The Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (BMS) at Elms College is a rigorous, 12-month academic program.
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 will be eligible to take the onsite MCAT prep course and take advantage of all premedical advising opportunities
- Onsite MCAT prep course 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
Elizabeth Amaro-Gonzalez ’18

“It was very rigorous, but the program is structured for you to succeed.”
Elizabeth quickly translated her experience in the Master of Biomedical Sciences program into a position with Decibel Therapeutics, a Boston-based biotechnology company developing groundbreaking therapies to treat hearing loss. Read more about how Elizabeth landed a job in a research lab.
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
Course # | Course Name | Credits |
---|---|---|
BIO 5103 | Anatomy & Physiology | 3 |
BIO 5103L | Anatomy & Physiology Lab | 1 |
BIO 5106 | Cell Biology | 3 |
BIO 5201 | Genetics | 3 |
BIO 5201 | Genetics Lab | 1 |
BIO 5206 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
BIO 5206L | Molecular Biology Lab | 1 |
BMS 5009 | Biostatistics & Epidemiology | 3 |
BMS 5100 | Endocrinology | 3 |
BMS 5700 | Histology | 3 |
Medical Ethics (or similar) | 3 | |
BMS 6900 | Capstone Internships/Research | 1 |
BMS 6905 | Graduate Teaching Assistantship | 1 |
Elective Courses (Courses 500 level or above) | ||
MCAT or other standardized test preparation |
Spring Term
Course # | Course Name | Credits |
---|---|---|
BIO 5104 | Anatomy & Physiology II | 3 |
BIO 5104L | Anatomy & Physiology II Lab | 1 |
BIO 5400 | Immunology | 3 |
BIO 5007 | Bioethics (or similar) | 3 |
BIO 5300 | Microbiology | 3 |
BIO 5300L | Microbiology Lab | 1 |
BIO 5306 | Biochemistry | 3 |
BIO 5306 | Biochemistry Lab | 1 |
BMS 5202 | Pharmacology | 3 |
BMS 5207 | Pathology | 3 |
BMS 6300 | Neuroscience | 3 |
BMS 6900 | Capstone Internships/Research | 1 |
BMS 6905 | Graduate Teaching Assistantship | 1 |
Elective Courses (Courses 500 level or above) | ||
MCAT or other standardized test preparation |
Summer Term
Course # | Course Name | Credits |
---|---|---|
BIO 3103 | Anatomy & Physiology 1 Lecture | 3 |
BIO 3103L | Anatomy & Physiology 1 Lab | 1 |
BIO 3104 | Anatomy & Physiology 2 Lecture | 3 |
BIO 3104L | Anatomy & Physiology 2 Lab | 1 |
BIO 5006 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
BIO 5305 | Nutrition | 3 |