Academic Programs

The School of Biomedical Sciences (the School) offers Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in biomedical sciences. Graduate students choose to specialize further in research areas related to biochemistry and cancer biology; cell biology, immunology, and microbiology; genetics; integrative physiology; pharmacology and neuroscience; structural anatomy and rehabilitation sciences, or visual sciences. Specialized Master’s degrees are available in clinical research management and medical science.

All students acquire a level-appropriate, broad base of knowledge in biomedical sciences, defined by specific competencies. Key competencies expected of graduate students are classified under three general categories: knowledge-based competencies including core knowledge of principles in biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, and physiological principles of homeostasis; technical competencies including the ability to design, execute, analyze and summarize experiments both orally and in writing; and behavioral competencies including adhering to responsible and ethical principles.

The training that students obtain equips them for professional careers in health science centers and universities and the health care industry, including pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

A student may only be enrolled in a single degree program within the School at any given time. The only exception is to allow the M.S. student in the last semester of study who has already gained acceptance into the Ph.D. degree program to enroll in coursework to be applied toward the Ph.D. degree.

All traditional (research-based) M.S. and Ph.D. students are admitted into the discipline of Biomedical Sciences (BMSC) and remain in the discipline for the first semester of graduate study. Students complete an integrated curriculum during the first year that includes the fundamental principles of biochemistry, molecular cell biology, pharmacology, physiology, immunology, biomedical ethics, scientific communications, and lab rotations.

Academic Certificates

SBS offers a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Biomedical Entrepreneurship.  The Certificate program provides the necessary entrepreneurship skillset for entrepreneurial-minded healthcare providers and biomedical scientists to become biomedical entrepreneurs. This outcome is achieved by offering additional education and training with a real-world application. The average time to complete the program is two semesters.

Admissions Information

Prospective students must be admitted to the School, which requires a graduate school application and official transcripts from prior colleges or universities. Students who are awarded graduate academic certificates and later apply for admission to a degree program will be required to submit additional materials, including letters of recommendation.

Program Requirements

For the Biomedical Entrepreneurship certificate, students take a sequence of three online courses followed by a Capstone course. The Capstone course involves an independent project that allows each student to apply entrepreneurship learned in the previous courses. Each course is eight (8) weeks long and is designated 3 SCH for a total of 12 SCH.

A detailed degree plan can be found on the Certificate in Biomedical Entrepreneurship  program page.

Residence Credit Hour Requirements  

Undergraduate Degree Programs

General Requirements

A candidate for the B.S. degree must earn a minimum of 120 SCH to complete the program. A minimum of 60 SCH is required prior to matriculation which includes the Texas Core Curriculum and math and science prerequisites as listed below. A maximum of 73 SCH may be transfered with approval and applied towards the degree completion. A minimum of 47 SCH must be completed at HSC. These degree requirements are determined by the catalog currently in force at the time the student’s degree plan is approved.

Transfer Requirements

Students may transfer up to 73 credits, including all requirements of the Texas Core Curriculum and the math and science requirements indicated below. Students who transfer from a Texas public community college or public university and are certified as core complete shall have satisfied the core requirements of the B.S. in Biomedical Sciences degree. A minimum grade of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) is required for all transfer courses.

The coursework must be transferred from a regionally accredited institution. Once coursework has been accepted and processed as transfer credit, the student’s official transcript will include the name of the transferring college/university, and the number of credit hours awarded in transfer.

 Use of Transfer Credit

Only those courses with a grade of “C” or higher will be accepted in transfer. Grade points will not be transferable and will not be used for GPA calculations.

Extension and correspondence credit earned at other institutions will not be counted toward a degree at UNTHSC. The School does not award credit for portfolio-based experiential learning or noncredit courses.

Request to Enroll at Another Institution

Currently enrolled UNTHSC undergraduate biomedical science students who wish to take courses at another regionally accredited U.S. institution must obtain advance written approval. This process permits a student to enroll elsewhere in a suitable course unavailable at HSC.

1. The Request to Enroll at Another Institution form can be found on the SBS website. Submission of this form does not guarantee approval.
2. Only students in good standing (good standing with HSC means not currently on academic probation, disciplinary probation or suspension or owe outstanding debts to HSC) with the UNTHSC will be permitted to enroll at another institution.
3. Catalog numbers and descriptions/syllabus of courses to be taken elsewhere must be submitted with the request for approval.
4. If enrollment is approved, a minimum course grade must be achieved, however, grades themselves do not compute into any UNTHSC GPA. For undergraduate courses, a minimum grade of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) is required.
5. Completed forms must be submitted to the academic dean or designee of the school/college to receive written approval.
6. School/College-Approved enrollment forms will be sent to the academic advisor, program student navigator, Registrar and Student Records Office (registrar@unthsc.edu ) and Office of Financial Aid (finaid@unthsc.edu ). If enrollment is denied, the dean or designee communicates the decision to the requesting student.
7. Upon course completion, students must submit to the UNTHSC Registrar and Student Records Office (see details below) an official transcript from the visited institution for all course work taken elsewhere.
   • Electronic official transcripts are accepted at UNTHSC, use email address registrar@unthsc.edu  
   • Hard copy official transcripts should be mailed to: University of North Texas Health Science Center, Registrar and Student Records Office, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107
8. The Registrar and Student Records Office will process the course transfer credits onto the student’s academic record (transcript) that meet the above criteria and communicate completion of transfer credit with the student, and all necessary school/college administration.
   • Students that have not submitted their official transcript from the visiting institution indicating final grades will have a hold placed on their record by the academic program student navigator.
     • Holds will be removed by the Registrar and Student Records Office once the transcript is received.

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

A total minimum of 120 credit hours is required for a B.S. Degree. A sample degree plan and required courses can be found on the BS in Biomedical Sciences  program page.

Degree Plan

Before completing the second semester of study, a degree plan listing all courses should be prepared by the student and approved by the student navigator and program director.

The degree requirements listed in the catalog currently in force at the time the student’s degree plan is approved by the Dean are those that must be completed by the student.

Program Requirements

Each student is responsible for the completion of the B.S. program according to the procedures that follow. Each item must be completed in the sequence and time period indicated. Forms are subject to revision at any time and should be obtained from the School’s Forms and Guidelines website.

1. The student must file a degree plan with the Office of Student and Academic Services before completing the second semester of study. Course work deficiencies will be stipulated at this time. Enrollment will be restricted to prevent registration beyond the second semester without an approved degree plan.
2. At the time of registration for the final semester, the student must file an “Intent to Graduate” form with the Office of Student and Academic Services. The form is available on the School’s Graduation website.

Graduate Programs

All graduate students, regardless of discipline, are expected to complete the core requirements described below.

Students accepted to M.S. programs in Biotechnology, Clinical Research Management, or Medical Sciences are immediately placed into those disciplines and follow the curriculum requirements set by each discipline. 

Master of Science Degree

General Requirements  

A candidate for the M.S. degree must earn thirty (30) or more semester credit hours (SCH), depending upon the specific degree requirements. These degree requirements are determined by the graduate catalog currently in force at the time the student’s degree plan is approved by the Dean. The use of special problems courses is limited to a maximum of 6 SCH.

Consult discipline handbooks for the specific course requirements for the traditional M.S. degree and the specialized M.S. degrees.

Additional information regarding Core MS Course Requirements, Time limitations, Advisory Committee details, and other MS specific requirmenets can be found on the MS General Requirements  page.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree

General Requirements  

The candidate for a Ph.D. degree must earn 60 SCH beyond the master’s degree or 90 SCH beyond the bachelor’s degree. Doctoral students who have earned a master’s degree in a relevant field from an accredited university will be awarded up to thirty (30) SCH of advanced standing, requiring 60 SCH of coursework to complete the Ph.D. degree. The degree requirements are determined by the graduate catalog currently in force at the time the student’s degree plan is approved by the  Office of Student and Academic Services.

The quantitative SCH requirements must be regarded as a minimum. The quantity of coursework to be completed by each candidate is arranged individually by the student’s advisory committee, subject to the approval of the Dean, and may be modified both as to quantity and as to type during the progress of the student’s coursework.

Consult subsequent sections of this publication for the specific course requirements for the Ph.D. degree. 

Additional information regarding Core Ph.D. Course Requirements, Dissertation details, and other Ph.D. specific requirmenets can be found on the Ph.D. General Core Requirements  page.