College of Medicine
Undergraduate
Interim Dean: Alma Littles; Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs: TBD; Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions: Robert Campbell; Assistant Dean for Student Affairs: TBD; Assistant Dean for Admissions: Eric Laywell ; Senior Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs: Jeffrey Joyce; Associate Dean for IMS: Anthony Speights; School of Physician Assistance Practice Associate Dean: Benjamin J. Smith; Senior Associate Dean for the Regional Medical School Campuses: Paul McLeod (Pensacola Campus); Assistant Deans for the Regional Medical School Campuses: Nicole Bentze (Sarasota Campus), Luckey Dunn (Daytona Beach Campus), Juliette Lomax-Homier (Fort Pierce Campus), Chaet (Orlando Campus), Sandeep Rahangdale (Tallahassee Campus); Director of Rural Health: Kerwyn Flowers; Director of the Clinical Learning Center: Debra Danforth; Director of the Medical Library: Martin Wood; Executive Director of Outreach and Advising: Thesla Berne-Anderson; Associate Dean for Faculty Development: TBD; Assistant Dean for Information Management: H. Scott Dunn
The Florida State University College of Medicine, in partnership with local communities, provides a four-year program of study leading to the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. The College is fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education of the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association.
The mission of the College of Medicine is to educate and develop exemplary physicians who practice patient-centered health care, who discover and advance knowledge, and who are responsive to community needs, especially through service to elder, rural, and other medically underserved populations. The curriculum is comprehensive, preparing students to enter residency training in any specialty; however, the program of study emphasizes the priority areas identified in the College's mission.
Premedical Education
The practice of medicine requires a sound science background, and most medical schools have the same standard list of premedical requirements. Medical schools recruit, and the medical profession needs, individuals from diverse educational backgrounds who bring to the profession a variety of talents and interests. Medical schools review personal qualities, academic qualifications, communication skills, and motivation when considering candidates for selection.
Students considering medicine as a profession should consider carefully their undergraduate major area of study. Students should select a major area of study that is of interest and that will provide a foundation of knowledge necessary for the pursuit of several career alternatives. Students who select a major area of study solely, or primarily, because of the perception that it will enhance the chance of acceptance to medical school are not making a decision in their best interest. A science major is not a prerequisite for medical school, and students should not major in science simply because they believe this will increase their chances for acceptance. The most common majors for matriculating students include biology, biochemistry, psychology, exercise science, business, and various other nonscience majors.
The AAMC describes the medical profession as demanding in terms of the time, energy, and responsibility for other people's lives, and states that the commitment to continuing service and education is essential. The practice of medicine requires physical, emotional, and intellectual stamina; the desire to work with and for people; and, particularly, the ability to use critical thinking to solve problems. The undergraduate years should be a time for students to discover if they possess these characteristics.
Undergraduate students who are thinking about medical school are encouraged to visit or contact the College of Medicine Pre-health Professions Advising Office, 1115 West Call Street, (850) 644-7678; or e-mail the office at IMSAdvising@med.fsu.edu.
Honors Medical Scholars Program
The FSU College of Medicine, in conjunction with the FSU Honors Office, has established a program that is open annually to qualified students. The program allows eligible FSU honors students to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree of their choice while also participating in the Honors Medical Scholars Program, which includes a seminar course, mentorship program, and required pre-medical courses and experiences. Students participating in the program may be eligible for early admission to the FSU College of Medicine upon completion of pre-med requirements. Applications and program details are available from the FSU Honors Office at (850) 644-1841.
Degree Programs
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
The FSU College of Medicine trains students in allopathic medicine, which includes the diagnosis, management, and treatment of disease. The College confers upon its graduates the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Upon completion of the four-year Doctor of Medicine educational program, these physicians pursue graduate medical education (internship, residency, and sometimes fellowships), which is necessary for eventual licensure. Training in residency programs may take from three to nine additional years after completion of medical school.
To be considered for graduation from the FSU College of Medicine, a student must be judged by the Student Evaluation and Promotion Committee to be in good standing, must successfully complete and pass all required courses and clerkships, must successfully complete the end-of-third-year OSCE (Observed Structural Clinic Examination), must complete all required surveys and evaluations, and must have a passing score on the United Stated Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Steps 1, 2CK, and 2CS. Further information may be found in the Graduate Bulletin and in the College of Medicine Student Handbook at https://med.fsu.edu/.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biomedical Sciences
The Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences Program is designed to prepare the next generation of health scientists for medical research and teaching in an era of increasing coordination and integration of traditional disciplines. Undergraduate majors in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, microbiology, or other life sciences are suitable for graduate studies in biomedical sciences. Research rotations during the first year allow students to make an informed choice of the research area and major professor with whom they will conduct their Doctor of Philosophy work. A core curriculum of the fundamentals, a wide array of electives from other departments, and intellectual interaction with faculty and post-doctoral fellows all encourage graduate students to mature into independent scientists.
To be considered for graduation from the FSU College of Medicine with the Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences, the student must successfully complete all course requirements within five calendar years from the time the student gains admittance to candidacy by passing the preliminary exam. Other requirements for graduation include attending the Health Sciences Seminar Series; successfully completing the preliminary doctoral examination; submitting a doctoral research proposal approved by the major professor and the supervisory committee after admission to doctoral candidacy; registering for a minimum of twenty-four semester hours of dissertation credit; and submitting, publicly presenting, and successfully defending a dissertation.
Additional details are available at https://med.fsu.edu/phd/home. For additional information or inquires please contact us by calling (850) 645-6420.
Master of Science in Physician Assistant Practice
The Florida State University Physician Assistant Practice (PA) program comprises a seven-semester (27 months), 111-credit-hour program designed to train students to practice medicine as physician assistants as part of the Physician-PA Team. Upon completion, our graduates will receive the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Practice degree. The PA Program at FSU is extremely challenging with a strong emphasis in the biomedical sciences, simulation, and procedural skills. Although challenging, students will find a welcoming environment and an unrivaled network of support provided by an inter-professional team that is committed to students' academic and professional success. Upon successful completion, students will be eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) exam.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program
All inquiries regarding admission should be sent to College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4300; or e-mail at medadmissions@med.fsu.edu.
To apply to the College of Medicine at Florida State University (FSUCOM), an applicant should apply through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) and should have taken the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). To receive the FSUCOM formal secondary application, an applicant should be a U.S. citizen, should meet academic standards predictive of success in medical school (academic grade point average and MCAT score), and should have completed the required prerequisite courses. A listing of prerequisite courses may be obtained by contacting the Pre-health Professions Advising Office in the College of Medicine or on the College of Medicine Website at https://med.fsu.edu/. An applicant's MCAT score should be dated no more than three years prior to the beginning of the year of the application cycle. A bachelor's degree is required by the time of matriculation to medical school. If an applicant currently is enrolled in a degree program, the program must be completed, and transcripts provided to the College of Medicine Admissions Office prior to the beginning of classes in June.
Admission to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biomedical Sciences Program
To apply for the PhD in Biomedical Sciences Program, students should contact the College of Medicine's Office of Research and Graduate Programs at (850) 645-6420 or check the program's Website (https://med.fsu.edu/phd/home). Admissions requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences Program are as follows. A prospective candidate must:
- Have or be a candidate for a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and be in good standing at the last institution attended
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
- Have a minimum combined verbal and quantitative score of 1000 or above on the Graduate Records Examination (GRE)
A GRE Subject test is strongly recommended and may include biochemistry and cell biology, general biology, chemistry, or physics. Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not received a degree from an English language institution are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), receiving a minimum score of 80 for the Internet based (IB) test or 550 for the paper test. Special admission consideration may be requested based on disability.
Applicants may send the required material to the University Admission Office at https://admissions.fsu.edu/gradapp.
Master of Science in Physician Assistant Practice (PA) Program
The Florida State University PA program participates in the CASPA (Centralized Application System for Physician Assistants). To apply, all applicants must submit a completed CASPA application in addition to completing the FSU supplemental application. The CASPA application will be available May 1. The deadline for submission of the CASPA, including supplemental application questions, and payment of supplemental application fee is October 1. Applications will not be considered without the following: 1) Verified CASPA application with supplemental questions, 2) Official GRE scores, and 3) Payment of supplemental application fee.
Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
GPA: Minimum cumulative GPA 3.0 and a minimum prerequisite math and science GPA of 3.0. A candidate that has a completed graduate degree with at least 30 credit hours may submit a written request to the PA admissions coordinator to replace the undergraduate cumulative GPA with the higher graduate GPA if the cumulative graduate GPA is higher.
GRE: Applicants must submit GRE scores taken within the last 3 years. We do not accept the MCAT or other substitutes. There is no minimum score and students will be evaluated on a competitive basis. CASPA's Code is 2122.
Transcripts are not required until an official offer of admission has been made. At that time applicants must submit an OFFICIAL copy of all transcripts from each University/College attended directly to the FSU College of Medicine Admissions Office. International transfer credit is awarded for coursework completed at an accredited (recognized) institution of higher learning. No credit is awarded for technical, vocational, or below-college-level coursework, or courses completed with grades below "C." "C–" will not be accepted. An official course-by-course evaluation is required for all academic records from non-U.S. institutions. We recommend the evaluation be done by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (https://www.naces.org/).
English Language Proficiency: Official English Language Proficiency results are required of all international applicants whose native language is not English. The following are the minimum scores required for admission to the Physician Assistant Program: Internet based TOEFL (IBTOEFL): 88, Paper based TOEFL (TOEFL): 570, and International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 7.0. These scores are considered official only when they are sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the testing agency and are not valid after two years.
A minimum of 500 hours of direct patient care experience is required with additional experience recommended. Direct care is defined as "hands on" patient contact that involves interaction with patients. Examples of experience that qualify: nursing assistant, EMT, paramedic, nurse (LPN, RN, BSN, NP, CRNA), patient care attendant, athletic trainer, physical therapist, respiratory therapist, x-ray technician, medical assistant, military medical technician/corpsman, international medical graduates, chiropractor, licensed massage therapist, optometrist, and pharmacist. Additional examples can be found in the FAQ section of the PA program website. Examples of experiences that do not qualify for the purposes of admission to the FSU PA Program are: hours obtained by shadowing, experience obtained as student in a healthcare profession, pharmaceutical representative, lifeguard, police officer, firefighter, medical scribe, unit clerk, or medical secretary. Applicants must document experiences on the Direct Patient Care Experience Form. All hours must be completed before May 1 of the matriculation year. Experiences can be full-time, part-time, or volunteer. Applicants who do not believe they can achieve the minimum 500 hours prior to the time of application can take PAS 2054 "Introduction to the Physician Assistant Profession" at the FSU campus. This course is an exploration of the PA profession. It satisfies the 500-hour requirement but does not eliminate the need for some patient care experience. For more information, please see the FAQ (https://med.fsu.edu/pa/faq/) section of the PA program website.
Applicants must submit at least 3 (three) letters of recommendation and no more than 5 (five). It is suggested that at least one reference should be from a healthcare provider and one should be from a science faculty member who taught the applicant. These letters should be from people who have worked with and know the applicant. References from family members or friends will not be accepted.
Citizenship: All applicants must be US citizens or Permanent Resident Aliens in possession of a "green card."
Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (BS)
The Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS) Bachelor of Science degree program is designed to provide a broad background to develop scientific and psychosocial knowledge and an understanding of the healthcare team and the healthcare system. So that students may pursue their specialized and professional interests, three (3) interdisciplinary majors are offered: Clinical Professions; Community Patient Care; and Health Management, Policy and Information. The IMS Degree Program's rigorous science core curriculum, individualized advising, experiential service learning, and developmental seminar and capstone course sequence enable students to reach their potential academically and personally, to determine a career path best suited for them, and to develop the skills, attitudes, and acumen to attain their career goals.
The program includes three to four 1-credit hour experiential seminar courses that engage students with the challenges of healthcare in community, clinical, political, and research venues. The medical sciences seminar sequence leads to a senior capstone course which requires the submission of a scholarly report, and oral presentation describing the student's academic inquiry into a current health issue of interest. The capstone course meets the Scholarship in Practice and Upper-Division Writing liberal studies requirements.
Resources are available to help students locate opportunities in clinics, community service organizations, hospitals, pharmacies, and physician's offices for students to engage in the various ways healthcare is accessed. Students are required to obtain a minimum of 64 hours of experiential learning hours each academic year for a total of 256 experiential learning hours before graduation. These hours must be approved by the Community Coordinator in advance.
Although housed in the College of Medicine, the curriculum is delivered by seven (7) colleges at FSU. In addition to the College of Medicine, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Communication and Information, the College of Health and Human Sciences, the College of Nursing, the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, and the College of Social Work are IMS degree program partners.
Curriculum guides stating specific degree requirements for the undergraduate majors are available through the Office of Undergraduate Programs and through our Website: https://med.fsu.edu/imsDegree/home.
The Pre-Health Professions Advising Office
The Florida State University College of Medicine provides academic advising and counseling to students interested in pursuing careers in the health professions. Currently, over 1,300 students are enrolled in this advising program. Many of the students who seek advising in the advising office are pre-medical students. However, the program is open to all pre-health students including pre-anesthesiology assistant, pre-chiropractic, pre-dentistry, pre-occupational therapy, pre-optometry, pre-pharmacy, pre-physical therapy, pre-physician assistant, pre-podiatry, pre-veterinary, and pre-genetic counseling. Full-time pre-health professions advisors meet regularly with these students throughout their college years, assisting with career goals, course scheduling, long-term academic planning, and professional school admission procedures.
In addition to one-on-one advising, the advising office also sponsors programs of special interest to pre-health students. Programs include panel discussions with admissions representatives from various medical and professional schools and workshops on succeeding in the application process and on interviewing strategies. The Pre-Health Professions Advising Office also sponsors a number of student organizations (refer to 'Organizations and Societies' below).
Florida State University has a competitive acceptance rate to medical and professional schools nationwide, and many of our graduates have been recognized for their outstanding contributions and achievements in the field of medicine.
Students interested in pursuing health professions careers are encouraged to schedule an appointment with a pre-health professions advisor at least once a year with the College of Medicine Pre-health Professions Advising Office. Appointments are scheduled online through the College of Medicine website.
Organizations and societies sponsored by the Pre-Health Professions Advising office are listed below:
Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED) is the Pre-Health Professional honor society. The society welcomes members who are planning careers in medicine, podiatry, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, and pharmacy, but with an emphasis on the medical field. To become a national member, students must be in the second semester of their sophomore year and have an overall and a science GPA of at least 3.2. Freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to participate in activities of the society. The Florida-Beta chapter at Florida State University was founded in 1946 and is one of the oldest chapters in the Southeast. The society invites speakers who represent the health professions, plans trips to area professional schools, and participates in community service.
The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) provides information, support, and leadership for future physicians in training. This organization stresses a strong commitment to service and is open to all FSU students.
The American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) supports women in medicine on the community, national, and international levels by increasing the awareness of health concerns that are exclusive to women.
The mission of Analyze, Act, and Advocate Health (AAA) is to Analyze social determinants of health, Act through service, and Advocate for the affected communities with the intention of energizing and encouraging citizens with varying backgrounds to get involved in communal health efforts. AAA Health strives to alleviate the symptoms of health disparities by observing health comprehensively and addressing multifaceted issues that contribute to a community's overall health. Students passionate about service and aspiring to enter the health professions will have the opportunity to approach and dissect social determinants of health through engagement in education and dialogue prior to committing to and serving in partner community organizations.
Connecting Experimental Lab and Life Sciences (CELLS) promotes research for undergraduates and provides a social and professional network for students engaged in biomedical, clinical, and social science research. CELLS at FSU will introduce and prepare undergraduate students for an exciting research experience by providing avenues for networking with research faculty. This organization offers workshops, mentoring, lab tours, service events, field trips, research symposiums, interactive discussions with research scientists and advice on internships and biomedical research careers.
The Multicultural Association of Pre-Medical Students (MAPS) works to enhance the recruitment of culturally diverse students into health care fields and to assist members in becoming more successful candidates for professional health and medical programs.
The Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Club (PT/OT) provides an opportunity for the pre-physical/occupational therapy students of Florida State University to assist one another in preparation for graduate school. The club provides a means by which pre-physical/occupational therapy students can get to know each other and help each other with planning, GRE preparation, and physical/occupational therapy school applications. We bring in practicing physical and occupational therapists, current physical/occupational therapy school students, and physical/occupational therapy school recruiters in order to help students understand the profession and gain knowledge of the physical/occupational therapy school admissions process.
The Pre-Dental Society is an organization established to further educate those students who plan to enter dental school. The organization strives to advance the education of members by providing an information network in directing their pre-dental education. Members may access information about coursework, dental schools, test preparation, and the application process. Guest professionals from the local dental community in Tallahassee are invited to speak at meetings. Membership is available through the Pre-Health Professions Advising Office.
The Pre-Optometry Club encourages and educates students who express an interest in pursuing a career in optometry. Students have opportunities to shadow optometrists and to meet representatives from optometry schools. The club seeks to encourage an exploration of the field while providing its members with information to better prepare for optometry school.
The Pre-Pharmacy Informational Leadership and Learning Society (PILLS) is a student organization for those interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy.
The Pre-Physician Assistant (PA) Club is an organization for students interested in a career as a physician assistant. Monthly meetings are held at the College of Medicine. The meetings include guest speakers from the community as well as presentations from physician assistant programs.
The Pre-Student of Osteopathic Medicine Association (P-SOMA) is an affiliated chapter of the national Pre-Student Osteopathic Medical Association. We are dedicated to promoting the osteopathic tradition at Florida State University, and in the Tallahassee area, and to creating stronger, more knowledgeable students for entry into osteopathic medical institutions around the country. The chapter invites school admissions representatives, practicing physicians, and medical lecturers to speak at its meetings, and provides scholarships, shadowing and volunteering experiences, tutoring, and opportunities for meaningful leadership to its members.
The Pre-Veterinary Society is an organization that provides an environment where students can expand their interests in veterinary medicine. Members build a strong support group to share information about coursework, the application process, and volunteer opportunities in the Tallahassee area. A focus is on assisting the community with animal-related issues. Membership information is available through the Pre-Health Professions Advising Office.