Online Masters Degree in Medicine

An online medical masters degree examines how technology, science, and medicine intersect in order to prevent, treat, and cure illnesses and injuries. Typically, this involves a combination of research, critical analysis, writing, and clinical lab studies to analyze and apply the key theories and concepts in a number of different fields.  These are all medical profession skills you can learn at an online university or college.

Did You Know?

43% of baby boomers are starting to leverage social media for healthcare related information.

Online Medical Masters Degree: Basics

There are a wide variety of online medical masters degrees available, many of which are listed below. Each of these different majors or concentrations may have their own admissions requirements, graduation requirements, and emphasize different aspects of the health care system.  Contacting schools you're interested in may be the best way to go about ascertaining these specifics. 

Admissions Requirements for Masters Degree in Medicine Programs

Regardless of the specific major or concentration you chose, some of the most common and top admissions requirements for online medical masters degrees include:

  • Bachelors degree from an accredited school with 2.5 GPA
  • Official transcripts
  • Resume or CV
  • Essay or Statement of Purpose

Keep in mind that the specific requirements vary from school to school. For instance, some schools may require a higher undergraduate GPA or higher scores on the GRE or GMAT than other schools.

Many schools also require that you’ve taken a certain number of science courses while earning your undergraduate degree. Some of these may include two semesters of biology, chemistry, and organic chemistry. However, the specific courses may vary depending on your major or concentration.

Medical Masters Degree Graduation Requirements

Some of the most common graduation requirements for online medical masters degree programs are:

  • Pass All Required Courses
  • Capstone or Thesis
  • Minimum GPA

Keep in mind that every school is different. For example, some schools may allow you to take courses that count as credits towards a PhD and others may not have a minimum GPA while you pursue your degree. Still other schools may not require a capstone or thesis project.

Be sure to research all of the different aspects of a program before applying in order to find the perfect program for you.

Options to Earn Your Online Medical Masters Degree

As the technology and research continues to improve our health care system, there have become a number of degrees available in a wide range of subjects. Many of these cover one specific aspect of health and medicine, while others may be more of a broad topic that offers concentrations so that your masters degree may be more focused.

Many online medical masters degree programs are also designed to develop your leadership and management skills. This may include analyzing different leadership styles and studying which are best in what situations and in what types of organizations. This may help prepare you to implement these strategies upon earning your degree.

One of the best ways to research the perfect program for you is to have a good understanding of your goals upon earning your masters degree. This can help narrow down the medical programs to the specific field or fields that you’re interested in. However, keep in mind that this is not a complete list and there may be additional options.

Some of the majors or concentrations you may choose for your online medical masters degree include those listed below.

Online Masters Degree in Microbiology

Many online masters degree in microbiology and cell science examine microbiology practicum through clinical microbiology and laboratory science coursework. This usually includes analyzing topics such as:

  • Infectious diseases
  • DNA and RNA viruses
  • Immunology
  • Metabolic regulation

Online Masters Degree in Biotechnology

Biotechnology combines the study of science and technology in order to understand the genetic manipulation of microorganisms. Typically, this manipulation may be used to create hormones, antibiotics, and other medicines.

Choosing a concentration in biosecurity may also include analyzing countermeasures and developing an expertise in response and recover strategies. This may also include using technology to detect, analyze, and respond to biosecurity threats.

Concentrations Biotechnology Masters Degrees:

While many of the different online medical masters degree options offer concentrations, there are a number of options for biotechnology degrees. Some of these are:

  • Bioinformatics
  • Biosecurity and Biodefense
  • Biotechnology Management
  • Biotechnology Regulatory Affairs

Online Masters in Kinesiology

As an interdisciplinary degree, many kinesiology masters degrees combine the science of human movement, the practice of relevant research methods, and the advanced studies of fitness and wellness. In some programs, kinesiology is offered as a concentration as part of an online occupational therapy masters degree

Usually, while pursuing a masters degree in kinesiology, courses examine some of the following topics:

  • Exercise and fitness education
  • Nutrition
  • Exercise physiology
  • Biomechanics

Additional Medical Masters Degrees and Concentrations

As the health care industry continues to grow and include so many different components and fields, there are a number of other medical degrees and concentrations that you can pursue for your masters degree.

Some of these include:

There may be a number of other degrees or concentrations available for your online medical masters degree. Keep that in mind while you research specific programs and degrees in order to find the perfect program for you.

Masters Degree in Medicine

As opposed to most of the degrees listed above, a masters degree in medicine is specifically focused on developing research skills and clinical studies in order to create new medicines in order to cure diseases.

Therefore, many courses are focused on translating scientific discoveries into useful medical advances. This combines science, technology, and biology in order to understand advances in technology and how they can help doctors better cure the diseases and other ailments of their patients.

What Is the Field of Medicine?

Medicine has two meanings. First, medicine is the science of healing. Second, medicine is the medication, drugs, and substances used to treat and cure diseases.

The science of healing is what students who pursue an online medical masters degree usually focus on. This includes examining the practice of diagnosis and the treatment and prevention of disease, as well as the promotion of health and healthy lifestyles.

On the other hand, an online masters degree in medicine is more focused on the second definition. This is the study of how to treat illnesses and diseases through drugs and medication.

What Is It Like to Study Medicine?

Studying medicine is a heavily focused subject area that combines independent research, clinical lab studies, and critical analysis. The goal of many online medical masters degree programs is develop a complete understanding of the principles in your specific subject area.

This understanding may help you pursue a career or prepare you for the rigors of medical school or a PhD. As a result, typically while studying medicine, students find themselves reading, researching, and studying most of the time they’re not in class.

In fact, many students find that they don’t eat right or get enough sleep. Many professors recommend that you carve out enough time for both of these in order to maintain your own health while you study how to help others maintain there’s.

Online Medical Masters Degree Programs: What You’ll Learn

While pursuing an online medical masters degree, programs examine the key topics, concepts, and theories in health and medicine. Many of these college and university programs are designed to incorporate the latest technology in order to better prepare you for the latest techniques and methods, as well as those that may be more prevalent in the near future.

In addition to using technology, many programs also place a top emphasis on collecting, evaluating, and interpreting large amounts of data. This may help you develop new methods or techniques to helping patients, as well as applying it to support your research.

Important Topics in Health and Medicine

While the specific applications of many of the lessons you may study while you pursue an online medical masters degree will vary depending on which major or concentration you’ve chosen, there are many similarities between masters degree options.

Some of the key topics you may study, regardless of your focus area, include:

  • Present findings and research orally and in writing
  • Apply scientific methods and data analysis
  • Conduct, evaluate, and interpret data
  • Integrate electronic medical records with patient care
  • Comply with the laws and regulations to managing patient information

While these topics are studied in many of the online medical masters degree programs, the subjects and processes they are applied to are different.

For instance, while students in a kinesiology masters degree may apply scientific methods to the best way to rehabilitate a knee injury, a pharmacology student may apply the data according to best practices to see how different medicinal combinations may ease the patient’s pain.

Online Masters in Medicine: Common Courses

In order to teach a complete understanding of the top topics listed above, and additional topics depending on the type of medical degree or concentration you’ve chosen, courses usually emphasize a combination of lecture, independent study, lab work, research, and writing.

This type of in-depth critical analysis, as well as the application of the key theories and concepts in health and medicine may help develop you as a leader in your particular field.

Some of the courses you may take while earning an online medical masters degree are:

  • Evidence-based Practice and Research Methods
  • Advanced Fitness Nutrition
  • Advanced Cell Biology
  • Economic Dynamics of Change in Biotechnology
  • Research Methods in Medical Education
  • Human Anatomy
  • Human Genetics
  • Immunology in Health and Disease
  • Legal Aspects of Health Informatics Management
  • E-Health Care Ethics

Courses will vary from school to school, especially depending on which major or concentration you have chosen. Many programs are designed so that you have a number of core courses, concentration courses, and a couple electives. However, this depends on the makeup of each school.

Common Careers to Pursue in Health and Medicine

With so many topics available in the medical and health care fields, there are a number of careers that you may pursue upon earning your online medical masters degree.

Keep in mind that many of the masters degree majors and concentrations listed on this page analyze a specific portion of health and medicine. Therefore, it may be in your best interest to have an understanding of your career goals prior to selecting a program.

Some of the health and medicine careers, and their 2016 median annual salary, include:

  • Occupational Therapists: $81,910i
  • Genetic Counselors: $74,120ii
  • Orthotists and Prosthetists: $65,630iii
  • Physician Assistants: $101,480iv
  • Medical and Health Services Managers: $96,540v

In their own unique way, each of these positions are focused on treating patients in order to help them recover from an illness or injury.vi For instance, orthotists and prosthetists design prosthetics for patients.vii On the other hand, genetic counselors assess an individual’s or a family’s risk of getting inherited diseases.viii

Additional Licenses or Certifications in Health and Medicine

Beyond a masters degree, many health care professions need additional licenses or certifications in order to practice and serve patients. Some programs are designed to prepare you for these licenses, but it’s important to check with each school before applying so that you’re not surprised later.

One example is that all physician assistants need to pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). In order to keep their certification, physician assistants need to complete 100 hours of continuing education every two years.ix

As of 2015, there were 20 states that required genetic counselors to become licensed and other states have pending legislation. Typically, licensure requires a masters degree and pass an exam from the American Board of Genetic Counseling.x

As mentioned, many other careers in health care require some form of licensure or certification. Check with your school and research the careers you’re interested in to find the specific requirements for a number of positions in your state.

Find the Perfect Online Masters Program in Medicine For You

Do you want to pursue a masters degree in a health care field that you’re passionate about? Do you want to use that passion and education to help others recover from or prevent illnesses and injuries?

Then take the next step to earn your online medical masters degree. Click on any of the sponsored listings on this page for more information about specific schools. This includes program descriptions, common courses, and requirements. You can even reach out to your favorite schools directly to request more information.


[i] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm#tab-5 [ii] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/genetic-counselors.htm#tab-5 [iii] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/orthotists-and-prosthetists.htm#tab-5 [iv] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-5 [v] bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm#tab-5 [vi] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-2 [vii] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/orthotists-and-prosthetists.htm#tab-2 [viii] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/genetic-counselors.htm#tab-2 [ix] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-4 [x] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/genetic-counselors.htm#tab-4