Biomedical Science Master's Degree (BMS)

Would you like an opportunity to improve your GPA, prepare for your MCAT or DAT exam, and get some personalized help with the professional school application process? If so, the BMS program may be right for you.

 

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Welcome

The Biomedical Science master's degree (BMS) is a one-year, 30-credit non-thesis master’s degree for students pursuing health careers (including medicine, dentistry, physician's assistant, and anesthesiology assistant). The BMS aims to help students increase their competitiveness for professional school applications through an earned graduate degree. 

The program features rigorous pre-professional coursework in anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry as well as electives in pharmacology, microbiology, immunology, and more. Students will receive personalized assistance in the application process including application writing, as well as guidance in preparing for the MCAT, DAT, or GRE examinations. 

The BMS degree may be earned in as few as two semesters but is designed to be flexible. With fall and spring entry, successful applicants may choose to complete in 2, 3, or 4 semesters. BMS students may also apply to earn an anatomy teaching certificate while in the program (this will require additional coursework beyond the 30 credits). Students may also complete the BMS via the 2-year MEDPREP option for socioeconomically and educationally disadvantaged students.
 

anatomy books
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Program features

  • A curriculum in biomedical sciences, including courses in physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, biochemistry and more.
  • Structured support to prepare for professional school entrance examinations (e.g. Medical School Admissions test (MCAT), Dental Admissions Test (DAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
  • Individualized help with application preparation. 
  • Personalized advising each semester 
  • Options for fall and spring semester entry, and options to complete in 2, 3 or 4 semesters. 
  • Anatomy teaching certificate may be earned concurrently (requires 4 semesters)
  • Downstate Illinois residents with a 498 MCAT minimum and 3.2 program GPA for two semesters earn a SIU School of Medicine interview.
  • Applicants interested in the two-year BMS -MEDPREP Option must apply directly to the MEDPREP Program. 

Location

The BMS program is an in-person master’s degree program offered through the SIUC Graduate School and the SIU School of Medicine, on the Southern Illinois University Carbondale campus. Students must move to the Carbondale, Illinois area to participate in the program. We do not have an online program option at this time.

The BMS is housed in Lindegren Hall, the home of the M1 (first-year) program of the SIU School of Medicine. Although BMS students do not take classes with M1 students, most courses are taught by medical school faculty. Students have access to the BMS student lounge and study rooms (Suite 16, Lindegren Hall), and the MRC (Medical Resource Center: the medical school library in Carbondale). Students also receive individual lockers and SIU School of Medicine email addresses.  

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Coursework

The program requires a minimum of 30 credits, consisting of 15 credits from a core curriculum and 15 elective credits. The core includes MBBS 505, a 1-credit seminar on application strategies for professional schools, which can be repeated for credit. MBBS 506 is a 2-credit course focused on professional exam preparation, also repeatable. Additionally, students must complete MBBS 554A and 554B, a 6-credit sequence in Biochemistry I & II, or an equivalent. The curriculum also requires 3 credits in Human, Mammalian, or Cellular Physiology and 3 credits in Human Anatomy.

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