The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the University of Arkansas have announced plans for a new accelerated program that will allow students to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a medical degree in six years.
The program, set to begin in fall 2027, will be one of only three in the nation offering a six-year pathway from high school to an M.D. degree.
Officials say the program is designed to reduce both the time and cost required to become a physician while helping address ongoing doctor shortages in Arkansas and across the country.
“We understand that the path to becoming a physician can be long and costly, and that creates real barriers,” said UAMS Chancellor C. Lowry Barnes. “This six-year program changes that equation.”
Students accepted into the program will complete two years of undergraduate coursework in Fayetteville before transitioning into the standard four-year medical curriculum at UAMS. The inaugural class will be limited to 20 students, with preference given to Arkansas residents.
Program leaders say early clinical exposure will be a key component, with UAMS faculty involved from the beginning to provide hands-on training and mentorship.
“This collaboration is a natural extension of our mission to develop Arkansas’ future health care workforce,” said UAMS College of Medicine Dean Steven Webber.
The initiative also aims to help combat a projected nationwide physician shortage, expected to reach up to 86,000 doctors by 2036.
University leaders say the partnership will create more opportunities for Arkansas students while strengthening health care access across the state.
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