10/27/2025
Established in 2020, The Tennessee State University Medical/Dental Accelerated Pathway Program is designed for gifted students who are interested in pursuing the M.D. or D.D.S. degrees. Students selected for this program will spend three years of study in the College of Life and Physical Sciences at Tennessee State University. The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology will be conferred upon successful completion of the undergraduate degree requirements at Tennessee State University. The Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) will be conferred after admission to and successful completion of the medical or dental program at one of our partnering medical schools: Meharry Medical College, Sidney Kimmel Medical College @ Thomas Jefferson University and Thomas F. Frist School of Medicine @ Belmont University.
Students applying for the Accelerated Pathway Program of the Dr. Levi Watkins, Jr. Institute must have the minimum requirements:
Applied to Tennessee State University or to the Common Black College Application as a First Time Freshman.
A minimum high school overall unweighted cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
A minimum Composite ACT score of 28 (or equivalent SAT score of 1310).
Upon meeting minimum requirements, final acceptance into the Dr. Levi Watkins, Jr. Institute Accelerated Pathway Program will be determined by a formal interview process administered by a committee composed of TSU and Meharry representatives. Students selected for the program will be notified with an official letter of acceptance into the program.
Responsibilities and Commitments of Students:
Students must agree to participate in the Summer Academic Enrichment and Summer Bridge programs.
Students must agree to participate in the MCAT and DAT preparation programs.
Students must commit to completing all requirements for admission into MMC.
Upon completion of Medical/Dental school, students will commit to a career as primary care physicians or dentists, serving underserved communities.
Deadline for applications is 03/30/2026.
For additional information contact Mrs. Barbara Murrell at bmurrell@tnstate.edu or 615-804-6125.
