Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences

Admission Requirements

The applicant must meet the School of Graduate Studies’ current minimum general admission requirements as published in the graduate catalog. 

  1. Completion of a four-year Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognized college or university as described in the UND Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Catalog.  Exceptions must be approved by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.
  2. Admission into the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program is dependent upon the applicant’s demonstration of effective academic skills and appropriate undergraduate training.  The applicant will have completed the following coursework:
  • General Biology with laboratory
  • General Chemistry with laboratory
  • Organic Chemistry with laboratory
  • Physics with laboratory

  • Applicants are also encouraged to have advanced undergraduate coursework in two or more of the following areas: calculus, molecular biology, cell/developmental biology, genetics, neuroscience, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, anatomy, or physiology. 

3. Applicants must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0/4.0. Applicants with previous graduate education should have a cumulative GPA of 3.5/4.0 in their graduate level course work. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required however good scores (> 50th percentile) can enhance the application.

4. International applicants must satisfy the School of Graduate Studies English Language Proficiency Requirements.

5.  A Statement of Goals must be included with the application materials. This statement will describe the student’s academic achievements, research experience and accomplishments, career goals, and objectives for applying to the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program.

6.  Three letters of recommendation addressing the student’s academic performance and research or professional experience are required to complete the application. At least two letters must be from faculty having direct knowledge of the student’s academic capabilities.

7.  For those applying to the thesis-based degree programs, preference will be given to students who can demonstrate undergraduate research and/or a record of scholarly publication or other relevant experience.

8.  For those students applying to the non-thesis degree programs, preference will be given to students who can demonstrate regional residency. 

9.  Application deadline for priority admissions is February 1st.  Applications will be reviewed until all available slots are filled, with a final deadline of April 1st.

View Program Frequently Asked Questions

Degree Requirements - Thesis-Based Option

The thesis option is designed for individuals seeking advanced research training in the biomedical sciences and preparation for doctoral or research-intensive professional careers. Students in this track complete original, hypothesis-driven research under faculty mentorship, culminating in a written thesis and defense. The program emphasizes experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication—skills essential for success in industry or academic research positions.

Students seeking the Master of Science degree in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program must satisfy all general requirements set forth by the School of Graduate Studies as well as particular requirements set forth by the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program. In addition to coursework, the M.S. degree requires completion of an acceptable thesis in a program of study designed by the student with Faculty Advisory Committee approval.

  1. A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate level courses including research and thesis.

  2. Completion of the following core graduate courses: 

    BIMD 501Scientific Discovery I6
    BIMD 510Basic Biomedical Statistics (fulfills the scholarly tool requirement)2
    BIMD 503
    BIMD 590Researchat least 8
    BIMD 998Thesis4

3.   Completion of a minimum of 4 credit hours of graduate level elective courses selected from the approved BIMD elective list below.

4.  A student must obtain at least a “B” in all required courses in order to remain in good standing in the graduate program. If a grade lower than a “B” is received, the student will be given the opportunity to remediate in a manner determined by the course director and described in the course syllabus. If remediation is unsuccessful, the student may petition the Graduate Faculty to take the course a second time. In the event that the student is unable to raise the grade to at least a “B”, the student must petition the Graduate Faculty to be allowed to remain in the program.

5.  Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in accordance with School of Graduate Studies guidelines (UND Graduate and Undergraduate Academic Catalog).

6. In addition to course work, the thesis-based Master of Science degree requires completion of a thesis-based scholarly project completed by the graduate student under the guidance of a faculty advisor.  It is expected that the results of the scholarly work will be publishable in a peer-reviewed journal.

Degree Requirements - Non-Thesis-Based Option

The non-thesis option is intended for individuals who wish to deepen their biomedical knowledge and applied skills without the extended research commitment of a thesis. This option provides rigorous coursework in anatomy, physiology, and biomedical statistics, coupled with experiences in teaching, self-directed learning, and professional development. Students may select from two focused pathways—Preparing Health Providers (PHP) and Preparing Biomedical Educators (PBE)—tailored respectively to strengthen applications to health-professional programs or for those pursuing careers in higher education and anatomy instruction.

Students seeking the Master of Science degree in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program must satisfy all general requirements set forth by the School of Graduate Studies as well as particular requirements set forth by the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program. In the non-thesis-based degree, completion is based on successful completion of all required coursework and approved electives as listed in a program of study designed by the student with their advisor.

  1. A minimum of 32 credit hours of graduate level courses.

  2. Completion of the following core graduate courses: 

    BIMD 504
    BIMD 505
    BIMD 506
    BIMD 510Basic Biomedical Statistics2
    BIMD 534Microbial Cell Structure and Function1
    BIMD 492Peer Teaching and Tutoring in Biomedical Sciences1-4

3.  Completion of a minimum of 12 credit hours of approved graduate level elective courses.

A. For the Preparing Health Providers (PHP) pathway students are encouraged to select electives that strengthen the knowledge and skills relevant to their career goals. A list of approved electives is included below.

B. For the Preparing Biomedical Educators (PBE) pathway students are required to take the courses to fulfill the college teaching certificate requirements.

4.  A student must obtain at least a “B” in all required courses in order to remain in good standing in the graduate program. If less than a “B” is received, the student will be given an opportunity to remediate in a manner determined by the course director and described in the course syllabus. If remediation is unsuccessful, the student may petition the Graduate Faculty to take the course a second time. In the event that the student is unable to raise the grade to at least a “B”, the student must petition the Graduate Faculty to be allowed to remain in the program.

5.  Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in accordance with School of Graduate Studies guidelines (UND Graduate and Undergraduate Academic Catalog).

Approved BIMD Graduate Electives

BIMD 328Introduction to Immunology3
BIMD 492Peer Teaching and Tutoring in Biomedical Sciences1-4
BIMD 502Scientific Discovery II6
BIMD 504
BIMD 505
BIMD 506
BIMD 511Laboratory Animal Use in Biomedical Research1
BIMD 514Foundations of Bioinformatics3
BIMD 517Principles of Histology3
BIMD 520Principles of Neuroanatomy2
BIMD 521Neurophysiology2
BIMD 522Principles of Neuropharmacology2
BIMD 523Neurochemical Basis of the Nervous System2
BIMD 524Neurodegenerative Diseases and Pathophysiology2
BIMD 525Readings in Neuroscience1-4
BIMD 527Advanced Studies in Biological Safety3
BIMD 530Components of the Immune System2
BIMD 531Components of Microbial Pathogenesis2
BIMD 532Microbial Gene Regulation1
BIMD 533Microbial Membranes and Transport1
BIMD 534Microbial Cell Structure and Function1
BIMD 535Bacterial Host: Pathogen Interactions1
BIMD 536Molecular Biology and Pathogenesis of Viruses1
BIMD 537Host-Pathogen Interactions involving Eukaryotic Microbes (Parasites/Fungi)1
BIMD 538Immunological Disorders1
BIMD 539Readings in Microbiology and Immunology1-4
BIMD 540Physiology of Human Integrative Systems2
BIMD 591Advanced Topics in Biomedical Sciences1-3
BIMD 597Biomedical Sciences Internships1