Master of Science in Medical Science

Program at a Glance

• Two formats:
  • 11-month online – Participate in real-time, interactive lectures and small group learning similar to a traditional medical school classroom.
  • 20-month online – Ideal for students balancing work or other life commitments.

Specifically designed to boost medical school readiness and success (medical, dental, veterinary, nursing, pharmacy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and beyond):

• Curriculum closely models the first year of medical school
• Dedicated faculty advisors
• Learning technology that delivers real-time feedback on comprehension
• Regular USMLE- style exams to assess progress and identify learning gaps and test prep support
• Personalized dashboards predicting the likelihood of passing the USMLE Step #1 exam, and more
• Eligible MSMS graduates receive guaranteed interviews with SCU’s medical school partner institutions and guaranteed admission to select SCU master’s and doctoral programs
• Open to those with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, including those who did not major in a science-specific field
• Fixed tuition guarantee, federal financial aid for those who qualify, and a range of institutional scholarship opportunities

Upcoming Start Dates

• Summer:  May 4^th, 2026 (20-month format), May 26th, 2026 (11-month format)
• Fall: August 17th, 2026 (11-month format), September 8th, 2026 (20-month format)
• Spring: January 4th, 2027 (20-month format), January 11th, 2027 (11-month format)

What Sets Our Program Apart?

FOCUSED SQUARELY ON BUILDING MED SCHOOL READINESS

Our master’s in medical science is not just any science-focused master’s degree. It’s specifically designed to improve your odds of getting in and succeeding in medical, dental, veterinary, physician assistant, or other competitive health professional schools.

Not only does our program directly mimic the traditional first year of medical school in its content, pace, and rigor, but we also provide a range of supports to optimize your learning and readiness. You’ll benefit from a dedicated faculty advisor, continuous assessments of your progress, and a personalized dashboard to keep you apprised of where you excel and where there are gaps in your mastery. In addition, all our exams include USMLE-style (United States Medical Licensing Examination®) questions to help prepare you for the type of questions you’ll be asked on future admissions, board, and licensure exams. At the end of your program, we’ll give you the NBME Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessments (CBSSA) exam, to further assess your readiness for the USMLE®.

LIVE ONLINE LEARNING THAT FEELS IN-PERSON

SCU’s 11-month online format is 3 consecutive terms, including summer that offers courses from Monday through Friday, generally in 5- to 6-hour blocks, through virtual interactive sessions delivered online by faculty via live video feed. Live video fees are Zoom classes with a cohort of motivated peers, engage in interactive discussions, complete real-time assessments, and work collaboratively on case-based exercises—just like in a physical classroom.

• Classes are held live and in real time
• Flipped classroom model maximizes active learning
• Breakout discussions, clicker-based assessments, and case studies

Our MSMS program enables you to prepare for success in medical school in less than a year, thanks to our efficient “flipped classroom” model. Through this modern and proven approach, you will watch online lectures and complete assigned readings on your own, so that classroom time can be dedicated entirely to immersive discussions, interactive case studies, and collaborative group work—maximizing every minute and accelerating your learning.

No matter which format you choose, your transcript will simply say “Southern California University of Health Sciences.” There’s no online or in-person distinction.

MSMS Program Format Comparison

GUARANTEED PATHWAYS FOR MSMS GRADUATES

The Master of Science in Medical Science (MSMS) program at SCU is designed to support students as they explore healthcare careers and prepare for advanced clinical education, including medical school.

Eligible MSMS graduates receive guaranteed interviews with SCU’s medical school partner institutions. In addition, graduates who apply and meet all admissions requirements, including a successful interview process, are guaranteed admission to SCU’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs.

PERSONALIZED, TECHNOLOGY-ENHANCED LEARNING

During classroom time, your instructors will use interactive technology like response clickers and other tools to keep you engaged and to gather essential real-time feedback on your understanding of the material, so they may adjust their lessons accordingly. Data collected from this classroom technology (and from comprehensive assessment exams administered at the end of select terms) will populate onto your own personalized dashboard. This informative dashboard will highlight the specific areas in which you excel and the areas that need further attention, while also predicting your likelihood of passing the USMLE Step #1 exam.

ABILITY TO ENTER WITHOUT A SCIENCE-SPECIFIC BACHELOR’S

While the majority of our MSMS students earned their bachelor’s degrees in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, or other related fields, it’s not required! We happily consider applicants with degrees in other fields of study on a case-by-case basis. Our primary concern is that you have the passion and academic aptitude to succeed and make a meaningful impact as a medical professional.

UNIQUE INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION.

Most of today’s healthcare colleges offer an “interprofessional education” through which students learn with, from, and about other disciplines. But at SCU, we do it differently. Unlike other colleges, we teach you about both conventional and complementary disciplines—not just one or the other—because we believe in both and we teach both, all under one roof.

AN INTEGRATIVE, WHOLE HEALTH APPROACH

All too often, healthcare providers “stay in their lanes” rather than building comprehensive care plans that include other disciplines, professionals, and approaches. In addition, they look strictly at the physical body as opposed to all the factors that may be influencing a patient’s health and well-being—genetics, lifestyle, mental health, relationships, physical environments, community support, and beyond. But at SCU, no matter what program you are in, you’ll learn to blend the best of conventional and complementary approaches (integrative healthcare) and to treat the entire mind, body, and spirit (whole health)—for true lasting wellness.