Program Contact: Martine Mirrione 203-582-8117
Medical laboratory research and diagnostic testing are among today’s most exciting professions. The last decade has brought many exciting breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment of disease as well as new challenges such as AIDS, Lyme disease and the resurgence of tuberculosis. These new developments and challenges require laboratory professionals to stay on the cutting edge of their field. New techniques have to be mastered, new theories and concepts understood, and new means of managing the more complex operations of laboratories developed. The Biomedical Sciences program at Quinnipiac is specially designed to meet the educational needs of students to complete their education toward a degree in medicine or PhD programs or employment in the research/development industry and diagnostic companies. The program provides the training that is necessary to stay current with today’s rapidly changing technology and to assume positions of greater responsibility. A laptop is required for all students enrolled in the MHS in Biomedical Sciences program.
MHS in Biomedical Sciences
Program of Study
Students may choose either a thesis or a non-thesis option in the Biomedical Sciences program. Both options require students to take four courses or more in their specialization while allowing students to choose a number of electives to meet their individual needs.
Thesis Option Requirements (based on availability of faculty)
The curriculum includes a minimum of 35 credits including 8 credits of thesis (BMS 650, BMS 651). A total of 15–16 credits of core classes in an area of specialization is required along with three classes (9–12 credits) of electives within the specific area of specialization. Open elective courses could be chosen from any area of specialization.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BMS 650 | Thesis I | 4 |
| BMS 651 | Thesis II | 4 |
| Core courses in area of specialization 1 | 15-16 | |
| Three areas of specialization electives 1 | 9-12 | |
| Open electives | 0-3 | |
| Total Credits | 35-38 | |
- 1
Since most courses are either 3 or 4 credits, the total credits from area of specialization and total number of elective courses are based on the number of credits for individual courses.
Non-Thesis Option Requirements
The curriculum includes a minimum of 38 credits including 2 credits of comprehensive examination (BMS 670). A total of 15–16 credits of core classes in an area of specialization is required along with three elective classes (9–12 credits) within the specific area of specialization. Open elective courses could be chosen from any area of specialization.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive Exam | 2 | |
| Core courses in area of specialization 1 | 15-16 | |
| Three areas of specialization electives 1 | 9-12 | |
| Open electives 1 | 9-12 | |
| Total Credits | 38-41 | |
- 1
Since most courses are either 3 or 4 credits, the total credits from area of specialization and total number of elective courses are based on the number of credits for individual courses.
Comprehensive Examination
The comprehensive examination in medical laboratory sciences (2 credits) is a requirement for the non-thesis option in the Biomedical Sciences program. The purpose of the exam is two-fold. First, the student must demonstrate broad and specific knowledge expected of someone holding a master’s degree. Second, the student must be able to integrate knowledge obtained from individual courses into unified concepts which link the student’s own specialization to other fields of study. The student is given two opportunities to demonstrate competency. A written essay exam is administered by a designated faculty member. Students should schedule an appointment with the program director before registering for the comprehensive exam.
Areas of Specialization
Biomedical Sciences
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| BMS 502 | Research Methods | 4 |
| BMS 518 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| BMS 522 & 522L | Immunology and Immunology Lab | 4 |
| BMS 532 | Histology and Lab | 4 |
| Specialization Electives | ||
| BIO 515 | Advanced Biochemistry | 4 |
| BIO 568 | Molecular and Cell Biology | 4 |
| BIO 571 | Molecular Genetics | 4 |
| BMS 508 | Advanced Biology of Aging | 3 |
| BMS 519 | Computational Biomedicine | 3 |
| BMS 520 | Neuropharmacology | 3 |
| BMS 521 | Advances in Hematology | 3 |
| BMS 527 | Pharmacology | 3 |
| BMS 535 | Histochemistry and Lab | 3 |
| BMS 536 | Endocrinology | 3 |
| BMS 552 | Toxicology | 3 |
| BMS 561 | Immunohematology | 3 |
| BMS 562 | Blood Coagulation and Hemostasis | 3 |
| BMS 563 | Anemias | 3 |
| BMS 564 | Fundamentals of Oncology | 4 |
| BMS 565 | Leukemia | 3 |
| BMS 569 | Antimicrobial Therapy | 3 |
| BMS 571 | Human Anatomy & Dissection | 4 |
| BMS 576 | Drug Discovery and Development | 3 |
| BMS 579 | Molecular Pathology | 3 |
| BMS 583 | Forensic Pathology | 3 |
| BMS 598 | Synaptic Organization of the Brain | 3 |
| BMS 599 | Biomarkers | 3 |
| PA 515 | Human Physiology | 4 |
Microbiology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| BMS 502 | Research Methods | 4 |
| BMS 522 & 522L | Immunology and Immunology Lab | 4 |
| BMS 570 | Virology | 4 |
| BMS 572 | Pathogenic Microbiology | 4 |
| Specialization Electives | ||
| BIO 568 | Molecular and Cell Biology | 4 |
| BIO 571 | Molecular Genetics | 4 |
| BMS 525 | Vaccines and Vaccine Preventable Diseases | 3 |
| BMS 526 | Epidemiology | 3 |
| BMS 528 | Advanced Clinical Parasitology | 4 |
| BMS 569 | Antimicrobial Therapy | 3 |
| BMS 573 | Mycology | 3 |
| BMS 575 | Food Microbiology | 4 |
| BMS 576 | Drug Discovery and Development | 3 |
| BMS 579 | Molecular Pathology | 3 |
| BMS 584 | Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases | 3 |
| BMS 585 | Outbreak Control | 3 |
| BMS 595 | Transplantation Immunology | 3 |
Graduate Science Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Open Electives | ||
| BIO 500 | Special Topics in Molecular and Cell Biology | 1 |
| BIO 505 | Writing and Science | 3 |
| BIO 515 | Advanced Biochemistry | 4 |
| BIO 562 | Bioinformatics | 3 |
| BIO 568 | Molecular and Cell Biology | 4 |
| BIO 571 | Molecular Genetics | 4 |
| BIO 589 | Molecular and Cell Neurobiology | 3 |
| BIO 605 | DNA Methods Laboratory | 4 |
| BIO 606 | Protein Methods Laboratory | 4 |
| BMS 503 | Professional Development in Biomedical Sciences | 1 |
| BMS 508 | Advanced Biology of Aging | 3 |
| BMS 510 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| BMS 511 | Writing for Scientists | 3 |
| BMS 517 | Human Embryology | 3 |
| BMS 518 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| BMS 519 | Computational Biomedicine | 3 |
| BMS 520 | Neuropharmacology | 3 |
| BMS 521 | Advances in Hematology | 3 |
| BMS 525 | Vaccines and Vaccine Preventable Diseases | 3 |
| BMS 526 | Epidemiology | 3 |
| BMS 527 | Pharmacology | 3 |
| BMS 528 | Advanced Clinical Parasitology | 4 |
| BMS 532 | Histology and Lab | 4 |
| BMS 535 | Histochemistry and Lab | 3 |
| BMS 536 | Endocrinology | 3 |
| BMS 552 | Toxicology | 3 |
| BMS 556 | Seminar in Health Care Disparities | 1 |
| BMS 561 | Immunohematology | 3 |
| BMS 562 | Blood Coagulation and Hemostasis | 3 |
| BMS 563 | Anemias | 3 |
| BMS 564 | Fundamentals of Oncology | 4 |
| BMS 565 | Leukemia | 3 |
| BMS 569 | Antimicrobial Therapy | 3 |
| BMS 570 | Virology | 4 |
| BMS 571 | Human Anatomy & Dissection | 4 |
| BMS 572 | Pathogenic Microbiology | 4 |
| BMS 573 | Mycology | 3 |
| BMS 575 | Food Microbiology | 4 |
| BMS 576 | Drug Discovery and Development | 3 |
| BMS 577 | Critical Analysis and Reasoning In the Biomedical Sciences | 2 |
| BMS 578 | Cellular Basis of Neurobiological Disorders | 3 |
| BMS 579 | Molecular Pathology | 3 |
| BMS 583 | Forensic Pathology | 3 |
| BMS 584 | Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases | 3 |
| BMS 585 | Outbreak Control | 3 |
| BMS 591 | The New Genetics and Human Future | 3 |
| BMS 595 | Transplantation Immunology | 3 |
| BMS 597 | Biomedical Sciences Internship | 4 |
| BMS 598 | Synaptic Organization of the Brain | 3 |
| BMS 599 | Biomarkers | 3 |
| BMS 622 | MED Cross-Listed Selective | 3 |
| BMS 681 | Research Methods in Biomedical Sciences I | 1-4 |
| BMS 688 | Independent Study | 2 |
| BMS 689 | Independent Study | 2 |
| PA 515 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| PA 516 | Clinical Pathology | 4 |
| PA 535 | Disease Mechanisms | 4 |
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate the following competencies:
- Scientific Knowledge: Demonstrate an advanced understanding of translational science in biomedical and microbiological topics.
- Translational Science: Critically analyze scientific literature and develop critical thinking skills necessary to implement evidence-based translational research.
- Effective Scientist: Engage in the scientific process including research ethics, experimental design and data collection and analysis.
- Responsible Citizen: Evaluate the social and ethical impact of scientific discoveries on medical practice.
Mission Statement
The mission of Quinnipiac University’s Master of Health Science in Biomedical Sciences program is to provide students with the cutting-edge skills they need to manage the more complex operations carried out today in hospitals and research facilities, as well as allowing students to develop their critical thinking skills and knowledge of the biomedical sciences, sought after by PhD programs and medical schools. The two specialties included in the program (biomedical sciences and microbiology) and the integration of courses from these individual specialties provide the student with a comprehensive knowledge to meet the education and technical needs of the biomedical profession in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostics and medical research. Students are guided in the principles and methods of scientific research, and they gain knowledge of the latest advances in biomedical, biotechnological and laboratory sciences—all directly applicable to real-world work environments.
To be considered for admission into the Biomedical Sciences program, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in the biological, medical or health sciences from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S. or Canada.
- Scores for the tests of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) if the applicant is from a non-English speaking country.
- A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75; however the most successful applicants have a GPA of 3.00 or higher.
- All undergraduate transcripts and a detailed autobiography indicating why the student would like admission into the program, as well as personal, professional and educational achievements.
- Two letters of reference detailing the applicant's academic and interpersonal strengths.
Applications may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Admissions. Applicants should refer to the graduate admission requirements found in this catalog. Applications to this program are accepted throughout the year. Incoming students can start the program in either the fall or spring semester.