Joint Degree Programs

The School of Medicine currently has four formal joint or dual degree programs, the Medical Scientist Training Program, Masters of Public Health, Masters of Science in Bioengineering and the Masters in Business Administration program.

Medical Doctorate/Master of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
The School of Medicine has joined with the Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at CU Boulder to offer a new MD-MS degree program. The first class launches in fall 2023 and the program began accepting applications in fall 2022. The program is designed by Ben Easter, MD, assistant professor of emergency medicine, and Allie Anderson, PhD, assistant professor of aerospace engineering at CU Boulder. To support the program, Ben and Allie received a CU Next Award, which is a grant that helps faculty members working on intercampus collaborations. The goal is to prepare trainees to understand the engineering and spacecraft systems, and to understand human health and interactions with those systems. 

Medical Doctorate/Master of Business Administration
The School of Medicine, working with the University of Colorado Denver’s downtown campus and the University of Colorado Boulder campus, also provides the opportunity for students to earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in one calendar year. Students enter this program after completing the Plains, Foothills, and Alpine curriculum. Students must apply to one of the MBA program’s separately in addition to applying for the MD program. The University of Colorado Denver’s downtown campus program will waive the requirement for the GMAT and use the student’s MCAT scores. The University of Colorado Boulder campus does not require the GMAT and does not substitute it with the student’s MCAT score. Each program provides an excellent opportunity for medical students who wish to understand the business of medicine and to develop the skills necessary to work in health care administration.

Medical Doctorate/Master of Public Health
The MD/MPH program is a joint degree program in which students generally take MPH coursework for 3 semesters between Phase III and Phase IV. Students can select a concentration in Applied Biostatistics, Community and Behavioral Health, Community Health Education, Environmental and Epidemiology, Health Systems, Management and Policy, or Generalist. 

Medical Doctorate/Master Bioengineering
The MD/MS in Bioengineering program enables current MD candidates to complete MS requirements in bioengineering. A motivated student can complete these requirements in three semesters, usually taking a year off between Phases III & IV (May to May). Additional time may be required depending on the student’s course choices and research project. All students will be evaluated in a final oral defense examination that includes an open research seminar.

Medical Scientist Training Program
The MSTP program offers a combined MD/PhD degree and is a rigorous multi-year program in which students complete the basic science curriculum and then enters the graduate school to complete basic science research leading to a doctoral thesis before returning to complete the clinical curriculum.

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