Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine
TUCOM-CA
Main Campus: Vallejo, CA
Branch Campus: TUNCOM – Henderson, NV
COVID-19 Related Information
Osteopathic Medical Schools Adapt Admissions Processes in Response to COVID-19
Medical School Interview Options for 2020-2021 Cycle: We are ONLY offering virtual interviews this cycle.
Requires a Letter from a Physician: DO or MD Letter Required, however, if possible, a DO Letter is preferred
Accepts Online Coursework to Fulfill Prerequisite Requirements: Yes, but coursework must be from a regionally accredited institution
Accepts Pass/Fail Coursework to Fulfill Prerequisite Requirements: Yes
Accepts Online Lab Coursework: Yes, but must be from a regionally accredited institution
Willing to Accept Applicants Without Lab Coursework: Information Not Yet Available
General Information
Mission Statement
The TUCOM-CA mission is to prepare students to become outstanding osteopathic physicians who uphold the values, philosophy and practice of osteopathic medicine and who are committed to primary care and the holistic approach to the patient. The program advances the profession and serves its students and society through innovative pre-doctoral and post-doctoral education, research, community service, and multidisciplinary and osteopathic clinical services.
College Description
Established in 1997, TUCOM California is training the doctors this nation needs to achieve a healthy future. The curricular emphasis on primary care, inter-professionalism, health care disparities, disease prevention, and public health prepares our graduates exceptionally well for contemporary medical practice.
At a time when many universities are graduating doctors in specialized medicine, Touro continues to remain in the top echelon of those graduating new physicians choosing a career in primary care. The comprehensive, challenging curriculum ensures students will gain a solid foundation in basic science and clinical practice that will enable them a gratifying career whether they choose primary care or specialty medicine.
Our students learn osteopathic medical manipulation from faculty clinicians who are widely respected as leaders in their discipline. Faculty scholars mentor students in laboratory research, which impacts patient care and the health of families and communities. Our graduates attain highly-coveted, competitive residency positions from primary care to medical and surgical sub-specialties, while our alumni continue to distinguish themselves in their practices from coast to coast.
Campus setting:
Located on Mare Island, in the city of Vallejo, the TUCOM California campus is in the Northern part of the San Francisco Bay Area and is within a short drive to San Francisco, Berkeley, Napa, and Sacramento and all of the various cultural events and activities you would expect in the very diverse Bay Area.
Year founded: 1997
Type: Private, non-profit
Accreditation:
TUCOM California is fully accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). Touro University California is fully accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
Institutional affiliation:
- Touro College and University System
- Touro University Nevada
The Touro College and University System is comprised of Jewish-sponsored non-profit institutions of higher and professional education. Touro Collegewas chartered in 1970 primarily to enrich the Jewish heritage, and to serve the larger American community. Approximately 19,000 students are currentlyenrolled in its various schools and divisions. Touro College has branch campuses, locations and instructional sites in the New York area, as well asbranch campuses and programs in Berlin, Jerusalem, Moscow, Paris, and Florida. Touro University California and its Nevada branch campus, as well asTouro College Los Angeles and Touro University Worldwide, are separately accredited institutions within the Touro College and University System.
Facilities:
Campus facilities include a full-size gymnasium, racquetball/handball courts, weight room, and other general fitness areas. A city-owned, 18-hole golf course and several walking/hiking/biking trails are located within minutes of our campus. A wide variety of social, recreational, cultural, and community service activities are available throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Student residence options:
Touro University California employs a housing specialist to assist students in locating suitable housing options. Most of our students live in Vallejo or surrounding communities within a short drive to campus. University subsidized housing is not provided.
2019-2020 Enrollment
- Total medical school enrollment: 551
- Total male: 299
- Total female: 252
- First-year enrollment: 135
- First-year male: 70
- First-year female: 65
- First-year in-state: 112
- First-year out-of-state: 23
- Total enrollment affiliate institutions: 19,250
Campus Photos
Curricular Offerings
Our didactic (pre-clinical) curriculum is system based, integrated, and competencies driven, which means you are prepared to “do” things and not just “know” things. Topics are presented in a modular, team-based learning format. Learning groups of approximately six students spend two-to-three weeks on each module followed by a comprehensive exam. Osteopathic practice and theory are woven throughout our didactic curriculum.
Our clinical curriculum is designed so that students are exposed to a mix of experiences at both teaching and regional/community hospitals. Third year rotation schedules are generally assigned with approximately 90 percent of our students securing their first or second core hospital choices. Fourth-year rotation schedules are designed by the student, which allows for greater flexibility for audition rotations, board preparation, and residency interviews.
For additional information regarding our curriculum, please refer to http://com.tu.edu/academics/do.html
Dual Degree Programs
DO/MPH
The Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)/Master of Public Health (MPH) Dual Degree at Touro University California trains students concurrently enrolled in the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM ) to assume leadership roles in population-based care and to incorporate prevention in their clinical practices. The discipline of osteopathic medicine—with its traditional emphasis on treating the whole person, education, and prevention—is particularly well-suited to complement public health in its mission to improve knowledge and change behavior and environments on a large scale. Our dual degree curriculum is designed so that both degrees can be completed during the four-year medical school education window.
Preparatory Programs
Master of Science in Medical Health Sciences
This program is designed to enrich a student’s academic knowledge base as well as to strengthen a prospective medical student’s credentials for admission to medical school. This one-year program consists of a rigorous graduate curriculum in the basic medical sciences and a semester-long research internship course.
Master of Public Health
The Master of Public Health degree program can provide prospective medical school applicants the ability to add depth to their application portfolio. Public Health education complements osteopathic medicine philosophies and can lay the groundwork for future physicians to transition into the public policy and health administration sectors.
Special Programs
Global Health Program
The Touro University Program in Global Health grounds teaching of global health in the complex realities of local communities and health service institutions through an integrated curriculum of case-based courses, research apprenticeships, elective rotations, summer internships, and clinical and public health practicum.
WARM (Wellness, Academic Achievement, Resilience, Mindfulness) Program
Medical education must shift its paradigm from solely focusing on high academic performance to also creating a well-rounded medical student, honing in on personal and professional growth. The osteopathic philosophy emphasizes the unity of mind, body, spirit, as well as utilizing the concept of health promotion. While osteopathic education focuses on patient care, there has been a lack of attention placed onto student wellness and development. The WARM curriculum is responding to the shortcomings in the medical education with interrelated adjunctive learning opportunities to grow within the four aspects of WARM.
Admissions Process & Application Information
Admissions Process
Candidates are screened several times during the admissions process. The first screening, which occurs when the AACOMAS application has been submitted, is designed to verify that candidates have satisfied our published minimum academic requirements. Subsequent screenings, which focus on more holistic criteria, are used to determine interview eligibility and, ultimately eligibility for acceptance into the program
Application Information
- Primary application service: AACOMAS
- Earliest application submission date: Opening Date of AACOMAS (5/5/2020)
- Primary application deadline: 3/15/2021
- Supplemental application deadline: 4/15/2021
- Submission timing for best consideration: TUCOM California operates on a rolling admissions cycle. For the best chance of admission, candidates are encouraged to apply prior to February 1st.
First-Year Class Matriculants’ Selection Factors:
The Mission of the Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine is to prepare students to become outstanding osteopathic physicians who uphold the values, philosophy and practice of osteopathic medicine and who are committed to primary care and the holistic approach to the patient. In addition to academic readiness, students are selected based upon their understanding of and commitment to osteopathic medicine, verbal and non-verbal communication skills, reasoned judgment, and fit-to-mission.
International students (non-U.S. citizens or temporary residents) considered: No
MCAT
- Oldest MCAT considered: January 2017
- Accept September 2020 MCAT scores: Yes
- Accept January 2021 MCAT scores: Yes
Accepted Sources for Letters of Recommendation
- AACOMAS
- Interfolio
Supplemental Application
- Supplemental application required? Yes
- Earliest supplemental application submission date: 6/1/2020
- Supplemental application deadline: 4/15/2021
- Supplemental application requirements:
Please refer to http://admissions.tu.edu/com - Fee waiver available: No
- Supplemental application sent to the following prospective students:
Screened applicants: Please refer to http://admissions.tu.edu/com - Supplemental application fee: $100, non-refundable
Interview Format
TUCOM California employs a panel style, group interview format. Five to six candidates will be interviewed together by one clinician, one basic science faculty member, and one second-year medical student. Interviews are open file and will last approximately one hour. Interviewers have access to all materials submitted by the candidate at least five days prior to the interview.
Premedical Coursework
Science Courses
Required:
- Biology/Zoology, 8 semester hours with lab
- Organic Chemistry, 8 semester hours with lab
- Inorganic Chemistry, 8 semester hours with lab
- Physics, 8 semester hours with lab
Recommended:
- Biochemistry
Non-Science Courses
Required:
- College English, 4 semester hours
- Behavioral Sciences, 4 semester hours
- Math/Statistics, 4 semester hours
None recommended
Acceptances
Applicants will be requested to submit necessary matriculation documents, including a deposit, according to the following schedule:
- Acceptance response forms, together with the required deposit, are due within two weeks of the date on the letter of acceptance.
- Maximum time for applicant to accept offer: Two weeks
- Earliest acceptance date: 10/1/2020
- Latest acceptance date: 7/31/2021
- Deferred entrance requests considered: Yes
Deferral requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. - Orientation / start date for first-year students: 8/1/2021
Early Decision Program
- Early Decision Program (EDP) offered: No
First-Year Class Matriculants
Self-Reported Race/Ethnicity
American Indian/Alaska Native | 0% |
Asian | 48% |
Black or African American | 2% |
Hispanic/Latino | 7% |
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0% |
White | 33% |
Multiple Races | 4% |
Undisclosed | 0% |
Majors of First-Year Matriculants
Science Majors | 86% |
Non-Science Majors | 14% |
Graduate Degrees | 30% |
Tuition, Fees & Financial Aid
Tuition and Fees
- 2019-20 annual resident tuition: $56,860
- 2019-20 annual non-resident tuition: $56,860
- 2019-20 annual resident fees: $400
- 2019-20 annual non-resident fees: $400
- 2019-20 annual health insurance fee: $4,788
- Fees include:
- Technology (not computer)
- Health Service
- Estimated annual room, board, books and living costs: $18,514
- Average 2018 graduate indebtedness: $274,833
Deposit
- Amount of deposit to hold place in class: $2,000,
Partially refundable: The second deposit is refundable provided cancellation is made prior to the first day of orientation. The first deposit is not refundable. - Additional deposit amount: $1,000
- Deposit applied to tuition: Yes
Financial Aid
- Financial Aid Website
- Enrolled students with federal financial aid: 84%
- Scholarships: Yes
- Average scholarship/grant: NA
Contacts & Additional Resources
Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine
TUCOM CA
Address:
1310 Club Drive
Vallejo, CA 94592
Main phone: (707) 638-5200
Email: admit@tu.edu
Phone: (707) 638-5200