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The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Proposal for a Biomedical Sciences Major (BS) Professor Bernd Fritzsch, DEO, Department of Biology Associate Professor Bryant McAllister, DUS, Department of Biology
March 2014 Overview
The proposed interdisciplinary biomedical sciences major (BS) is designed for the
undergraduate student with an aptitude for the sciences and who plans to attend medical school or to conduct biomedical research in graduate school and beyond. The proposed BS degree is intended particularly for students preparing for research and/or practice in the chemical, genetic, cellular, physiological basis of human disease. The major requires a minimum of 78 semester hours of course work in the natural sciences, mathematics, statistics, and the social sciences.
The major is selective, with a limited number of students admitted, and the curriculum is challenging, requiring extreme dedication by its students who will be mentored by UI faculty members from the participating disciplines.
Rationale for the Major
Rapid discoveries in the sciences are changing the focus and boundaries of scientific
disciplines, particularly in those related to the area of the health professions. In the future, it will be commonplace for a doctor to rely on a patient’s genetic information when
prescribing a course of treatment. The focus of medicine will shift from the treatment of symptoms to an intervention related to the genetic basis of a disease. Thus, the practice of medicine and of related research is in a period of rapid change. A major revision of the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) for 2015 reflects this understanding that a new approach to medical education is needed. Medical schools also are revising their curriculum and pedagogy to stay abreast of scientific changes.
The curriculum of this proposed major is thus designed to provide an excellent foundation for medical training and research related to the biological, biochemical, and genetic basis of human disease. Students completing this degree program would be particularly well-suited for association with the newly formed Iowa Institute of Human Genetics.
Additionally, this proposal is a cross-collegiate initiative, with support from the departments of Biochemistry and Microbiology in the Carver College of Medicine, and will increase
collaboration and communication among these disciplines at UI in their support of undergraduate students interested in the intersection of research and medicine.
The proposal has been discussed and vetted by a faculty committee led by Associate Dean Helena Dettmer in partnership with the Academic Advising Center and composed of faculty representing departments in the natural, social, and quantitative sciences. The committee was charged with helping faculty and students prepare for the new MCAT and at the same time has become a forum for related issues.
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The proposed plan of study makes a substantial commitment to student success, with faculty guiding students through the undergraduate experience while also supporting their transition to graduate research programs or to medical or related professional programs, connecting students to faculty and to programs around the country. The proposal continues the integration of the CLAS research mission with the undergraduate educational mission, with research empowering undergraduate education and vice versa, as has long been the tradition of the College.
Curriculum of the Major and Sequence of Courses
Please see the attached curricular requirements for the major and the attached suggested sequence for course completion.
Administrative Home and Advisory Board
The administrative home of the proposed major is the Department of Biology. An advisory board composed of representatives from key departments offering courses in this
interdisciplinary major will make recommendations concerning the curriculum, the application requirements, admissions standards, any exceptions to requirements, and similar matters, such as assessment of the major. The advisory board will advocate for students in the major, mentoring their placement in faculty research labs and supporting their transition to graduate or professional programs, as appropriate.
The board will be chaired by the major’s program director in the Department of Biology and members from the departments of Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Microbiology, and Mathematics will be invited to serve for a three-year term.
Rationale for Selective Admissions
Around 30 students will be accepted into the major each year, with a total of around 100 students participating in the major during a four-year period. Five years after the
implementation of the major, around 20 students will graduate every year with the BS in Biomedical Sciences.
In order to ensure the students are successful, admission to the major is selective. The CLAS Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum, Helena Dettmer, has recommended this restriction, with the selective standards ensuring that the program provides research experiences and guidance to individual students.
Selective admission for any major in CLAS has not been recommended for approval by CLAS governance (the Educational Policy Committee or by the Faculty Assembly) in the last six years. These decisions were guided by the CLAS mission and strategic plan which focus on serving all undergraduates who have been admitted to The University of Iowa under the Regent Admission Index and on helping these students to succeed.
CLAS supports this proposal’s request for selective admission standards in order to
strengthen the academic challenge to CLAS students and to encourage admitted students to reach their full potential. Additionally, open admission standards would result in excessive attrition driven by the high workload this curriculum imposes on students.
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The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is committed to offering curricular programs of study that challenge and meet the range of needs represented by its student body. The proposed program is designed for a particular subset of students preparing for research in genetics as related to medical issues.The selective major in biomedical sciences will create a small cohort of like-minded learners, helping to establish a community for these students at The University of Iowa.
The director of the program of study will report to EPC in Fall 2017 on student progress in the major and about admission requirements and procedures, conferring with the
committee and with the CLAS associate dean about student success in the major.
The College offers ample choices open to all students not admitted to this program but wishing to pursue careers in the health professions or research careers in the natural sciences, including the BS and BA in Biology (63-73 s.h. and 66 s.h.); the BS in Chemistry (68 s.h.), with the BA in Chemistry (53 s.h.) recently restructured to give students more flexibility; the BS in Human Physiology (60 s.h.); the BA in Health and Human Physiology (50 s.h.); and the Interdepartmental Studies major, with the Health Science track (37 s.h.).
The College also awards the undergraduate degrees for the major of biochemistry (BA, BS, 59 s.h. and 71 s.h.) and of microbiology (BS, 63 s.h.), programs of study administered by the Carver College of Medicine.
Admission Requirements and Procedures
Students applying for admission to UI and to CLAS directly from high school with the following profile will be considered for admission to the major as space in the program permits:
A minimum ACT composite score of 29 or the equivalent SAT composite.
A minimum ACT Math and Scientific Reasoning score of 29 or the equivalent SAT score.
A minimum high school cumulative GPA of 3.70.
A record of completing advanced science courses in high school as AP, IB, or Honors courses if offered by the high school and/or of completing a second course in a sequence of courses (such as Chemistry I and Chemistry II), with grades in key science courses considered.
A dedication to and passion for the sciences and mathematics as suggested in a statement of purpose.
A letter of reference from a high school teacher or from a teacher in an early/pre- college program of study in the sciences or mathematics.
Students interested in the program will meet with the director for an informal discussion about the requirements before declaration of the major.
A student may also be admitted to the major as a continuing student at Iowa or as a transfer student, with the understanding that a late declaration of the major may delay graduation. These applicants must show a strength in the sciences and mathematics through their outstanding grades in related UI or transfer course work. A statement of
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purpose and one letter of reference from a science or mathematics instructor is required.
Before admission to the program, a student must meet with the director of undergraduate studies. Admission to the program also depends on the number of spaces available in the program and the logistics of faculty mentorship as well as the student’s ability to work in a team, to show a strong work ethic, and to have a high-level of academic integrity, as necessary for research in a faculty lab.
Advising
Upon admission to the program, students will be advised by faculty within the Department of Biology and by appropriate faculty on the advisory board, with the program director helping to facilitate advising assignments. A student applying to the program as a
continuing student at The University of Iowa will in many cases come to the major through the support and recommendation of faculty currently serving on the advisory board, with a particular faculty member continuing to serve as the student’s mentor.
Four-Year Graduation Plan
The proposed major will participate in the four-year graduation plan.
Before the fifth semester begins: 004:011 (CHEM:1110) Principles of Chemistry I;
004:012 (CHEM:1120) Principles of Chemistry II; 002:031 (BIOL:1411) Foundations of Biology; 031:001 (PSY:1001) Elementary Psychology; 034:001 (SOC:1010) Introduction to Sociological Principles; 22M:016 (MATH:1460) Calculus for the Biological Sciences;
004:121 (CHEM:2210) Organic Chemistry I; 004:122 (CHEM:2220) Organic Chemistry II;
061:157 (MICR:2157) General Microbiology; 029:011 (PHYS:1511) College Physics I;
029:012 (PHYS:1512) College Physics II; 027:130 (HHP:3500) Human Physiology.
Before the seventh semester begins: the courses listed above; 099:120 (BIOC:3120) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I; 099:130 (BIOC:3130) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II; 002:099 (BIOL:2211) Genes, Genomes and the Human Condition; 002:141 (BIOL:3373) Human Population Genetics and Variation; 22S:101 (STAT:3510) Biostatistics;
and 004: 141 (CHEM: 2410) Organic Chemistry Lab or 099: 140 (BIOC:3140) Experimental Biochemistry.
During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate
Honors in the Major
Most if not all students in the major will be members of the UI Honors Program and will be advised to graduate with University Honors, fulfilling the requirements as specified by the UI Honors Program. Students also will be strongly encouraged to graduate with honors in the Biomedical Sciences major and to do so, students must complete these requirements as specified by the Department of Biology:
Be a member of the UI Honors Program;
Maintain a grade-point average of at least 3.33 in the UI GPA and in the GPA for courses taken for the Biomedical Sciences major;
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Take a minimum of 6 s.h. (taken over two or more semesters) of 002:196 (BIOL:4999) Honors Investigations;
Complete a brief research proposal summarizing the background and goals of the proposed honors research;
Submit an acceptable honors thesis; and
Give an oral presentation of research findings.
Students will be advised to participate in ICRU (Iowa Center for Research by
Undergraduates) and to apply for research scholarships. Active membership in the UI Honors Program will give additional support and opportunities for these students.
Required Resources
Required courses are currently offered with seats available for students in the proposed Biomedical Sciences major. Since this is an interdisciplinary major, with courses and faculty involvement across the curriculum, and since the number of students in the program will be small, no new recourses for the major are anticipated.
Funding for student research or for a summer experience for undergraduates is not expected from the College. Students will be strongly encourage to apply for research funding through ICRU and through other undergraduate resources at UI. In the future, the program will apply for or offer grants on behalf of these students to provide summer research stipends, for example.
Summary
The proposed BS degree in Biomedical Sciences is intended particularly for students
preparing for research and/or practice in the chemical, genetic, cellular, physiological basis of human disease. The program also facilitates close faculty collaboration across disciplines between the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Medicine, helping to create a foundation for future discussions and innovations to benefit undergraduate students.
Biomedical Sciences Major 78-‐82 sh Total
Requirements 62 sh Required Electives 16-‐20 sh
Chemistry Requirements Lecture Courses (choose 2) 6-‐7
CHEM:1110 Principles of Chemistry I 4 BIOL:2723 Cell Biology^, 3sh CHEM:1120 Principles of Chemistry II 4 BIOL:3343 Animal Physiology^, 3sh CHEM:2210 Organic Chemistry I 3 BIOL:3233 Intro to Development^, 3sh CHEM:2220 Organic Chemistry II 3 BIOL:2753 Intro Neurobiology^, 3sh BIOC:3120 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology I 3 BIOL:2254 Endocrinology^, 3sh BIOC:3130 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology II 3 BIOL:4213 Bioinformatics, 4sh
BIOC:5241 Biophysical Chemistry I, 3sh MICR:3147 Survey of Immunology, 3sh Physics Requirements
PHYS:1511 College Physics I 4 Chemistry Lab Course (choose 1) 2-‐3
PHYS:1512 College Physics II 4 CHEM:2410 Organic Chemistry Lab, 3sh BIOC:3130 Experimental Biochemistry, 2sh Mathematics Requirements
MATH:1460 Calculus for the Biological Sciences 4 Investigative Lab Course (choose 1) 4
STAT:3510 Biostatistics 3 BIOL:3626 Cell Biology Laboratory
BIOL:3656 Neurobiology Laboratory
Life Sciences Requirements BIOL:3676 Evolution Lab
BIOL:1411 Foundations of Biology 4 BIOL:3716 Genetics and Biotechnology Lab BIOL:2211 Genes, Genomes & Human Condition 3 BIOL:3736 Developmental Biology Lab BIOL:3373 Human Population Genetics and Variation 3
MICR:2157 General Microbiology 5
HHP:3500 Human Physiology 3 Experiential Elective (fulfill 1) 4-‐6
Honors Research
Social Sciences or Additional Lab Course
SOC:1010 Introduction to Sociological Principles 3
PSY:1001 Elementary Psychology 3
PSY:2130 Advanced Psych for Pre-‐Med Track 3 ^change pre-‐reqs to allow entry after Human Phys
