Oct 03, 2024  
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Biomedical Sciences, Certificate


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: College of Natural Science and Mathematics

College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics  > Department of Biology and Biochemistry  > Biomedical Sciences, Certificate

The Biomedical Sciences certificate is offered to students who seek post-baccalaureate academic preparation to develop a stronger foundation for future studies in biomedical or allied health professional programs. The program integrates components of professional development and humanistic approaches to health with fundamental biomedical science, trains students to apply their knowledge of biology, biochemistry, and genetics to specific diseases, and offers a practicum in research or clinical settings. The students can only pursue the certificate together with a non-thesis MS degree in Biology. Students graduating with an MS degree with the Biomedical Sciences certificate are typically bound to medical or dental schools, or other health-related careers.

Admission Requirements


To apply to the Certificate in Biomedical Sciences, applicants must apply to an MS in Biology under the Biomedical Sciences Certificate track.

  • Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree in Biology or Biochemistry, or related field, with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 (out of 4.00) in the last 60 hours of all course work. Applicants with a cumulative GPA between 2.6 and 3.0 in the last 60 hours of course work may be admitted conditionally.
  • Applicants must have taken prerequisite courses in Biochemistry and Genetics, or Molecular Biology, or a Cell Biology course;  equivalent to the courses offered at UH as BCHS 3304 (Biochemistry), BIOL 3301 (Genetics), BIOL 4320 (Molecular Biology), and BIOL 4374 (Cell Biology).
  • Applicants must provide officially reported GRE or MCAT scores.
  • An application fee is required for international applications.
  • TOEFL or IELTS scores must be provided by applicants who did not earn a prior degree from a US institution or a country where English is the medium of instruction (see list in the General Admission Policy).
  • Official transcripts and 3 letters of recommendation are required.
  • Applicants should provide a personal statement outlining future goals and expectations from the program.

Degree Requirements


Credit hours required for this certificate: 18.0

Practicum


6.0 Credit Hours

  • Credit Hours: 3.0
  • The practicum is carried out across two academic terms for a total of 6 credit hours (3 credit hours over 2 terms, one of which must include the summer term). Students will have the choice of selecting either 6 credit hours of internship, or 6 credit hours of laboratory research, or 3 credit hours of each.

    The internship is selected from an approved list of options. Laboratory research projects are performed under the guidance of a faculty member in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry. Students performing a practicum are expected to devote 9 to 10 hours per week to the practicum. Fewer than 8 hours per week will not be permitted. Satisfactory completion of the practicum will require a report from the faculty or supervisor overseeing the student’s practicum. Students enrolled in the practicum course in the Fall or Spring term will have to meet with the practicum instructor of record once a week at the time assigned to the practicum course.

Academic Policies


  • University of Houston Academic Policies  
  • Academic Policies: College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics  
  • Department Academic Policies
    • Students will be required to meet with the co-directors of the certificate in Biomedical Sciences program prior to the beginning of the Fall and Spring terms to establish a course plan for the coming terms and review progress towards the completion of the certificate.

      Transfers

      Students will not be permitted to transfer courses towards the 18 hours of certificate.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: College of Natural Science and Mathematics