Biomedical Sciences Bachelor of Science Degree
Overview for Biomedical Sciences BS
Why Choose Biomedical Sciences at RIT
Comprehensive Curriculum: Core courses in biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology, plus electives in genetics, pharmacology, and epidemiology.
Medical School Preparation: Designed for students pursuing medicine, dentistry, veterinary, pharmacy, and allied health programs. Pre-med/Pre-health and pre-vet advising programs provide hands-on guidance for building competitive applications.
Hands-On Learning: Undergraduate research, cooperative education and internships, and study abroad opportunities.
Direct Path to Medical School: RIT’s partnership with the University of Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine offers eligible pre-health/pre-med students early admission and mentorship through the Early Opportunity Program in Medicine.
Career Success: Alumni work at American Medical Response, American Red Cross, IBM, KAPS Biotechnology, ScribeAmerica, SUNY Upstate Medical University, and more.
STEM-OPT Visa Eligible: The STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows full-time, on-campus international students on an F-1 student visa to stay and work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduation.
What is Biomedical Sciences?
The field of biomedical sciences combines biology and medicine to maintain and promote the health of both humans and animals. It is also an investigative field in which you will conduct hands-on research in order to solve pressing health problems. RIT’s BS in biomedical sciences provides you with a solid foundation to pursue medicine, health science professions, and research in areas such as:
- anatomy
- biology
- chemistry
- biochemistry
- nutrition
- physiology and kinesiology
- epidemiology
- diseases
- immunology
- epidemiology
- pharmacology
RIT’s Biomedical Sciences Degree Program
Our biomedical sciences degree prepares you for advanced study in various areas of medicine and health care (e.g. medical/dental/veterinary school, nursing, public health, and more) and for top-tier research positions at a range of medical and health sciences organizations. The major’s diverse curriculum includes a broad array of elective courses and offers you career-relevant experiential learning opportunities where you can apply the knowledge you gain in the classroom to real-world experiences. Comprehensive academic and faculty advising is complemented by a pre-health professions program that provides guidance to students in their selection of course work and in completing the requirements necessary for admission to advanced degree programs.
Develop the multidisciplinary skills, self-confidence, and cross-disciplinary literacy that allow you to thrive in the dynamic, rapidly changing world of biomedicine and biomedical sciences.
Biomedical Sciences Courses
The diverse curriculum of RIT’s biomedical sciences BS includes a life sciences core combined with a broad range of flexible elective options that enable you to customize your education to pursue your professional areas of interest and engage in undergraduate research or independent study with a faculty mentor.
You are able to choose elective courses from a range of categories to customize your degree around your career aspirations and professional interests. Categories include medical foundations, medicine and disease, and medicine and health. A selection of professional electives ensures you can pursue in-depth courses in:
- genetics
- genetic engineering
- genomics
- exercise and kinesiology
- sports physiology
- nutrition
- pharmacology
- epidemiology, and more.
Amplify your degree with additional opportunities:
- Minors and immersions: Choose from more than 185+ minors and immersions, including applied cognitive neuroscience, global public health, and nutritional sciences.
- Interdisciplinary research: Work alongside faculty from the College of Science, the Kate Gleason College of Engineering, the Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences, and other centers and colleges at RIT in research topics that interest you.
Learn more about program goals and learning outcomes for RIT's bachelor of science in biomedical sciences.
Pre-Health/Pre-Med Advising
RIT's Pre-Health Professions Advising Program emphasizes the importance of academic excellence while providing guidance and advice on extracurricular activities, undergraduate research opportunities, clinical and summer employment opportunities, MCAT and other graduate school admission exams, co-op and internship experiences, medical and graduate school applications, and more.
Pre-Vet Advising
RIT’s pre-vet advising program provides personalized support to help you prepare successful applications for veterinary medical school. Pre-vet advising offers guidance on course selection, veterinary and animal care experience requirements, the veterinary school application process, and more. Learn about RIT’s pre-vet advising program.
RIT/University of Buffalo’s Early Opportunity Program in Medicine
RIT pre-health/pre-med students have a direct path to medical school through an RIT partnership with the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo (UB). The Early Opportunity Program in Medicine allows eligible RIT students to secure a pre-admission offer to the Jacobs School while completing their undergraduate degree at RIT. Students accepted into the program gain early access to professional training and mentorship at UB’s medical school, helping them prepare for the demands of medical school and beyond. Learn more about the Early Opportunity Program in Medicine.
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Apply for Fall 2026
First-year students can apply for Early Decision II by Jan. 1 to get an admissions and financial aid assessment by mid-January.
Careers and Internships
What Can You Do with a Biomedical Sciences Degree?
With its grounding in the sciences and mathematics, along with a complement of liberal arts courses, the bachelor's in biomedical sciences is the perfect preparation for a range of career opportunities.
Careers in Biomedical Sciences
Dynamic career opportunities in the biomedical sciences continue to grow. This increase in demand is due, in part, to advances in biotechnology, the need for more researchers studying health care problems, medical procedures, and diseases, better treatments for current and emerging health issues, and public policy challenges.
- Medical School and Graduate Programs in the Health Sciences: The bachelor's in biomedical sciences offers excellent undergraduate preparation for careers in medicine (allopathic and osteopathic), biomedical research, exercise science, pathology, pharmacy, pharmacology and drug development, toxicology, neuroscience, and genetic counseling. Recent graduates are pursuing medical school and health science graduate degrees at universities such as Boston University School of Medicine, Cornell University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York University School of Medicine, SUNY Upstate School of Medicine, and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
- Direct Entry into Research Positions: Along with course work related to your curriculum, you will also have vast opportunities for hands-on research experiences in a range of areas. These opportunities will prepare you well for direct entry into research positions where you will investigate and explore solutions to a range of medical and health care problems.
Typical Job Titles
| Clinical Research Coordinator | Dietary Technician | EMT |
| Genetics Assistant | Image Analyst | Medical Assistant |
| Medical Scribe | Optometric Assistant | Patient Care Technician |
| Secondary Science Education |
Industries
A broad and demanding curriculum is the foundation for the career areas supported by the biomedical sciences degree. Yet, all of these areas also require some element of learning that occurs outside of the classroom. Hands-on, experiential learning allows students to explore new areas of study, solidify career goals, and acquire critical extracurricular credentials that increase the competitiveness of graduate and medical school applications and significantly enhance employment opportunities after graduation.
Research Internships
Research internships, offered both on and off-campus, take place during the summer. RIT offers numerous opportunities for students to participate in research, including three on-campus summer programs: Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF), and the Summer Undergraduate Research Programs (SURP). Many students participate in undergraduate research for course credit during the academic year.
Cooperative Education
What’s different about an RIT education? It’s the career experience you gain by completing cooperative education and internships with top companies in every single industry. You’ll earn more than a degree. You’ll gain real-world career experience that sets you apart. It’s exposure–early and often–to a variety of professional work environments, career paths, and industries.
Co-ops and internships take your knowledge and turn it into know-how. Science co-ops include a range of hands-on experiences, from co-ops and internships and work in labs to undergraduate research and clinical experience in health care settings. These opportunities provide the hands-on experience that enables you to apply your scientific, math, and health care knowledge in professional settings while you make valuable connections between classwork and real-world applications.
Featured Work and Profiles
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Recent Grad Wins Fulbright Scholarship to Study Public Health in England
Sammy Deol '25 (biomedical sciences) won a Fulbright Scholarship to attend graduate school in England. He will earn a master’s degree in public health in preparation for medical school.
Read More about Recent Grad Wins Fulbright Scholarship to Study Public Health in England -
Research Programs Fuel RIT Student Success
Two RIT scholarships provide underrepresented students with resources, professional development, and opportunities to conduct and present research.
Read More about Research Programs Fuel RIT Student Success -
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Cultivate Critical Thinking, Collaboration, and Problem-Solving Skills
Marissa Schroeter chose RIT for its science expertise and the chance to join a research lab in her first semester.
Read More about Undergraduate Research Opportunities Cultivate Critical Thinking, Collaboration, and Problem-Solving Skills -
RIT Fulbright Scholar Tackles Neuroscience Research in Quebec City
RIT biomedical sciences student Paige Mattoon spent her summer as a Fulbright Canada research intern in Quebec, studying neuron subpopulations linked to food intake.
Read More about RIT Fulbright Scholar Tackles Neuroscience Research in Quebec City
Curriculum for 2025-2026 for Biomedical Sciences BS
Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements
Admissions and Financial Aid
This program is STEM designated when studying on campus and full time.
First-Year Admission
First-year applicants are expected to demonstrate a strong academic background that includes:
- 4 years of English
- 3 years of social studies and/or history
- 3 years of math is required and must include algebra, geometry, and algebra 2/trigonometry. Pre-calculus is preferred.
- 2-3 years of science. Biology and chemistry are required.
Transfer Admission
Transfer applicants should meet these minimum degree-specific requirements:
- A minimum of college algebra is required. Pre-calculus or calculus is preferred.
- Biology and chemistry are required.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
100% of all incoming first-year and transfer students receive aid.
RIT’s personalized and comprehensive financial aid program includes scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment programs. When all these are put to work, your actual cost may be much lower than the published estimated cost of attendance.
Learn more about financial aid and scholarships
Facilities
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Cadaver LabHuman gross anatomy is taught in the fall (for medical illustration majors) and in the spring (for physician assistant and biomedical sciences majors) with the use of cadaver specimens acquired from the University of Rochester's School of Medicine.
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Health and Life Sciences LabCourses taught in the Health and Life Sciences Lab are managed by the College of Health Sciences and Technology and the College of Science and offered for students in majoring in biomedical sciences, biology, and biotechnology and molecular bioscience.
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Behavioral Health Dry LabWithin this space, clinical psychology interns and undergraduate students work with computer systems to create interactive therapeutic models.
Related News
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December 3, 2025
RIT biomedical sciences students launch new community club
Biomedical sciences at RIT is more than a major—it’s a pathway to medical school and future careers. Recognizing the need for connection beyond the classroom, students founded the Biomedical Sciences Student Association to create a strong peer network and collaborative environment.
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September 4, 2025
RIT partners with UB to offer path to medical school
The Early Opportunity Program in Medicine is a pre-admission program to the Jacobs School. Accepted students will gain professional interaction and career training at the medical school while earning their undergraduate degree at RIT.
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July 1, 2025
Recent graduate wins Fulbright scholarship to study public health in England
Sammy Deol won a yearlong Fulbright Scholarship to attend graduate school in England. He will earn a master’s degree in public health in preparation for medical school.
