Combined B.A. / M.D. Program Overview

A medical student’s journey begins as soon as they enter the UMKC School of Medicine’s B.A./M.D. program. Immediate exposure to a curriculum that builds a strong foundation in medical science and clinical skills is integrated with the liberal arts and humanities into a year-round program. Our program allows students to choose an undergraduate major and earn their B.A. and M.D. in six years.

M.D. Program Overview

The UMKC School of Medicine offers an opportunity for medical education to students who have obtained, or will soon earn, a baccalaureate degree. This program is the M.D. Program. Students interested in the M.D. Program must apply for admission between May 1 and August 1. If selected for admission, students will begin coursework in January.

Admission Requirements

Current High School Students

The School of Medicine offers a six-year B.A./M.D. program that requires students to complete both a baccalaureate degree and doctor of medicine degree. Admission to the B.A./M.D. program is highly competitive, and admitted students are challenged by a demanding curriculum scheduled for 35 weeks in the first year and 48 weeks in each of the remaining five years.

Applicants for admission to Year 1 of the six-year medical program must first be accepted by the University of Missouri – Kansas City. Admission to the university is determined by a combination of ACT or SAT score and class rank, as well as graduation from an accredited U.S. high school with completion of or current enrollment in the following high school curriculum.

• Four units of English
• Four units of Mathematics (Algebra 1 or higher)
• Three units of science
• Three units of social studies
• Two units of a single foreign language
• One unit of fine arts (visual arts, music, dance, or theater).

For more information about UMKC admission requirements and/or application procedures, please contact the UMKC Office of Admissions at:

Office of Admissions
University of Missouri – Kansas City
120 Administrative Center
5100 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64110-2499

admissions@umkc.edu; 816-235-8658 (UMKC)

In addition, School of Medicine applicants are also required to submit a supplemental application and additional supporting documents, consisting of the following:

• Personal statement (500 words or less)
• Short answer responses 
• Listing of all health-related and co-curricular activities
• References (minimum 3, must be provided on official School of Medicine Reference Forms)

The School of Medicine strongly encourages prospective students to earn credit though Advanced Placement (AP) courses, if available, in math, English or Social Studies.

Students whose high school does not offer biology, chemistry, and/or foreign language are encouraged to contact the Council on Selection at the School of Medicine.

Students are selected to interview based on the information provided in a complete application. Once interviews are complete, the Council on Selection will convene to determine which students will be offered admission to the program. Most applicants to the combined degree program display outstanding academic credentials and backgrounds as well as strong leadership and involvement. The applicant pool is extremely competitive, and no one component of the application guarantees an offer of admission.

Current College Students

Students with 24 college credit hours or less:

Students with 24 hours or less of post high school graduation college credit at the time of application are eligible to apply for admission to the 6-year B.A./M.D. program. These applicants will be reviewed with the same criteria as freshman applicants.

If the applicant is currently enrolled in college during the semester in which they apply to the six-year program, the number of hours accumulated at the end of that semester must not exceed the 24-hour credit limit. While the application is being processed, applicants may continue taking college courses during the next semester.

Applicants must have earned a 3.0 GPA or higher at the end of the fall semester in order to be considered for admission. Official college transcripts must be submitted along with other application materials. Grades for courses completed in the fall semester in which the applicant applied must also be submitted upon completion of the semester. A current ACT or SAT test within the last three years is also required.

Students with more than 24 college credit hours:

Students who have completed more than 24 post high school college credit hours and have not yet received a Bachelor’s degree are not eligible to apply to the B.A./M.D. program.

Students who have earned, or will be earning in the year of application, a Bachelor’s degree:

Students who have completed more than 24 post high school college credit hours and have earned, or will soon earn, a Bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply to the M.D.program.

A limited number of positions are available for students who have completed their baccalaureate degree. For admission requirements for entrance as an M.D. program student, please contact the Council on Selection at the School of Medicine.

For more information about the combined B.A./M.D. program, please contact the Council on Selection at:

UMKC School of Medicine
Council on Selection
2411 Holmes
Kansas City, MO 64108

Application Deadlines

Completed application materials will be accepted during the following period:

• Earliest date - Aug. 1 of the year preceding the fall semester for which applying.
• Latest date - Nov. 1 of the year preceding the fall semester for which applying.

All applications must be complete with supporting documents by November 1. Late applications completed by December 15 will be considered on a space available basis. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

(Applicants are urged to apply as soon after Aug. 1 as possible.)

High school students wishing to enter this program should recognize that many other well-qualified high school students with strong science backgrounds also will be applying. Because this is a state-assisted university, primary consideration is given to Missouri residents with over fifty percent of the incoming class from the state of Missouri.

Criminal background checks will be performed on combined-degree students and M.D. program students before matriculation into the program.

Application Fee

Applicants are strongly advised to apply online. A $45 non-refundable application fee is required.