Biomedical Sciences Major
Biomedical science puts foundational scientific knowledge into practice, spurring innovation in interventions, technology and biomedical engineering. This major is specifically designed for students planning to pursue careers in the allied health professions, translational medical research, and related areas. It is not well suited for students interested in entering medical, dental, veterinary and similar professional schools. Students interested in this programs, or doctoral programs in biology, should consider the BS in Biology instead.
Goal 1: Students will understand cell structure and function, the organization of biological systems, and the evolution of biological diversity.
Outcome 1.1: Students will be able to describe human anatomy, physiology, and specialized organ and tissue processes.
Outcome 1.2: Students will be able to describe cellular, genetic, biochemical, and organismal-level processes of living organisms, including humans and human diseases.
Outcome 1.3: Students will be able to describe important areas in other scientific areas that relate to human health, including chemistry, physics, statistical analysis, and others.
Goal 2: Students will develop skills in experimental design and the presentation of scientific information.
Outcome 2.1: Students will be able to design an experiment, operate basic laboratory equipment, reduce and present data that includes the interpretation of statistical tests.
Outcome 2.2: Students will be able to develop written and oral presentations of scientific content.
Goal 3: Students will demonstrate career preparation through learning opportunities that are closely related to the field.
Outcome 3.1: Students will complete the BIO 290 Career Development Seminar, attend multiple semesters of the BIO 390 Seminar series, and be exposed to various professions in biologically-related areas.
The traditional undergraduate programs includes a minimum of 120 credits distributed across three components: A General Education component divided into Signature Courses, Variable Courses, and an Integrative Learning requirement; a Major and Divisional component; and Free Electives. In addition to course requirements as specified in each area, students must complete one certified course in each of the following overlay areas1:
- Diversity, Globalization or Non-western Area Studies,
- Ethics Intensive
- Writing Intensive, and
- Diversity
- 1
Overlay requirements are part of the 120 credit requirements
General Education Signature Courses
See this page about Signature courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Seminar | ||
| BIO 150L | Bio I: Cells Lab Phage | 0 |
| Incoming first-year students can apply to be part of the BIO 150L Phage Safari lab in place of the BIO 101L. Phage fulfills both the lab requirement and the FYS requirement. | ||
General Education Variable Courses
See this page about Variable courses. Six to Nine courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | ||
| MAT 155 | Fundamentals of Calculus (or a higher-level calculus course) | 3 |
| or MAT 161 | Calculus I | |
| Natural Science | ||
| BIO 101 & 101L | Bio I: Cells and Bio I: Cells Lab | 4 |
| or BIO 150L | Bio I: Cells Lab Phage | |
General Education Overlays
General Education Integrative Learning Component
See this page about Integrative Learning Component. Three courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | ||
| CHM 125 & 125L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Lab II 1 | 4 |
| CHM 215 & 215L | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Lab II 2 | 4 |
| Physics | ||
| PHY 101 & 101L | General Physics I and General Physics Laboratory I 3 | 4 |
- 1
CHM 120 and CHM 120L are prerequisites for CHM 125 and CHM 125L.
- 2
CHM 210 and CHM 210L are prerequisites for CHM 215 and CHM 215L
- 3
The Biomedical Sciences major only requires the first semester of general physics. Please note that some professional and graduate programs require BOTH semesters. The second semester can be taken, but it will serve as a free elective.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 102 & 102L | Bio II: Genetics and Bio II: Genetics Lab | 4 |
| or BIO 151L | Phage Lab | |
| BIO 201 & 201L | Bio III: Organismic Biology and Bio III: Organismic Biol Lab | 4 |
| BIO 260 & 260L | Anat&Physiol for Al Hlth I and Anatomy & Physiology Lab I | 4 |
| BIO 261 & 261L | Anat&Physiol for Al Hlth II and Anatomy & Physiology Lab II | 4 |
| BIO 290 | Career Development Seminar | 0 |
| BIO 390 | Biology Seminar | 0 |
| MAT 128 | Applied Statistics | 3 |
| Four courses total, with at least one course from each of the following three groups: | ||
| Group A: Clinical and Translational Biology | ||
| BIO 218 | Hematology | 3 |
| BIO 219 | Nutrition | 3 |
| BIO 230 | Basic Concepts & Proc MLS | 4 |
| BIO 424 | Biotechnology | 4 |
| BIO 428 | Histopathology | 4 |
| BIO 425 | Bacterial Pathogenesis | 4 |
| BIO 433 | Parasitology | 3 |
| Group B: Biological Foundations of Medicine | ||
| BIO 336 | Plant Therapeutics | 3 |
| BIO 402 | Advanced Cell Biology | 4 |
| BIO 404 | Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIO 411 | Molecular Genetics | 4 |
| BIO 412 | Neurobiology | 4 |
| BIO 415 | Immunology | 4 |
| BIO 416 | Microbiology | 4 |
| BIO 430 | Neurological Disorders | 4 |
| BIO 434 | Biology of Aging | 3 |
| BIO 436 | Virology | 3 |
| Group C: Connect and Impacts of Biology | ||
| BIO 220 | Plant Diversity and Morphology | 3 |
| BIO 372 | Aquatic Biology | 4 |
| BIO 401 | Animal Behavior | 4 |
| BIO 409 | Ecology | 4 |
| BIO 413 | Plant Physiological Ecology | 4 |
| BIO 419 | Invertebrate Zoology | 4 |
| BIO 422 | Applied&Environ Microbio | 4 |
| BIO 423 | Evolution | 4 |
| BIO 429 | Environmental Science | 4 |
| BIO 474 | Emrg Bio Threat & Glbl Sustain | 3 |
Free Electives
At least 18 credits. Biomedical Sciences majors may use CHM 120/CHM 120L, CHM 210/CHM 210L, and PHY 101/PHY 101L as free electives if they wish. This will allow them to take fewer courses. Alternatively, Biomedical Sciences majors can choose to take 5 courses each semester, and so have more free electives to use for a second major, minors, etc.