MAMS

What is MAMS

Masters in Medical Science: Degree Program Overviews
A master's degree in medical science is primarily for students applying to medical college or beginning a career in health care. Many programs are offered with a variety of specializations directly related to positions in the medical field, including anatomy, anesthesiology, pharmacology, public health and clinical investigation. Medical science master's degree programs last 1-2 years.

Master's Degrees in Medical Science
There are three different master's degrees in medical sciences: Master of Arts in Medical Sciences (M.A.), Master of Science in Medical Sciences (M.S.) and Master of Medical Science (MMS). The difference in degrees is more of a difference between universities than a difference between the kinds of degree offered. Courses are designed to either prepare students for medical school or to work in a health profession that does not require medical school. Each of the three degrees is offered with either of these focuses by different universities. Some are 1-year programs; others add a second year of supervised research.

Educational Prerequisites
All programs require a bachelor's degree; most require a GPA of 3.5 in that degree plus a grade of 3.5 for all science courses. MCAT scores ranging from 22-28 are often required, as well as GRE scores of about 1050. Some MMS programs require prior completion of an intermediate program following the baccalaureate. Bachelor's degrees should be in a science, although a degree in something related where the student has taken, either by requirement or by choice, a number of science courses might be accepted.

Program Coursework
The purpose of the program dictates the courses. However, all of these degrees are built around a core of science courses that include most, if not all, of the following classes on an advanced level:

Biochemistry and cell biology
Developmental biology
Neurobiology
Molecular biology
Biostatistics
Anatomy and physiology
Genetics
Pharmacology
Popular Career Options
Because of the variety of program goals and specializations, it is not possible to list career options for any one degree. However, the fields of specializations include:

Women's health
Molecular medicine
Medical research
Medical nutrition sciences
Health science
Behavioral medicine and mental health counseling
Aging and neuroscience
Continuing Education
Graduates of master's degree programs in medical science can choose to continue their studies with specialized doctoral programs. For example, they may focus on genetics and genomics, virology and toxicology. Aspiring doctors can earn an M.D. degree; there are also programs that offer a combination of an M.D. with a specialized Ph.D.