Biomedical Sciences Option
The curriculum of the biomedical sciences option provides a strong background for students who plan on a career in medicine or other health profession. This option is also for students that are interested in a biomedical sciences career in research or teaching in cell biology, molecular biology, developmental biology, or neuroscience. The curriculum provides the opportunity to take the courses necessary to make a competitive application to health profession school, graduate school or to obtain a technical position. The curriculum has sufficient breadth to introduce the student to a wide range of disciplines, but is flexible enough so that students can focus, in their last two years, on areas of specific interest. Students interested in a career in a health science profession should consult the Health Professions Advising Office for information regarding admission to professional schools.
Employment opportunities, especially at the technical level, are available with a B.S. in Cell Biology and Neuroscience. However, this curriculum is designed to better prepare students for professional or graduate training. The biomedical sciences curriculum is designed to allow the students to take basic courses in physical sciences while tailoring the courses in life sciences to meet their personal objectives and interests. This is done by allowing 24 of the required credits in Biology to be elective credits in life sciences; biology, biochemistry, microbiology, or other appropriate fields. Advanced students are strongly encouraged to enroll in undergraduate research. This provides an opportunity to gain valuable experience in biomedical research which is extremely useful for both an appreciation of the research effort required in graduate school and for gaining experience in technical methods for a technical position.
| Freshman Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | |
| BIOH 185 - Integrated Physiology I | 4 | |
| CHMY 141 - College Chemistry I & CHMY 142 - College Chemistry I Lab | 4 | |
| WRIT 101W - College Writing I | 3 | |
| University Core and Electives | 4 | |
| BIOB 260 - Cellular and Molecular Biology | 5 | |
| CHMY 143 - College Chemistry II & CHMY 144 - College Chemistry II Lab | 4 | |
| M 161Q - Survey of Calculus | 4 | |
| US CORE | 3 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 16 |
| Sophomore Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| CHMY 321 - Organic Chemistry I & CHMY 322 - Organic Chemistry I Lab | 4 | |
| PHSX 205 - College Physics I | 4 | |
| STAT 216Q - Introduction to Statistics | 3 | |
| University Core and Electives | 4 | |
| CHMY 323 - Organic Chemistry II & CHMY 324 - Organic Chemistry II Lab | 4 | |
| NEUR 313 - Neurophysiology | 3 | |
| PHSX 207 - College Physics II | 4 | |
| University Core and Electives | 4 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Junior Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| BCH 380 - Biochemistry & BCH 381 - Biochemistry Lab or BCH 441 and BCH 442 | 5 | |
| BIOH 320 - Biomedical Genetics | 3 | |
| University Core and Electives | 7 | |
| WRIT 201 - College Writing II | 3 | |
| University Core and Electives | 12 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Senior Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| BIOB 499 - Senior Thesis/Capstone | 2 | |
| University Core and Elective | 13 | |
| BIOB 420 - Evolution | 3 | |
| BIOB 425 - Adv Cell & Molecular Biology | 3 | |
| University Core and Elective | 9 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Total Program Credits: | 121 | |
Additional Requirements
A minimum of 24 additional elective credits in the life sciences must be completed, most typically from courses in Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biochemistry. Of these 24 credits, at least 18 must be upper division. See the department office for a full list of approved electives.
Examples of elective courses include, but are not limited to:
| BIOB 410 | Immunology | 3 |
| BIOB 476R | Gene Construction | 4 |
| BIOH 201 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 5 |
| BIOH 211 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| BIOH 303 | Global Diseases and Health Disparities | 3 |
| BIOH 305 | Human Skeletal Biology | 3 |
| BIOH 323 | Human Developmental Biology | 4 |
| BIOH 409 | Advanced Human Torso Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOH 411 | Advanced Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOH 420 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| BIOH 422 | Genes and Cancer | 3 |
| BIOH 445 | Introduction to Pharmacology | 3 |
| BIOH 458 | Human Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NEUR 428R | Molecular Basis of Neurological Diseases | 3 |
| BIOH 454 | Microanatomy (Histology) | 3 |
| BIOH 465R | Gene Expression Lab: From Genes to Proteins to Cells | 3 |
| BIOM 435 | Virology | 3 |
| NEUR 309 | Human Neuroanatomy | 4 |
| NEUR 425 | Sensory Neurophysiology | 3 |
| NEUR 430 | Neuroethology | 3 |
| NEUR 435 | Cognitive Neuroscience | 3 |
| NEUR 440 | Neuroscience of Mental Illness | 3 |
| NEUR 444 | Modeling Brain Disorders | 3 |
| NEUR 455 | Molecular Medicine | 3 |