Admission and Program Requirements

You’re not required to have a minor for this degree.

If you’d like to add a minor, talk with your advisor.

Your first steps

First, become a Bear: Apply to Missouri State.

Then, before completing 30 credit hours, follow these steps:

  1. Declare or change your major to biomedical sciences by contacting the MCHHS Student Advisement and Success Center.
  2. Meet with your assigned advisor. You’ll discuss admission requirements and develop your schedule.
  3. Complete the admission requirements (detailed below).
  4. Update your record by using the Application to Degree Program form (.pdf). Your advisor can help you complete the form.

When you declare your major in biomedical sciences, you maintain pre-major status until you meet all admission requirements.

Biomedical Sciences (Comprehensive) (BS)

Bachelor of Science

The comprehensive major in Biomedical Sciences, is a rigorous and selective program in the sciences that prepares academically-serious students for:

  1. Graduate work in cell biology or molecular biology,
  2. Graduate work in fields such as biotechnology, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology and microbiology where a strong undergraduate foundation in cell and molecular biology would be an asset,
  3. Professional schools of medicine, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing or other health-related professions and,
  4. Employment in cell biology and biotechnology-based industries.

Because of sequential prerequisites, limited course offerings, and tight course scheduling, students seeking formal admission to the degree program must begin to plan their program with a Biomedical Sciences advisor in the School of Health Sciences early during their freshman year.

Admission Requirements

Formal admission to the Biomedical Sciences major requires:

  1. Completion of at least 25 hours of course work, including BMS 110, BMS 111, BMS 231, and CHM 160 and CHM 161.
  2. A cumulative and science GPA of 2.50 or higher.
  3. A grade of "C" or better in all specific general education requirements (item 1 below), all required BMS core courses (item 3 below), and all requirements from other Academic Areas (item 4 below).
  4. A grade of "C" or better must be obtained in a prerequisite course prior to taking a sequential course.
  5. In the terminal semester, student is required to take a comprehensive assessment examination.

Major requirements

    Core requirements

      Total Credit Hours: 44-50

      Complete one of the following options:

        16 hours of electives from:

        Other electives may be selected with advisor approval. At least 10 of these elective hours must carry a BMS course code.

        19 hours of electives from:

        Other electives may be selected with advisor approval. At least 13 of these elective hours must carry a BMS course code.

        16 hours of electives from:

        Other electives may be selected with advisor approval. At least 10 of these elective hours must carry a BMS course code.

        Capstone Experience.
        Note:
        * Credit may only be used to satisfy one requirement.

          Total Credit Hours: 80-89

          Accelerated graduate program in Biomedical Sciences

          Eligible students in this major may apply to the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences program. Refer to the Graduate Catalog for more information. Refer to Undergraduate Students Taking Graduate Classes for additional information and procedures for obtaining permission for Mixed Credit.

             

            Additional requirement: Take the ACAT

            In your senior year, you’ll take the Area Concentration Achievement Test (ACAT).

            The biomedical sciences program administers this test in late April and late November. There is no cost for this test.