Biomedical Science (Online), MS

Master of Science in Biomedical Science

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ATSU-ASHS School Information and Policies    Program Mission Statement Length of Program Tuition and Fees

Admissions Academic Standards, Guidelines, and Requirements Graduation Requirements Courses: Descriptions and Credit Values

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Biomedical Science, MS

Master of Science in Biomedical Science

The Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MSBMS) program provides an online learning opportunity for individuals aspiring for health sciences careers to become better prepared for professional studies. Courses are designed with an emphasis on academic rigor using an asynchronous learning module in a highly flexible online learning format. The MSBMS program offers concentrations in physician assistant/associate (PA) studies and dental studies. The Concentration in Physician Assistant/Associate Studies (PAS) offers a foundation in advanced sciences, general anatomy, and a Capstone series that prepares students for application improvement and academic success in PA school. The Concentration in Dental Studies (DS) offers a foundation in advanced sciences, head & neck anatomy, and a Capstone series that prepares students for admission to the ASDOH-DMD program.

• Apply biomedical knowledge gained in the classroom as academic preparation for potential studies in the PA and dental school.
• Identify social determinants of health at the local, state, and national levels and methods of health promotion initiatives and health advocacy to advance the values of whole-person healthcare, cultural proficiency, social responsibility, diversity, and accessibility of healthcare to all.
• Integrate critical thinking, current evidence-based medicine, and the ethical, legal, and biopsychosocial principles of healthcare and the provision of whole-person care.
• Produce and submit a community education program relevant to improving healthcare delivery and quality of patient care.
• Through the Capstone series, develop an understanding of team-based healthcare and the role of a PA or dentist in diverse communities.
• Develop and refine essential time management skills necessary for academic success in challenging PA or dental education.
• Enhance written and oral communication strategies to improve interview skills, interprofessional collaboration, and application preparation.

Program Mission Statement

To provide individuals aspiring for a health science career with an opportunity to become prepared for professional studies in health and medical sciences.

Length of Program

The MS in Biomedical Sciences is a 9-month online program, and graduates must earn a minimum of 45 credit hours.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees are billed by the semester at the per-credit-hour rate and are due the first week of class. Rates are subject to change each academic year for all enrolled students. Delinquent tuition penalties accrue at 1.5 percent per month, which is 18 percent per year.

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: $714 per credit hour

Student Technology Fee: $44 per credit hour

Admissions

Admissions Deadline

Applications for the MSBMS program may be submitted to Online Admissions during the open application period for the next academic year. Completed application materials must be submitted at least 4 weeks prior to the first day of the program.

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 all required documentation. If you have any questions regarding the online application, please contact Admissions at 877.469.2878 or by email at onlineinquiry@atsu.edu.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants for admission to the MSBMS program must meet the following requirements prior to matriculation.

1. Applicants must have earned a Bachelor of Science or Arts degree from a U.S. accredited institution of higher education recognized by the Department of Education, or applicants who graduated from a university outside the United States will be required to provide a degree equivalency evaluation.*
   1. Students with a Bachelor of Science or Arts degree from a non-U.S. accredited institution of higher education must be currently residing in the U.S. and meet one of the following:
      1. Permanent U.S. citizenship
      2. Permanent residency status (green card)
   2. Applicants must have achieved a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA overall and a 2.5 minimum science GPA on a 4.0 scale.
   3. Applicants must submit all official transcripts from all qualifying institutions and have completed the following courses with a  C or better, prior to matriculation:
      1. Anatomy: 3 semester (5 quarter) hours
         1. Combined Anatomy & Physiology courses will require 6 semester (9 quarter) hours to satisfy the Anatomy requirement.
      2. English Composition: 6 semester (9 quarter) hours
   4. Applicants must submit one (1) letter of recommendation, unrelated to the applicant.
   5. A personal statement essay.
   6. Matriculants are required to submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended by the date of matriculation. The final transcripts confirming an undergraduate or graduate degree, if required for the academic program, must be submitted by the date of matriculation.
   7. Applicants must be able to meet minimum technology requirements as outlined in the student technology requirements during the entirety of the master’s program.
   8. Non-refundable application fee.
   9. The applicant must be fluent in English (the language of instruction of this program). When the applicant speaks and/or writes in English as a second language, the applicant must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores for review. Acceptable minimal TOEFL scores for the ATSU-ASHS applications are:
      1. Acceptable IELTS score is an overall band score: 6.5
      2. Internet-based total score: 80

Applicants who speak and or write English as a second language who have previously graduated from a college or university accredited by the U.S. Department of Education with a bachelor’s degree (or higher) are exempt from this requirement.

Applicants who believe the TOEFL requirement should be waived may petition the Physician Assistant Department Chair in writing.

Students with a Bachelor of Science or Arts degree from a non-U.S. accredited institution of higher education must be currently residing in the U.S. and meet one of the following:

• Permanent U.S. citizenship
• Permanent residency status (green card)

*Applicants who have graduated from a foreign college or university should submit acceptable evidence of U.S. degree/course equivalence. All coursework taken at the foreign institution must be evaluated for American institution equivalence by one of the following services:

Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.

P.O. Box 514070 Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470

414.289.3400

International Education Research Foundation, Inc.

P.O. Box 66940 Los Angeles, CA 90066

310.390.6276

Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.

7101 SW 102 Avenue Miami, FL 33171

305.273.1616

World Evaluation Service Inc.

P.O. Box 745 Old Chelsea Station New York, NY 10113-0745 212.966.6311

International Credentialing Associates, Inc.

7245 Bryan Dairy Road Largo, FL 33777

727.549.8555

International Consultants of Delaware

P.O. Box 8629 Philadelphia, PA 19101-8629

215.222.8454

American Assn. of Collegiate Registrars & Admissions Officers

One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 520 Washington, DC 20036-1135

202.293.9161

University of Texas at Austin Robert Watkins

Graduate & International Admissions Center

2608 Whitis Avenue Austin, TX 78712

512.475.7409

(Credential Reviews for Texas only)

Selection of Applicants

Applicants are reviewed on an ongoing basis by the MSBMS admission committee. The admission committee reserves the right to accept, reject, waitlist, or defer an applicant. Applicants who receive a letter of acceptance are granted a specified time period to notify the program of their intention to enroll. Accepted students must submit the following to Admissions before matriculation:

• Signed admission agreement
• Signed financial liability statement
• Non-refundable deposits
• Copies of official transcripts from every institution attended
• Criminal background check through the University-approved vendor

Academic Standards, Guidelines, and Requirements

Transfer/Advanced Standing Credits

The MSBMS program does not allow transfer/advanced standing credits at this time.

Technology Requirements

Please visit the ASHS Online Programs Technology Web Page to review the minimum technology specifications for students accepted to ATSU-ASHS online programs.

Academic Standards, Guidelines, and Requirements

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the presentation of another’s work as if it were one’s original. Proper and complete citation and reference, in accordance with AMA style guidelines, is required of all student work. Specific examples of plagiarism include:

• Cutting and pasting or re-entering information from another’s work into a document without correct citation or attribution.
• Information is attributed to a source other than the original material authored by someone else is submitted as original work.
• Turning in previously prepared work, in part or in whole, is considered self-plagiarism and is unacceptable. In instances where it may be appropriate to include prior work, the student must obtain permission from the instructor to include the prior work.
• Information is properly cited, but the paraphrasing is not substantively different from the original source, is infrequent, or is missing citations.

Plagiarism Sanctions

All assignments submitted for a grade are subject to review for plagiarism. The consequences of plagiarism vary based on whether the incident is the first, second, or third occurrence.

First Occurrence

A first instance of plagiarism is generally believed result from lack of familiarity and inexperience using AMA guidelines and is perceived as a misuse of sources. The sanctions for the first offense generally are, but not limited to:

• A grade of zero on the assignment.
• Resubmission of the assignment for a reduced grade.
• Students who choose not to participate in the tutorial or fail to complete the tutorial within the prescribed time will receive a grade of zero on the assignment.

Second Occurrence

A second occurrence of plagiarism is a more serious academic offense and is not attributed to naivete, ignorance of guidelines, or a misunderstanding of what constitutes acceptable graduate scholarship at ATSU. The sanction for a second plagiarism may include, but not limited to:

• Required completion of the University Writing Center’s Proper Use Resource tutorial.
• A grade of F in the course.

Third Occurrence

A third occurrence of plagiarism is seen as a student’s chronic inability or refusal to produce acceptable graduate-level scholarship. The sanction for a third plagiarism offense includes but is not limited to:

• Dismissal from the program.

Academic Probation

Progression in the MSBMS program is contingent on continued demonstration of satisfactory completion of the program objectives and course content. Lack of academic progression will result in the student being placed on academic probation. Students failing one (1) course will be automatically placed on academic probation. A remediation activity may be assigned to one (1) course per block for students who achieve a final grade below “C” in that course. Students who successfully complete the assigned remediation activity will remain on academic probation for the next academic block or until sustained academic progression is demonstrated. No more than two (2) remediation activities will be offered during the MSBMS program.

Dismissal

Dismissal from the MSBMS program may be determined as a result of, but not limited to, the following conditions:

1. Completion of any course with a “D” or “F”;
2. Continued academic probation;
3. Violation of the Student Code of Academic or Behavioral Conduct; or
4. Failure to maintain the minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Additional information on academic probation and dismissal can be found in the ATSU-ASHS Information and Policy section of this catalog.

If a student meets the requirements of the probationary period, they will be removed from academic probation and returned to good academic standing. MSBMS students in poor academic standing when withdrawing from all courses in a semester block are required to petition the program director for re-entry.

Academic Review Board

Students who fail any course(s) in the MSBMS program are automatically referred to the Academic Review Board (ARB). Students will receive a formal meeting notice via ATSU email. Students have the right to attend and/or provide a written response to the ARB. Progression in the MSBMS program is contingent on continued demonstration of satisfactory completion of program objectives and course content. Lack of academic progression is grounds for an academic dismissal from the MSBMS program. Separately from the ARB process, students have the right to submit an academic appeal of the course failures to the Director of the MSBMS program per the Academic Appeals Policy located within the ATSU Policies section of this Catalog.

Academic Standing

In order to maintain good academic standing, students must receive a passing grade (“C” or “RC”) in all courses. Academic standing is evaluated after each semester block.

Participation and Attendance in Courses

Attendance for each course is taken the first week of class. Students are required to complete the Acknowledge the Syllabus assignment to have attendance accepted. Students failing to complete this requirement may be removed from the course and administratively withdrawn. Weekly continuous participation is expected in all class activities. Discussion post assignments are required every week. The academic week is from 12:00 AM Arizona time Monday morning through 11:59 PM Arizona time the following Sunday. Participation is defined as having completed one or more of the activities required in any week. These can include:

• Discussion postings
• Submit a paper
• Complete a quiz or examination
• Complete some other assignment as presented in the course syllabus

If a student does not complete any activities during the first week of class, he/she is considered absent and will be administratively withdrawn from the course(s).

Course Access

Students are granted course access the Friday prior to the first day of class. Classes begin on Mondays.

Inclement Weather/Power Outage Policy

In the event of a major weather occurrence or a widespread power outage that prevents a student from accessing a class, instructors will work with the student to set reasonable accommodations to accept assignments after the due date. Instructors may request documentation from a student if a weather or power-outage occurrence is not widespread.

Late Assignment Policy

Late submissions will incur a penalty as outlined in the course syllabus. In the event you are unable to submit work to Canvas by the deadline due to technology issues, you must notify your instructor and open a ticket with ITS or call 800.626.2200. Keep your ticket number as documentation that the issue has been reported. Once the IT issue has been resolved, submit your work through Canvas for grading.

Program Cancellation

Should the institution cancel a program, currently enrolled students are permitted to complete the program before it is discontinued. No new students are permitted to enroll in a program that the institution has cancelled.

Graduation Requirements

Students in the online MSBMS program must meet the following requirements for graduation. Each student must have:

• Complete all prescribed
• Successfully complete all coursework with a minimum grade of “C” or “RC”
• Successfully complete a Capstone project

This program prepares graduates for employment in the following occupation(s), as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system, as reported on the institution’s Application for Approval to Participate in the Federal Student Financial Aid Programs: Biological Scientists, All Other 19-1029.00; Bioinformatics Scientists 19-1029.01; Biologists 19-1029.04; Life Scientists, All Other 19-1099.00.

Courses