Location: Fort Worth, TX

Mission Statement

Create solutions for a healthier community by preparing tomorrow’s patient-centered physicians and scientists and advancing the continuum of medical knowledge, discovery, and osteopathic health care.

College Description

The University of North Texas Health Science Center-Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTHSC/TCOM) is a state-supported osteopathic medical school committed to education, research, patient care, and service. UNTHSC/TCOM graduates one of the highest percentages of primary care physicians in the nation, and has received recognition both locally and nationally for its efforts to meet the needs of underserved populations.

Campus setting:

Fort Worth, Texas (population: 909,505); Suburban

Year founded: 1970

Type: Public, non-profit

Accreditation:

UNTHSC/TCOM is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) and by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Institutional affiliation:

• University of North Texas System

Facilities:

The University of North Texas Health Science Center campus is located on 33 acres outside downtown Fort Worth in the city’s cultural district. The campus is surrounded by some of the nation’s more prestigious art galleries and museums, as well as a number of residential areas. The Medical Education and Training (MET) Building is home for most class sessions during the pre-clinical portion of the curriculum; the building contains two 250-seat lecture halls, OMM training space, small classrooms, and meeting rooms. In addition to the MET Building, students have 24-hour access to the gross anatomy lab located on campus. The Gibson D. Lewis Library has a number of study spaces as well as access to nearly 25,000 electronic journals and databases; two floors of the library are open 24 hours per day. A new 15,000 state-of-the-art simulation center with artificial intelligence and virtual reality resources is planned to open in 2022.

Student residence options:
Most students live in nearby residential areas which include houses, apartments or town-homes. There are a number of housing options available within a short commute to the campus. A housing fair is offered each year on campus prior to matriculation.

2021-2022 Enrollment

• Total medical school enrollment: 943
• Total male: 414
• Total female: 529
• First-year matriculants: 230
• First-year male matriculants: 100
• First-year female matriculants: 130
• Matriculants in-state: 217
• Matriculants out-of-state: 13
• Total enrollment affiliate institutions: 2,472

The TCOM curriculum is an innovative model designed to prepare future osteopathic physicians by developing the necessary cognitive and clinical skills to be effective in patient care settings. At the beginning of the first-year students study the fundamentals of health which covers body functions through a systems format. Near the end of the first-year, students will complete a course called Fundamentals of Disease and Treatment which introduces students to common diseases (e.g. infection, inflammation, cancer, etc.). During the second year of the curriculum, students study approximately 1,000 diseases through various patient presentations. These presentations allow students to apply medical knowledge in patient care situations through specific tasks associated with applied learning theory.

Course work in medical practice and osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) run parallel to the didactic curriculum. They provide the integration of knowledge into clinical practice. Course material also covers additional topics such as professionalism, health systems practice and medical ethics. The final two years of the curriculum are taught primarily through affiliated hospitals and clinics. Students complete a series of core clinical rotations in family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, surgery, psychiatry, obstetrics & gynecology, manipulative medicine, emergency medicine. Students may also complete elective rotations in any number of primary care and specialty settings.

BA/DO
UNTHSC-TCOM offers a combined seven-year BA/DO degree track with the University of North Texas.

DO/MHA
A dual DO/Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree program is offered in conjunction with the University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health.  The MHA portion of the program is completed on a part-time basis over a period of five years.  Courses are online and taken concurrently with the DO degree.

DO/MPH
A dual DO/MPH is offered in conjunction with the University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health. Public Health courses may be completed online while students are enrolled in the osteopathic medical school.

DO/MS
A dual DO/MS is offered in conjunction with the University of North Texas Health Science Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Students have the ability to complete their research in a number of different areas of interest.

DO/PhD
A dual DO/PhD is offered in conjunction with the University of North Texas Health Science Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. This combined program typically takes six or more years to complete. Students have the ability to complete their research in a number of different areas of interest.

School of Biomedical Sciences Master of Medical Sciences Program
A one-year Master of Science Degree program offered by the School of Biomedical Sciences. The program features basic science courses in biochemistry, cell biology, immunology, histology, anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology. The program also has a MCAT prep course.

Rural Osteopathic Medical Education (ROME) Curriculum
TCOM offers a specific rural medicine curriculum for those who have an interest in pursuing a medical career in a rural community. The rural program requires additional course work and clinical skills that will be beneficial for rural physicians.

Summer Research Fellowship
TCOM students have the opportunity to conduct research during the summer after year one of the curriculum. Students are work with a member of the faculty to develop their research project. A number of students who have an interest in pediatrics can complete their research at nearby Cook Children’s Medical Center, which hosts a number of student research opportunities.

Honors Research Course
A select number of TCOM students are invited to enroll in a research honors course during their second year of study. The course provides enhanced training in research at the UNT Health Science Center.

Advisory College Program
TCOM students are assigned into one of six advisory colleges on campus. The advisory colleges provide a student and faculty mentoring network promoting wellness and professional development. The advisory colleges participate in a number of curricular and co-curricular activities throughout the year.

Patient Safety Training
As part of the Professional Identity and Health Systems Practice Course, students complete training on patient safety. This course is a part of the third year and focuses on patient safety competencies, expertise in safety science, human factors engineering, and the practice of safe care. During the course students sit for the Certified Professional in Patient Safety certification exam.

Betty Ford Center Program
Each year, a select number of second year TCOM students are given the opportunity to complete a week long training program at the Betty Ford Center in California. The Center is one of the leading treatment centers for alcoholism and substance abuse in the world.

Admissions Process

TCOM only accepts applications from the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) in Austin, Texas. Both a completed primary and secondary are required prior to any review of an application. Applicants are also required to have either a health professions advisory committee packet or three letters of recommendation submitted to TMDSAS on their behalf. A MCAT score is also required.

Each year, TCOM invites between 700-800 applicants to interview for a class size of approximately 230 seats. Notification of acceptance is done through a timeline established by the medical schools in the TMDSAS system.

Application Information

• Primary application service: Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS)
• Earliest application submission date: 5/16/2022
• Primary application deadline: 11/1/2022
• Supplemental application deadline: 11/15/2022
• Submission timing for best consideration: For best consideration, applicants should submit their TMDSAS and secondary application by September 1.

First-Year Class Matriculants’ Selection Factors

Applicants must either be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Permanent Residents at the time of application. A minimum of three years of college (90 semester hours or the equivalent number of quarter hours) from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university (or Canadian equivalent) is required. Strong preference will be given to applicants who earn a bachelor’s degree before matriculation. In addition, applicants must complete prerequisite courses in English, statistics, biology, chemistry, organic chemistry and physics. A score of the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required. TCOM uses a holistic review process to recruit and enroll a diverse class of highly qualified applicants for the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree. Applicants are evaluated on their prior academic performance and scores on previous standardized tests. In addition, applicants are evaluated on their commitment to the field of study, community activities, letters of evaluation, interview scores, socioeconomic background and contribution to the diversity of the class. As a matter of policy, TCOM does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, age or disabilities, and religion in its application and admission processes. As a state-supported medical school, TCOM is required to fill 90 percent of each entering class with Texas residents. The remaining 10 percent may be filled by non-residents with outstanding credentials.

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

MCAT

• Oldest MCAT considered: 1/31/2018
• Accept September 2022 MCAT scores: Yes
• Accept January 2023 MCAT scores: No

Accepted Sources for Letters of Recommendation

• Interfolio
• Paper

Supplemental Application

• Supplemental application required? Yes
• Earliest supplemental application submission date: 5/2/2022
• Supplemental application deadline: 11/15/2022
• Supplemental application requirements:
  The secondary application is available online on the UNT Health Science Center web site.
• Fee waiver available: Yes
• Supplemental fee waiver conditions: A limited number of fee waivers are available. Applicants must provide evidence of economic need. Applicants who wish to be considered for a fee waiver must contact the admissions office.
• Supplemental application sent to the following prospective students:
  All applicants
• Supplemental application fee: $50, non-refundable

Interview Format

TCOM uses the Multi-Mini Interview (MMI) format.

Science Courses

Required:

• Biology/Zoology, 14 semester hours
• Organic Chemistry, 8 semester hours
• Inorganic Chemistry, 8 semester hours
• Physics, 8 semester hours

Recommended:

• Anatomy 
• Biochemistry 
• Genetics 
• Physiology 

Non-Science Courses

Required:

• College English, 6 semester hours
• Math/Statistics, 3 semester hours

Applicants will be requested to submit necessary matriculation documents according to the following schedule:

• Applicants are offered admission in accordance to the schedule outlined among the participating medical schools in the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service.
• 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
  TCOM will consider one-year deferment requests if made on or before June 1. A $1,000 non-refundable deposit is required to hold a seat in the next class.
• Orientation / start date for first-year students: 7/10/2023

Early Decision Program

• Early Decision Program (EDP) offered: Yes
• EDP available for: In-State and Out-of-State Residents
• EDP application due date: 8/1/2022
• EDP applications submitted to: EDP applications are to be submitted through the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS)
• EDP supplemental materials due: 8/1/2022
• Date EDP applicants notified: 9/15/2022

Tuition and Fees

• 2021-22 annual resident tuition: $13,078
• 2021-22 annual non-resident tuition: $28,766
• 2021-22 annual resident fees: $6,640
• 2021-22 annual non-resident fees: $6,640
• 2021-22 annual health insurance fee: $3,450
• Fees include:
  • Student Services
  • Lab
  • Computer
  • Student Activities
  • Health Service
• Estimated annual room, board, books and living costs: $31,362
• Average 2021 graduate indebtedness: $118,537

Deposit

• Amount of deposit to hold place in class: $0
• Additional deposit amount: $0
• Deposit applied to tuition: N/A

Financial Aid

• Financial Aid Website
• Enrolled students with federal financial aid: 66%
• Scholarships: Yes
• Average scholarship/grant: $3,439

University of North Texas Health Science Center at Forth Worth-Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
UNTHSC/TCOM

Address:
3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard
Fort Worth, TX 76137

Main phone: (817) 735-2000

Admissions Office

Email: admissions@unthsc.edu
Phone: (817) 735-2003
Fax: (817) 735-2225