Master of Arts, Medical Sciences (MAMS)

The PNWU School of Dental Medicine (SDM) desires to recruit prospective students from rural and underserved areas and students from underrepresented groups and disadvantaged backgrounds. Some potential students may be non-traditional, having been in the workforce since completing their post-secondary education. Returning to school to fulfill admissions prerequisites may be challenging. For these students, the SDM has established an admissions pathway to dental school through successful completion of the PNWU Master of Arts in Medical Sciences (MAMS) degree program. Completion of the MAMS program will fulfill the biomedical science course prerequisites (please see website) for admission to the Doctor of Dental Medicine Program.

Process  

A PNWU Master of Arts in Medical Sciences (MAMS) student who is in good academic standing with an academic average of 3.0 or better in the MAMS program, successfully completes all PNWU-SDM application requirements, including an interview, and has a permanent residence from the Northwest, including Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington, or is from a rural or medically underserved area, as determined on the Rural Health Information Hub website using the Am I Rural? Tool, is guaranteed admission for the Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) program.

Prospective MAMS students who want to be considered for this admissions program must complete an interview with the SDM Admissions Committee and receive approval for the program from the SDM administration prior to starting the MAMS program. Entry into this admissions program is not permitted once the student begins the MAMS program.

If the student is not admitted or does not complete the DMD program for any reason, they are not guaranteed admission in the future. The MAMS student who is not admitted via this program can be reviewed according to the DMD program application process and guidelines following the submission of an application.

Graduation from the MAMS program with a cumulative course GPA of 3.0 or higher satisfies the admission biomedical science course prerequisites (please see website) for the DMD program. Students must complete all other prerequisite course and program application requirements as described on the SDM website.

Scientific Foundations of Biomedical Sciences Course 

MAMS graduates may be granted credit in the appropriate PNWU course (Scientific Foundations of Medicine – SDM 501) if all the following criteria are satisfied: 

• Comparable coursework credit (Scientific Foundations of Medicine – BIOMED 511) must have been earned while enrolled in the PNWU Master of Arts in Medical Sciences Degree Program (MAMS)
• A minimum score of 80% was earned on a Comprehensive Final Examination or as the combined average of all Sectional Exams in Scientific Foundations of Medicine – BIOMED 511 
• Approval of the PNWU-SDM Associate Dean for Academic Affairs is obtained. 

Those obtaining credit by examination will be registered to audit SDM 501 during their first term in the Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) program. Auditing the course allows access to the course materials for study purposes. A grade of Pass when taking Scientific Foundations of Medicine – BIOMED 511 during the MAMS program will be entered into the student record for students who are accepted into the DMD program. 

Procedure

1. Accepted MAMS students who are interested in this admissions program must schedule an interview with the SDM Admissions Committee no later than 30 days before the start of the MAMS program.
2. Following the interview, the student and Enrollment Services will be notified of acceptance.
3. Enrollment Services academic records staff obtain the MAMS course grades from the MAMS program director. Course grades are entered into the student information system.
4. The SDM Admissions Committee Chair will maintain a regular review of MAMS students in this program, including meeting with the MAMS program director and the PNWU Director of Admissions.
5. Enrollment Services admission staff include the MAMS grades in the application review to determine application status (invite to interview, further review, deny).
6. Program participants must complete the SDM application through AADSAS and any supplemental application material as part of the admissions cycle.
7. Program participants will have their applications reviewed and an interview scheduled.
8. Program participants and the PNWU Admissions Office will be notified of acceptance into the DMD program with all other applicants in that admissions cycle.
9. Program participants currently enrolled in the MAMS program who are accepted must successfully complete the MAMS program per the requirements stated above prior to matriculation into the DMD program.

School of Dental Medicine Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements
Admission Prerequisite Mapping
Cost to Apply
The Interview
Notification
Helpful Links

Pathway Programs

Dental Hygiene Admissions
Master of Arts, Medical Sciences (MAMS)
Pathway Programs with Partner Colleges and Universities