Many professional schools offer students enrolled in their programs the opportunity to earn both the professional degree (e.g., MD, DO, DDS, etc.) and some other graduate degree (e.g., PhD, MPH, MS, etc.) in a joint program. Many of these programs require that a student be admitted to and enrolled in two separate colleges in the same university. All of these programs are highly competitive.
MD/PhD programs are aimed at students who wish to pursue clinical research upon graduation (as opposed to a purely clinical career). For more information about physician-scientists, visit the American Physician Scientists Association. Visit the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) for the comprehensive listing of combined degree programs. The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) maintains a list of joint DO programs in the Choose DO Explorer.