Biomedical Science Master's Degree (BMS) Curriculum Options

The BMS Degree can be completed in as little as two semesters, but three- and four-semester options are available for students wishing to take pre-professional school prerequisites, benefit from a wider variety of courses, earn an anatomy teaching certificate, or work part-time while completing the degree.   

BMS is a 30-credit coursework-only master's degree that provides rigorous preparation for medical, dental, PA or other professional schools. Students will work with their advisor to select a program that best suits their needs. The sample curricula shown below are examples only and can be tailored for each student.

Starting in fall 2025, BMS will be housed within the SIU School of Medicine Multidisciplinary Biomedical and Biological Sciences Graduate Program. Application instructions are changing! See application instructions on the Apply Page. 

Students may apply for fall or spring entry. 

Summer admissions is only via the BMS - MEDPREP Option. MEDPREP is a 2-year program for educationally or socioeconomically disadvantaged students, particularly from Illinois. Applicants interested in the MEDPREP Option must apply directly to MEDPREP first; MEDPREP option applicants should NOT apply via the SIUC Application Portal. MEDPREP has both degree and non-degree options. For more information about MEDPREP, visit SIUSOM Medical and Dental Education Preparatory Program. 

The BMS program convenes on the SIUC Carbondale campus and students must attend in-person. Although there are some online courses, there is currently no fully online curriculum. 

Required Courses: 

• MBBS 505 Orientation Seminar (1 credit minimum; may be repeated for credit)
• MBBS 506 Scientific Application I (2 cr. minimum; may be repeated for credit)
• MBBS 554A and MBBS 554B (Biochemistry I and II) 2-semester sequence (6 cr. total)
• Human or mammalian physiology, or cellular physiology (3 cr. minimum)
• Human anatomy (3 cr. minimum)
• Elective courses to meet 21 graded credits minimum in BMS coursework or biological science content areas (physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, immunology, etc.), 15 credit 500-level course minimum, and graduate school 30 credit minimum for the degree.

The BMS-MEDPREP Option has a substantially different curriculum and requires 5 terms (summer term, plus four academic semesters) to complete. For information about curriculum for the MEDPREP Option, visit the SIUSOM MEDPREP Program pages. 

Example Curriculum - Two Semester Sequence

 Two semester sequence example I - Most Test and Application Preparation

Two semester sequence example II - No Test Preparation 

Three or Four semester sequence - use for anatomy teaching certificate, decompressed schedule, or prerequisite completion. 

• Please note full-time enrollment for graduate students is 9 credit-hours per semester. Taking fewer hours is possible, but may impact financial aid eligibility.
• Students may apply to medical, dental or other professional school in the summer after their first year, and complete their second year during the year-long professional school application process.