Biomedical Science

In the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

The Biomedical Sciences Minor offers a variety of courses designed for the students considering a pre-professional curriculum (pre-medical or -veterinary) or a career in biomedical research (graduate school). Undergraduate courses in the Biomedical Sciences Minor are taught primarily by faculty within the College of Veterinary Medicine in Biomedical Sciences and in Microbiology & Immunology. The courses offered provide depth and breadth in subject areas covered in the preclinical professional medical or veterinary curriculum. An important focus is on animal and human disease processes, with an emphasis on animal physiology and infection biology.

The Biomedical Sciences Minor is offered to undergraduates focusing on life sciences (Biological Sciences Majors are not eligible for this minor). This Minor can be completed with 12-17 credit hours of required and elective coursework. Minor Advisors are available to provide guidance on career development of pre-professional undergraduates.

Students seeking to minor in Biomedical Sciences or determine the eligibility of a course are encouraged to contact Dr. Dorothy Debbie, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, or Dr. Nancy Lorr, Department of Biomedical Sciences.

Minor in Biomedical Sciences

Offered by the Departments of Biomedical Sciences and Microbiology & Immunology in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Educational Objectives:

The Minor in Biomedical Sciences is designed for the life sciences major considering a pre-professional curriculum (pre-medical or -veterinary) or a career in biomedical research (graduate school). The minor comprises undergraduate courses taught primarily by faculty within the College of Veterinary Medicine in Animal Physiology and Microbiology and Immunology. The courses offered will provide depth and breadth in subject areas covered in the preclinical professional medical or veterinary curriculum. An important focus will be on animal and human disease processes, with an emphasis on animal physiology and infection biology.

All undergraduates focusing on life sciences (Biology majors are not eligible for this minor) are eligible to participate in this minor.

This Minor can be completed with 12-17 credit hours of required and elective coursework. Minor Advisors will be available to provide guidance on career development of pre-professional undergraduates.

Academic Standards:

A minimum course grade of C- is required in each course within the minor. A cumulative GPA of ≥ 2.0 is required for all courses within the minor.

Biomedical Sciences Required Coursework:

One of the following two courses is required:

BIOAP 3110 - Principles of Animal Physiology (crosslisted) (Fall, 3 credits)
BIOMS 3150 - Basic Immunology (Fall, 3 credits)

Elective Coursework:

Four additional courses must be taken; at least one course must be taken from each of the Core Groups.

Animal Physiology Core Group:

BIOMS 3110 - Principles of Animal Physiology (crosslisted) ** (Fall, 3 credits)
BIOMS 3160 - Cellular Physiology (crosslisted) (Spring, 3 credits)
BIOMS 3190 - Laboratory in Physiology (crosslisted) (Fall, 4 credits)
BIOMS 4130 - Histology: The Biology of the Tissues (crosslisted) (Spring, 3 credits)
BIOMS 4140 - Principles of Pharmacology (crosslisted) (Spring, 3 credits)
ANSC 4270 - Fundamentals of Endocrinology (crosslisted) (Fall, 3 credits)
BIOMS 4580 - Mammalian Physiology (crosslisted) (Spring, 3 credits)

Microbiology and Immunology Core Group:

BIOMS 3150 - Basic Immunology ** (Fall, 3 credits)
BIOMI 3210 - [Human Microbes and Health] (Spring, 3 credits)
BIOMS 3310 - General Parasitology (crosslisted) (Spring, 2 credits)
BIOMS 3350 - Wildlife Parasitology (Winter, 2 credits)
BIOMS 4040 - Pathogenic Bacteriology (crosslisted) (Spring, 2-3 credits)
BIOMS 4090 - Principles of Virology (crosslisted) (Fall, 3 credits)
BIOMS 4310 - Medical Parasitology (crosslisted) (Fall, 2 credits)
BIOMS 4311 - Paleoparasitology - Very, Very Cold Cases (Spring, 1 credit)
BIOMS 4340 - Cellular and Molecular Microbial Pathogenesis: The Host/Pathogen Interplay (Spring, odd years, 3 credits)
** If you take BIOAP 3110 as your required course, you may elect to take BIOMS 3150 as an elective course in the Microbiology and Immunology Core Group below. If you take BIOMS 3150 as your required course, you may elect to take BIOAP 3110 as an elective course in the Animal Physiology Core Group.

How to receive credit for the Minor Program and Study in Biomedical Sciences:

Meet with Faculty Advisor and with Dr. Dorothy Debbie (Microbiology and Immunology) or Dr. Nancy Lorr (Animal Physiology) to discuss your interests in Biomedical Sciences and decide which courses you will take to satisfy the minor.
Submit a copy of the enclosed form to the Department of Biomedical Sciences (T4-018, Veterinary Research Tower). Retain a copy for your records and provide a copy to your major advisor for her/his records.
Complete the courses required for the BMS minor.
In the final semester prior to graduation, bring a copy of your transcript to either Drs. Debbie or Lorr. Upon verification of the successful completion of all requirements, Drs. Debbie or Lorr will sign the form required for the minor.

For information, contact:

Dr. Dorothy Debbie Department of Microbiology and Immunology C4 111 Veterinary Medical Center dpd22@cornell.edu 607-253-4017	Department of Microbiology and Immunology C5-171 Veterinary Medical Center Ms. Sachiko Funaba sf35@cornell.edu 607-253-3402
Dr. Nancy Lorr Department of Biomedical Sciences T8-004A Veterinary Research Tower nal4@cornell.edu 607-253-3457	Department of Biomedical Sciences T8-004 Veterinary Research Tower Ms. May Lovelace mrl34@cornell.edu 607-253-3840