In addition to course requirements, to remain in the 3+4 Accelerated Program in Osteopathic Medicine, students must maintain a cumulative overall GPA of 3.4 or higher and a science GPA of 3.2 or higher. Students will meet with a program adviser who will provide counseling, evaluate performance, and monitor student progress on application documentation. Penn State Behrend reserves the right to dismiss students for academic or disciplinary reasons.
Phase I
Typical Course Sequence
Students in Phase I of the Accelerated Program in Osteopathic Medicine must follow the Suggested Academic Plan for the Health Professions option of the Biology degree.
Semester 1
- Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity (4 credits)
- Rhetoric and Composition (3 credits)
- Chemical Principles I (3 credits)
- Experimental Chemistry I (1 credit)
- Health and Physical Activity (1.5 credits)
- Arts course (3 credits)
Total Credits: 16.5
Semester 2
- Biology: Function and Development of Organs (4 credits)
- Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (4 credits)
- Experimental Chemistry II (1 credit)
- Chemical Principles II (3 credits)
- Health and Physical Activity (1.5 credits)
- Humanities course (3 credits)
Total Credits: 16.5
Semester 3
- Biology: Populations and Communities (4 credits)
- Organic Chemistry I (3 credits)
- Calculus with Analytic Geometry II (4 credits)
- Social and Behavioral Science course (3 credits)
- Humanities course (3 credits)
Total Credits: 17
Semester 4
- Biology: Molecules and Cells (4 credits)
- Organic Chemistry II w/lab (5 credits)
- Effective Speech (3 credits)
- Introduction to Biostatistics (3 credits)
- Arts Course (3 credits)
- Supporting Course from School Approved List (1 credit)
Total Credits: 19
Semester 5
- Genetic Analysis (3 credits)
- Introductory Microbiology w/lab (5 credits)
- Introductory Physics I (4 credits)
- Approved supporting course (3 credits)
- Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates (4 credits)
Total Credits: 19
Semester 6
- General Biochemistry w/lab (4 credits)
- Approved supporting course (3 credits)
- Effective Writing: Technical Writing (3 credits)
- Introductory Physics II (4 credits)
- Social and Behavioral Science course (3 credits)
Total Credits: 17
Phase II
This curriculum is based on LECOM's Lecture/Discussion Pathway, which starts with basic sciences and introductions to clinical education. Beginning first year, second semester, the LECOM systems curriculum integrates basic and clinical science of human organ systems. Lectures provide a physician’s "real life" view of contemporary health care.
- Conferral of B.S. Degree: Penn State Behrend will confer the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology to students in the program who have successfully completed the Penn State Behrend courses in Phase I (minimum 103 credits) and the first year of LECOM's academic curriculum.
- Conferral of the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree: The degree will be conferred only upon successful completion of all coursework, both didactic and clinical, passing both Parts I and II of the NBOME, and recommendation by the faculty and administration of LECOM. Conferral of the D.O. degree will be at the end of the fourth year at LECOM (seventh year of the program).