Fact sheet in PDF format
Download the DPMS application
The Drexel Pathway to Medical School (DPMS) program is an Early Assurance program with Drexel University College of Medicine. The DPMS program gives the socially or economically disadvantaged applicant a unique opportunity to prove his or her ability to succeed in a medical school program by taking a rigorous program of courses in a medical school environment. Students accepted into the DPMS program are given a provisional acceptance to enter the College of Medicine following successful completion of this one-year program.
A maximum of 25 students are accepted into the program each year. This allows for small group instruction during the summer enrichment portion of the program and individual counseling with an administrative advocate throughout the program. DPMS students take medical school courses along with 140 Interdepartmental Medical Science (IMS) program students and graduate level courses with 60-plus Medical Science Preparatory (MSP) program students. Because the medical students are located at the Queen Lane Campus and the DPMS program students are housed at the Health Sciences Campus in Center City, the medical school lectures are simulcast into the Center City campus lecture halls from the Queen Lane campus.
Admissions
Applicants to the program are required to have completed one year of biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics (each with laboratory), and one year of English literature and behavioral sciences (psychology, sociology and philosophy) courses. In addition, a 2.90 undergraduate math/science and overall GPA as well as a minimum MCAT score of 20 with no section below a 6 are also required. Applicants accepted into the DPMS program who have minimum MCAT scores below a 7 Verbal Reasoning, 8 Biological Science, and 8 Physical Science enter Track 1 of the DPMS program, where they are required to prepare to retake the MCAT. Applicants accepted into the DPMS program already having achieved a minimum 7 Verbal Reasoning, 8 Biological Science, and 8 Physical Science enter Track 2 of the DPMS program.
Curriculum
Summer Semester
The program begins with a mandatory six-week academic enrichment session beginning the third week of June and ending in August. Students enroll in the one-credit “Medical Science Preparation” course. No tuition or fees are charged for this course. During this course, students will explore the following general principles:
- Biochemistry: chemical basics of life; energy production and consumption in metabolism; biological information transfer.
- Physiology: cellular and molecular physiology; muscle physiology. These concepts are essential for understanding Medical Biochemistry and Medical Physiology and integrating them with clinical cases.
- Pharmacology: these lectures will provide insight into the biochemical and physiological aspects of drug effects.
Fall Semester
Track 1 program students take two medical school courses, one graduate-level course and one undergraduate-level course:
- Medical Biochemistry I
- Medical Physiology I
- Graduate Pharmacology
- Strategic Concepts in Science and Verbal Reasoning I
Track 2 program students take three medical school courses and one graduate-level course.
- Medical Biochemistry I
- Medical Physiology I
- Graduate Pharmacology
- Medical Immunology
Spring Semester
Track 1 program students take
- Medical Biochemistry II
- Medical Physiology II
- Special Topics in Anatomy
- Strategic Concepts in Science and Verbal Reasoning II
- Medicine and Society II
Track 2 program students take
- Medical Biochemistry II
- Medical Physiology II
- Special Topics in Anatomy
- Medicine and Society II
Successful Program Completion
Students who complete and pass all courses included in the DPMS program curriculum, achieve a minimum 2.75 graduate GPA, and for Track 1 students, release new official MCAT scores to the program, will be granted a certificate of program completion. Track 1 program students achieving a 3.00 graduate GPA, a minimum score of 7 Verbal Reasoning, 8 Physical Science, M Writing Sample, and 8 Biological Science on a new MCAT will retain their acceptance to the College of Medicine and begin studies in the fall. Track 2 program students achieving a minimum 3.00 graduate GPA and passing the Medical Immunology course also retain their acceptance and matriculate into the College of Medicine in the fall.
Students who do not retain their acceptance to the College of Medicine may be considered for acceptance into the Drexel Pathway to Medical School II program, where they can earn a Master of Science degree with an additional year of coursework.
Download the DPMS application here.
Drexel University College of Medicine
Office of Professional Studies in the Health Sciences
New College Building, Room 4104
245 North 15th Street, Mail Stop 344
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Telephone: 215-762-4692
Email: medicalsciences@drexelmed.edu
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