Location: Conroe, TX

Mission Statement

The mission of the Sam Houston State University (SHSU) College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) is to prepare students for the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine with an emphasis toward primary care and rural practice, to develop culturally aware, diverse and compassionate physicians, who follow osteopathic principles, that are prepared for graduate medical education, and will serve the people of Texas with professionalism and patient-centered care. 

A significant part of the mission of the COM is to increase the physician workforce in the eastern region of Texas and to increase access to primary care. The COM will accomplish this by recruiting qualified applicants from areas to which they would likely want to return and establish their practice.

College Description

The SHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine is the eighth college of the university and only the third college of osteopathic medicine in the state. The state-of-the-art facility is housed in a four-story, 107,000-square-foot building located in the Grand Central Park Development of Conroe, Texas. This is the first phase of development for the Center for Health Professions which will eventually include a second building as well as a parking garage. The college employs 11 full-time clinical faculty, 19 full-time biomedical science faculty, 35 staff members, and 14 shared services staff members.

SHSU’s history of contributing to the well-being of the state, started over 140 years ago when the university was established to respond to the need for trained teachers. At the time, state leaders recognized that education was key to improving the quality of life and the subsequent prosperity of Texas. Today, the university is responding to another critical workforce demand, where producing highly-trained physicians is the key to elevating the quality of life for millions of Texans.

Campus setting:
The school is located in Conroe, TX, a suburban area. The closest major city is Houston, TX.

Year founded: 2019

Type: Public, non-profit

Accreditation:
SHSU-COM has achieved Pre-Accreditation status which is the highest level of accreditation awarded to a new COM until graduating its first class. Graduates of Pre-Accredited COMs are eligible to receive the DO degree, participate in the Residency Match, enter all residency programs and achieve licensure in all 50 states.  View the COCA Accreditation Standards for additional information.

Institutional affiliation:

• None

Facilities:

The state-of-the-art facility is housed in a four-story, 107,000- square-foot building located in the Grand Central Park Development of Conroe, Texas. This is the first phase of development for the Center for Health Professions which will eventually include a second building. The COM Building includes a Simulation Center, Standardized Patient Suite, a large Teaching Theater, an active learning classroom, small group rooms, an anatomy lab, research labs, an Osteopathic Clinical Skills Training Room, and dedicated student space where learning communities are housed. 

Student residence options:
There are a variety of local apartments, houses, and condos for sale/rent in the Conroe, TX area.

2021-2022 Enrollment

• Total medical school enrollment: 112
• Total male: 41
• Total female: 71
• First-year matriculants: 112
• First-year male matriculants: 42
• First-year female matriculants: 70
• Matriculants in-state: 108
• Matriculants out-of-state: 4
• Total enrollment affiliate institutions: 21,612

SHSU-COM offers the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree. The curriculum is a horizontally and vertically integrated, systems-based curriculum with an emphasis in epidemiology and rural medicine. Clinical rotations will take place in one of the five major affiliated regions for SHSU-COM which include over 20 hospitals and/or health care facilities: Southeast Texas, North Region, Nacogdoches/Lufkin, Montgomery County, and Fort Bend County. 

No dual degree programs offered

No preparatory programs offered

Admissions Process

Complete the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) online application (primary application) by 5:00 PM CST, November 1, 2022.

Complete the Sam Houston State University – College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU-COM) online Supplemental Application and fee paid by 5:00 PM CST, Dec. 1, 2022.

• Primary application service: TMDSAS 
• Earliest application submission date:  5/2/2022
• Primary application deadline:  11/1/2022 
• Supplemental application deadline:  12/1/2022
• Timing for best consideration: It is recommended to submit your completed applications as early as possible.

First-Year Class Matriculants’ Selection Factors

Holistic Review of student entire academic history and record.

International students (non-U.S. citizens or temporary residents) considered: No

MCAT

• Oldest MCAT considered: 1/1/2018
• Accept September 2022 MCAT scores: Yes
• Accept January 2023 MCAT scores: No

Accepted Sources for Letters of Recommendation

• TMDSAS

Supplemental Application

• Supplemental application required? Yes 
• Earliest supplemental application submission date: 5/16/2022 
• Supplemental application deadline: 12/1/2022 
• Supplemental application requirements:
  Complete the Sam Houston State University – College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU-COM) online Supplemental Application and fee paid by 5:00 PM CST, Dec. 1, 2022. You will receive an email invitation from SHSU-COM to complete the supplemental application after your completed primary application has been received from TMDSAS. The SHSU-COM accepts only credit cards for payment of the non-refundable application fee of $75. Submit your Altus Assessments (CASPer, Snapshot, Duet) (TakeAltus.com). The supplemental application, application fee, and Altus Assessments are required for consideration.
• Fee waiver available: No 
• Supplemental application sent to the following prospective students:
  All applicants 
• Supplemental application fee: $75, non-refundable 

Interview Format

One 30-minute interview in a two-on-one setting. Interviews are closed and traditional style.

Science Courses

Required:

• Biology/Zoology, 8 semester hours with lab
• Organic Chemistry, 8 semester hours with lab
• Physics, 8 semester hours with lab
• General Chemistry, 8 semester hours with lab

Recommended:

• Biochemistry

Non-Science Courses

Required:

• College English, 6 semester hours
• Math/Statistics, 6 semester hours (3 hours must be Statistics)

None recommended

Applicants are offered admission in accordance to the schedule outlined among the participating medical schools in the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS).  

• Maximum time for applicant to accept offer: Two weeks 
• Earliest acceptance date: 10/15/2022 
• Latest acceptance date:  7/1/2023 
• Deferred entrance requests considered: Yes 
• Orientation / start date for first-year students:  7/27/2023 

Early Decision Program

• Early Decision Program (EDP) offered: No

Tuition and Fees

• 2021-22 annual resident tuition: $55,000
• 2021-22 annual non-resident tuition: $55,000
• 2021-22 annual resident fees: $0
• 2021-22 annual non-resident fees: $0
• 2021-22 annual health insurance fee: $0
• Fees include:
  • Student Services
  • Lab
  • Computer
  • Student Activities
  • Technology (not computer)
  • Health Service
• Estimated annual room, board, books and living costs: $30,408
• Average 2021 graduate indebtedness: N/A

Deposit

• Amount of deposit to hold place in class: $0
• Additional deposit amount: $0
• Deposit applied to tuition: No Deposit

Financial Aid

• Financial Aid Website
• Enrolled students with federal financial aid: 79%
• Scholarships: Yes
• Average scholarship/grant: N/A

Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
SHSU-COM

Address:
925 City Central Avenue
Conroe, Texas 77304

Main phone: (936) 202-5202

Admissions Office

Email: enrollcom@shsu.edu
Phone: (936) 202-5202