Osteopathic Medical Schools in Texas

<h2 id="section---UniversityOfNorthTexasHealthScienceCenterAtFortWorthTexasCollegeOfOsteopathicMedicine">University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine</h2><p>The University of North Texas's Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine is ranked as one of the best colleges in the country by <i>US News and World Report</i> and offers a variety of specializations ranging from pediatrics to aerospace medicine. Over 60% of its graduates work in primary care, and the first year students are placed in a primary care facility to promote understanding of community health care and promote holistic healthcare in the community. </p><h2 id="section---SamHoustonStateUniversityCollegeOfOsteopathicMedicine">Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine</h2><p>Sam Houston State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine is not yet open for enrollment, but will have a state-of-the-art five-story medical facility in Conroe, Texas. The curriculum is under advisement, but the program has received pre-accreditation from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) and plans to focus on group work and fulfilling the need for primary care healthcare providers in the State of Texas. Enrollment into the medical school program is set to open in May 2020. </p><p></p><table border="1"><tr><th>School Name</th><th>Programs Offered</th><th>Tuition*</th></tr> <tr><td> University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine </td><td>DO: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine</td><td>$56,000 per year (<i>2020-2021</i>)</td></tr> <tr><td>University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine</td><td> DO: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine </td><td>$13,079 in-state<br/> $28,767 out-of-state (<i>2019-2020</i>)</td></tr> <tr><td>Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine</td><td> DO: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine </td><td>$55,000 per year (<i>2020-2021</i>)</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *School websites</i> </p><h2 id="section---ProgramAdmittanceRequirementsForOsteopathicMedicinePrograms">Program Admittance Requirements for Osteopathic Medicine Programs</h2><p>Applying to an osteopathic medical college in Texas is a rigorous process that involves several phases. The first phase is the initial application which is handled by either the Texas Medical &amp; Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) or American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS), and will require students to input their MCAT scores, transcripts, and letters of recommendation. Students will also need to request faculty members from their premedical coursework to submit evaluations. </p><p>The second phase of the admissions process, which is sometimes exchanged with the third phase, is an invitation to fill out a secondary application to be reviewed and scored by a committee of faculty members. This application is just as rigorous as the first and requires minute attention to detail, precise following of instructions, and an excellent academic record for the application to be accepted. </p><p>The third phase is the interview phase. Only the final selection of applicants are invited to interview at the medical school, which may involve the student doing an oral board interview as well as being invited to speak with medical students at the institution. </p><h2 id="section---OsteopathicMedicineProgramCurriculum">Osteopathic Medicine Program Curriculum</h2><p>The initial academic period for a doctor of osteopathy (DO) usually lasts four years with another three to seven years dedicated to residencies. The DO degree is unique from its sister degree, the medical doctor (MD), in that the focus is taking into account the holistic systems of the person. However, doctors of osteopathy still perform many of the same tasks as standard medical doctors, including practicing medicine and prescribing medication and treatments. Given the nature of osteopathic medicine, many of the courses in the curriculum are related to entire systems as a whole, including the following examples. </p><h3 id="section---GastrointestinalSystemAndNutrition">Gastrointestinal System and Nutrition</h3><p>One commonly offered course is focused on the gastrointestinal system, including the esophagus and stomach. Nutrition also plays a part in this bodily system, so it is studied extensively in this course. Various diets will be explored, as will their implications for pathology. </p><h3 id="section---RespiratorySystem">Respiratory System</h3><p>Cardiovascular and respiratory systems and how they function together will be studied as part of the osteopathic medicine curriculum. Students will study the heart, lungs, veins and arteries, as they work together as a whole. This class may also take a look at the pulmonary and renal systems and how they function. </p><h3 id="section---MusculoskeletalSystem">Musculoskeletal System</h3><p>The study of the musculoskeletal system as part of a DO curriculum is often paired with that of the peripheral nervous system. Students learn about the mechanisms of each and how they interact, but they also examine the phenomenon of touch and what it means for humans. The emotional implications of musculoskeletal disorders are also a part of this class. </p><p>If you decide to go to a DO school in Texas, the curriculum and admittance requirements are rigorous, and take into account the holistic view of the person. If you decide to attend one of the three schools in Texas, you should earn your degree within four years of rigorous study.</p>