2024-2025 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog

Biomolecular Sciences, B.S.

This program offers a curricular focus on molecular and cellular mechanisms that is integrated with organismal physiology and emphasizes hands-on learning through laboratory instruction and independent student research. This degree is appropriate for students wishing to prepare for professional training in medicine and for graduate study or direct entry into careers in such areas as genetics, genomics, microbiology, molecular biology, cell, or developmental biology.

Requirements

Biomolecular Sciences Core

BMS 102Introduction to Biomolecular Science

3

BMS 103Introduction to Biomolecular Science Laboratory

1

BMS 190Friday Seminar in Biomolecular Sciences I

.5

BMS 201Principles of Cell and Molecular Biology

4

BMS 290Friday Seminar in Biomolecular Sciences II

.5

BMS 306Genetics

3

or

BMS 307Genomics

4

BMS 311Cell Biology

4

BMS 316Microbiology

4

BMS 390Independent Research in Biomolecular Science

1

BMS 491Advanced Independent Research in Biomolecular Science

1-3

BIO 121 may be substituted for BMS 102/BMS 103.

Requirements

Electives

In addition to the Biomolecular Sciences Core requirements, students must take elective credits to equal 35 credits in the major. 

Elective courses may include: any 300-level or above BMS course, CHEM 320, CHEM 354, CHEM 455, CHEM 456, CHEM 458, BIO 449.

BMS 380: 3 credits only of this 6-credit course

Requirements

In addition to the 35 credits in the major, the student must take:

Related Requirements

MATH 115Trigonometry

3

or

MATH 119Pre-Calculus with Trigonometry

4

MATH 125Applied Calculus

3

or

MATH 152Calculus I

4

CHEM 161General Chemistry

3

CHEM 162General Chemistry Laboratory

1

CHEM 200Foundations of Analytical Chemistry

3

CHEM 201Foundations of Analytical Chemistry Laboratory

1

CHEM 210Organic Chemistry I - Foundations

3

CHEM 211Organic Chemistry I Laboratory - Foundations

1

CHEM 212Organic Synthesis

3

CHEM 213Organic Chemistry II Laboratory - Synthesis

1

PHYS 121General Physics I

4

and

PHYS 122General Physics II

4

or

PHYS 125University Physics I

4

and

PHYS 126University Physics II

4

Students must also maintain a student portfolio.

Cross-listed Courses

BMS 318, BMS 319, BMS 412, and BMS 413 are also listed in the course description section of the catalog with a BIO designator. These double- or cross-listed courses (i.e., BMS 318 and BIO 318) are considered fully equivalent.

500-Level Course Options

Undergraduate students who are not enrolled in the accelerated program and who wish to take 500 level courses should use the form titled "Enrollment in 500 Level Courses by Undergraduates".   These students must have at least 90 credits and a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher.  They may (with the approval of the appropriate department chair and dean, School of Graduate Studies, and with appropriate prerequisites) choose any of the following 500-level courses in the directed elective portion of the advanced component of their major program:

Accelerate Central BS MS Biomolecular Sciences

Eligibility

Eligible students can apply for admission to the Accelerate Central B.S. / M.S. Program in Biomolecular Sciences during their junior year of study. Full time students may be able to complete a B.S. and M.S. in Biomolecular Sciences in as few as five years on a full-time basis. For accepted students, up to 8 credits of graduate courses will replace up to 8 credits in the B.S. Biomolecular Sciences Program. In addition, up to 8 credits of graduate courses may be taken before matriculation as a graduate student; these 8 credits will be excluded from the student’s B.S. program and transferred into the student’s M.S. program.

Students typically apply during their junior year of study and must meet the requirements specified below:

·      have at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average, either overall or in the most recent 60 credits.

·      have completed 60 earned credit hours by the end of the Fall semester of their junior year. At least 12 credits must have been earned at CCSU.

·      Have completed BMS 201 and two other upper level BMS courses at CCSU with grades of C or higher.

Students who are accepted into Accelerate Central B.S. / M.S. Program in Biomolecular Sciences will officially matriculate into the School of Graduate Studies the semester immediately following conferral of their Bachelor’s degree, even if they have already taken graduate-level courses while completing their Bachelor’s degree. Students wishing to defer their graduate studies must notify Graduate Admissions of this decision prior to the start of the term following the conferral of their bachelor’s degree.

How to Apply

Students will submit Change of Major form and a narrative statement (about 500 words) describing their academic and career goals, and their reasons for entering this graduate program to their undergraduate advisor. The documents will go through the proper parties for review and approval, including the Graduate Program Director. Once the form has been approved by all required parties, the Registrar’s Office will change the student’s undergraduate curriculum to note the Accelerate Central program.

Total Credit Hours: 35