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To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences program at Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences, here’s what you need to know:
Academic Prerequisites
Bachelor’s Degree
To be considered for admission to DMU’s PhD program, applicants must have a bachelor's degree with a broad background in biological sciences or related disciplines from a regionally accredited college or regionally accredited university in the United States before the start of matriculation.
Grade Point Average
A cumulative grade point average and a science grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale are required.
Entrance Exams
Applicants must supply results of the Medical College Admission Test, Graduate Record Examination or Dental Admissions Test with their application. Test scores must be within three years of matriculation.
Other Important Requirements
Technical Standards
A candidate seeking a PhD in Biomedical Sciences degree at Des Moines University must be capable of completing core educational requirements and achieving the competencies in the basic and applied sciences. DMU seeks to develop candidates who have a deep and robust medical knowledge base, with the ability to appropriately apply it, effectively interpret information, and contribute to decisions across a broad spectrum of laboratory situations in all settings. The critical skills required to be successful are outlined below, and include the ability to observe, communicate, perform motor functions, as well as to understand, integrate core knowledge and skills, and to behave appropriately in varied educational and professional situations.
We encourage you to review the PhD program’s comprehensive technical standards. For information about accommodations, refer to the Accommodations in Education Policy.
Background Checks
Complete a criminal background check, which may include a drug screen, as well as Iowa Child and Dependent Adult Abuse Registry checks through the DMU preferred vendor and process. Results must be released to DMU prior to matriculation. The cost of this process will be paid by the student. Students are required to disclose all past or present charges, convictions, dismissals, deferred judgments and expunged records related to a misdemeanor or felony. They are also obligated to disclose any additional charges and convictions that occur following completion of the initial criminal background check. Admission to the program may be revoked if misrepresentations or omissions from the application are noted in the background check. DMU students are required to complete annual criminal background checks, which may include drug screening, while enrolled at DMU.
Residency Status
At DMU, all students enrolled in on-campus programs must be either U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. Permanent resident applicants must provide a notarized copy of their permanent resident card (green card) prior to matriculation. Please be aware of the potential impact if your permanent resident card (green card) expires and is not renewed, or you do not obtain U.S. citizenship, during your enrollment at DMU. In such a case, you would no longer be eligible for federal financial aid, and because you would no longer meet the enrollment requirements, you could be dropped from enrollment in your coursework.
Note: Applicants with a permanent residency status of “pending” are not eligible for admission.