Baylor College of Medicine

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Staff
Updated August 7, 2020

The Baylor College of Medicine is a medical school that offers graduate level degrees and programs in Texas. Established in 1900 as the University of Dallas Medical Department, the college operated under the guidance and supervision of the University of Dallas. The doctors who opened the school all graduated from Baylor University and wanted to offer additional opportunities for doctors operating in the area and students interested in practicing medicine. The college opened its own department dedicated to the study of infectious diseases in children and began running a free clinic during its early years. Just a few years after opening, it became the Baylor University College of Medicine, but adopted its current name in the 1960s after splitting off from the college and becoming its own private institution.

Baylor College of Medicine is unique in several ways. It is one of the only medical schools in the country that has an accelerated program that lasts less than two years, and it is one of the only medical schools that operates its own hospital and medical facility. U.S. News & World Report called BCM one of the most affordable medical schools in the country and placed it within the top 10 on that list. The publication also highlighted the college's nursing anesthesia and physician assistant programs. BCM is one of the only colleges in the country that now offers a program devoted to the study of tropical medicine as well.

Baylor College of Medicine Accreditation Details

Attending an accredited medical school is the best way for students to learn how to effectively work with patients and for them to better understand medical terminology and the procedures they will do in the field. Baylor College of Medicine has general accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Also known as regional or institutional accreditation, this type of accreditation applies to all the master and doctoral programs offered by the school. As with all organizations of this type, the SACSCC performs regular inspections and checks on the college to ensure that it continues fulfilling all the requirements to maintain its accreditation.

As the Baylor College of Medicine offers some specialty programs, it also has specialized accreditation for some of those programs. Some of the organizations that granted BCM accreditation include:

  • National Commission on Prosthetic and Orthotic Education (NCOPE)
  • Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)
  • Accrediting Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)
  • Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA)

Baylor College of Medicine Application Requirements

BCM looks at a wide range of factors when determining which students deserve admission to any of its programs. They look for students who are strong leaders, have respect for the human bodies and have a commitment to the life long practice of medicine. As the college is a graduate school, those applying must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and submit a transcript that shows they took the required courses. Required courses include three semester hours or more of math, three semester hours of advanced writing, 12 semester hours of social sciences, two semester hours of organic chemistry and at least three semester hours of advanced biology and biochemistry.

Students must also complete the online application, which is available via the American Medical College Application Service. Similar to the Common Application, this website allows students to apply to two or more colleges and use the same account and information when applying. BMC also has its own separate supplemental application that students must complete. Upon submitting the application, students are responsible for a $100 application fee. Students must also submit scores from the medical school examination. Some departments may require three or more letters of recommendation as well.

Tuition and Fees

The average cost of attending a private medical school in the United States can top more than $40,000 a year, and many public medical schools now charge more than $20,000 a year for tuition. The Baylor College of Medicine offers a more affordable alternative for medical students. BCM charges less than $7,000 a year for those who currently live in Texas and less than $20,000 a year for residents of other states. Interested students can meet with a financial aid counselor to get help applying for financial aid or to find out more about their options. Students graduating from the college leave with an average of $77,000 to $110,000 in student loan debt, which varies based on the program.

Graduate and medical students often qualify for unsubsidized student loans that accumulate interest while the students are in school. Many make small payments throughout their studies to reduce the amount of debt they owe later. BCM also recommends that students look for scholarships available from private and public organizations. Those organizations provide students with millions of dollars in funding every year. BCM financial aid counselors can give students information on where to find those scholarships, how to apply and how much they might get.

Children's Nutrition Research Center

The Baylor College of Medicine operates the Children's Nutrition Research Center, which is a center dedicated to the research of health and nutrition. The center offers a number of programs for children as young as elementary school aged to those currently working as doctors. Its M.D. program trains future doctors on working with children and improving the overall health of their patients through diet and nutrition. This program includes a residency component that lets those future doctors actually work with young patients. After earning their degrees, students will need to complete either a residency or a fellowship prior to obtaining a medical license. This center offers fellowships and similar programs to graduates of the college and graduates of other medical schools.

BCM also offers some dual degree programs that let students earn two degrees in one course of study. They can earn an MBA and a doctoral degree, a medical degree and a Master of Public Health degree or even a medical degree and a law degree. Baylor College of Medicine operates continuing education programs through its Children's Nutrition Research Center as well, which are open to doctors who need to complete additional requirements to maintain their medical licenses in Texas and other states.

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