Master of Science in Medical Science
Prepare for Medical School and Health Professional Programs
Hawaiʻi Pacific University’s Master of Science in Medical Science (MSMEDS) is a 42-credit online graduate program for students preparing for medical school and other health professional programs. Choose an 11-month full-time track or a 20-month part-time track. Both lead to the same degree and use the same medical-school-style science curriculum, assessments, faculty advising, predictive learning support, and entrance exam preparation.
Turn a gap year into a growth year.
Whether you want to strengthen your academic record, return to the sciences after time away, or continue working while preparing for your next step, MSMEDS gives you two ways to move forward.
at a glance
Class Settings
- 100% Online
Start Dates
- Fall Entry: August
- Spring Entry: January
- Summer Entry: May
COURSE INFORMATION
- 42 Credits
- Complete in 11 Months Full Time or 20 Months Part Time
TUITION
All costs can be found at hpu.edu/costs.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- $55 app fee
- Official transcript/s (bachelor’s degree or higher)
- Personal Statement/Essay
- English proficiency required for international students
- Additional requirements below
Request Info
MSMEDS program director, Dr. Celeste Lajala, answers common questions from prospective students.
Complete in 1 Year as a full-time student
Flexible entry points with year-round start dates
Guaranteed medical school interview for top 20% of graduates
Choose the MSMEDS Track That Fits Your Life
The curriculum, credits, assessments, and degree are the same in both tracks. What changes is how much of your week is scheduled and how quickly you move through the program.
Both tracks include: one-on-one faculty advising, predictive analytics, early academic alerts, the same 42-credit curriculum, and the same HPU degree.
Applicants select the track that best fits their schedule and goals when applying. Because the two tracks complete the same courses in different sequences, students continue in their selected track throughout the program.
11-Month Full-Time
- 3 consecutive terms, including summer
- Live online class Monday through Friday
- Generally 5–6 live class hours per weekday
- Lectures and readings completed before class so live time can focus on discussion, clinical cases, and problem-solving
- Designed for students able to make MSMEDS their primary academic commitment
The full-time track moves at a pace similar to the first year of medical school and is not designed to run alongside a standard full-time job.
20-Month Part-Time
- 5 consecutive terms, including summer
- Recorded lectures completed on your schedule within course deadlines
- 1–2 hours of required live class each week, with two day-and-time options
- Designed to fit alongside work, caregiving, or other ongoing responsibilities
Study the Same First-Year Medical School Curriculum Used by PHSU
MSMEDS uses the same content and assessments as year one of the MD program at Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU), HPU’s teaching partner. Students work with the same lecture videos, clinical cases, quizzes, and exam questions used in the PHSU medical curriculum.
- Medical-school-level science. Ten graduate courses cover the core biomedical sciences found in the first year of medical school.
- Applied assessment. Students work through USMLE Step 1-style questions, integrated exams, and NBME subject examinations in physiology.
- Clinical problem-solving. Coursework emphasizes analysis, synthesis, and application rather than memorization alone.
- Early academic feedback. Low-stakes assessment data helps students and faculty identify areas to strengthen before they become larger problems.
PHSU’s MD program is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). MSMEDS is a master’s degree awarded by Hawaiʻi Pacific University; it is not a medical degree and does not confer LCME accreditation on HPU.
"My best piece of advice to future students is to learn how to study effectively and budget your time so that you can cover high yield topics almost every day, rather than leaving your studies for one final cram session before the exam.”
Read the full story
ONLINE FORMAT AND LEARNING MODEL
11-Month Full-Time: Live and Interactive
Full-time students prepare before class by completing readings and recorded lectures. Live weekday sessions are used for discussion, clinical scenarios, advanced multiple-choice questions, and group problem-solving. Because students are in class each weekday, faculty can adjust instruction in real time based on how the class is responding.
Live classes generally meet from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hawaiʻi Standard Time. Hawaiʻi does not observe daylight saving time, so mainland class times shift seasonally.
20-Month Part-Time: Recorded Lectures + Weekly Live Session
Part-time students complete recorded lectures and coursework on their own schedule within established course deadlines. One to two hours of required live class each week focus on comprehension, discussion, and application, with two day-and-time options.
Assessment and Progression
Students complete applied multiple-choice assessments built around clinical reasoning and integration across subjects. Exams may combine material from several courses, and degree completion requires passing a comprehensive qualifying examination.
Curriculum & Courses Tailored to Career Pathways
MSMEDS strengthens foundational medical science knowledge and requires students to apply that knowledge through clinical scenarios, advanced multiple-choice questions, and integrated exams. Students also receive one year of access to the King of the Curve MCAT study app for additional review and practice.
Guaranteed Interview Opportunity for Eligible Top-Performing Graduates
Eligible top-performing MSMEDS graduates may qualify for a guaranteed interview with participating Ponce Health Sciences University health professions programs under the current partner pathway. The pathway guarantees an interview, not admission, and current academic and program-specific eligibility requirements apply.
Both tracks complete the same 42 credits and ten courses; only the sequence differs.
Semester 0
- BIOL6490 Intro to MS Medical Science Biology (0 credit)
11-Month Full-Time
- Term 1 — 18 credits: Gross Anatomy, Embryology and Imaging; Physiology I; Medical Biochemistry I
- Term 2 — 18 credits: Microbiology; Physiology II; Medical Biochemistry II; Neuroscience
- Term 3 — 6 credits: Histology and Cell Biology; Medical Ethics; Health Disparities
20-Month Part-Time
- Term 1 — 6 credits: Histology and Cell Biology; Medical Ethics; Health Disparities
- Term 2 — 9 credits: Gross Anatomy, Embryology and Imaging
- Term 3 — 9 credits: Neuroscience; Microbiology
- Term 4 — 10 credits: Medical Biochemistry I; Medical Biochemistry II
- Term 5 — 8 credits: Physiology I; Physiology II
Where Can MSMEDS Take You?
MSMEDS is designed primarily to strengthen preparation for advanced health professions education. Students may use the graduate academic record and medical science foundation they build in the program when pursuing:
- Medical school (MD/DO)
- Dental or veterinary school
- Physician assistant, physical therapy, or pharmacy programs
- Other health professions graduate programs
- Clinical or medical research support, laboratory support, healthcare program roles, or continued graduate study
Personalized Learning Support
Every MSMEDS student is matched with a faculty advisor for one-on-one guidance throughout the program. Coursework and low-stakes assessment data feed a predictive analytics platform developed by PHSU with Tiber Health to help identify content areas to prioritize and support earlier academic advising.
- Both tracks: one-on-one advising, predictive analytics, and early alerts informed by coursework and assessment data
- Full-time track: additional real-time adaptive faculty feedback and interactive in-class tools supported by the daily live classroom
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition is charged per credit, so both tracks have the same total tuition for 42 credits; the part-time track spreads those credits across five terms.
- Federal graduate loans through the FAFSA, if eligible
- HPU graduate scholarships or awards, if applicable
- VA education benefits for eligible students and dependents
- Employer tuition assistance or reimbursement
- Application fee waivers through eligible recruitment events, admissions counselors, or select campaigns
Apply now and transform your healthcare career prospects in just 1 year
- Online Application - hpu.edu/apply ($55 app fee)
- Application fee waived when attending a virtual event or booking a 1:1 consultation
- Transcript/s (bachelor’s degree or higher) that includes 16 semester hours of life and physical science courses. Exceptions to prerequisites requirements may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
-
8 semester hours of biology, such as general biology, physiology, anatomy, and either genetics or cell biology
-
8 semester hours of chemistry
-
- Personal Statement/Essay
- English proficiency score required for International applicants. More information can be found online at hpu.edu/gradintl
- Recommended Prerequisites (not required)
-
Physics – 8 semester hours
-
Mathematics – 6 semester hours
-
Biochemistry – 6 semester hours
- Organic Chemistry - 8 semester hours
-
- Optional:
-
Resume/CV, please include all relevant healthcare experience including shadowing
-
Test Scores, e.g. MCAT, DAT, OAT, PCAT, GRE, or VCAT
-
Letters of Recommendation
-
*Please note that medical schools or other health professions programs may require additional courses as prerequisites to satisfy their admissions requirements; please refer to those programs for their admission prerequisites.
Priority Application Dates
Fall Entry
July 1
Spring Entry
November 1
SUmmer Entry
April 1
Frequently Asked Questions
What is HPU’s Master of Science in Medical Science?
HPU MSMEDS is a 42-credit online graduate medical science program for students preparing for medical school and other health professional programs. It is offered in an 11-month full-time track and a 20-month part-time track.
What is the difference between the 11-month and 20-month tracks?
Both tracks complete the same ten courses, 42 credits, assessments, and degree. The 11-month track has live class Monday through Friday; the 20-month track uses recorded lectures plus one to two hours of required live class each week.
Is the 20-month part-time track self-paced?
No. Students have flexibility in when they watch lectures and complete coursework, but courses follow a set sequence with established deadlines and a required weekly live session.
Can I complete MSMEDS while working full time?
The 20-month track is designed to fit alongside a job or caregiving responsibilities. The 11-month track is an intensive full-time academic commitment.
Can I switch tracks after I start?
No. Students continue in the track selected at enrollment because the two tracks complete the same courses in different sequences.
Do both tracks award the same degree?
Yes. Both award the Master of Science in Medical Science and complete the same 42 credits, curriculum, and assessments. The diploma and transcript do not distinguish between the two tracks.
Is HPU MSMEDS online?
Yes. Both tracks are online after onboarding and neither requires a campus visit.
Whose medical school curriculum does MSMEDS use?
MSMEDS uses the same content and assessments as year one of the MD program at Ponce Health Sciences University, HPU’s teaching partner. MSMEDS itself is a master’s degree awarded by HPU, not a medical degree.
Do I need an MCAT or GRE score to apply?
No. Neither the MCAT nor the GRE is required for MSMEDS admission.
What GPA do I need?
HPU does not publish a minimum GPA for MSMEDS. Applications are reviewed using the applicant’s academic record, prerequisite coursework, personal statement, and other submitted materials.
I have not taken organic chemistry. Can I still apply?
Yes. Organic chemistry is recommended but not required. Applicants without it are encouraged to speak with an admissions counselor about preparation before beginning the medical biochemistry sequence.
Does HPU MSMEDS offer a guaranteed medical school interview?
Eligible top-performing graduates may qualify for a guaranteed interview through participating PHSU health professions pathways. It is a guaranteed interview opportunity, not guaranteed admission, and current eligibility requirements apply.
Is financial aid available?
Eligible students may use federal graduate aid and other qualifying funding such as VA education benefits, scholarships, or employer tuition assistance. Confirm current eligibility with HPU Student Financial Services.
Can international students enroll?
The program does not sponsor F-1 student visas because it is fully online. International applicants should confirm current eligibility and English proficiency requirements with HPU Graduate Admissions.
When can I start?
HPU offers Fall, Spring, and Summer entry, with classes beginning in August, January, and May.