Biomedical Sciences, MS

Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences

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ATSU-KCOM School Information and Policies    Program Mission Statement Length of Program Tuition and Fees Admissions Minimal Technical Standards

Graduate Program Committee Graduation Requirements Academic Standards, Guidelines, and Requirements Curriculum Courses: Descriptions and Credit Values

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The Biomedical Sciences program provides an opportunity for aspiring health science career individuals to become better prepared for professional studies in medicine, education, and/or research. ATSU-KCOM offers research opportunities in anatomy, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, pharmacology, and physiology.

Program Mission Statement

To provide individuals aspiring for a health science career an opportunity to become prepared for professional studies in the areas of medicine and research.

Length of Program

The MS in Biomedical Sciences program consists of 32.5 credit hours and can be completed in two to three years. The credit hour total consists of 18.5 core credits, a minimum of 9 thesis research credit hours, and a minimum of 5 elective credit hours.

Tuition and Fees

Annual tuition rates are split and billed according to the scheduled semesters and are due on the first week of class. Most fees follow a similar billing schedule with a few exceptions. Rates are subject to change each academic year for all enrolled students. Delinquent balances incur penalties at a rate of 1.5% per month, totaling 18% annually.

For ATSU programs approved to certify for Title IV funding, a Cost of Attendance (COA) is available which provides estimated amounts for direct and indirect expenses for a period of enrollment. 

	Tuition	Student Technology Fee
Class start 2024-25	$12,092	$1,400
Class start 2023-24	$4,028	$0
Extended students, year 3	$100	$0

Admissions

Application process

Applicants will need to create an account at https://apply.atsu.edu/ for access to the online application. Instructions are included on how to complete the application and provide us with all required documentation. If you have any questions regarding the online application, please call Admissions at 866.626.2878, ext. 2237.

Application materials must be received no later than May 1 of the academic year to which admission is sought. Applicants are encouraged to apply in advance of the May 1 deadline. Additional information regarding the program application deadline date, tuition and expenses, and related financial assistance can be found at www.atsu.edu, or email inquiries may be sent to admissions@atsu.edu.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the first-year Biomedical Sciences program must meet the following requirements prior to matriculation.

1. Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a US Department of Education institutional accreditor prior to matriculation.
2. Applicants must have achieved a minimum 2.65 cumulative GPA overall and a 2.65 minimum science GPA on a 4.0 scale.
3. Applicants must have completed the following courses prior to matriculation:
   • Biology: one year with laboratory or 8 semester hours (12 quarter hours)
   • Physics: one year with laboratory or 8 semester hours (12 quarter hours)
   • General or Inorganic Chemistry: one year with laboratory or 8 semester hours (12 quarter hours)
   • Organic Chemistry: one year with laboratory or 8 semester hours (12 quarter hours)
   • English: 6 semester hours (9 quarter hours)
   • College Algebra or higher: 3 semester hours (5 quarter hours)
4. Applicants are required to submit scores from the MCAT, the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), or the Dental Admission Test (DAT). The College requires that all test scores must be taken within three years from the date of application.
5. Applicants must submit two (2) letters of recommendation. One must be from a college science professor or academic advisor. The second letter must be from either a physician, a dentist, or a science professor. 
6. Matriculants are required to submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended by the date of matriculation. The final transcript confirming an undergraduate or graduate degree, if required for the academic program, must be submitted by the date of matriculation.
   • Applicants who have graduated from a foreign college or university must submit acceptable evidence of U.S. degree/course equivalency. Applicants must have foreign transcripts evaluated by a foreign evaluation service.
   • Individuals who have a reason acceptable to the University for submitting transcripts after the due date (i.e., late accepts or delays by sending institutions) must submit their official transcripts to Enrollment Services by the first day of the second week of classes. Official recording of all required transcripts will occur by the end of the first academic term.
7. ATSU-KCOM and many of its clinical affiliations require criminal background checks on matriculants and students to ensure the safety of patients and employees. The checks are conducted by a vendor selected by ATSU. The student will pay the cost of the criminal background check directly to the vendor. Failure to comply with this mandate will result in denial to matriculate. A matriculant with a positive criminal background screen will be reviewed.
8. Matriculants will meet the minimum technology specifications.

Transfer Student Admission

Please visit the Transfer Credit section for information on transferring into the Biomedical Sciences program.

Transfer Credit

Please refer to the ATSU Transfer Credit Policy  of the University Catalog.

Advanced Standing Admissions

The request must be submitted at least four weeks prior to the start of class.

Potential advanced standing for specific courses will be determined by the Associate Dean of Medical Education in consultation with the Graduate Program Committee. Once eligible courses have been determined, the accepted student will be given comprehensive exams, designed and administered by the appropriate department chair. The accepted student must score an 80 percent or higher to receive advanced standing. All testing and decisions for advanced standing must occur before the first day of classes.

International Student Admission

Students who are non-citizens or not permanent residents of the United States are not eligible to apply for the Biomedical Sciences program at this time.

Selection of Applicants

Applicants who are considered potential candidates will be invited to visit ATSU-KCOM to participate in an applicant interview process. Eligibility for an interview will be determined by the Graduate Program Committee and will be based on academic preparation, interest in biomedical research, career goals, life and work experiences, and letters of evaluation. Qualified applicants will be interviewed on-campus by members of the Graduate Program Committee as part of the final selection process. The Graduate Program Committee will contact applicants who have completed their applications to schedule interviews. All applicants selected for admission are interviewed prior to acceptance. The Graduate Program Committee reserves the right to accept, reject, or defer an application.

Students sent a letter of acceptance are granted a specified time period to notify ATSU-KCOM of their intention to enroll. Accepted students must submit the following to Admissions prior to matriculation.

• Signed admission agreement
• Non-refundable deposits
• Copies of official transcripts from every institution attended
• Immunization record
• Criminal background check through the University approved vendor
• Proof of health insurance form

Admission after acceptance is also subject to the satisfactory completion of all academic requirements.

Statement of Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion encompass an authentic understanding and appreciation of difference and, at their core, are based upon the value each human being brings to our society and each person’s access and opportunities to contribute to our University’s cultural proficiency.

Minimal Technical Standards

Biomedical Sciences (BMS) Program at A.T. Still University (ATSU-KCOM) is committed to equal access for all qualified applicants and students. Minimal Technical Standards for Admission and Matriculation (the “Standards”) state expectations of BMS students. The Standards provide sufficient information to allow the candidate to make an informed decision for application. Minimal Technical Standards for Admission and Matriculation are a guide to accommodation of students with disabilities. Academic adjustments can be made for disabilities in some instances, but a BMS student must be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner. Procedures to apply for academic adjustments are found at the conclusion of this policy. Applicants and current students who have questions regarding the technical standards, or who believe they may need to request academic adjustment(s) in order to meet the standards are encouraged to contact Learning Resources and Accommodation Services.

Categories, Standards, and Examples

A Masters in Biomedical Sciences graduate must have the knowledge and skills to function in a broad variety of laboratory situations and a wide spectrum of research, education, and leadership. To carry out the activities described below, students must be able to consistently, quickly, and accurately integrate, analyze, and synthesize data. Students must possess, at a minimum, the following abilities and skills: observation; communication; motor; sensory; strength and mobility; intellectual, conceptual, integrative, and quantitative; and, behavioral and social. These abilities and skills comprise the categories of ATSU-KCOM Minimal Technical Standards for Admission and Matriculation and are defined below. The examples mentioned are not intended as a complete list of expectations but only as samples demonstrating the associated standards.

1. Observation: Students must have sufficient vision to see demonstrations, experiments, and laboratory exercises. Students must have adequate visual capabilities for proper evaluation and integration.
2. Communication: Students should be able to hear, see, and speak to colleagues in order to elicit and acquire information. Students must also be able to communicate effectively in oral and written form with staff and faculty members and all members of the health team.
3. Motor: Motor demands include reasonable endurance, strength, and precision. Students should have sufficient motor function to safely and accurately execute movements reasonably required for research, education, and laboratory work. Such movements require coordination of both gross and fine muscular activity, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.
4. Sensory: Students need enhanced sensory skills, including accuracy within specific tolerances and functional use for laboratory and classroom experiences. Students who are otherwise qualified but who have significant tactile sensory or proprioceptive disabilities must be evaluated medically. These disabilities include individuals who were injured by significant burns, have sensory motor deficits, cicatrix formation, or have malformations of the upper extremities.
5. Strength and mobility: Students must have sufficient posture, balance, flexibility, mobility, strength and endurance for standing, sitting and participating in the laboratory and classroom experiences.
6. Intellectual, conceptual, perceptual, integrative, and quantitative: These abilities include reading, writing, measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. In addition, students should be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of structures. Problem solving and reasoning, critical skill, demanded of researchers and educators, requires all of these intellectual abilities.
7. Behavioral and social: Students must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of responsibilities attendant to research, education, and leadership, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships. Students must be able to tolerate physically demanding workloads, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in research, education, and leadership. Compassion, maturity, honesty, ethics, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation are all personal qualities that will be assessed during the admission and educational processes. Students shall be prepared to endure the physical and emotional demands of careers in research education and leadership. Students must possess organizational skills to be an effective researcher.

Additional information

Examples of associated standards are listed here: Minimal Technical Standards. Categories, standards, and examples mentioned at the link serve for purposes of demonstration and are not intended as a complete list of resources.

Records and communications regarding disabilities and academic adjustments with the Director of Learning Resources & Accommodation Services have no bearing on the application process. You may contact the Director of Learning Resources & Accommodation Services, A.T. Still University of Health Sciences, 800 W. Jefferson Street, Kirksville, MO 63501, accommodations@atsu.edu, or by phone at 660.626.2774.

Applying for Academic Adjustments

The institution remains open to possibilities of human potential and achievement, providing support for students with disabilities. The Vice President of Student Affairs is responsible for the administration of and compliance with the Technical Standards and Academic Adjustments Policy (ATSU Policy #20-110) through the Director of Learning Resources and Accommodation Services. Please see the University Student Handbook for information on how to apply for academic adjustments or email accommodations@atsu.edu.

Graduate Program Committee

The responsibility of the Graduate Program Committee is to assess the academic and professional progress of all graduate students and ensure that adequate progress is being made toward the degree of master of science in biomedical sciences. Reviewed material will include the academic record, subjective evaluations by course directors and faculty, written notes, progress toward completion of their research project, and a written thesis, as well as other material necessary to fully evaluate the student’s progress.

The Graduate Program Committee is comprised of the Chair and includes 4 voting faculty members. The Chair is a voting member, and the decisions of the Committee will be made by majority vote.

Non-voting consultants to the Graduate Program Committee will be the Registrar, representative(s) of the residential Admissions team, and a second year BMS student approved by the Graduate Program Committee. The Registrar serves as a non-voting consultant to the Graduate Program Committee. In the event that a course director is also a voting member of the committee, he or she will retain voting privileges.

To evaluate student progress, the Graduate Program Committee will be convened by the Chair at the end of each academic term on an as needed basis, or at the end of the first, second, and third academic years to review student progress. The Graduate Program Committee can also be convened by the Chair at any time to consider professionalism issues or lack of academic progress by any student.

At such time, the Graduate Program Committee may require or recommend the following:

• Academic warning (GPA below 2.7) or academic probation (GPA below 2.5) pending review at the end of the next academic term.
• Referral to Learning Resources and/or Counseling Services.
• Limitation of co-curricular activities.
• Dismissal from ATSU-KCOM.

Students will be notified in writing of the outcome by the Chair.

Graduate Program Committee Decision Appeals

• The student must present all information relevant to academic performance to the Graduate Program Committee. In the case of information of a highly sensitive nature, the student may present such information to the Chair of the Graduate Program Committee prior to the convening of the Graduate Program Committee.
• The student may appeal the Graduate Program Committee decision in writing to the Dean within seven calendar days of notification by the chair of the Graduate Program Committee only if new or significant information is revealed after the Graduate Program Committee decision was made or if the student believes that the Graduate Program Committee process was not followed as presented in the University Catalog.
• The Dean may meet with the Graduate Program Committee to discuss the appeal and determine if the Graduate Program Committee process was followed.
• The Dean has the authority to overturn or uphold the Graduate Program Committee decision.
• The highest level of appeal within the school is the Dean or Dean’s designee. Students who wish to appeal a Dean’s decision regarding promotion or dismissal should review the Academic Appeals policy: Promotion and/or Dismissal Decisions .

Academic Probation

Biomedical Sciences students who have failed any course are considered to be on academic probation and will be informed in writing by the Chair of the Graduate Program Committee. Students may also be placed on probation due to professionalism issues. The purpose of probation is to alert the student, faculty, and administration to the fact that the student has experienced difficulty. Students on probation may not serve in student office, be excused from curricular activities for professional development, or attend conferences or events sponsored by the College without explicit permission from the Chair of the Graduate Program Committee. These measures are employed to assist students in concentrating on improvement in their academic progress.

Once the deficiencies have been remediated by the student, the probation shall be removed by written notification from the Chair of the Graduate Program Committee. The successful remediation of an academic course will be identified by a notation (R-C) on the student’s transcript.

Graduation Requirements

Students in the Biomedical Sciences program at ATSU-KCOM must meet the following requirements for graduation. Each student must have:

• Successfully completed their approved study program.
• Successfully completed a research project, a presentation of an approved written thesis, and a presentation and passing of the oral defense of the thesis.

Academic Standards, Guidelines, and Requirements

Attendance

Required attendance activities are denoted on the student calendar. Other activities are attendance encouraged. Please see the ATSU Policies section of this catalog for the University policy on student absences. In addition to the University policy, ATSU-KCOM offers 3 personal days per academic year for students. All absences and personal days require prior approval by the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs. The electronic absence request form is located on the ATSU-KCOM Student Manual (see attendance years 1-4) or the ATSU Go/KCOM app (attendance icon).

Personal Days

Students are allowed up to 3 personal days per academic year where scheduled required activities may be made up (if the exercise is reproducible). Personal day requests must be submitted to the office of the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs via the ATSU-KCOM excused absence request form. Each student is responsible for their own academic progress.

Examples of personal day use include:

• Religious observations
• Wellness exams
• Elective medical procedures
• ATSU/KCOM club representation at regional/national meetings
• Weddings

Personal days cannot be divided into portions. Any portion of a day requested will count as an entire day off.

Personal day use for high-stakes exams (e.g., section exams, practicals, finals) will be limited and require advance approval by the Office of Academic Affairs. Each student is responsible for their own academic progress. 

Examples of absences not counted as personal days:

• Medical excused absences (with proper documentation)
• Absences to attend funerals 
• Absences for required activities as a result of school sanctioned leadership positions (e.g., SGA president, KOAA board representative, etc.)
• Absences for reasons beyond the control of students (e.g., weather, flight cancellations) will be considered. If approved, a personal day will not be used.

Curriculum

The Biomedical Sciences program is designed to develop fundamental concepts and skills in research along with a focus on a specialized area of biomedical study. The program is appropriate for students who wish to obtain a masters level biomedical education in a medical school environment or who wish to strengthen their credentials for medical school, dental school, or other professional degree programs.

The curriculum for the Biomedical Sciences program includes a minimum of 32.5 credit hours along with specialized study in a particular area of biomedical research and health science. Each student’s study program is determined with the approval of the student’s research advisor and advisory committee.

Courses