Which Physiology Program is Right for You?

The M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics program is designed for strong pre-health students (average GPA is 3.5) who are pursuing medical school, and is also open to students pursuing other health professions (dentistry, physician assistant, podiatry, etc.) or careers in related fields. In a typical year, 80% of our students are pre-medical, 10% are pre-dental, and 10% are pursuing PA school, PhDs in biomedical sciences, or other health-related degrees/careers. Our alumni have been admitted into many different M.D., D.O., Dental, P.A., and Ph.D. programs across the country.

The curriculum consists of medically relevant graduate courses in physiology and biomedical science. Required courses provide an advanced science framework, and elective courses, including option for lab research in the spring, allow students to tailor the program to their specific interests. Typical cohort size is 30-40 full-time students.

The program is generally completed in two terms over a traditional academic year (fall and spring), but the flexible curriculum allows for alternative schedules. Schedules for part-time students can be made with special arrangements; students interested in part-time study should indicate this on their application.

For the M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics, MCAT/DAT/GRE is not required for admission. Recommended minimum GPA is 3.3, required minimum is 3.0. [Exceptions for students with GPAs below 3.0 are only made for those applying through our George Squared partnership who have successfully completed the ABS certificate program.]

See our Admissions page for full details on eligibility and application requirements.

The SMP is a 10.5-month M.S. program exclusive to students pursuing a career in medicine who need to significantly strengthen their academic credentials for application to medical school (GPA below 3.3). MCAT score is optional but preferred, average incoming GPA is 3.2, and students with GPAs below 3.0 can be considered on a limited, case-by-case basis.

In addition to graduate courses in the biomedical sciences, students in the SMP take 6 first-year medical courses alongside the GUSOM medical students. Grading in these courses is based on the performance of the medical students: in order to earn a “B” in these courses, SMP students must perform at least as well as the average GUSOM first-year medical student. The SMP is a set curriculum without electives or research option. Typical cohort size is 150 full-time students on the Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) campus and 25 on the Georgetown Downtown (GTDT) campus.

The GeorgeSquared Program is a joint program offered through a partnership between Georgetown University and George Mason University (GMU).

The first phase of the program, the Advanced Biomedical Sciences (ABS) Certificate at GMU, is a postbaccalaureate graduate-level program designed for individuals interested in careers in the wide variety of health-related professions. The 20-credit program, including a gross anatomy lab, terminates in a graduate certificate and includes optional MCAT/DAT/GRE prep depending on students’ goals. The program is held on GMU’s Science & Technology Campus in Manassas, Virginia.

Through the GeorgeSquared partnership, students who successfully complete the ABS Certificate at GMU can apply to the second phase of the program, the M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics at Georgetown. Accepted students can apply their ABS certificate credits toward the MS degree at Georgetown and finish in as little as one semester.