Biomedical Science, BS
Program Details
- Location
- Akron Campus
- Level
- undergraduate
- Degree/Program Type
- Bachelor of Science / major
- Format
- In-person
- Course Info
- Biomedical Science, BS
- College
- Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences (BCAS)
- School/Department
- Biology Department
Program Contact
- Dr. Jordan Renna
-
Professor / Chair
330-972-6933
Overview
The bachelor’s degree in biomedical science at The University of Akron offers a rigorous foundation in human biology, cellular function, and laboratory science. Students gain hands-on research experience, personalized faculty mentorship, and direct pathways to professional schools and biomedical careers. Our program stands out with strong industry partnerships including the local hospitals, advanced lab facilities, and opportunities for internships, clinical shadowing, and undergraduate research that prepare students for success in health-related fields.
Admissions Requirements
Students must meet the general admissions requirements of The University of Akron.
Career Outcomes
Graduates with a B.S. in Biomedical Science from The University of Akron are equipped for various roles, including:
Medical Laboratory Scientist – Conduct diagnostic tests and analyze bodily fluids in clinical labs.
Biomedical Research Assistant – Support research in universities, hospitals, or pharmaceutical companies.
Clinical Trials Coordinator – Manage the logistics and compliance of clinical research studies.
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative – Promote and sell medications to healthcare professionals.
Regulatory Affairs Specialist – Ensure products meet government regulations in healthcare or biotech.
Genetic Counselor Assistant – Support counseling efforts related to genetic conditions (often a step before advanced training).
Public Health Analyst – Work on health policy, epidemiological studies, or program evaluation.
Biotechnology Technician – Assist in developing products or technologies in biotech firms.
Clinical Data Manager – Organize and verify data collected in clinical trials.
Toxicology Assistant – Conduct studies to determine the effects of chemicals and drugs on biological systems.
Quality Control Analyst – Monitor product quality in pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing.
Health Educator – Promote health literacy and wellness in community or healthcare settings
The program's emphasis on critical thinking, research, and interpersonal skills also prepares students for graduate studies in psychology or related fields.
Results That Move You Forward
See how our program delivers value, opportunity, and results, backed by national rankings and real-world success.
Proven Results
Proven Results
Ranked #15 in the nation by EdSmart for affordability, academic quality, and outcomes in Pre-Med education.
Career Success
94% Placement Rate
Most grads are employed or in graduate or professional school within six months of earning their degree.
Proven Results
Above-Average Acceptance
Students are admitted to medical, dental, and other health professional schools at rates above the national average.
Pre-Professional Health Pathways
Biomedical Science students will often pursue a career in professional health after graduating with their undergraduate degree. The University of Akron provides several pathways to success in professional health fields, as well as a dedicated Pre-Health Adviser who can ensure your undergraduate experience is tailored to meet your goals.
Our pre-medical program will give you a solid foundation in the biological sciences and prepare you for medical school and beyond. Here's what makes our program stand out:
- Rigorous Curriculum: Our courses cover essential topics such as human physiology, microbiology, and genetics, providing the knowledge base you need for medical studies.
- Hands-On Experience: Gain practical experience through laboratory work, research projects, and internships. We have partnerships with local medical institutions and research centers, including Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and Summa Health.
- Dedicated Faculty and Staff: Our experienced professors and advisers are here to guide you every step of the way, from course selection to medical school applications. Read more about our faculty and their research, or learn more about our pre-health advising services.
- Pre-Med Club: Join our pre-med student organization, Phi Delta Epsilon, which offers guest speakers, MCAT prep, social events, and leadership opportunities for its members to help pre-med students find community and opportunity.
- Preparation for Medical School: We provide specialized advising to help you navigate the medical school application process, including guidance on prerequisite courses, entrance exams, and interview preparation.
Our pre-dental program is designed to give you a strong foundation in the biological sciences, ensuring you're well-prepared for dental school and a career in dentistry. Here’s what makes our program stand out:
- Rigorous Curriculum: Our courses cover essential topics such as human physiology, microbiology, and genetics, providing the knowledge base you need for medical studies.
- Hands-On Experience: Gain practical experience through laboratory work, research projects, and internships. We have partnerships with local medical institutions and research centers, including Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and Summa Health.
- Dedicated Faculty and Staff: Our knowledgeable professors and advisers are here to guide you every step of the way, from course selection to dental school applications. Read more about our faculty and their research, or learn more about our pre-health advising services.
- Pre-Dentistry Club: Join our pre-dentistry student organization, which offers a chance for you to connect with other pre-dentistry students for support and opportunities.
- Preparation for Dental School: We provide specialized advising to help you navigate the dental school application process, including guidance on prerequisite courses, entrance exams, and interview preparation.
If you’re interested in assessing and treating animals, the veterinary field may be right for you. Our pre-veterinary program is designed to prepare you for veterinary school and beyond. Here's what makes our program stand out:
- Rigorous Curriculum: Our courses cover essential topics such as animal physiology, microbiology, genetics, and biochemistry, providing the knowledge base you need for veterinary studies.
- Hands-On Experience: Gain practical experience through laboratory work, research projects, and internships. We have partnerships with local medical institutions and research institutions, including Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and Summa Health.
- Dedicated Faculty and Staff: Our experienced professors and advisors are here to guide you every step of the way, from course selection to veterinary school applications. Read more about our faculty and their research, or learn more about our pre-health advising services.
- Pre-Vet Club: Join our active student organization, which offers networking opportunities, guest speakers, and workshops on topics like veterinary ethics, animal behavior, and the latest advances in veterinary medicine.
- Preparation for Veterinary School: We provide specialized advising to help you navigate the veterinary school application process, including guidance on prerequisite courses, entrance exams, and interview preparation.
If you are interested in working in the diagnosis, treatment, and maintenance of the human eye, the optometry career field may be right for you. Our pre-optometry pathway is designed to give you a solid foundation in biological sciences, ensuring you're well-prepared for optometry school and beyond. Here's what makes our program stand out:
- Rigorous Curriculum: Our courses cover essential topics such as human physiology, microbiology, and genetics, providing the knowledge base you need for optometry studies.
- Hands-On Experience: Gain practical experience through laboratory work, research projects, and internships. We have partnerships with local medical institutions, research centers, and community hubs, including Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), Summa Health, and the Akron Zoo.
- Dedicated Faculty and Staff: Our experienced professors and advisors are here to guide you every step of the way, from course selection to optometry school applications. Read more about our faculty and their research, or learn more about our pre-health advising services.
- Pre-Optometry Club: Join our active student organization, which offers allows students to prepare for admission into optometry school, learn about advances in the field, visit optometry schools, get advice and review for the OAT, and attend conferences associated with optometry.
- Preparation for Optometry School: We provide specialized advising to help you navigate the optometry school application process, including guidance on prerequisite courses, entrance exams, and interview preparation.
Physician assistants are licensed clinicians who collaborate with a team of healthcare workers on examining and diagnosing patients, providing medical treatments, and prescribing medication. If that sounds of interest to you, you may be interested in our pre-physician assistant pathway. Below are some highlights of our program:
- Rigorous Curriculum: Our courses cover essential topics such as human physiology, microbiology, genetics, and biochemistry, providing the knowledge base you need for physician assistant studies.
- Hands-On Experience: Gain practical experience through laboratory work, research projects, and internships. We have partnerships with local medical institutions and research centers, including Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and Summa Health.
- Dedicated Faculty and Staff: Our experienced professors and advisors are here to guide you every step of the way, from course selection to physician assistant school applications. Read more about our faculty and their research, or learn more about our pre-health advising services.
- Pre-Physician Assistant Club: Join UA's active Pre-PA student organization, which offers speaking panels, mentoring PAs, meet and greet seminars, school/program tours, CASPA seminars, GRE practice, personal statement workshops, suture clinics, basic first aid training, blood drives, relay for life events, socials, and fundraisers.
- Preparation for Physician Assistant Education: We provide specialized advising to help you navigate the PA school application process, including guidance on prerequisite courses and entrance exams.
Our pre-medical program will give you a solid foundation in the biological sciences and prepare you for medical school and beyond. Here's what makes our program stand out:
- Rigorous Curriculum: Our courses cover essential topics such as human physiology, microbiology, and genetics, providing the knowledge base you need for medical studies.
- Hands-On Experience: Gain practical experience through laboratory work, research projects, and internships. We have partnerships with local medical institutions and research centers, including Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and Summa Health.
- Dedicated Faculty and Staff: Our experienced professors and advisers are here to guide you every step of the way, from course selection to medical school applications. Read more about our faculty and their research, or learn more about our pre-health advising services.
- Pre-Med Club: Join our pre-med student organization, Phi Delta Epsilon, which offers guest speakers, MCAT prep, social events, and leadership opportunities for its members to help pre-med students find community and opportunity.
- Preparation for Medical School: We provide specialized advising to help you navigate the medical school application process, including guidance on prerequisite courses, entrance exams, and interview preparation.
Our pre-dental program is designed to give you a strong foundation in the biological sciences, ensuring you're well-prepared for dental school and a career in dentistry. Here’s what makes our program stand out:
- Rigorous Curriculum: Our courses cover essential topics such as human physiology, microbiology, and genetics, providing the knowledge base you need for medical studies.
- Hands-On Experience: Gain practical experience through laboratory work, research projects, and internships. We have partnerships with local medical institutions and research centers, including Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and Summa Health.
- Dedicated Faculty and Staff: Our knowledgeable professors and advisers are here to guide you every step of the way, from course selection to dental school applications. Read more about our faculty and their research, or learn more about our pre-health advising services.
- Pre-Dentistry Club: Join our pre-dentistry student organization, which offers a chance for you to connect with other pre-dentistry students for support and opportunities.
- Preparation for Dental School: We provide specialized advising to help you navigate the dental school application process, including guidance on prerequisite courses, entrance exams, and interview preparation.
If you’re interested in assessing and treating animals, the veterinary field may be right for you. Our pre-veterinary program is designed to prepare you for veterinary school and beyond. Here's what makes our program stand out:
- Rigorous Curriculum: Our courses cover essential topics such as animal physiology, microbiology, genetics, and biochemistry, providing the knowledge base you need for veterinary studies.
- Hands-On Experience: Gain practical experience through laboratory work, research projects, and internships. We have partnerships with local medical institutions and research institutions, including Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and Summa Health.
- Dedicated Faculty and Staff: Our experienced professors and advisors are here to guide you every step of the way, from course selection to veterinary school applications. Read more about our faculty and their research, or learn more about our pre-health advising services.
- Pre-Vet Club: Join our active student organization, which offers networking opportunities, guest speakers, and workshops on topics like veterinary ethics, animal behavior, and the latest advances in veterinary medicine.
- Preparation for Veterinary School: We provide specialized advising to help you navigate the veterinary school application process, including guidance on prerequisite courses, entrance exams, and interview preparation.
If you are interested in working in the diagnosis, treatment, and maintenance of the human eye, the optometry career field may be right for you. Our pre-optometry pathway is designed to give you a solid foundation in biological sciences, ensuring you're well-prepared for optometry school and beyond. Here's what makes our program stand out:
- Rigorous Curriculum: Our courses cover essential topics such as human physiology, microbiology, and genetics, providing the knowledge base you need for optometry studies.
- Hands-On Experience: Gain practical experience through laboratory work, research projects, and internships. We have partnerships with local medical institutions, research centers, and community hubs, including Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), Summa Health, and the Akron Zoo.
- Dedicated Faculty and Staff: Our experienced professors and advisors are here to guide you every step of the way, from course selection to optometry school applications. Read more about our faculty and their research, or learn more about our pre-health advising services.
- Pre-Optometry Club: Join our active student organization, which offers allows students to prepare for admission into optometry school, learn about advances in the field, visit optometry schools, get advice and review for the OAT, and attend conferences associated with optometry.
- Preparation for Optometry School: We provide specialized advising to help you navigate the optometry school application process, including guidance on prerequisite courses, entrance exams, and interview preparation.
Physician assistants are licensed clinicians who collaborate with a team of healthcare workers on examining and diagnosing patients, providing medical treatments, and prescribing medication. If that sounds of interest to you, you may be interested in our pre-physician assistant pathway. Below are some highlights of our program:
- Rigorous Curriculum: Our courses cover essential topics such as human physiology, microbiology, genetics, and biochemistry, providing the knowledge base you need for physician assistant studies.
- Hands-On Experience: Gain practical experience through laboratory work, research projects, and internships. We have partnerships with local medical institutions and research centers, including Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and Summa Health.
- Dedicated Faculty and Staff: Our experienced professors and advisors are here to guide you every step of the way, from course selection to physician assistant school applications. Read more about our faculty and their research, or learn more about our pre-health advising services.
- Pre-Physician Assistant Club: Join UA's active Pre-PA student organization, which offers speaking panels, mentoring PAs, meet and greet seminars, school/program tours, CASPA seminars, GRE practice, personal statement workshops, suture clinics, basic first aid training, blood drives, relay for life events, socials, and fundraisers.
- Preparation for Physician Assistant Education: We provide specialized advising to help you navigate the PA school application process, including guidance on prerequisite courses and entrance exams.
Direct Path to Med School
Choose a traditional route or apply early for guaranteed medical or pharmacy school admission through NEOMED and LECOM.
Tiered Mentoring Program
Begin research your first year by joining a mentoring program that pairs you with faculty and partners on real biomedical projects.
“Engaging in research was a defining aspect of my undergraduate journey. The skills and knowledge I gained prepared me exceptionally well for the rigor and demands of medical school courses.”
“my success in medical school is a direct reflection on how well you all have prepared me for it.”
Program Advantages
Discover the key features that make our Biomedical Science program a strong launchpad for health-related careers and professional school.
Our curriculum emphasizes both biology and chemistry designed to prepare you for a career in the biomedical field.
You will work in partnership with faculty and graduate students in the department and with our community partners, with many publication and presentation opportunities.
Learn from educators with exceptional credentials and international recognition in their field.
UA offers two streamlined paths to medical school through partnerships with Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM).
Through our Early Assurance Pathway with NEOMED, students can secure a reserved seat in medical or pharmacy school as early as sophomore year. Up to 20 seats are available each year for qualified applicants who meet GPA and MCAT benchmarks.
The Early Acceptance Program with LECOM offers five guaranteed seats annually across its medical, dental, and pharmacy schools. Students can apply as early as senior year of high school and reserve a seat upon successful completion of program requirements.
From your first semester to graduation, you'll work closely with a dedicated pre-health adviser who helps you chart your path toward medical, dental, optometry, veterinary, or other health professional schools.
Advisers provide personalized guidance on course selection, entrance exam timelines (like the MCAT, DAT, or GRE), application strategies, and interview prep. They’ll also connect you with shadowing opportunities, research experiences, and student organizations to strengthen your credentials and build your confidence.
Whether you're solid on your path or still exploring options, UA’s advising ensures your plan fits your goals.