This article was originally reported in June 2025.
The University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) and the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) in Baltimore announced on June 24, 2025, a new B.S.-M.D. program for undergraduates majoring in engineering, computer science or mathematics who want to become physicians. The program is funded by a five-year, $12.75 million grant from MPowering the State, the strategic partnership between College Park and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (Maryland Today, June 24, 2025).
What the program includes
- Clinical experience at UMSOM and structured, community-based service.
- A one-year research project in engineering or data science with a clear health care impact, supervised by a paired faculty mentor; students present their work to the cohort.
- Pre-med advising so students can complete medical school prerequisites alongside their engineering, computer science or math degree.
- The path to medical school: students take the MCAT in their third year and apply to UMSOM the following summer.
Samuel Graham, dean of the A. James Clark School of Engineering, said the program will train “future leaders at the intersection of engineering, computer science, and medicine.” UMSOM Dean Mark T. Gladwin said he hopes to cultivate “physicianeers,” and cited research finding that graduates with dual engineering and medicine degrees produce patents at 16 times the rate of other graduate students. Amitabh Varshney, dean of the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences, said he hopes some students will do research at the University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing. Bioengineering professor Ian White co-directs the program.
Latest update: the first cohort and current rules
Seven students began the program in fall 2025 as its first cohort: five bioengineering majors, one mathematics major and one computer science major (UMD Bioengineering, October 30, 2025). The program’s information page lists the current rules (Clark School of Engineering: University of Maryland B.S.-M.D. Program):
- Who can apply: UMD students majoring in computer science, mathematics or any Clark School engineering program (a minor does not qualify) who have completed one year at UMD. Transfer students may be eligible in some cases.
- When and how: apply by June 1 after the first year with an unofficial transcript, two letters of recommendation from UMD instructors, a statement on motivation for medicine, a statement on interest in engineering and data science, and a description of activities and service. No minimum GPA is required to apply.
- Selectivity: about 50 students are expected to apply each year and about 7 are accepted.
- To move on to the M.D.: graduate with a B.S. in engineering, mathematics or computer science with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5, complete the premedical coursework and take the MCAT before April 30 of the fourth year. Students who complete the requirements are guaranteed an interview, but admission to UMSOM is not guaranteed.
What international students should know
- Not open to most international students. The program accepts applications from U.S. citizens and permanent residents, citizens of Canada, and DACA students in Maryland only (Clark School of Engineering). F-1 students at UMD can still major in engineering, computer science or math, but they cannot join this pathway.
- Other routes into medicine are also limited. Only some U.S. medical schools consider international applicants. For research-minded students, see our guide to MD-PhD and Medical Scientist Training Programs, which covers which programs consider international applicants.
- About UMD: UMD is No. 49 among national universities in the 2027 U.S. News rankings and 57th in the 2026 ShanghaiRanking world list (Forward Pathway ranking database). Our UMD school page (linked above) has admissions data, costs and international enrollment.