Your Experience

In our program, you’ll study how bacteria, viruses and other pathogens interact to help and hinder the body’s ability to fight illness. You’ll pair a deep knowledge of the biomedical sciences and disease systems with hands-on, student-centered laboratory projects designed to test your technical and problem-solving capabilities. The expertise you gain will prepare you for a career as a researcher in medical labs as well as pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

We give you the tools to understand and respond to the current issues facing the scientific and healthcare communities, from the effects of MRSA and other antibiotic-resistant bacteria to the spread of E. coli and other food-borne illnesses. This major also gives you the option to enroll in the premedical studies program, which fulfills many prerequisites for graduate medical, physician assistant, dental and physical therapy programs.

A two-semester research experience, performed in a lab setting under the guidance of a faculty mentor, culminates in a formal presentation of your findings. Third- and fourth-year students also may be hired for internships and part-time summer work in regional biotech and pharmaceutical firms as well as government labs.