Biomedical Sciences, M.S.

Graduate Program Director: Kate Cooper, Ph.D. Professor of Biology

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences program is designed to meet graduate educational needs by:

Student Learning Outcomes - Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences

1. Students will demonstrate advanced knowledge of biological principles.
2. Students will be able to conduct original research and analyze and interpret the data.
3. Students will effectively communicate by defending original research in writing and in oral presentation.
4. Students will be able to apply ethical frameworks to the biomedical sciences.
5. Students will be able to articulate an appropriate set of career options.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR ADMISSION AS A DEGREE-SEEKING STUDENT

Eligibility:

• Have earned at least a bachelor’s degree by the time of enrollment, with a background in natural sciences.
• Strong academic ability, evidenced by a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. A holistic admission decision will be based on multiple factors, including your motivation for pursuing this degree, work history, volunteer activities, and other extracurricular involvement.
• Completion of the following prerequisite course requirements before the start of the program:
  • General Chemistry (two semesters)
  • Organic Chemistry (two semesters)
  • Biochemistry (at least one semester)
  • Introductory Biology
  • Cellular/Molecular Biology
  • Physiology or Anatomy & Physiology is recommended, but not required
• In lieu of the prerequisite courses, students may be eligible for admission with an MCAT score of above 500 with no sub-score below 123 (30th percentile), as an indication that they have some background in all those areas.
• US citizen or permanent resident. (International students interested in specific coursework should please contact the Program Director).

To Apply, students should follow the steps below:

1. Visit the PostBacCAS website: https://postbaccas.liaisoncas.com, click “Create Account”, and complete the online application. (Preferred browsers are Google Chrome or Firefox).
2. Submit the following supplemental application documents to PostBacCAS:
   1. Official transcripts from each institution attended
      1. Enter the information for each institution attended in the “Academic History” section of your PostBacCAS online application, then click “Order” next to each school to have an official transcript sent from that school directly to PostBacCAS.
   2. Current resume
      1. Upload to the Loras College “Program Materials” section of your PostBacCAS online application.
   3. Two Letters of Recommendation
      1. Create two Recommendation Requests in the “Supporting Information” section of your PostBacCAS online application, which will then be emailed to your references. Your references will upload their recommendation directly to an Evaluator Portal which will then automatically get sent to PostBacCAS.

Application Deadlines:

• For students applying to begin in Fall: the PostBacCAS online application should be submitted and all supplemental application documents should be received by August 1.
• For students applying to begin in Summer: the PostBacCAS online application should be submitted and all supplemental application documents should be received by May 1. (Please note that only one class is available to take in the Summer. We highly encourage students to begin the program in the Fall term).
  *Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the application deadline for each term.

THE OFFER OF ADMISSION

We have rolling admissions for this program (up until the deadline), therefore after the application is complete and verified in PostBacCAS, the file will be reviewed by the Program Director and Biomedical Sciences Admission Committee. After review of the file, the applicant will be notified of an admission decision in their Loras online Applicant Status Portal within two weeks.

SPECIAL STUDENT STATUS

See Non-Degree Seeking/Non-Pathway Seeking Students Policy: Here   

RESEARCH PROPOSAL AND THESIS PROJECT

Students must successfully pass their research proposal presentation/defense during BIO 516 or will need to repeat the presentation and pass in the fall semester at the beginning of Bio 610 in order to be able to work on their proposed project in Bio 610. Students must pass the final thesis defense in Bio 611 (B or better) to graduate, and additionally maintain the 3.0 GPA required for graduation with any graduate degree at Loras College.