-seat dividable auditorium (40,000 sqft).
• Agave Hall, with state-of-the-art anatomy and osteopathic manipulative medicine labs, as well as several multi-purpose spaces (40,000 sq ft).
• Glendale Hall, featuring classrooms, faculty offices, and a dental simulation lab (130,000 sq. ft.).
• Foothills Science Center, which houses faculty researchfacilities (26,765 sq ft).
• Mesquite Hall, home of the Clinical Skills & Simulation Center which offers human and technology-based simulation models for MWU students to practice clinical skills; features 19 clinical and 6 specialty exam rooms, a mock OR/ER, scrub room, and student testing/facultyobservation areas with high-resolution video.
• 2,600-seat Auditorium with classroom space for lectures and large campus events (40,000 sq ft).
• Recreation & Wellness Hall, with gymnasium and exercise facilities, and special rooms for music, crafts, and dance/aerobics (26,135 sq ft).
• Four Barrel Student Center buildings, which are home to University departments including Admissions, Financial Aid, University Relations, Communications, HumanResources, Information Technology, Campus Security, and the Stagecoach Dining Hall.
• Student amenities include lounges, game room, and outdoorbasketball courts and a sand volleyball court. Comprehensive medical library with computer resources and study rooms.
• Chanen Interfaith Chapel, withspace for personal reflection, student organizations, special events.
• The Midwestern University Multispecialty Clinic, offering comprehensive familymedical treatment in six specialty areas.

Student residence options:

Student Apartment Complex

The apartment complex consists of studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments that feature ample study and living space; kitchen with range, oven, and refrigerator; wireless Internet; and cable television. The complex also has a swimming pool, volleyball court, sand play area for children, picnic and barbecue areas for residents and their guests.

2020-2021 Enrollment

• Total medical school enrollment: 1,021
• Total male: 609
• Total female: 412
• First-year matriculants: 252
• First-year male matriculants: 142
• First-year female matriculants: 110
• Matriculants in-state: 185
• Matriculants out-of-state: 67
• Total enrollment affiliate institutions: 1,021

Curricular Offerings

Instructional Program
As scientists and practitioners of the healing arts, osteopathic physicians subscribe to a philosophy that regards the body as an integrated whole with structure and function working interdependently. As an extension of this philosophy, osteopathic physicians treat their patients as unique persons with biological, psychological, and sociological needs, an approach that underscores the osteopathic commitment to patient-oriented versus disease-oriented healthcare. In recognition of this approach, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM) has developed, and continues to refine, a four-year curriculum that educates students in the biopsychosocial approach to patient care, as well as the basic medical arts and sciences.

Within this curricular format, AZCOM students spend their first two years completing a rigorous basic science curriculum and preparing for their clinical studies, including early clinical simulated experiences. During their third and fourth years, students rotate through a variety of clinical training sites accruing 84 weeks of direct patient care experience. By stimulating intellectual curiosity and teaching problem-solving skills, the AZCOM curriculum encourages students to regard learning as a lifelong process.

Total Curricular Hours

• First Year – 71.5
• Second Year – 64.0
• Elective Credits – 2.0
• Third Year – 72.0
• Fourth Year – 63.0

Total – 272.5

Dual Degree Programs

Master of Public Health (MPH) 

The Master of Public Health (MPH) program may be completed as a dual-degree over a four-year period.  The program includes required and elective coursework; a planned, supervised, and evaluated public health practicum; and a culminating project. Core courses are based on the five foundational public health knowledge domains of epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health science, social and behavioral science, and health policy and management. Students also complete courses in a Global One Health concentration, with electives focused on each of the One Health domains of human, animal or pathogen, and environment. 

Master of Science in Precision Medicine (MS)

Master of Science in Precision Medicine (M.S.) To better prepare our students for the rapidly evolving use of genomic data in healthcare fields, Midwestern University offers a fully online 2-year Master of Science in Precision Medicine (M.S.). This program has a flexible format that is designed to be completed as a dual degree in conjunction with another Midwestern healthcare professional degree. If your goal is to develop foundational and applied knowledge of genomics and other cutting edge ‘omics technologies in order to better inform care of your future patients, this program will help you to achieve that. We will provide you with a broad education and the practical skills necessary to use precision medicine in daily patient care. You will finish this program with the capacity to understand and critically evaluate new data and techniques, so that you can best help your patients make informed healthcare decisions. This M.S. degree includes a culminating applied genomics capstone project that will allow students to use and showcase their precision medicine skills.

Preparatory Programs

Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS)

The Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) Program is designed as a full-time, graduate-level program that provides students with a broad background in the biomedical sciences,laboratory experiences, and research skills. The curriculum is designed to prepare and graduate students who have extensive knowledge, technical skills, and expertise to function in a variety of biomedical professions. These include careers as technicians and supervisors in the biotechnology, biosafety, and pharmaceutical industries; research personnel in biomedical science laboratories; employees in governmental and regulatory agencies; and faculty for undergraduate teaching programs. The88.5-quarter-hour (minimum) master’s degree curriculum is usually completed in 21-24 months. All students must complete the program within four years of matriculation, excepting approved leaves of absence. All students are required to complete a research project approved by the student’s research committee. The required curriculum includes basic science courses in biochemistry; molecular and cellular biology; genetics;and physiology. Students must also complete at least one additional basic science sequence; microbiology and immunology; pharmacology; and/or histology and anatomy. In addition to the basic science courses, students must take a series of research courses that prepares them for a research project and thesis that is the culmination of the degree program.The research courses include: Research Topics and Methods,Research Design and Statistics, Good Laboratory Practice,Journal Club, Graduate Seminar Series, Laboratory Rotations,Philosophical Foundations of Research, Research Literature Review, Research Protocol, Laboratory Research, and Research Thesis. Finally, a series of electives and independent study courses are available. The electives allow students to further specify an area of interest to better prepare them for a career in their chosen field.

Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences (MA)

The Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences (MA) degree is a full-time, three-quarter, graduate level, coursework only program.This program is designed to help students with a bachelor’s degree, preferably with a major in the sciences, improve their academic foundation in the biomedical sciences and enhance their credentials for admission into medical school or other health professional program. All students take a total of 45 quarter hour credits: 41 required core credits and 4 elective credits. Core courses include: Biochemistry I & II, Human Anatomy (with lab),Human Genetics, Human Physiology I & II, Pathophysiology,Medical Microbiology, Molecular Immunology, Pharmacology I, II& III, Neuroscience, and Professional Development. The elective credits, offered in a variety of disciplines, include other biomedical science courses and professional preparation courses e.g. Alternative Therapies & Natural Products,Biomedical Imaging, Cardiovascular Pharmacology,Development of Newly Approved Drug Therapies, Ethics of Research & Experimentation, Fundamentals of Research, Lab Research, Medical Spanish, Nutrition in Preventative Medicine,and Research Design & Methodology. These electives improve critical thinking and enhance the student’s preparation for professional school applications.

Special Programs

None Offered

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Admissions Process

AZCOM uses a rolling admissions process to review completed applications and make interview decisions. Applications will not be reviewed until all required application materials have been received by the Office of Admissions, including the AACOMAS application, official MCAT scores (as reported to AACOMAS), supplemental application materials, processing fee, and both required letters of recommendation. Students should complete their files as soon as possible to remain competitive in this process and to ensure full consideration of their application. 

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants are responsible for tracking the receipt of their application materials and verifying the status of their required application materials on the university website. Instructions for accessing your application information on the University website will be sent to you by the Office of Admissions. Please keep the Office of Admissions informed of any changes to your mailing address and e-mail address. All requests for withdrawing an application must be done in writing. Applicants are expected to act professionally in their interactions with AACOMAS and with AZCOM. Please always follow AACOM’s applicant protocol. 

Application Information

• Primary application service: AACOMAS
• Earliest application submission date: Opening Date of AACOMAS (5/4/2021)
• Primary application deadline: 1/1/2022
• Supplemental application deadline: 3/1/2022
• Submission timing for best consideration:
  AZCOM uses a rolling admissions process in which applications are reviewed and interview decisions are made at each interval during the admissions cycle. Interviews are conducted and selection decisions for the College are made until the class is filled. Applicants are notified of their selection status within two to four weeks after their interview date. To be competitive within this process, candidates should apply early in the admissions cycle. Within its competitive admissions framework, the College uses multiple criteria to select the most qualified candidates from an applicant pool that exceeds the number of seats available. AZCOM typically receives over 7,500 applications for its 250 seats.

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First-Year Class Matriculants’ Selection Factors:

Applicants must meet all the admissions requirements listed previously to be considered for on-campus interviews. After the Office of Admissions receives all of the required application materials, applicant files are reviewed to determine whether applicants merit interview invitations based on established criteria of the Admissions Committee. Applicants who are invited to interview will be contacted by the Office of Admissions and receive instructions for scheduling their interviews via the University’s web-based scheduling system. Additional applicants may be placed on an interview “Wait List” pending possible interview openings toward the end of the interview cycle. When applicants accept interview appointments, they join other interviewees to meet with members of an interview panel selected from a volunteer group of basic scientists, current students, administrators, and clinicians. Panel members assess applicants for their academic and personal preparedness for medical school, and their understanding of the osteopathic physician’s role in the healthcare team. They rate applicants on a standardized evaluation form relative to each variable. At the conclusion of the interviews, the panel members forward their applicant evaluations to the Admissions Committee. The committee may recommend to accept, to deny,or to place the applicant on either the hold or alternate list. This recommendation is then forwarded to the Dean of AZCOM for final approval.

International students (non-U.S. citizens/temporary residents) considered: Yes

Must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, or from a recognized post secondary Canadian institution that uses English as its primary language of instruction and documentation. Of the 30 semester hours, 15 hours must be in the sciences, six hours in non-remedial English composition, and three hours in speech/public speaking.

Applicants who wish to receive transfer credit for prerequisite coursework completed outside the US or at a Canadian institution that does not use English as its primary language of instruction and documentation must submit an official, detailed, course-by-course evaluation obtained from one of the following evaluation services:

• Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE): (414) 289-3400 or Fax 414/289-3411; www.ece.org
• World Education Services (WES): (212) 966-6311 or Fax 212/739-6100; www.wes.org
• Josef Silny & Associates International Education Consultants: (305) 273-1616 or Fax 305/273-1338; www.jsilny.com

International applicants who do not provide documentation of acceptable US or Canadian course/degree equivalency will not receive credit, and will be required to complete all prerequisite courses at an accredited college or university in the United States, or at a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada that uses English as its primary language of instruction and documentation.

For clarification about recognized post-secondary institutions in Canada that use English as a primary language of instruction and documentation, international applicants should contact the Midwestern University Office of Admissions.

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MCAT

• Oldest MCAT considered: 1/1/2019
• Accept September 2021 MCAT scores? Yes
• Accept January 2022 MCAT scores? Yes

Accepted Sources for Letters of Recommendation

• AACOMAS
• Email
• Interfolio
• Paper

Supplemental Application

• Supplemental application required? Yes
• Earliest supplemental application submission date: 5/4/2021
• Supplemental application deadline: 3/1/2022

• Supplemental application requirements; To receive a supplemental application, students must have minimum science and cumulative GPAs of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale
• Fee waiver available: Yes
• Waiver conditions: AACOMAS waiver
• Supplemental application sent to the following prospective students: Screened applicants: To receive a supplemental application, students must have minimum science and cumulative GPAs of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale
• Supplemental application fee: $50, non-refundable

Interview Format

Traditional Panel Interview