SCHOOL OF SCIENCE

The "3 + 4" Accelerated Program In Primary Care

LECOM logo An Affiliation Agreement between the

Biology Program at the Penn State Behrend
School of Science

and

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

The "3+4" Accelerated Program in Primary Care between Penn State Erie and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) permits selected undergraduate students who have successfully completed specific core course requirements at Penn State Erie to continue their education in medicine at LECOM in an accelerated program of study.

The program comprises of two phases: Phase I consists of the first three years of undergraduate education at Penn State Behrend; Phase II consists of the remaining medical school education at LECOM and its associated clinical training sites. Penn State Behrend will confer the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology to the Penn State Behrend students in the program who have successfully completed the Penn State Erie courses in Phase I (minimum 103 credits) and the first year of LECOM's academic curriculum. To apply, see below.

PHASE I

Students will be admitted, on a competitive basis, to the Penn State Behrend phase of the program based upon the following minimum criteria:
 

SAT Combined Math and Verbal Score

1200

High School Grade Point Average

3.5

High School Class Rank

Top 25% of the class.

Residency

Preference given to Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and southwestern New York residents from rural areas.

Potential

Additional evidence of scholarly and professional potential and desire to become a primary care physician.

 
The residency criterion means that preference will be given to students applying from the designated areas, but highly qualified applicants from other geographic locations will also be considered.

Acceptance to Phase I of the Program will be determined by Penn State Behrend.

Typically, a maximum of five students chosen from the most qualified applicants will be admitted to Phase I of the program each year.

Penn State Erie Students:

  • Student shall maintain a cumulative Penn State Behrend grade point average of 3.3 or better on a 4.0 grade scale.

  • Student must earn a grade of C or better in all Penn State Behrend courses.

  • Penn State Behrend program adviser will provide counseling to the student and evaluate the student's performance.

  • Penn State Behrend program adviser and LECOM will monitor student progress on application documentation.

  • Penn State Behrend retains the right to dismiss student for academic or disciplinary reasons.

  • This is a rigorous program requiring heavy science loads. Students must be dedicated to the program and have strong academic records.

     

    PHASE II

    LECOM Admissions Procedure

    Final acceptance of candidates to Phase II of the program will be determined by LECOM. Students must apply through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOMAS) to LECOM by August 30 beginning the third year. A LECOM Secondary Application must be completed prior to scheduling an admissions interview. Letters of recommendation and supporting documentation must be submitted for LECOM review.

    To gain acceptance, students must successfully have completed the specific course work described below (or as amended). The minimal overall grade point average at Penn State Erie must be a 3.3 (A=4.0). The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores must be 7 or better in each subtest with an overall score of 24 or better.

    Student inquiries for information regarding application status should be directed to the LECOM Admissions Office. LECOM will inform students of their acceptance/rejection into Phase II of the Program by April 1, contingent upon completion of Phase I and satisfactory performance on the MCAT.

    Three-Year Undergraduate Program In Biology At Penn State Erie
    and Four-Year Medical Program At LECOM

    PHASE I

    Penn State Behrend
    (Curriculum subject to revision)

    First Year

    First Semester1

    Second Semester1

    BIOL 110S Biology: Concepts

    BIOL 240W Biology: Structure/ Function

    ENGL 15 Composition and Rhetoric

    CHEM 13 Chemical Principles

    CHEM 12 Chemical Principles

    CHEM 15 Experimental Chem

    CHEM 14 Experimental Chem

    MATH 141 Calculus II

    MATH 140 Calculus I

    S/H/A ELECT2

    S/H/A ELECT2

    GHA

      Second Year

    Third Semester1

    Fourth Semester1

    BIOL 230W Biology

    BIOL 220W Biology: Molecular

    CHEM 36 Lab in Organic Chem

    CHEM 36 Lab in Organic Chem

    CHEM 38 Organic Chemistry

    CHEM 39 Organic Chemistry

    STAT 250 Biostatistics

    SPCOM 100 Effective Speech

    S/H/A ELECT2

    BIOBD 250 Pre-Med Seminar

    S/H/A ELECT2

    S/H/A ELECT2

     

    S/H/A ELECT2

    Third Year

    Fifth Semester

    Sixth Semester

    MICRB 201 Microbiology

    PHYS 251 Introductory Physics II

    MICRB 202 Microbiology Lab

    BIOBD 420 Comparative Anatomy

    PHYS 250 Introductory Physics I

    BIOBD 452 Biochemistry

    BIOBD 322 Genetic Analysis

    BIOBD 453 Biochemistry Lab

    ENGL 202C Technical Writing

    ELECTIVE

    ELECTIVE

    GHA

    GHA

     

    1 Students may wish to attend summer courses to reduce the academic year load.

    2 S/H/A ELECT (total 18 credits)

      6 credits in Arts courses designated with GA suffix.
      6 credits in Humanities designated with GH suffix. PHIL 3 recommended.
      6 credits in Social Science designated with GS suffix. PSY 2 recommended.

     
     

    Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)

    The MCAT should be taken in the spring semester of the third year.

    PHASE II at LECOM

    This curriculum is based on the Lecture/Discussion Pathway. LECOM offers three pathways for learning the preclinical sciences taken during the first two years of the osteopathic medical curriculum. See http://www.lecom.edu/academics/learning.htm for further details.

    Fourth Year (21 credits transfer to Penn State Erie)

    Fall Semester

    Spring Semester

    Gross Human Gross Anatomy

    History Taking and Physical Exam

    Embryology

    Integumentary System

    Cell Biology / Histology

    Neurosensory System

    Microbiology / Immunology

    Musculoskeletal System

    Pharmacology

    Osteopathic Principles & Practice Course II

    Biochemistry

    Healthcare Management I

    Pathology

     

    Osteopathic Principles & Practice Course I

     

    Medical Ethics

     

     
     

    Conferral of the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree

    The B.S. degree in Biology is conferred by Penn State Behrend upon successful completion of the specified courses in Phase I (minimum 103 credits) and the first year at LECOM.

    Fifth Year

    Fall Semester

    Spring Semester

    Cardiovascular System

    Digestive System

    Respiratory System

    Endocrine System

    Renal System

    Reproductive System

    Hematology / Oncology System

    Clinical Osteopathic Diagnostic Applications Course (CODA) II

    Public Health and Preventive Medicine

    Medical Jurisprudence

    Geriatric Medicine

    Human Sexuality

    Clinical Osteopathic Diagnostic Applications Course (CODA) I

    Psychiatry

    Osteopathic Principles & Practice Course III

    A.C.L.S

     

    Healthcare Management I

     

    Osteopathic Principles & Practice Course IV 

     

    National Boards of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME)

    Part I of this examination MUST be taken and passed in June of the second year at LECOM for progression to clinical rotations.

    Sixth-Year Rotation

    Internal Medicine I

    Internal Medicine II

    Obstetrics / Gynecology

    General Surgery

    Family Medicine

    Pediatrics

    Psychiatry / Behavioral Science

    Elective

    Vacation (4 weeks)

    Seventh Year

    Medical Selective

    Primary Care Selective

    Surgery Selective

    Ambulatory Medicine

    Emergency Medicine

    Rural / Underserved Medicine

    Elective I

    Elective II

    Vacation (4 weeks)

    The coursework listed above is required for conferral of a D.O. degree as of summer, 2001, utilizing the Lecture/ Discussion Pathway, as mentioned above. A medical school curriculum is dynamic and evolves to meet the changing needs of the students. Therefore, there may occasionally be changes in course content, emphasis, and sequencing.  
     

    National Boards of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME)

    Part II of this examination MUST be taken and passed in the spring semester of the fourth year at LECOM to partially meet the minimum requirements for graduation.

     

    Conferral of the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree

    The degree will be conferred only upon successful completion of all coursework, both didactic and clinical, passing both Parts I and II of the NBOME, and recommendation by the faculty and administration of LECOM. Conferral of the D.O. degree will be at the end of the fourth year at LECOM (seventh year of the Program).  
     

    To Apply For Phase I of the "3 + 4" Accelerated Program in Primary Care contact:

    Dr. James T. Warren Jr.
    Health Professions Adviser
    School of Science
    Penn State Erie
    5091 Station Road
    Erie, PA 16563

    jtw4@psu.edu
    814-898-6986
     

    Application will include evidence of your high school performance, a letter indicating your interest in a career in osteopathic medicine, and an interview conducted on the Penn State Behrend campus.

    If you meet the minimum requirements of the program and show a strong interest in osteopathic medicine, as evidenced by your letter, an interview will be arranged at Penn State Behrend. Admission to Phase I is granted on a competitive basis, with the applicant's record and interview included in the decision. Admission to Phase I grants the successful applicant conditional acceptance into Phase II. Acceptance into Phase II is based on the conditions outlined herein and is administered by LECOM.


    Web site contact: cjm7@psu.edu
    Updated July 18, 2005
    © 2005 The Pennsylvania State University