Dual degrees in the MD program help students prepare for a career that supplements expertise in clinical patient care with a second specialty.

MD Dual Degree Programs

IU School of Medicine’s MD curriculum trains well-rounded physicians by holistically incorporating training in basic sciences, clinical care, hospital system sciences, ethics and more. Yet some students want more. Pursuing a dual degree allows these students to adjust the traditional four-year MD education schedule to complete an additional complementary degree such as a PhD, MBA, JD, MPH or MA.

The process for pursuing dual degrees is highly customized for each student at IU School of Medicine. Students interested in pursuing a dual degree work one-on-one with a lead advisor and the Mentoring and Advising Program (MAP) team to craft a personalized plan of study. Many dual degree plans coordinate with the MD curriculum, often reducing the additional time required to complete both degrees.

Dual Admissions

Most MD Dual Degree Programs require admission to IU School of Medicine as well as the IU school conferring the second degree. Students interested in starting the application process for an MD dual degree program can get started by applying to IU School of Medicine.

Apply for MD

Medical Science Training Program (MD/PhD)

The Medical Scientist Training Program at IU School of Medicine is training leaders in academic medicine to support the development of independent scientific careers in medical research. The program centers on an integrated curriculum that combines a strong core education in medicine and intensive training in scientific inquiry. Successful completion of the program earns participants both an MD and PhD degree. Learn more about the Medical Science Training Program.
MD/JD

An MD/JD dual degree is useful for students interested in learning more about health law or pursuing a career in academic medicine. Students interested in a MD/JD dual degree must apply separately to both the IU School of Medicine and the IU McKinney School of Law and be accepted by both programs. Learn more about the MD/JD dual degree requirements.
MD/MPH

IU School of Medicine and the IU School of Public Health together developed the MD/MPH dual degree program that integrates medicine and public health training. Students learn core public health topics, including environmental health, infectious disease control, biostatistics, disease prevention and health policy, while pursuing medical training required to be a physician. Students interested in the combined MD/MPH degree can specify this interest during the application process for the IU School of Medicine MD program. Current MD students can also apply for the dual degree program at any point in their medical education through IU Fairbanks School of Public Health Master of Public Health Program.
MD/MBA

IU School of Medicine and IU Kelley School of Business partner to offer the MD/MBA dual degree for highly qualified students who desire to complement medical training with a greater understanding of economics, finance, marketing and management of the health care system. Students in this program begin their medical training before integrating course work with the IU Kelley School of Business degree requirements. The degrees are conferred simultaneously when all joint degree requirements are met, which typically occurs after five years of graduate education. To pursue an MD/MBA, students must apply separately to both the IU School of Medicine and Kelley School of Business and be accepted by both programs to pursue the joint MD/MBA degree. Learn more about the MD/MBA Program.
MD/MA or MD/MS

In addition to educating future physicians, IU School of Medicine is deeply committed to developing future health care leaders and scholars in medicine. That’s why IU School of Medicine offers dual degrees that allow students to receive a master’s degree in addition to an MD degree. Master’s degree specializations include philosophy (with a bioethics focus); philanthropy; clinical research; biomedical engineering; and more. Students interested in pursuing a master’s degree should explore the individual program requirements and reach out to their lead advisors to begin the next steps.
MD/MS BME

Medical students can pursue a Master's of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering (MS BME) through one-year programs offered in both West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Students earning this degree will gain first-hand knowledge of medical technology innovation and strategies for clinical translation. They will strengthen their ability to pursue medical research, to facilitate clinical testing of new therapies, or to collaborate effectively with biomedical industry. Students interested in pursuing a master’s degree should explore the individual program requirements and reach out to their lead advisors to begin the next steps.
Certificate Programs

Certificate programs provide students formal training in an area of interest with fewer requirements than other credentials. Certificates include public health, bioethics, medical humanities, clinical research and more.
Scholarly Concentrations

Scholarly Concentrations empower students to pursue a focused area of study that expands upon the school’s core curriculum without adding to the time or cost of a traditional four-year medical degree. Scholarly concentrations enable students to take advantage of summers and less intense periods in medical school to explore topics such as Urban Medicine and Health Care Disparities, Quality and Innovation and Business of Medicine—each of which takes advantage of unique expertise at one of the school’s nine campuses.

Participating students gain valuable experience in multidisciplinary scholarship, research and community engagement that will prove beneficial when applying to residency and throughout their careers. Throughout each concentration, students receive one-on-one mentorship and develop skills and products that will help them stand out in residency and professional opportunities.