Master of Science in Medical Science

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the Master of Science in Medical Science must meet the following minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet all standards may be admitted with the approval of the Program Director; exceptions are made on an individual basis.

A completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is required. While applicants typically have degrees in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, or other related fields, applicants with degrees in other fields of study will be considered.

Undergraduate GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale. Exceptions to the GPA requirements are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Complete all required prerequisites with a C or better. Exceptions to prerequisite requirements may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants from institutions following the quarter system will have an equivalent semester credit number calculated for prerequisite requirements. Please note that medical school or other health professional schools may require Physics I & II as a prerequisite for satisfying admissions requirements. Students who are missing a prerequisite course requirement or are looking to improve their GPA can choose to take an SCU Accelerated Science course and complete the requirements in as little as five weeks. SCU’s Accelerated Science courses are prequalified and guaranteed acceptance for this program. Click here to learn more.

Required Prerequisites

24 semester hours (36 quarter units) of life and physical science courses with a grade of C or higher. Exceptions to prerequisites requirements may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that medical schools or other health professions programs may require additional courses as prerequisites to satisfy their admissions requirements; please refer to those programs for their admission prerequisites.

  • Minimum of 8 semester hours (12 quarter units) of biology, such as general biology, physiology, anatomy, and either genetics or cell biology
  • Minimum of 8 semester hours (12 quarter units) of Chemistry
  • Minimum 8 semester hours (12 quarter units) of Organic Chemistry

Recommended Prerequisites (not required)

  • Physics – minimum of 8 semester hours (12 quarter units)
  • Mathematics – 6 semester hours (9 quarter units)
  • Biochemistry – 6 semester hours (9 quarter units)

Test Scores

Test scores from one of the following standardized admissions tests are recommended but not required: MCAT, DAT, OAT, PCAT, GRE, or VCAT.

Personal Statement

In some circumstances, applicants may be asked to submit a 300-600 personal statement explaining reasons for pursuing the Master of Science in Medical Science, short-term and long-term career plans, and how background, previous experience, interest, and/or values, when combined with a Master of Science in Medical Science degree from Southern California University of Health Sciences, will enable successful pursuit of these goals.

  • To ensure an admission decision prior to the desired start term, applicants are encouraged to submit their application, all application documents and supporting documents three to six months before their intended start date.
  • SCU admits students on a rolling basis.
The offering of online courses and programs is restricted in certain states without approval from the respective state’s higher education authority. As of the Spring 2023 academic term, SCU is unable to offer enrollment into our online programs to residents of the following states/districts: Delaware, and the District of Columbia. SCU is in the process of applying for approval in all of the above states. If you are currently a resident of any of these states, we are unable to accept an application from you at this time. We are happy to place you on a contact list to advise you as soon as we are eligible to enroll students in the state where you reside.
  • SCU welcomes applications from qualified students from other countries. The general admission requirements are identical for all applicants, regardless of citizenship. However, immigration regulations, varying educational backgrounds, and financial considerations require additional procedures necessary for international students.
  • For additional information please visit our International Students page.
Students seeking reasonable accommodations or support services while enrolled at SCU can do so through the Student Services Office (SSO). We encourage you to register with SSO as early as possible to allow sufficient time for the approval and notification process.