Department of Biological Sciences offers a eight-year program BS in Biology (FDU) and Doctor of Medicine with Ross University School of Medicine, Dominica, West Indies.

This 4 + 4 combined degree program provides qualified students the opportunity to complete a baccalaureate degree and a Medical Doctor (MD) degree in eight years. The bachelor’s degree is awarded by Fairleigh Dickinson University and the MD degree by Ross University School of Medicine. English is the teaching language.

The program prepares students interested in pursuing a Doctor of Medicine degree to become successful physicians in the United States.

Admission requirements

  • High school seniors with a combined Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score of 1170 and high school GPA of 3.25 may apply for admission to the combined degree program.
  • All applicants for admission to the combined degree program must satisfy secondary school preparation in English, mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics.
  • The high school GPA and rank in class, along with letters of recommendation from high school teachers, will be of primary importance in evaluating applicants’ credentials.
  • Applicants are required to submit scores in the verbal and mathematical components of the SAT.

Qualifying for enrollment at Ross University

Students must meet the following criteria to qualify for admission to the medicine phase of the program:

  • Completion of all FDU curriculum requirements, including the general education requirements and the degree program requirements for the major and all prerequisite courses required for admission at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. Students must obtain a GPA of 3.00 or higher in prerequisite courses with no C-, D, or F in any of the courses;
  • An overall GPA of 3.2 or higher;
  • Other requirements include a satisfactory MCAT score and other minimum admissions requirements as set forth by Ross University.

Degree Plan

NOTE: All students are required to complete the General Education Requirements of their campus in fulfillment of their Bachelor degree requirements. [Florham Campus students are required to take SPCH 1107 Fundamentals of Speech and  PHIL1440 Bio-Medical Ethics as part of their general education requirements]

Semesters 1 and 2

Semester 3 and 4

Semesters 5 and 6

Semesters 7 and 8

  • Approved credits taken at professional school (29 credits)

Cognate Requirements

Semesters 1 and 2

Semesters 3 and 4

Semesters 5 and 6

Major Requirements:

  • The Program is designed for students who are accepted into professional school (e.g., School of Medicine, Dentistry, Chiropractic, and Optometry) after three years of undergraduate study.  Twenty-nine credits earned during the first year of professional school are used to supplement the 95 credits earned at FDU to complete the 124 credits required for the BS degree.

A minimum of 124 credits is required for graduation with BS Biology.