The Biomedical Sciences Track

The B.S. Biology, Biomedical Sciences Track is for students with an interest in applying to schools of medicine or dentistry or graduate schools in physician assistant studies or biomedical sciences.

General Education Requirements

Work Based Exerience Requirement for Biology Majors

Incoming freshmen biology majors are required to complete a Work Based Experience (WBE) as part of their degree requirements (transfer students are exempt). WBE provides hands-on, real-world experience through work-based learning in one of three focus areas: biological research, healthcare-related practice, or education-related engagement. Students will work under the guidance of faculty mentors and site supervisors to apply classroom knowledge to professional settings, build career-ready skills, and reflect on the integration of theory and practice. The WBE is designed to provide flexibility, allowing students to tailor their experience to their academic and career goals for meaningful professional development. It is suggested that students complete the WBE during the summer prior to their senior year, but may be completed earlier. The Career and Professional Development Office and School of Health and Natural Sciences faculty liaison will assist students in finding WBE sites.

Students can fulfill the WBE requirement through one of the following modalities

• Non-credit bearing experience, minimum 45 hours
• Current or prior work experience, minimum 45 hours
• BIOL 380 Internship in Biology, earn 3 credits towards your major elective requirements, 90 hour minimum

WBEs must fall within the areas of biological research, healthcare and related practice, or education engagement. Prior approval is required for an experience to qualify as a WBE and reflective assignments are required during and/or upon completion of the WBE.

Required Major Core Courses

Total Core: 49 credits minimum

• BIOL 160A -  General Biology I Lab
• BIOL 275 -  Cell Biology
• BIOL 309 -  Human Physiology
• BIOL 355 -  Molecular Biol of the Cell *
• BIOL 360 -  Genetics
• BIOL 370 -  Research in Biology I
• BIOL 460 -  Research Capstone in Bio Or
• BIOL 461 -  Literature Capstone in Biology
• CHEM 260 -  Organic Chem I Lecture
• CHEM 260A -  Organic Chem I Lab
• CHEM 261 -  Organic Chem II Lecture
• CHEM 261A -  Organic Chem II Lab
• CHEM 354 -  Biochemistry
• PHYS 180 -  Physics for Bio Sci I
• PHYS 181 -  Physics for Bio Sci II
• MATH 260 -  Calculus I
• MATH 261 -  Calculus II Or
• PSYN 370 -  Stats Socl/Behv Sciences

• *This is the Core Course for the B.S. Biology, Biomedical Sciences Track and must be taken at a registered campus. 

Two major Electives required from:

Minimum major electives: 5 credits

• BIOL 130 -  Hum Anatomy & Physio I Lecture
• BIOL 130A -  Hum Anatomy & Physio I Lab
• BIOL 131 -  Hum Anatomy &Physio II Lecture
• BIOL 131A -  Hum Anatomy & Physio II Lab
• BIOL 265 -  Microbiology Lecture
• BIOL 265A -  Microbiology Lab
• BIOL 280 -  Histology
• BIOL 295 -  Special Topics Biology
• BIOL 310 -  Immunology
• BIOL 317 -  Principles of Neuroscience
• BIOL 366 -  Developmental Biology
• BIOL 380 -  Co-op Biology I
• BIOL 397 -  Independent Study Biol
• BIOL 424 -  Neurobiology
• BIOL 430 -  Seminar Current Topics Biol
• BIOL 440 -  Adv Research Neurodegeneration
• BIOL 441 -  Adv Research Molecular Genetics
• HLSC 201 -  Medical Terminology
• HLSC 303 -  Human Anatomy w/Cadaver
• HLSC 303A -  Hum Anatomy w/Cadaver Lab
• HLSC 390 -  Epidemiology
• CHEM 295 -  Special Topics In Chemistry
• CHEM 354 -  Biochemistry
• CHEM 397 -  Independent Study Chemistry

Open Electives

Choose 6 credits from the below:

Please note: students are not restricted to the list of courses above for their open electives. However, these courses are recommended to help students further prepare for the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior components of the MCAT. 

• SOCL 101 -  Introduction to Sociology
• PSYN 230 -  Cognitive Psychology
• PSYN 232 -  Health Psychology
• PSYN 312 -  Abnormal Psychology
• PSYN 320 -  Psychobiology
• HLSC 215 -  Cultural Comp in Hlthcare
• HLSC 250 -  Global Health
• BIOL 222 -  Pathophysiology
• BIOL 244 -  Ecology
• BIOL 252 -  Plant Biology

Additional Program Information:

The Bachelor of Science degree in Biology provides students with a comprehensive foundation in the biological sciences and other life sciences. Students in the biology major achieve competencies in the life sciences through active learning modules designed to deepen critical thinking skills and strengthen quantitative reasoning. Through inquiry-based laboratory projects and faculty-student authentic research collaborations in areas such as neuroscience, cell and molecular biology, and microbiology, students will put classroom theory to practice by engaging in key aspects of the scientific process.

The Biomedical Sciences Track prepares students for a variety of careers including research assistant/associate positions in academia or biotechnology firms or positions in a healthcare setting. This track also supports preparation for graduate training in the biological/biomedical sciences or professional education in medicine/dentistry, veterinary medicine or other healthcare fields such as osteopathic medicine.

Completing the B.S. in Biology - Biomedical Sciences Track does not guarantee admission to a Mercy University graduate professional program or medical school. Graduates of the B.S. in Biology - Biomedical Sciences Track must apply to chosen programs, meet specific requirements, and compete with all other applicants. The B.S. in Biology - Biomedical Sciences Track may or may not satisfy the course requirements for admission to graduate or medical programs. Courses can vary based on the University. Students have the responsibility to check entrance requirements for University to which they intend to apply. 

At the completion of the Biology concentration, students are expected to:

• Synthesize and apply core scientific concepts to demonstrate a broad and in-depth knowledge of biology
• Critically evaluate and interpret scientific information from a variety of sources
• Effectively communicate scientific concepts through oral and written modes
• Apply the scientific method to formulate hypotheses, design and conduct experiments, and interpret experimental results
• Exhibit proficiency in laboratory techniques in the biological sciences, troubleshoot experiments, and demonstrate safe laboratory practices
• Employ quantitative reasoning to address biology questions and critically evaluate experimental findings and scientific information
• Recognize the ethical dimensions of science and evaluate the implications of unethical scientific conduct
• Critically examine basic, applied and societal problems in the biological sciences and propose problem solving strategies
• Work as effective team members on collaborative projects

Notes

• BIOL 105 , BIOL 161 /BIOL 161A , CHEM 160 /CHEM 160A , and CHEM 161 /CHEM 161A  fulfill 15 credits of General Education Liberal Arts electives
• BIOL 160  fulfills 3 credits of General Education Scientific Perspectives credits
• PSYN 101  or PSYN 195  fulfill 3 credits of General Education Social Perspectives
• MATH 201  fulfills 3 credits of General Education Mathematics credits

Note: students who do not meet the requirements to directly enter MATH 201  must first complete MATH 116  

For the Literature & Communication General Education Requirement, ENGL 242  is recommended for students interested in applying to medical school.

To complete major concentration, corequisite lab courses must be taken.

There is a 15-credit residency requirement in the major concentration of biology that must be completed with courses numbered BIOL 230 and above. CHEM 354  may also be used to meet this requirement.