Program Contact: Martine Mirrione 203-582-8117

The Department of Biomedical Sciences offers a five-year program leading to a Dual-Degree BS in Biomedical Sciences/MHS in Biomedical Sciences (4+1) with concentrations in Medical Sciences or Microbiology. The curriculum for this dual-degree program provides a solid foundation in the basic and biomedical sciences, which allows students to pursue many different avenues of opportunity depending upon their goals and interests. Students completing this graduate program may qualify for employment in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries; the medical diagnostics industry; university-based biomedical research; and city, state and federal health/research laboratories. Additionally, a student with this degree may wish to continue their education in graduate/professional school in: biomedical sciences, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, physician assistant, pathologists’ assistant, cardiovascular perfusion, microbiology and immunology, molecular biology, biotechnology, neurobiology, pharmacology, toxicology, cancer biology, plus many other areas.

To remain in good standing within the program, students must maintain a GPA of 3.00 overall, as well as in math and science for the remainder of their undergraduate careers. Students also must maintain an overall GPA of 3.00 for the graduate portion and successfully pass the comprehensive examination in their final semester of their graduate year.

Dual-Degree BS/MHS in Biomedical Sciences (Concentrations in Medical Sciences or Microbiology) Curriculum

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterCredits
BIO 150 General Biology for Majors 4
CHE 110
110L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Lab
4
EN 101 Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing 3
FYS 101 First-Year Seminar 3
MA 140
Pre-Calculus 1
or Calculus of a Single Variable
3
 Credits17
Spring Semester
BIO 151 Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics 4
CHE 111
111L
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Lab
4
EN 102 Academic Writing and Research 3
BMS 275 Introduction to Biomedical Research 2
UC Disciplinary Inquiry 3
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall Semester
BIO 211
211L
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab I
4
CHE 210
210L
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
4
MA 275 Biostatistics 3
UC Disciplinary Inquiry 3
 Credits14
Spring Semester
BIO 212
212L
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab
4
CHE 211
211L
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry II Lab
4
BMS 370
370L
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Lab
4
UC Disciplinary Inquiry 3
 Credits15
Third Year
Fall Semester
CHE 315
315L
Biochemistry I
and Biochemistry I Lab
4
PHY 110
110L
General Physics I
and General Physics I Lab
4
BMS Elective(s) 4
UC Personal Inquiry 3
 Credits15
Spring Semester
PHY 111
111L
General Physics II
and General Physics II Lab
4
Choose one of the following 4
Biotechnology ( (Lecture & Lab Combined))  
Molecular Genetics
and Molecular Genetics Lab
 
BMS Elective(s) 3
Open Elective(s) 4
 Credits15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
BMS 522
522L
Immunology
and Immunology Lab
4
UC Personal Inquiry 3
UC Personal Inquiry 3
Open Elective(s) 4
 Credits14
Spring Semester
BMS 518 Pathophysiology 3
Graduate BMS Specialization/Elective(s) 3
SHS 420 Integrative Capstone 3
UC Personal Inquiry 3
Open Elective(s) 2
 Credits14
 Total Credits120

Post-Baccalaureate Phase (Master's)

Along with the 10 graduate-level credits taken as an undergrad, students earn the Master of Health Science in Biomedical Sciences after completing 28 additional credits during the graduate year (non-thesis is shown, but students may also follow thesis track).

Plan of Study Grid
Fifth Year
Fall SemesterCredits
BMS 502 Research Methods 4
BMS 532 Histology and Lab 4
Graduate BMS Specialization/Elective(s) 6
 Credits14
Spring Semester
BMS 670 Comp Exam/Biomedical Sciences 2 2
Graduate BMS Specialization/Elective(s) 12
 Credits14
 Total Credits28
1

Minimum mathematics requirement: MA 140. For those interested in graduate or professional schools, MA 141 is recommended.

2

The comprehensive exam must be completed by April 15 of the fifth year.

Comprehensive Examination

The comprehensive examination in biomedical sciences (2 credits) is a requirement for the non-thesis option in the Biomedical Sciences program. The purpose of the exam is two-fold. First, the student must demonstrate broad and specific knowledge expected of someone holding a master’s degree. Second, the student must be able to integrate knowledge obtained from individual courses into unified concepts which link the student’s own specialization to other fields of study. The student is given two opportunities to demonstrate competency. A written essay exam is administered by a designated faculty member. Students should schedule an appointment with the program director before registering for the comprehensive exam.

Areas of Specialization

Medical Sciences

Core Courses
BMS 502Research Methods4
BMS 518Pathophysiology3
BMS 522
522L
Immunology
and Immunology Lab
4
BMS 532Histology and Lab4
Specialization Electives
BIO 515Advanced Biochemistry4
BIO 568Molecular and Cell Biology4
BIO 571Molecular Genetics4
BMS 508Advanced Biology of Aging3
BMS 519Computational Biomedicine3
BMS 520Neuropharmacology3
BMS 521Advances in Hematology3
BMS 527Pharmacology3
BMS 535Histochemistry and Lab3
BMS 536Endocrinology3
BMS 552Toxicology3
BMS 561Immunohematology3
BMS 562Blood Coagulation and Hemostasis3
BMS 563Anemias3
BMS 564Fundamentals of Oncology4
BMS 565Leukemia3
BMS 569Antimicrobial Therapy3
BMS 571Human Anatomy & Dissection4
BMS 576Drug Discovery and Development3
BMS 579Molecular Pathology3
BMS 583Forensic Pathology3
BMS 598Synaptic Organization of the Brain3
BMS 599Biomarkers3
BMS 622MED Cross-Listed Selective3
PA 515Human Physiology4

Microbiology

Core Courses
BMS 502Research Methods4
BMS 522
522L
Immunology
and Immunology Lab
4
BMS 570Virology4
BMS 572Pathogenic Microbiology4
Specialization Electives
BIO 568Molecular and Cell Biology4
BIO 571Molecular Genetics4
BMS 525Vaccines and Vaccine Preventable Diseases3
BMS 526Epidemiology3
BMS 528Advanced Clinical Parasitology4
BMS 569Antimicrobial Therapy3
BMS 573Mycology3
BMS 575Food Microbiology4
BMS 576Drug Discovery and Development3
BMS 579Molecular Pathology3
BMS 584Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases3
BMS 585Outbreak Control3
BMS 595Transplantation Immunology3

Graduate Science Electives

Open Electives
BIO 500Special Topics in Molecular and Cell Biology1
BIO 505Writing and Science3
BIO 515Advanced Biochemistry4
BIO 562Bioinformatics3
BIO 568Molecular and Cell Biology4
BIO 571Molecular Genetics4
BIO 589Molecular and Cell Neurobiology3
BIO 605DNA Methods Laboratory4
BIO 606Protein Methods Laboratory4
BMS 503Professional Development in Biomedical Sciences1
BMS 508Advanced Biology of Aging3
BMS 510Biostatistics3
BMS 511Writing for Scientists3
BMS 517Human Embryology3
BMS 518Pathophysiology3
BMS 519Computational Biomedicine3
BMS 520Neuropharmacology3
BMS 521Advances in Hematology3
BMS 525Vaccines and Vaccine Preventable Diseases3
BMS 526Epidemiology3
BMS 527Pharmacology3
BMS 528Advanced Clinical Parasitology4
BMS 532Histology and Lab4
BMS 535Histochemistry and Lab3
BMS 536Endocrinology3
BMS 552Toxicology3
BMS 556Seminar in Health Care Disparities1
BMS 561Immunohematology3
BMS 562Blood Coagulation and Hemostasis3
BMS 563Anemias3
BMS 564Fundamentals of Oncology4
BMS 565Leukemia3
BMS 569Antimicrobial Therapy3
BMS 570Virology4
BMS 571Human Anatomy & Dissection4
BMS 572Pathogenic Microbiology4
BMS 573Mycology3
BMS 575Food Microbiology4
BMS 576Drug Discovery and Development3
BMS 577Critical Analysis and Reasoning In the Biomedical Sciences2
BMS 578Cellular Basis of Neurobiological Disorders3
BMS 579Molecular Pathology3
BMS 583Forensic Pathology3
BMS 584Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases3
BMS 585Outbreak Control3
BMS 591The New Genetics and Human Future3
BMS 595Transplantation Immunology3
BMS 597Biomedical Sciences Internship4
BMS 598Synaptic Organization of the Brain3
BMS 599Biomarkers3
BMS 622MED Cross-Listed Selective3
BMS 681Research Methods in Biomedical Sciences I1-4
BMS 688Independent Study2
BMS 689Independent Study2
PA 515Human Physiology4
PA 516Clinical Pathology4
PA 535Disease Mechanisms4

Mission Statement

The mission of Quinnipiac University’s Dual-Degree BS/MHS in Biomedical Sciences (4+1) program (with concentrations in Medical Sciences or Microbiology) is to provide students with the cutting-edge skills they need to manage the more complex operations carried out today in hospitals and research facilities, as well as allowing students to develop their critical thinking skills and knowledge of the biomedical sciences, sought after by PhD programs and medical schools. The program provides the student with a comprehensive knowledge to meet the education and technical needs of the biomedical profession in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostics and medical research. Students are guided in the principles and methods of scientific research, and they gain knowledge of the latest advances in biomedical, biotechnological and laboratory sciences—all directly applicable to real-world work environments.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Dual-Degree BS/MHS in Biomedical Sciences (4+1) program, students will demonstrate the following competencies:

  1. Foundational Knowledge: Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the major disciplines in the Biomedical Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physiology, Microbiology, Immunology, Pathophysiology).
  2. Disease Mechanisms: Identity factors that influence human health and disease.
  3. Translational Science: Critically analyze how new research discoveries can be translated into effective patient treatments/interventions.
  4. Professional Skills: Master the essential technical skills critical for success in a laboratory environment.
  5. Effective Scientist: Engage in scientific research and effectively communicate the dissemination of results to various audiences.
  6. Responsible Citizen: Evaluate the social and ethical impact of scientific discoveries on medical practice.

Admission to the Program

Students interested in applying to the Dual-Degree BS/MHS in Biomedical Sciences (4+1) with concentrations in Medical Sciences or Microbiology must meet with the program contact. It is encouraged that interested students work with the graduate BMS program director, in addition to their academic adviser, to plan for taking graduate courses during junior or senior year. In the fall of the senior year, the student may apply for admission into the program. Admission into the program is dependent on the applicant’s potential to pursue a university program and on past academic performance. At the time of application submission, students must have a GPA of 3.00 overall, as well as in math and science. To remain in good standing within the program and be eligible to enter the graduate curriculum, the student must maintain a GPA of 3.00 overall, as well as in math and science for the remainder of their undergraduate careers.

Students in other science programs at Quinnipiac such as Health Sciences, Behavioral Neuroscience, Biology or Chemistry who successfully complete a rigorous undergraduate science curriculum may be eligible for admittance into the graduate portion of the program and should contact the program director.

Pre-Medical Studies Program

Students majoring in Health Science Studies, Biology, Biomedical Sciences or the pre-health track of Behavioral Neuroscience may fully participate in the pre-medical studies program. The curriculum in this degree program can fulfill the science prerequisites for most professional schools. Students should refer to Pre-Medical Studies for more information about the pre-medical studies program and contact the Health Professions Advisory Committee for further academic advising.