The degree Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) is conferred upon candidates of good professional standing who have completed all academic requirements, satisfied all financial obligations, and completed all graduation requirements.
Students must pass all didactic course work and rotation courses with a grade of "C," or better, in order to graduate.
Students must pass COMLEX-USA Level 1 and COMLEX- USA Level 2 examinations of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME), as well as a standardized clinical skills evaluation.
Maximum Length to Degree Completion
As stipulated by the American Osteopathic Association - Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (AOA-COCA), the education program leading up to the D.O. degree, may not exceed 150% of time required to earn degree in the program in which the student enters (6 years for a 4 year program) from the date of matriculation, except in the case of a student earning another degree in addition to the D.O. degree.
Except in the case of a student earning an additional degree while pursuing their degree in osteopathic medicine (D.O.), all students must complete the program leading to their D.O. degree within six years following the date of initial matriculation, as specified by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).
Academic policies set forth within this catalog establish the timeline for coursework and licensure examination completion in order to meet all graduation requirements within the six-year timeframe. In the event that a student requires a leave of absence, the total length of time taken by the student to complete their degree is considered prior to the leave being granted, and the student is advised accordingly. As detailed in the Leave of Absence subsection of the Grades Appeals Policy section of the catalog, typically a single leave of absence will not exceed 12 months, and consecutive or multiple interrupted leaves of absence will not exceed 18 months. The duration of all leaves is monitored by a representative of the Office of the Dean to prevent a student from exceeding the six-year maximum timeframe.