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Biomedical Sciences BS
Program overview
Biomedical sciences is an academic program designed to prepare students for advanced study in medical, dental, or graduate schools as they pursue careers in health care or biomedical research. Faculty, from across the basic science disciplines and within and outside of the college, offer a diverse curriculum as well as research opportunities for students. In tracking through a highly flexible curricular structure, students will have access to myriad scientific professionals and educational experiences.
For the past 20 years, researchers in the biomedical fields have enjoyed rapid gains in employment due, in part, to the advances in biotechnology and an increase in staff in new medical research industries. Continued employment growth will occur with the increased need for more research in many areas of health care, including AIDS, diabetes, cancer, and neurological disorders. Courses and concentration options within biomedical sciences are designed to attract students interested in the broad spectrum of medically related jobs and to provide a knowledge base and the technical skills required to pursue their chosen careers.
Curriculum
The curricular requirements for the BS degree in biomedical sciences are very flexible, consisting of a life sciences core and a broad range of flexible options. The life sciences core is designed to provide students with a strong grounding in mathematics and science, a complement of liberal arts courses in preparation for a particular career path—e.g., entry into graduate study, including medical/dental school—or a research position in an applied area of biomedical science. Upon completion of the life sciences core, concentration areas are available in which the student, in consultation with an academic adviser, may select and complete a series of required and elective courses. Concentration areas include focused study in forensic science, pre-health professions (pre-medical, pre-dental), exercise science, pathology, neuroscience, and genetics. Students also may choose to use elective credits to engage in undergraduate research with a faculty mentor and/or pursue a secondary field of study through a minor in the liberal arts (communications, psychology, public policy, foreign language, etc.) or sciences (statistics, biochemistry, or imaging science), or possibly a second major.
Biomedical sciences, BS degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| BIOL-101 | General Biology I | 3 |
| BIOL-103 | General Biology I Lab | 1 |
| CHMG-141 | LAS Perspective 5: General and Analytical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHMG-145 | LAS Perspective 5: General and Analytical Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| LAS Foundation 1: First Year Seminar† | 3 | |
| LAS Perspective 1 | 3 | |
| BIOL-102 | General Biology | 3 |
| BIOL-104 | General Biology II Lab | 1 |
| CHMG-142 | LAS Perspective 6: General and Analytical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHMG-146 | LAS Perspectives 6: General and Analytical Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
| ENGL-150 | LAS Foundation 2: First Year Writing | 3 |
| MATH-161 | LAS Perspective 7A: Applied Calculus | 4 |
| Wellness Education* | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| MEDS-250 | Anatomy and Physiology I and lab | 4 |
| Concentration Courses | 8 | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| STAT-145 | Introduction to Statistics | |
| STAT-155 | LAS Perspective 7B: Introduction to Biostatistics | |
| LAS Perspective 2, 3 | 6 | |
| MEDS-251 | Anatomy and Physiology II and lab | 4 |
| BIOL-201 | Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| Third Year | ||
| Concentration Courses | 11 | |
| Professional Electives (WI) | 12 | |
| LAS Perspectives 4 | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Concentration Course | ||
| Professional Elective | ||
| LAS Immersion 1 | 3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Professional Electives | 12 | |
| Free Electives | 12 | |
| LAS Immersion 2, 3 | 6 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
Please see New General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.
(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information.
† The First Year Seminar requirement is replaced by an LAS Elective for the 2013-14 academic year.