B.S. in Biomedical Science

Medical lab vials arranged in their slots.

Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science is a four-year, laboratory-intensive degree combining biology and medicine to study human and animal health and disease. It covers cell biology, genetics, microbiology, physiology, biochemistry, and chemistry, with hands-on training on the instrumentation and techniques used in biomedical research.

Students complete one of five support areas (General, Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental, Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-Physical Therapy/Pre-Physician Assistant, or Pre-Veterinary) that align coursework to professional-school entrance requirements, and finish with a writing-intensive capstone, Current Topics in the Life Sciences.

Program Benefits

  • Direct DVM pathway to Texas A&M: up to five qualifying students admitted to the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences each year through a formal Memorandum of Agreement (meeting requirements does not guarantee admission).
  • 46.5% acceptance rate to medical school among applicants over the past ten years.
  • Early assurance pathway to medical school through the Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP).
  • Support areas aligned to med, dental, PA, PT, pharmacy, and veterinary school admission requirements.
  • Health Professions Advisory Committee letter of evaluation, a mentoring program pairing students with practicing health professionals, and an active Alpha Epsilon Delta honor society chapter.
  • New lab facilities and equipment at both campuses, with course-based undergraduate research experiences including the HHMI SEA-PHAGES and SEA-GENES projects.
  • Affordable public university tuition, with departmental, college, and university scholarships available.

Courses

The curriculum includes a broad range of courses and learning opportunities preparing students for a variety of jobs in biomedical science. A course in Career Pathways in Biomedical Science is built into the curriculum to help students narrow their options and plan ahead. Topics for all biomedical science majors, regardless of support area, include genetics, microbiology, animal physiology, biochemistry, and current topics in the life sciences. Several courses integrate with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute SEA-PHAGES and SEA-GENES programs for bacteriophage discovery and characterization. Students can also work with an adviser to customize coursework to fit their career goals. See the Tarleton State University Catalog. You may also be able to work with an adviser in customizing the program coursework to fit your career goals and interests.

Visit the University Catalog

More About the Program

At Fort Worth the program is based at the Chisholm Trail campus, with molecular biology, microbiology, genetics, and biochemistry courses at the downtown Texas A&M-Fort Worth campus, near the Fort Worth Medical District and the Tarleton State Biotechnology Institute.

Over the past ten years, 46.5% of Biomedical Science applicants to medical school were accepted, supported by the Health Professions Advisory Committee and its committee letter of evaluation.

Tarleton participates in the Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP), a state program offering scholarships, summer internships at Texas medical schools, MCAT preparation, and mentoring. Students apply as sophomores; those admitted who complete all requirements are guaranteed admission to a participating Texas medical school. Dr. Max Sanderford, Professor and Program Director for Health Pre-Professions, is JAMP Faculty Director, and the College of Science and Mathematics Health Pre-Professions Scholar Program introduces first-year students to JAMP and other pre-health pathways.

Dr. Janice Speshock, Professor of Biological Sciences, holds the first National Institutes of Health grant awarded to Tarleton State, a $370,980 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences award studying the long-term effects of nanoparticle exposure. As an NIH R15 AREA grant, it funds undergraduate research: junior and senior students learn cell and molecular biology techniques and toxicology alongside a collaborator at Texas A&M AgriLife.

Departmental, college, and university scholarships are available through Tarleton's single online application, including the Gregory Nowlin Fort Worth ISD Scholarship for Fort Worth ISD graduates and the Community College Bridge Scholarship for first-time community college transfers.

Offered Concentrations

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply modern DNA technology and genetic techniques in the laboratory to generate, analyze, and interpret data.
  • Explain mechanisms of gene expression and inheritance and the structure and function of cellular components, including bioenergetics, cellular transport and communication, and the cell cycle.
  • Characterize microorganisms and their physiology and genetics, and their interactions with human health.

Career Outcomes

  • Professional school applicant (MD, DO, DDS, DVM, PA, PharmD, OT/PT): the support areas are designed to meet or exceed entrance requirements for Texas professional programs.
  • Research assistant or research associate: supports laboratory research at academic medical centers, universities, and research institutes.
  • Clinical research coordinator or clinical research associate: manages trial operations, data collection, and regulatory documentation.

Certification and Licensure Preparation

The BS in Biomedical Science is a pre-professional preparatory degree rather than a licensure program. Its support areas align coursework to the entrance requirements of licensed professions:

  • Prepares students for the admissions exams required by professional programs, including the MCAT for medicine, the DAT for dentistry, and the GRE, which many physical therapy, physician assistant, and graduate programs require.
  • Completes the prerequisite coursework required for admission to medical, dental, and physical therapy programs in Texas.
  • Completes the prerequisite coursework required for pharmacy school admission through PharmCAS.
  • Meets the entrance requirements for Texas colleges of veterinary medicine, including admission through the Texas A&M Memorandum of Agreement.
Learn about Certification and Licensure

Admissions Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

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