Secure your spot in medical, dental, or anesthesiology assistant school before your freshman year. Rockhurst University, in partnership with Kansas City University, offers a competitive freshman direct-entry Early Acceptance Program (EAP) that offers high school seniors the opportunity to gain direct admission into KCU’s graduate healthcare programs. Accepted students will enter RU and hold a reserved place in one of three competitive healthcare tracks at KCU, setting them on a fast track to a healthcare career.
The application deadline for fall 2025 is March 1, 2025!
Accelerated Seven-Year Medical Program: BS-DO
Join the Accelerated Seven-Year Medical Program (BS-DO) and earn both a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Molecular Biology from Rockhurst University and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from Kansas City University—saving you a full year! In this program, students complete a 3-year undergraduate track followed by a 4-year DO program, combining education in molecular biology with holistic, osteopathic medical training.
What makes a DO special?
Osteopathic physicians (DOs) use a patient-centered approach, grounded in the Jesuit value of cura personalis or “care for the whole person,” treating the mind, body, and spirit. When comparing a DO and MD, they are very similar. Students in both degrees take comparable coursework, have the ability to prescribe medicine and take licensing exams. A unique feature of DO training is osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), which is a set of techniques used to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness and injury.
Program highlights:
- Early acceptance into KCU’s medical school as a high school senior.
- Complete your BS in Molecular Biology and your DO in just seven years.
- No MCAT is required to matriculate to KCU. Join a Rockhurst cohort of up to 25 students.
- Automatic acceptance into Rockhurst’s DO/MBA dual degree in Health Care Leadership program, giving you the opportunity to earn three degrees in seven years.
- KCU’s DO program is the largest in Missouri and the 10th largest in the country, with an impressive 95% pass rate and 99% residency placement
Accelerated Seven-Year Dental Program: BS-DMD
In the Accelerated Seven-Year Dental Program (BS-DMD), students earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Molecular Biology from Rockhurst University and a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) from Kansas City University in only seven years. Students will complete their undergraduate degree in three years and their DMD in an additional four years.
The four-year DMD curriculum represents a philosophy that dentists are primary care clinicians capable of caring for underserved and/or vulnerable populations. The integrated curriculum is layered to enable continuous reinforcement of clinical and non-clinical skills throughout the program.
Program highlights:
- Early acceptance into KCU’s dental school as a high school senior.
- Complete your BS in Molecular Biology and your DMD in just seven years.
- No DAT is required to matriculate to KCU.
- Join a Rockhurst cohort of 10 students.
- Automatic acceptance into Rockhurst’s DO/MBA dual degree in Health Care Leadership program, giving you the opportunity to earn three degrees in seven years.
- DMD courses are conducted at KCU’s campus in Joplin, Missouri.
Accelerated 5.5 Year Anesthesiologist Assistant Program: BS-MHSAA
The Accelerated 5.5-Year Anesthesiologist Assistant Program (BS-MHSAA) prepares students to earn a BS in Molecular Biology and a Master of Health Science in Anesthesiologist Assistant (MHS-AA) in just 5.5 years. Students will complete their undergraduate degree in three years and their MHS-AA in an additional 27 months.
Anesthesiologist assistants work collaboratively with physician anesthesiologists to provide patient care in a variety of clinical care settings. The KCU graduate curriculum will cover anesthesia principles, pharmacology, patient assessment and advanced anesthesia practice techniques as well as hands-on clinical experiences working alongside accomplished anesthesiologists in diverse clinical settings. Graduates of the program will be well-prepared to pursue careers in various clinical settings, including hospitals, surgical centers, and pain management clinics.
Program highlights:
- Early acceptance into KCU’s MHS-AA program as a high school senior.
- Complete your BS in Molecular Biology and your MHS-AA in 5.5 years.
- Join a Rockhurst cohort of up to five students.
- No GRE is required to matriculate to KCU.
- Automatic acceptance into Rockhurst’s DO/MBA dual degree in Health Care Leadership program, giving you the opportunity to earn three degrees in seven years.
- MHS-AA graduate courses are conducted at KCU’s campus in Joplin, Missouri.
Application Requirements & Instructions
Consideration for acceptance into freshman direct-entry EAP is based on the following criteria:
- Official ACT of 28+ (with 22+ in Math) or official SAT score of 1310+ (540+ in Math). For a test score to be considered official, we must receive it directly from the testing agency, your high school or the Common Application.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.70 or higher on an unweighted 4.0 scale
- Minimum 3.50 GPA in math and science courses on an unweighted 4.0 scale
- Evidence of extracurricular activities, with an emphasis on community service and leadership
- Completion of a minimum 3 years of mathematics – including algebra and trigonometry
- Completion of a minimum 3 years of sciences – including biology and chemistry
- Personal statement
How to Apply
1. Apply to Rockhurst University
2. Once you have applied to Rockhurst, complete the freshmen direct-entry EAP application for your program of interest. This application can only be accessed in your RU applicant portal.
If you are applying to RU via the Common Application, you will receive instructions on how to access your RU applicant portal once we receive your Common App.