Medical school

Medical school generally refers to a tertiary educational institution (or part of such an institution) which is involved in the education of future medical practitioners (medical doctors). Faculty of medicine is a term used in many parts of the world (such as in Australia and the United Kingdom) to describe the division of a tertiary institution involved in such teaching.

United States & Canada

In the United States and Canada, a medical school is most often a four year institution with the purpose of educating doctors in the fields of allopathic (U.S./Canada) or osteopathic medicine (U.S.).

Related Topics:
United States - Canada - Allopathic - Osteopathic - Medicine

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Medical students begin study after receiving a bachelor's degree in another field of study. Most commonly, the bachelor's degree is in one of the biological sciences, but not always; in 2003, nearly 40% of medical school matriculants had received bachelor's degrees in fields other than biology or specialized health sciences http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2003/mcatgpabymaj1.htm. All medical school applicants must, however, complete undergraduate courses in biology, chemistry and physics; some medical schools have additional requirements. Not all medical schools in Canada necessarily require a bachelor's degree for entry. For example, McGill University's medical school accepts applicants after a two-year CEGEP diploma, which is the equivalent of other provinces' 12th grade plus one year of university studies after 12th grade.

Related Topics:
Bachelor's degree - 2003 - McGill University - CEGEP

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Admission offers are made by individual medical schools, generally on the basis of a personal statement, undergraduate record, scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and interviews. Francophone medical schools in Quebec do not usually require the MCAT.

Related Topics:
Medical College Admission Test - Quebec

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Medical students are referred to as MS1, MS2, MS3, and MS4, according to their year of study in a standard four-year curriculum. These years are divided generally into preclinical study in the MS1 and MS2 years and clinical study in the MS3 and MS4 years. Following satisfactory completion of medical school, most graduates are awarded either a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or a Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.). Many medical schools also offer joint degree programs in which some medical students may simultaneously enroll in master's or doctoral-level programs in related fields.

Related Topics:
Doctor of Medicine - Doctor of Osteopathy

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In Canada, medical schools that educate in the field of allopathic medicine are faculties or schools within universities. Like their U.S. counterparts, these medical schools offer a four year full-time program of study leading to the M.D. degree. However, in terms of program length, the medical school at McMaster University in Canada is distinct; its program runs for three consecutive years: "The program is operated on an eleven months-a-year basis and students qualify for the degree Doctor of Medicine at the end of the third academic year.".: http://65.39.131.180/ContentPage.aspx?name=MD%20Program%20Home

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For training in osteopathic medicine in Canada, there is the Canadian College of Osteopathy http://www.osteopathiecollege.com/, not affiliated with any university. The D.O. degree program offered by the College is a five year program of part-time study and generally requires a bachelor's degree for entry. The College has campuses in Montreal (as Le Collège d'Études Ostéopathiques), Toronto, Vancouver and Halifax. At the College's website at http://www.osteopathiecollege.com/program_overview.htm, it is mentioned that the College's program is in Traditional Osteopathy and the following explanation is given: "In contrast to the current American model of Osteopathy, which has a strong medical component, Traditional Osteopathy is essentially European in origin and primarily has a manual basis."

Related Topics:
Canadian College of Osteopathy - Montreal - Toronto - Vancouver - Halifax

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