Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences, BS
Explore the Sciences from a Human Perspective and Lead Real-World Change
A school in the UCF College of Medicine, the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences helps advance your understanding of human disease and develop innovative methods of treatment.
Offering a wide range of courses in the biomedical sciences, this program provides you with an opportunity to build a diverse background in subjects such as anatomy, molecular biology, cell biology, neurobiology, physiology, microbiology, and immunology. You can choose to study the core degree program or select one of several specific tracks available, including neuroscience, molecular cell biology and molecular microbiology.
During your time at UCF, join one of the several biomedical science student organizations or work with faculty on directed research. Areas of research cover many of the world’s most prevalent and serious health programs, including cancer, cardiovascular, molecular microbiology, neurodegenerative, and immunity and pathogenesis diseases.
Hands-on experience in addition to your coursework prepares you to enter the workforce after graduating or continue on to schools of medicine, dentistry, veterinary, pharmacy, optometry, podiatry, chiropractic practice, or to train to be a physician assistant.
Biomedical Science Tracks:
- Neuroscience Track
- Molecular Cell Biology Track
- Molecular Microbiology Track
Highlights
A school in the UCF College of Medicine, the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences includes almost 3,000 undergraduate students.
Biomedical science key research divisions include cancer, cardiovascular, immunity and pathogenesis, neuroscience, and molecular microbiology.
Occupations in biomedical sciences are projected to grow more than 11% through 2029.
The median earnings for biomedical sciences graduates is $89,000.
Undergraduate Application Deadlines
Fall May 1
Spring November 1
Summer March 1
Fall July 1
Spring November 1
Summer March 1
Fall March 1
Spring September 1
Summer January 1
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Course Overview
General Microbiology
Gain an understanding of the fundamentals of microbiology, evaluating microbial structure and function, metabolism, growth, genetics, virology environmental control, ecology, pathogenicity; and laboratory techniques.
Honors Human Anatomy
Learn the basic and functional anatomy in a clinically oriented way to study systems within the human body. The lab component of this honors course provides enrichment and an opportunity to view cadaver specimens.
Neurobiology
Explore biological principles governing the physiology of the nervous system including electrical properties, chemical signaling, cellular composition, development, injury and regeneration.
The B.S. degree in Biomedical Science at UCF provides an opportunity for students to explore many aspects of life science with a broad cross-section of coursework that will be relevant to their career in medicine or biomedical research.”
William Self, associate director of undergraduate affairs & professor of medicine , UCF
Biomedical Science Skills You'll Learn
- Advance your understanding of human disease and developing innovative methods of treatment.
- Get hands-on experience in the lab, learning skills such as polymerase chain reaction, protein purification, protein and nucleic acid quantification (electrophoresis) and western blots (immunoblots).
- Prepare to go into the technical workforce in the biotechnology and/or pharmaceutical industry, or continue your education by applying for medical and other professional schools.
Career Opportunities
- Physician
- Dentist
- Professor
- Veterinarian
- Research Scientist
Biomedical Sciences News
Science & Technology
The invention uses ultrasound-responsive nanobubbles to deliver treatment to targeted areas of a person’s body, avoiding side effects associated with traditional osteoporosis treatments, such as…
Science & Technology
Through the M-STAR program, engineering and biomedical sciences students conducted research at NASA’s Langley, Johnson and Kennedy space centers.
Science & Technology
The device could lead to advanced artificial intelligence that can instantly recognize what it sees and has applications in self-driving vehicles and robotics.
Student Life
Students are conducting research in the areas of health, math, chemistry and space and are already making an impact.
University of Central Florida Colleges
Degree Requirements
- Students who change degree programs and select this major must adopt the most current catalog.
- Students should complete the General Education Program before transferring within the Florida College System or State University System.
- Grades below "C" in Common Program Prerequisites, Core Requirements and Restricted Electives are not accepted.
- Students in undergraduate majors within the College of Medicine are expected to consistently make good progress towards their degrees. Therefore, the COM/BSBS Progress Policy mandates that undergraduate students meet the requirements of the policy. Below are the specific requirements of the Progress Policy:
- Students who earned 5 low grades (C-, D, F, NC, U) will be placed on a probationary status. Students who earn 8 or more low grades (C-, D, F, NC, U) will be excluded from all COM majors.
- Students with 2 unsuccessful attempts of the same UCF course will be placed on a probationary status. Students with 3 unsuccessful attempts of the same UCF course will be excluded from all COM majors.
While many students discover that they have interests in varied disciplines at the University of Central Florida, they are not permitted to pursue two majors within the College of Medicine. College of Medicine students may declare a major and a minor within the college or pursue a second major or minor in another academic college at UCF. Students are encouraged to meet with an academic success coach to discuss these opportunities.
Program Prerequisites
- Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following:
- BSC2010C - Biology I (4)
- CHM2045C - Chemistry Fundamentals I (4)
- CHM2046 - Chemistry Fundamentals II (3)
- CHM2210 - Organic Chemistry I (3)
Degree Requirements
Core Requirements: Basic Level
- Complete all of the following
- Complete all of the following
- GEP:
- MAC 2311C - Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Credit Hours: 4
- STA 2023 - Statistical Methods I Credit Hours: 3
- CHM2210 - Organic Chemistry I (3)
- CHM2211 - Organic Chemistry II (3)
- CHM2211L - Organic Laboratory Techniques I (2)
Core Requirements: Advanced Level
- Complete all of the following
- The following core courses are for students completing the general Biomedical Science degree. Life Sciences
- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- MCB3020C - General Microbiology (5)
- BSC3403C - Quantitative Biological Methods (4)
- PCB3522 - Molecular Biology I (3)
- PCB4524 - Molecular Biology II (3)
- Complete the following:
- PCB4280 - Molecular Immunology (3)
- PCB3233L - Immunology Laboratory (1)
- PCB3233 - Immunology (3)
- PCB3233L - Immunology Laboratory (1)
- BCH4024 - Medical Biochemistry (4)
- BCH4053 - Biochemistry I (3)
Restricted Electives
Biomedical Sciences Restricted Electives
- Complete all of the following
- Select a minimum of five (5) courses from the list below. At least two (2) out of the five (5) must have a laboratory component. No more than two (2) may be MLS courses. Enrollment in some MLS courses is restricted. Check with an academic success coach before enrolling.
- Students can only select two (2) of the following BCH 4054, BCH 4103L, PCB 3063, PCB 4514, ZOO 4603C.
- As an alternative to one of these restricted electives, students can take one of the following courses or programs to substitute for one (1) restricted elective course with a laboratory component. PILOT (Peer Instruction and Laboratory Occupational Training) PURE (Program for Undergraduate Research Experience) MCB 4920 GEAR (Group Effort Applied Research) MCB 4970H HIM thesis As an alternative to one of these restricted electives, students can take one of the following courses or programs to substitute for one (1) restricted elective course. MCB 3903 Explorations in Biomedical Science MCB 3933 Careers in Biomedical Science
- Additional restricted electives can be taken as approved by the Associate Director.
- Earn at least 17 credits from the following:
- BCH4054 - Biochemistry II (3)
- BCH4103L - Biochemical Methods (2)
- BOT4434C - General Mycology (4)
- BSC3424 - Nanobiotechnology (3)
- BSC4434 - Biomedical Informatics: Sequence Analysis (3)
- BSC4439 - Biomedical Informatics: Structure Analysis (3)
- MCB3202 - Principles of Infectious Disease (3)
- MCB3203 - Pathogenic Microbiology (3)
- MCB4404 - Bacterial Genetics and Physiology (3)
- MCB4114C - Microbial Genomics (4)
- MCB4207 - Infectious Processes (3)
- MCB4204 - Cellular Microbiology: Host-Pathogen Interactions (3)
- MCB4276 - Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (3)
- MCB4312 - Molecular Biotechnology (3)
- MCB4503C - Virology (3)
- MCB4603 - Environmental Microbiology (3)
- MCB4721C - Methods in Biotechnology (4)
- MCB4224 - Molecular Biology of Diseases (3)
- MCB4653 - Applied Industrial Microbiology (3)
- MLS3220C - Techniques in Clinical Microscopy (3)
- MLS3305 - Hematology (3)
- MLS4334 - Hemostasis (3)
- MLS4430C - Clinical Microbiology I (4)
- MLS4505 - Immunodiagnostics (3)
- MLS4625 - Advanced Clinical Chemistry I (3)
- MLS4630 - Clinical Chemistry II (3)
- PCB3063 - Genetics (3)
- PCB3703C - Human Physiology (4)
- PCB4028 - Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (3)
- PCB4135 - Applied Molecular Cell Biology (3)
- PCB4174 - Foundation of Bio-Imaging Science (3)
- PCB4234 - Cancer Biology (3)
- PCB4264 - Stem Cell Biology (3)
- PCB4284 - Immunobiology (3)
- PCB4514 - Epigenetics (3)
- PCB4521 - Tissue Engineering (3)
- PCB4529C - Experimental Molecular Cell Biology (4)
- PCB4663 - Human Genetics (3)
- PCB4708L - Laboratory Virtual Simulations in Physiology (3)
- PCB4805 - Endocrinology (3)
- PCB4832 - Cellular and Molecular Basis of Brain Functions (3)
- PCB4833 - Advanced Human Physiology (3)
- PCB4843 - Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (3)
- PCB5275 - Signal Transduction Mechanics (3)
- ZOO4701 - Dissection Techniques (3)
- ZOO3733C - Human Anatomy (4)
- ZOO3744 - Neurobiology (3)
- ZOO3755C - Introductory Histology (4)
- ZOO4603C - Embryology/Development (5)
- ZOO4605 - Human Clinical Embryology and Congenital Malformation (3)
- ZOO4742 - Advanced Neurobiology (3)
- ZOO4743C - Clinical Neuroanatomy and Neuroscience (4)
- ZOO4747C - Clinical Neuroscience (4)
- ZOO4756C - Comparative Vertebrate Histology (4)
- ZOO5745C - Neuroanatomical Pathways and their Neurotransmitters (4)
- MCB4414 - Physiology and Biochemistry of Microbes (3)
- PCB4280 - Molecular Immunology (3)
Grand Total Credits: 47 - 48
- Variable. Students are encouraged to participate in undergraduate research if interested in pursuing graduate or professional education.
Foreign Language Requirements
Admissions
- Two years of one foreign language in high school, or one year of one foreign language in college (or equivalent proficiency exam) prior to graduation.
Graduation
Departmental Exit Requirements
- Students must complete all coursework in the baccalaureate curriculum as shown, and earn a GPA of at least 2.0 for all coursework in the Core and Restricted Electives.
- Independent study, directed research, or similar credit may not be used as a Restricted Elective.
- A minimum of 20 hours must be taken at UCF in the department of the major.
- Students will be required to take a comprehensive test during their last semester.
University Minimum Exit Requirements
- A 2.0 UCF GPA
- 42 semester hours of upper division credit completed
- 60 semester hours earned after CLEP awarded
- 30 of the last 39 hours of course work must be completed in residency at UCF.
- A maximum of 45 hours of extension, correspondence, CLEP, Credit by Exam, and Armed Forces credits permitted.
- Complete the General Education Program, the Gordon Rule, and nine hours of Summer credit.
Total Undergraduate Credit Hours Required: 120
Honors In Major
- Application and admission through the Department and the Burnett Honors College.
- Fulfill University requirements for Honors in the Major and maintain a 3.2 UCF GPA; 3.5 in the major; 3.2 cumulative average for graded upper division courses regardless of the institution.
- Complete the following with a grade of B or better and successfully complete the oral defense of the Honors Thesis (3 credits):
- MCB 4970H - Honors Undergraduate Thesis II
Related Programs
- Biology (B.S.)
- Biotechnology (B.S.)
- Chemistry (B.S.)
- Medical Laboratory Sciences (B.S.)
- Molecular and Cellular Biology (B.S.)
- Molecular Microbiology (B.S.)
Certificates
Related Minors
- Biology Minor
- Chemistry Minor
Advising Notes
Transfer Notes
- Students who begin a two-semester sequence course (e.g. General Chemistry) at a Florida College System institution are strongly encouraged to complete the sequence before transferring. If it will not be possible to complete the sequence before transferring, the student should postpone beginning the course until enrolling at UCF.
- Lower division courses do not substitute for upper division courses.
Program Academic Learning Compacts
- Program Academic Learning Compacts (student learning outcomes) for undergraduate programs are located at: http://www.oeas.ucf.edu/alc/academic_learning_compacts.htm
Equipment Fees
- Part-Time Student: $42.50 per term
- Full-Time Student: $85 per term
