Biomedical Academic Programs
Degree and certificate programs for undergraduate and graduate students are offered by the UNF Biomedical Sciences Program.
Undergraduate Certificate in Biotechnology
The Biotechnology Certificate is available to all UNF Biology students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Non-degree seeking, post-baccalaureate students are also eligible. Students use coursework already within their degree program, as well as a biomedical research internship, to complete the requirements for the certificate, which is awarded at graduation.
BS Biomedical Sciences
This degree program is designed to meet the needs of biomedical students intending to apply to medical professional graduate programs including medical, dental, pharmacy, veterinary, optometry, and physician’s assistant. Review the Program of Study for detailed degree requirements.
Accelerated BS-MS in Biomedical Sciences
The combined B.S.-M.S. degree program allows students to complete both degrees within five years. Undergraduate students apply during their junior year and complete 12 credits of graduate coursework in their senior year. Those credits are used to satisfy both degrees. Students must secure a research mentor from the list of faculty researchers in the Biomedical Sciences Program prior to acceptance to the program. If the research is done outside the Biology Department, the student must identify a Biology faculty member as a co-advisor. Speak with an academic advisor for more information about the program.
MS Biology - Biomedical Sciences Concentration
This program is a track within the MS in biology designed for students who desire to have research experience without completing a traditional Master of Science thesis. Students must secure a research mentor from the list of faculty researchers in the Biomedical Sciences Program prior to acceptance to the program. If the research is done outside the Biology Department, the student must identify a Biology faculty member as a co-advisor. A written report of the research (format decided by the advisory committee) and defense to the advisory committee in the form of a presentation is required for graduation. This degree can be completed in two academic years (Fall and Spring) and adheres to deadlines and application procedures for the MS in biology degree. Review the Program of Study for detailed degree requirements.
- Biomedical Required Coursework
- New Programs in Biomedical Sciences
- Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Med Certificate Program
Biomedical Required Coursework
The practice of medicine is based on modern biology, chemistry, and physics. Candidates for medical professional schools must study in these disciplines to:
- Confirm their interest in and capacity for advanced study in medical science
- Enable professional schools to judge their potential for success in medicine
- Meet requirements of state laws governing licensure
Minimum requirements for admission to professional schools are not uniform. Also, many schools recommend, but do not require, additional courses such as calculus, statistics, advanced biology courses, English, humanities, economics, psychology, and social science courses. Students should ascertain the minimum and recommended courses of professional schools to which they plan to apply well in advance of planning their undergraduate studies.
| Schools | General Biology
1 & 2 |
General Chemistry
1 & 2 |
Organic Chemistry
1 & 2 |
Physics
1 & 2 |
Bio-Chemistry | Anatomy & Physiology | Micro-Biology | Genetics | Animal Science | Math (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Schools | Yes (2) | Yes | Yes (3) | Yes | (4) | - | - | - | - | Yes (4) |
| Veterinary Schools | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | Yes | Yes | Yes (5) | - |
| Dental Schools | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | - | - | - | - |
| Physician Assistant * | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | Yes | Yes | - | - | Yes |
| Pharmacy Schools ** | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | (6) | (6) | - | - | Yes |
| Optometry Schools | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | (4) | Yes | - | - | Yes |
| Podiatric Schools | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Labs are required for Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry & Physics and may be required for other science courses.
- 1 = Calculus and/or Statistics
- 2 = some schools allow Zoology to fulfill requirement
- 3 = some schools allow 1 semester Biochemistry to fulfill Organic II requirement
- 4 = required at some schools, but strongly recommended by all others
- 5 = courses taken at the University of Florida prior to matriculation
- 6 = required by approximately half of pharmacy schools
* Physician assistant school requirements vary widely. A minimum of two years of college is required to be elgible for admission into bachelors degree programs. Masters degree programs require all undergraduate prerequisites along with a minimum GPA. Health care experience and volunteering are required. Pre-PA students are especially encouraged to determine the requirements of those schools to which they plan to apply.
** Pharmacy school requirements vary widely. Pre-Pharmacy students are especially encouraged to determine the requirements of those schools to which they plan to apply.
Professional schools may have additional minimum requirements for admission to those listed above as well as recommended courses. Students should ascertain the minimum requirements and recommended additional courses of schools to which they plan to apply.
New Programs in Biomedical Sciences
Undergraduate Certificate in Biotechnology
Program DescriptionAccelerated BS-MS in Biomedical Sciences
The combined B.S.-M.S. degree program is 156 credits, 120 for the undergraduate degree and 36 credits for the master’s degree. Students complete the undergraduate degree first, taking no more than 12 credits of graduate coursework in their senior year, which will then be used to satisfy both degrees.
BS-MS General Informational FlierMS Biology - Biomedical Sciences Concentration
Program Description
This program is open to all baccalaureates with a minimum GPA of 3.0. For detailed acceptance criteria see the Graduate School guidelines. Students take electives and conduct independent research in a faculty’s laboratory. Fourteen credits core courses in biomedical area and biotechnology are required. The students must select the eight credits electives in consultation with the faculty mentor. The research may be completed in the laboratory of any Biomedical Sciences faculty from Biology or from other laboratories from the UNF-wide Biomedical Sciences Program faculty. See the Biomedical Sciences Faculty page for research expertise. If the research is done outside the Biology Department, the student must identify a Biology faculty member as a co-advisor. A written report of the research (format decided by the advisory committee) and defense to the advisory committee in the form of a presentation is required for graduation. This degree can be completed in two academic years (Fall and Spring).
Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Med Certificate Program
Program Overview
The UNF Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Med Certificate Program is ideal for individuals who wish to change careers and pursue a graduate degree in the health professions.
The program provides students who have a Bachelor's degree in a non-science field an opportunity to take the necessary pre-requisite courses to be eligible for admission to the following professional programs: medicine, dentistry, optometry, physician assistance, pharmacy, podiatry, and veterinary medicine.
The main benefit to enrollment in this Certificate Program is priority status for UNF course registration, which will ensure that the coursework can be completed in a timely manner.
This is NOT a remedial program. Applicants must have already obtained a Bachelor's degree in a non-science field with a GPA of 3.2 or greater. To remain in good standing, students must maintain a GPA of 3.5 or greater. A Certificate of Completion will be issued by the UNF Registrar to students who have completed at least 30 credits at UNF and have maintained the expected GPA while in the Program.
Please note that there are no student loan options for non-degree-seeking students within the Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Med Certificate Program. Students requiring student loans to pay for coursework are encouraged to apply to UNF as a post-baccalaureate student within the Chemistry pre-med program. Those students do not have priority status for UNF course registration and will be assigned to the Biology Advisor for academic advising. They are encouraged to meet with the UNF Biomedical Advisor (Dr. Beth Stotz-Potter, Ph.D.) prior to applying to professional programs.
Certificate Requirements
The practice of medicine is based on modern biology, chemistry, and physics. Candidates for medical professional schools must study in these disciplines to:
- confirm their interest in and capacity for advanced study in medical science
- enable professional schools to judge their potential for success in medicine
- meet requirements of state laws governing licensure
Minimum requirements for admission to professional schools are not uniform. Also, many schools recommend, but do not require, additional courses such as calculus, statistics, advanced biology courses, English, humanities, economics, psychology, and social science courses. Students should ascertain the minimum and recommended courses of professional schools to which they plan to apply well in advance of planning their undergraduate studies.
Coursework
UNF Post-Bacc Pre-Med Certificate Program does not follow a pre-designed schedule of courses. Each student is allowed to proceed at his/her own pace.
The courses needed to fulfill pre-requisites for professional programs include:
- General Chemistry I* / General Chemistry I lab (CHM 2045 / CHM 2045L)
- General Chemistry II / General Chemistry II lab (CHM 2046 / CHM 2046L)
- Organic Chemistry I / Organic Chemistry I lab (CHM 2210 / CHM 2210L)
- Organic Chemistry II / Organic Chemistry II lab (CHM 2211 / CHM 2211L)
- General Biology I with lab (BSC 1010C)
- General Biology II with lab (BSC 1011C)
- Algebra-based Physics I* / Algebra-based Physics I lab (PHY 2053 / PHY 2053L)
- Algebra-based Physics II / Algebra-based Physics II lab (PHY 2054 / PHY 2054L)
- Calculus* (MAC 2311)
Please note that coursework must be done in succession. That is to say that General Biology I MUST precede General Biology II. The General Chemistry series MUST precede the Organic Chemistry series.
There is an opportunity for students to take upper-level coursework as well, including Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology, Genetics, Molecular and Cell Biology, and Biochemistry. Approval is given by the course instructor, on an individual basis.
*These courses require pre-requisite coursework. For General Chemistry I, the student must have taken high school chemistry and college algebra (MAC 1105). If high school chemistry was not completed with a grade of B or higher, the student must first complete the Intro to Chemistry course with lab (CHM 1025/CHM 1025L). For Algebra-based Physics I, the student must have taken high school physics and Pre-calculus (MAC 1147; or college algebra [MAC 1105] and trigonometry [MAC 1114]). If high school physics was not completed with a grade of B or higher, the student must first complete the Intro to Physics course with lab (PHY 1020/PHY 1020L). For Calculus, pre-calculus (MAC 1147 or MAC1105 and MAC 1114) must first be completed.
Application process
To apply to the program, the applicant must submit the following:
- Online UNF application Apply as an undergraduate; Select "Certificate" for enrollment type and "Pre-med Certificate" as the major.
- Post-Bacc Pre-Med Certificate application
- Transcripts of all post-secondary academic work (official copies to UNF, unofficial copies to the Biomedical Program)
- Two letters of recommendation delivered in sealed envelopes, at least one from a former university or college professor. Applicants who have received a graduate degree (M.S., Ph.D., J.D.) or have been out of college for more than 10 years, may substitute a character reference for the faculty reference.
- Résumé, two pages maximum
- Personal statement concerning the applicant's career goals and motivation for entering the UNF Post-Bacc Pre-Med Certificate Program
Once all the application materials are received by UNF Application Services and the Biomedical Program, a decision will be made, and the applicant will be notified. Please refer to the UNF application deadlines to receive priority registration status for the first semester of enrollment.
Questions? Email: biomedicalprogram@unf.edu