MS in Medical Sciences, Pre-Professional Program (MSP3)

The University of South Florida's one-year Masters of Science in Medical Sciences program provides a high-quality “pre-professional” program that will significantly enhance and extend the academic development of future healthcare professionals and contribute to a diverse student body. This innovative, interdisciplinary program — the first in Florida to provide an integrated approach to the subject areas that comprise the “basic” biomedical sciences — is designed to provide students with a solid academic foundation prior to continuing in a variety of healthcare-related professional programs. The pre-professional program was founded on the premise that future clinicians, researchers, educators and healthcare professionals in the biomedical sciences will require extensive interdisciplinary training in order to develop novel solutions to current health care problems.

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Open houses are offered on-ground and virtually via Microsoft Teams.

For dates and more information, please see the Graduate & Postdoctoral Affairs News & Events page.

Prospective Applicant Profile

The ideal applicant to the MSMS pre-professional program:

Is interested in improving their academic credentials before applying to a health professional school (e.g., MD, DO, DDS, Pharmacy, Physician Assistant, etc).
Wants to academically prepare themselves before entering a health professional school.
May have missed the deadline to apply to a health professional school.
Wishes to experience an interdisciplinary biomedical sciences curriculum.

Curriculum

The interdisciplinary curriculum has been designed to provide the background training that will equip students with the essential tools for a successful career in the biomedical sciences.

This program is designed to be completed with full time enrollment in one year (Fall, Spring, and Summer). Courses are held on-ground. The full curriculum can be found in the MSP³ degree worksheet. Please note that degree worksheets are subject to change.

The Masters of Science in Medical Sciences, pre-professional program aims to:
- Provide advanced scientific training in the basic medical sciences which require greater knowledge than delivered in most undergraduate or non-degree post-baccalaureate professional programs.
- Further develop the training of future physicians and other health-care practitioners.
- Support the academic progress and development of students who wish to pursue future healthcare or biomedical science careers.
Discover features that make this program unique

Program

Our accelerated pre-professional program is designed to be completed in one-year. The curriculum offers an interdisciplinary approach to the medical sciences, encompassing a wide range of topics. Students will complete a minimum of 32 credit hours and earn their master’s degree within this time frame.

Location

The MSMS pre-professional program is located on the University of South Florida’s highly recognized USF Health north campus in Tampa. The USF Health campus is comprised of numerous professional schools, allowing master’s students to interact and learn alongside other health professional students and faculty.

Tuition

USF offers affordable graduate level tuition rates, one of the lower rates in the state of Florida, and one of the lowest in the country.

Faculty

Our master’s students are taught by highly trained faculty from USF Health's Morsani College of Medicine.

Workshops

The Graduate Affairs office supports our students by hosting various workshops throughout the year. These workshops can range from learning how to enhance study skills or write a personal statement, to information sessions hosted by admission representatives from various professional schools.

Advising

Our students receive one-on-one advising regarding their application to professional schools, as well as academic advising throughout the program.

Teaching Assistants

We hire outstanding alumni as teaching assistants (TAs) for our current students. TAs will host review sessions for each course to reinforce course materials. TAs also serve as a point of contact for additional individual review supplementing primary course instruction.

Partnerships

The Graduate Affairs office has partnered with the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM),the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM), and the Lincoln Memorial University Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) to provide interviews for our students who meet specific academic metrics.

MCAT preparation

The Graduate Affairs office has partnered with the Princeton Review to offer an MCAT preparation course, GMS 6000 Medical Sciences Success Skills. Students will pay graduate tuition rates for this 2-credit course.

Gross Anatomy Lab

Our students have the option of taking the Gross Anatomy Lab elective. Students will have access to the state-of-the-art facility to enhance their education through cadaver dissection under the supervision of Anatomy faculty.
Hear from former students who matriculated to professional school

Quinn Frier

Where you're from: Mayo, Florida

Year you graduated from the MSP³ Program: 2015

Current School/Program: The Florida State University College of Medicine

Advice for future USF MCOM MS applicants/students: For many of you, this program is an opportunity to prove yourselves academically to professional programs, while others are using this program as a "gap year" activity. Whatever the case, I advise you to use this opportunity wisely. Merely completing this program will not guarantee you admittance to professional schools; you have to do well. Reinvent yourself as a student, develop new study methods, and take advantage of all the advantages the program/faculty has to offer. Get involved and give back to the community, Tampa is rich with volunteer opportunities that will allow you to make a difference and grow as a member of society. The program is challenging, but if you buckle down and do well it will get you where you want to go and prepare you very well for the next level. All of the MSP³ graduates in my class at FSUCOM, including myself, have all done well in medical school thanks in part due to the experiences and exposure gained from this program. In closing, remember that stats (MCAT/GPA) aren't everything admissions committees consider and you should strive every day to make yourself more than "just a number."

Ekaterina Halivelakis

Where you're from: Fort Lauderdale, FL

Year you graduated from the MSP³ program: 2015

Current School/Program: Creighton University School of Medicine (M.D.) Class of 2020

Advice for future USF MCOM MS applicants and/or students: MSP³ is an excellent program to be a part of, whether you're pre-Medical, pre-PA, pre-PhD or pre-Dental. I went into the program initially because I was unsure of which route I wanted to take between academic medicine and clinical medicine. Not only was I able to explore what I am truly passionate about, but the program does a fantastic job preparing you for medical school course loads and boosting your MCAT score. I am proud to say that I am excelling through my medical school education now, and I attribute it to how well this program prepared me for medical school. I am adamant about recommending this program to my friends who also are either undecided or want the extra edge on their medical school applications. If you're thinking about it now, I promise you will thank yourself later once you apply and progress through the program. It is quite challenging and on par with medical school course work, but you will be surprised at how well you can handle the course loads and how accessible your professors will be for help if you need it.

Randy Ceballos

Where you're from: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Year you graduated from the MSP³ program: 2015

Current School/Program: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

Advice for future USF MCOM MS applicants and/or students: My best advice would be to not give up on your dreams. The road to medical school is not supposed to be easy, but there is a lot to learn during the journey. The best decision I made was to attend the MSP³ program at USF. I felt ready for medical school and my academic success demonstrated that. In addition to preparing me with the knowledge I needed, it was the reason I created lifelong friendships and was forced to go out of my comfort zone and become a well-rounded student.

Meet Our Student Ambassadors

Bio: My name is Paula Akhigbe, and I’m proud to serve as a current ambassador for the MSP³ program! I am from Frisco, Texas, and Nigerian by nationality. I earned my undergraduate degree in Biology from Austin College in Texas.

Following a year-long hiatus from school — and a few unimpressive MCAT attempts — I decided to enroll in a master's program to reignite my academic momentum and strengthen my medical school application. Enrolling in the MSP³ program has been one of the most impactful choices I have made in my academic journey.

A little about me: I’m a multi-talented individual and follower of Jesus who enjoys singing,reading, cooking, working out, and — most of all — traveling! (Traveling truly holds a special place in my heart.)

This program has truly been one for the books. Beyond sharpening my academic edge, it’s helped me develop stronger study habits, build meaningful friendships, grow in resilience as an upcoming medical student, and most importantly, solidify my passion for entering the medical field. Upon completion of this program, I plan to confidently retake the MCAT and apply to medical school as a stronger, more well-rounded applicant.

This could be your story too! If you’re willing to take the leap and give this program a try, you might just find yourself thriving in ways you never expected
Hey! My name is Ladasjah Brown and I’m from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I graduated from the University of Florida (Go Gators!!) in December 2021 with a B.S. in Biochemistry. After undergrad, I wasn’t completely sure which healthcare path I wanted to pursue, so I took some time to explore my options and gain clarity. After two years out of school, I realized that I needed to strengthen my academic record and obtain strong letters of recommendation.

I chose the USF MSP3 program because it offered the perfect opportunity to rebuild my foundation. I really like that the curriculum is taught by medical school faculty, includes a gross anatomy lab, and is relatively affordable—especially as a Florida resident. Plus, earning a master’s degree is a huge bonus.

Since starting the program in August 2024, I’ve gained so much confidence in myself and my ability to succeed in medicine. I’ve made lifelong friends, found a clear path forward, and proven to myself that I am capable. This program has truly felt like a do-over—and it reminded me that I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me. I have no worries about applying to medical school next year!

P.S. Living in Tampa has been a great part of the experience, too! There's so much to do and see. I'm a Florida girl who loves to eat, so Tampa is perfect!
Bio: Hey there! I’m Emily, and there are a number of reasons why I chose the MSP³ program here at USF. First off, I graduated from the University of Georgia in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Biology and took a couple of gap years after graduating. I knew I wasn’t ready to apply to medical school right after graduating so after those couple of years, I looked into accelerated master’s programs and the MSP³ program was just what I was looking for. The duration of this program is only one year which really appealed to me, but that means it is quite accelerated. I definitely feel like the pace and content of this program is setting me up for success for my future at a medical school. I have already learned so much in my short time here. I have gained confidence, found studying techniques that have worked for me and my learning style, challenged myself in ways I never thought I could, and have even been able to study for the MCAT throughout this program also. A lot of the material seen throughout the courses is some of the same material being tested on the MCAT, so I feel like I have also prepared and mastered some of the content for that exam as well. This program also offers an Anatomy lab as an elective which gives you invaluable insight on how the body works and also gives you a “leg up” when going into medical school anatomy labs and dissections.

Another reason I am so thankful for this program is due to the many opportunities this program offers. Throughout the semesters, the program holds a speaker series which is an opportunity to hear from various medical/PA/dental schools where their admissions people come and speak to our program directly. This gives you an opportunity to form new relationships, put yourself out there, and ask questions directly to these schools. The program also offers workshops to perfect applications, work on personal statements, and learn different kinds of studying strategies for success in this program and beyond.

I will forever be grateful for my time here at USF. I am so glad that I chose to take on this challenging program and I can say I definitely feel prepared for my next step in life!
Bio: Hey, I’m Dante Ntiganzwa, and I’m a Student Ambassador for USF’s MSP³ program. I graduated from Christopher Newport University in May 2024, where I competed as a track and field athlete. I poured a lot into the sport, which came with its success, but I knew that I needed to take more dedicated time to strengthen my application if I wanted to be a physician. When I finished undergrad, I began looking for a program that wouldn’t just check boxes, but would help me continue to build my confidence and give me a real shot at this path. MSP³ has done that. It’s challenging, for sure, but it’s also given me room to grow, adapt, and connect with people who get what this journey takes. The coursework will push you, but so will the people around you, and in the best way possible. I’m genuinely thankful to be here and excited for what’s ahead. I’ve still got work to do, but I feel more ready than ever.