The Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (BMS) at Elms College is a rigorous, 12-month academic program. Courses are available online and in-person.
Students have access to career development and/or premedical preparation (including standardized test preparation).
The BMS will help students strengthen their application for medical, dental, veterinary, physician assistant, pharmacy, genetic counseling, physical and occupational therapy and other professional health programs. It can also prepare students for the research sciences and teaching in higher education.
Duration of Program
This is a one-year program. Students who work in healthcare at a minimum of 20 hours per week in an approved position by the program director can take up to two years to complete the program.
Program Requirements for Admission
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- A GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale in their undergraduate program.
Standardized test scores are NOT required, but if you have them, it is optional to submit them.
Students are recommended to have completed the following coursework (premedical prerequisites) to be considered for admission into the Master in Biomedical Science degree program at Elms College:
- Two semesters of Biology with laboratory
- General Chemistry I and II with laboratory
- Organic Chemistry I and II with laboratory
- General Physics I and II with laboratory
- Calculus I
- Statistics
- General Psychology
- Introductory Sociology
- 1 semester of English (composition course)
- 1 semester of reading comprehension course (i.e., literature)
Students who lack (or need to re-take) 1-2 of the above courses can do so by taking appropriate elective courses. However, undergraduate courses cannot be used for graduate credit toward the master’s degree in biomedical sciences.
Students who lack (or need to re-take) more than two of the above courses or the required GPA can apply to the Postbaccalaureate Premedical Studies certificate program at Elms College.
Students who qualify can offset tuition by earning a scholarship in exchange for becoming a teaching assistant (assist in teaching and/or preparation of labs in biology, chemistry and physics) and/or tutor in areas where students show proficiency. Students will be selected for these opportunities on the basis of prior GPA and experience in the courses to be taught.
Students are eligible for discounted MCAT preparation and can take advantage of all premedical advising opportunities
- Discounted MCAT preparation is available
- Other standardized test preparations are also available
- Access to the premedical advisor for advising, letters, personal statements, etc.
Program Requirements for Degree Completion
- Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or better in the program.
- Students must complete 32 credits of graduate coursework in the time specified.
- A minimum of 16 credits must be taken in BIO, BMS, and BMH courses 500 level and above (other courses at the college 500 level and above can be approved with permission).
- All courses must be taken at Elms College unless special provisions are made.
- Students cannot withdraw from courses unless they are granted a leave of absence from the college; or special permission from the director.
- No grades can be less than a C+ (77%).
Degree Completion Outcomes
Students who complete the master’s degree in biomedical sciences would be eligible to:
- Apply to programs in professional health care (medicine, veterinary, dental, physician assistant, chiropractic, physical therapy, optometry, podiatry, anesthesiology assistant, cardiovascular perfusion, pharmacy and many others)
- Apply to graduate programs, including master of business administration (MBA) programs, master’s degree programs in public health or education, or master’s degree or Ph.D. programs in bioethics/medical humanities or basic science
- Enter jobs in the sciences
- Enter jobs at the instructor level in higher education
Students completing their premedical prerequisites and advanced courses in biology have matriculated to the following programs:
*Students accepted to these programs have received a full tuition scholarship
MD
- Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, PA
- Georgetown School of Medicine, DC
- Hofstra School of Medicine, NY
- Medical College of South Carolina
- Meharry Medical College, TN
- NOVA Southeastern University College of Allopathic Medicine, FL
- Penn State Medical College, Hershey, PA
- Rosalind Franklin College of Medicine, Chicago, IL
- St. Louis University Medical School, MO
- SUNY Upstate Syracuse School of Medicine, NY
- *UMass Medical, MA
- Wayne State School of Medicine, MI
DO
- Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine, MO
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), PA
- NOVA Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine, FL
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, PA
- Purdue University College of Osteopathic Medicine, IN
- Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, CO
- Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, NY
- University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, ME
- West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, WV
DMD
- Touro College of Dental Medicine, NY
- Temple University College of Dental Medicine, PA
- Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Arizona, AZ
- Tufts University Dental School, MA
Veterinary
- Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine, CO
- Florida State College of Veterinary Medicine, FL
- Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine, VA
- Louisiana State University College of Veterinary Medicine, LA
- Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine, AZ
- Purdue Veterinary College, IN
- Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, MA
- University of Pennsylvania College of Veterinary Medicine, PA
- University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, TN
Podiatric Medicine
Barry University College of Podiatric Medicine, FL
California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt University, CA
New York College of Podiatric Medicine, NY
Optometry
- Indiana University College of Optometry, IN
- New England College of Optometry, MA
- Salus University, PA
- SUNY College of Optometry, NY
- Ohio State University College of Optometry, OH
Physician Assistant
- Baypath University Physician Assistant School, MA
- MCPHS Physician Assistant School, MA
- Springfield College Physician Assistant School, MA
- Tufts University School of Medicine Physician Assistant program, MA
- University of Bridgeport Physician Assistant School, CT
- University of St. Joseph Physician Assistant School, CT
- Westfield State University M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies program, MA
Pharmacy
- *Howard University Medical School College of Pharmacy, DC
- LECOM College of Pharmacy, Bradenton, FL
- Western New England University College of Pharmacy, MA
Master of Public Health
Temple University MPH, Philadelphia PA
*Thomas Jefferson MPH, Philadelphia PA
Schekina Jean ’23 BMS
A native of Haiti, Schekina Jean ’23 BMS chose Elms for her graduate studies because it was affordable and she had heard a lot of positive information about the college. She is focused on graduating in May 2023 with a master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences and plans to attend medical school. Her ultimate goal is to be a pediatrician. Schekina is very grateful for the resources Elms College provides – like tutoring and meeting with her professors whenever she needs help. “I just love it here. The people at Elms always make me feel comfortable. When I first came here, I was stressed and nervous but once I met everyone, it felt just like home.”
Macklin Iliff, PPS, BMS
“Elms understood what my goals were. I knew coming out of undergrad that I wanted to have more clinical experience, more classes, and something to boost my GPA to make me a better overall candidate for medical school.”
Macklin was accepted to Rocky Vista College of Osteopathic Medicine in Parker, CO, after completing both the premedical and biomedical sciences programs at Elms. Read Macklin’s story
Curriculum
Click to view course requirements for the Biomedical Sciences (M.S.).
A minimum of 32 credit hours of graduate coursework is required.
Electives might include undergraduate-level courses in the sciences or in other areas such as social sciences or other courses in the undergraduate and/or graduate curriculum (Note: Undergraduate courses taken will not contribute to the 32 graduate-credit-hour completion minimum).
Fall Term – All courses are available asynchronous online, unless indicated otherwise
Course # | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
BIO 5006 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
BIO 5103/5103L | Anatomy & Physiology 1 Lecture/Lab | 3+1 |
BIO 5106 | Cell Biology | 3 |
BIO 5201/5201L | Genetics Lecture/Lab | 3+1 |
BIO 5206/5206L | Molecular Biology Lecture/Lab | 3+1 |
BMS 5009 | Biostatistics & Epidemiology | 3 |
BMS 5100 | Endocrinology | 3 |
BMS 5700 | Histology | 3 |
BMS 6402 | Biology of Cancer | 3 |
BMS 6900 | Capstone Project/Research/Internship | 1 |
BMS 6905 | Graduate Teaching Assistantship (On Campus and In Person Only) | 1 credit + compensation |
BMH XXXX | Recommended courses in Bioethics & Medical Humanities | 3+ |
Spring Term – All courses are available asynchronous online, unless indicated otherwise
Course # | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
BIO 5006 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
BIO 5104/5104L | Anatomy & Physiology 2 Lecture/Lab | 3+1 |
BIO 5300/5300L | Microbiology Lecture/Lab | 3+1 |
BIO 5305 | Nutrition | 3 |
BIO 5400 | Immunology | 3 |
BIO 6306/6306L | Biochemistry Lecture/Lab | 3+1 |
BMS 5202 | Pharmacology | 3 |
BMS 5207 | Pathology | 3 |
BMS 6300 | Neuroscience | 3 |
BMS 6900 | Capstone Project/Research/Internship | 1 |
BMS 6905 | Graduate Teaching Assistantship (On Campus and In Person Only) | 1 credit + compensation |
BMH XXXX | Recommended courses in Bioethics & Medical Humanities | 3+ |
Master of Biomedical Sciences Program (continued) Summer Term – All courses are available asynchronous online, unless indicated otherwise
Course # | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
BIO 5006 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
BIO 5103/5103L | Anatomy & Physiology 1 Lecture/Lab | 3+1 |
BIO 5104/5104L | Anatomy & Physiology 2 Lecture/Lab | 3+1 |
BIO 5201 | Genetics | 3 |
BIO 5305 | Nutrition | 3 |
BIO 5305 | Biology of Cancer | 3 |
BMS 6900 | Capstone Project/Research/Internship | 1 |
BMS 6905 | Graduate Teaching Assistantship (On Campus and In Person Only) | 1 credit + compensation |
BMH XXXX | Recommended courses in Bioethics & Medical Humanities | 3+ |