M.A. in Biomedical Sciences – Introduction
In a typical year, 70% of students who complete the MABS program are accepted at a U.S.-based medical school!
The in-person MABS degree, often called the MABS program, presents the opportunity to earn a Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences in a traditional classroom setting on the VCOM campus in Blacksburg, VA. The program is completed in two semesters, spanning late July to mid-May. There exists a five-week inter-semester break, allowing preparation time for those who need to take a January MCAT. Thus the MABS degree can be earned in approximately nine months of classes.
Most students choose the MABS program because of the program’s benchmarks that provide a formal pathway to acceptance in the VCOM D.O. program. Through hard work, determination and academic growth, approximately 60% of the students who earn the MABS degree each year are accepted to VCOM, with another 10-15% accepted to other osteopathic medical schools.
The curriculum consists of 35 credit hours, with most courses being taught by VCOM faculty who either teach or previously taught a similar course in the VCOM D.O. program. In some courses, content equivalence between MABS and D.O. is 90% or greater. Exam question composition, the number of questions on each exam, the number of lectures covered on each exam and the grading scale all mimic VCOM, to prepare the student for a smoother transition into medical school.
MABS has one start date in late July each year. See the link below to apply.