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The Biomedical Science Graduate Program at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine offers a two year course of graduate study and significant research opportunities leading to the Master of Science (MS) degree with a major in biomedical science. Biomedical science is a multidisciplinary field of study encompassing biological and physicochemical disciplines in a medical setting. Scientists working in this area have diverse interests ranging from the study of molecular subcellular events to the study of organ systems and whole organism functions. This interdisciplinary program prepares students for careers in biomedical research and education, providing broad emphases on the basic medical sciences with special concentration on the disciplines emphasized in the dissertation research. The MS degree also offers preparation for entry into professional (medical, dental, veterinary) schools.

The program is administered by a committee that includes the following:

Richard Hunt, Director, Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program of the School of Medicine and Director of the Integrated Biomedical Science Graduate Program
Wayne Carver, Graduate Director, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology and Anatomy
Kim Creek, Graduate Director, Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
Lawrence Reagan, Graduate Director, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience.

Curriculum

The two year curriculum presents multiple training components designed to prepare students for their dissertation research. In the first year of the two year program, there is a core of basic medical science courses together with multidisciplinary laboratory courses on research methods, facilities, and major equipment. These must be passed with a B average.

In the second year, the MS student carries out research with a selected mentor. This can either be laboratory bench research or library research. The former leads to a dissertation and the publication of research papers while the latter leads to a dissertation and the publication of a review paper. Opportunities for laboratory or library research are in such current areas of interest as cancer, reproductive biology, vaccine development, biodefense, complementary medicine, immunology, cell and molecular biology, neuroscience, microbiology, vision science, developmental biology, cardiovascular biology, AIDS and many more specialties. A detailed description of research activities within the biomedical science program may be found at the Integrated Biomedical Science Graduate Program web site: http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/graduate/biomed.htm.

Admission Standards

An applicant must have a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university. Undergraduate courses should include two semesters each of biology, physics, inorganic chemistry, and organic chemistry as well as some math (preferably through calculus).

Admission is determined by the Dean of The Graduate School after recommendation by the Director of the Biomedical Science Program and the Biomedical Science Graduate Directors Committee. Criteria examined include an appraisal of courses taken, grades achieved, letters of recommendation, research experience, scores on the GRE, and the student’s statement of purpose for graduate study. Applicants may designate a preferred academic specialization, but, because of the interdisciplinary nature of biomedical research, applications are reviewed by all departmental directors; when possible, highly ranked applicants are invited to interview and visit the program.

An GPA average of 3.00 or better is required in both the major and overall. GRE scores on the general section above the 50th percentile are preferred.

Degree Requirements

The curriculum includes required core courses in the basic medical sciences.

The core courses are:

• Structure-Function Nucleic Acids (BIOL 711) 
• Biological Chemistry (BIOL 717) 
• Interdisciplinary Laboratory  (BMSC 700)
• Ethics in Biomedical Research (BMSC 706)
• Seminar in Biomedical Sciences (BMSC 801)
•  Advanced Cell Biology (BIOL 714)
• Intermediary Metabolism  (BIOL 718)

Ongoing seminar programs expose students to presentations of current research progress by scientists in the program, other departments of the University, and from around the nation and world. Interdisciplinary laboratory courses introduce students to distinctive research facilities and methods in the biomedical sciences, preparing them for supervised research in their area of specialization. This research training culminates ultimately in the student’s own dissertation project which makes an original and creative contribution to the body of current knowledge in biomedical science.

The MS degree with a major in biomedical science requires at least 32 graduate credit hours, not more than 6 of which may be taken in dissertation research. Of these, at least 50 percent must be in courses numbered 700 or above, exclusive of dissertation credit. Not more than 6 hours of independent study, special topics, or directed research other than dissertation research are permitted, unless justified by the program of study and approved by the Graduate Dean. The remainder of the requirements may include courses numbered from 500 to 699 taken for graduate credit. As many as 12 hours of study may be taken in USC schools and colleges other than the School of Medicine; this option provides great flexibility to individually tailor programs and draw on the wider resources of a comprehensive university. At least 10 credit hours of graduate study must be taken from basic medical science graduate courses.

Application Information

Inquiries concerning admission and requests for printed program information should be directed to the School of Medicine Office of Graduate Studies, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, telephone 803-733-3100, e-mail ansley.roberts@uscmed.sc.edu