BS in Biomedical Sciences

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Wisconsin Milwaukee

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biomedical Sciences: Biomedical Science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is designed for students who want a strong laboratory-based foundation in human health, disease, diagnosis and biomedical research, with preparation for careers or advanced study in medicine, physician assistant programs, dentistry, veterinary medicine and related fields. Students build their scientific knowledge alongside practical laboratory, research, communication and professional skills through coursework spanning anatomy, physiology, chemistry, genetics, microbiology, immunology, biochemistry and molecular diagnostics.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students begin with a strong foundation in human biology and chemistry through BIO SCI 202: Anatomy and Physiology I, CHEM 102: General Chemistry, and BIO SCI 203: Anatomy and Physiology II. They also take CHEM 104: General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis and HCA 224: Computational Tools for Healthcare Professionals, building the scientific and computational foundation needed for more advanced biomedical study.

Year 2:

The curriculum moves deeper into biological processes and disease, with BIO SCI 150: Foundations of Biological Sciences I and the sequence BMS 301–303: Human Pathophysiology, covering fundamental disease mechanisms and major organ systems. Students also study CHEM 341: Introductory Survey of Organic Chemistry, CHEM 342: Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory, and BIO SCI 325: Genetics, developing a stronger understanding of biological mechanisms and laboratory science.

Year 3:

Students progress into more specialized biomedical subjects, beginning with BIO SCI 383: General Microbiology, BMS 427: Clinical Immunology, and BMS 428: Clinical Immunology Laboratory. They then develop expertise in CHEM 501: Introduction to Biochemistry, BMS 420: Clinical Hematology, BMS 431: Clinical Chemistry, BMS 534: Medical Microbiology, and BMS 560: Molecular and Genetic Diagnostics, connecting laboratory science with disease detection and diagnosis.

Year 4:

The final year emphasizes professional laboratory practice, research and diagnostic applications through BMS 517: Laboratory Technology: Theory and Practice, BMS 518: Experimental Design and Research in Biomedical Sciences, and BMS 547: Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis. Students also study BMS 555: Toxicology and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and complete electives that allow them to tailor the degree toward their academic and professional interests.

Focus Areas:

Laboratory-based biomedical science, human anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, general and organic chemistry, genetics, microbiology, clinical immunology, biochemistry, hematology, clinical chemistry, molecular and genetic diagnostics, medical microbiology, laboratory technology, research design, clinical laboratory diagnosis and toxicology.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop the ability to apply laboratory-testing theory and perform laboratory techniques, communicate effectively with healthcare teams and research peers, analyze and apply research design principles, and follow safety, regulatory and governmental standards in laboratory practice.

Professional Alignment:

The program provides preparation for medicine, physician assistant programs, dentistry, veterinary medicine, research and other advanced health-profession fields. It is a laboratory-based biomedical science degree rather than a Medical Laboratory Scientist certification program; UWM specifically states that this degree does not lead to certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.

UWM itself is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Reputation & Employability:

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is a Carnegie R1 research university, placing it among the nation’s universities with the highest level of research activity. UWM reported in 2025 that 97% of its graduates were working or continuing their education within six months, while the university reported an average graduate salary of more than $64,000; these are university-wide outcomes rather than Biomedical Sciences-specific figures.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

UWM’s Biomedical Sciences program has a strong practical emphasis, with students developing laboratory skills alongside coursework in clinical immunology, microbiology, molecular diagnostics, hematology and clinical chemistry. The senior curriculum specifically includes Laboratory Technology: Theory and Practice and Experimental Design and Research in Biomedical Sciences, while the School provides access to dedicated biomedical research laboratories and undergraduate research opportunities.

These experiences give students opportunities to move from learning biomedical concepts in class to applying laboratory and research methods in practice:

Hands-on biomedical laboratory training: BMS 517 – Laboratory Technology: Theory and Practice introduces common biomedical laboratory techniques and supports the development of independent biomedical researchers.
Research and experimental design: BMS 518 – Experimental Design and Research in Biomedical Sciences introduces experimental-design principles in a biomedical research setting and is specifically intended to develop independent biomedical researchers.
Clinical immunology laboratory: BMS 428 – Clinical Immunology Laboratory gives students practical laboratory experience alongside the Clinical Immunology course.
Molecular diagnostics: BMS 560 – Molecular and Genetic Diagnostics and BMS 561 – Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory provide training in molecular and genetic diagnostic approaches and laboratory application.
Clinical chemistry laboratory: Students can develop practical skills through BMS 431 – Clinical Chemistry and BMS 432 – Clinical Chemistry Laboratory Theory & Operations. The curriculum also includes BMS 542 – Applied Clinical Chemistry and BMS 544 – Advanced Clinical Chemistry Practicum, with the latter providing experience in a hospital laboratory using routine and specialized biochemical procedures and instrumentation.
Medical microbiology: BMS 534 – Medical Microbiology and BMS 535 – Medical Microbiology Laboratory combine the study of disease-causing microorganisms with laboratory-based learning.
Biomedical research laboratories: The School maintains dedicated research laboratories, including the Antibiotic Resistance and Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy Laboratory, Lyme Borreliosis Laboratory, Neurosignaling Laboratory, Prostate Cancer Laboratory, and Wound Healing and Tissue Repair Analytics Laboratory.
Undergraduate research opportunities: UWM’s Office of Undergraduate Research serves as a central resource connecting undergraduate students with on-campus research opportunities and faculty research projects.
Independent study: BMS 599 – Independent Study allows students to undertake an individualized study of current topics of interest in clinical laboratory science, with the level of credit based on the work required.
Professional biomedical community: Students can participate in the Biomedical Sciences Student Association (BMS-SA), which provides educational, vocational and social support and focuses on applying scientific knowledge to current health problems.
Digital/computational resources: The program includes HCA 224 – Computational Tools for Healthcare Professionals, while UWM also maintains a Biomedical Sciences data-science resource listing software and open-source tools used in biomedical data and health-informatics work.
Clinical laboratory exposure: The School's broader Biomedical Sciences laboratory resources include clinical-site experiences and hospital laboratory connections; however, these should not be confused with the separate Medical Laboratory Science submajor, which has its own clinical-placement structure.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biomedical Sciences: Biomedical Science prepares students for laboratory, research and biotechnology environments, while also providing a strong foundation for advanced professional study in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, optometry, pharmacy and other health-related fields. UWM describes the submajor as an academic, non-clinical program, with graduates able to apply laboratory techniques to clinical disease, human biology and therapeutic research.

Typical career directions include Biomedical Research Assistant, Laboratory Technician, Biotechnology Laboratory Professional, and Clinical Research Assistant. The degree can also be used as preparation for professional or graduate education, depending on the student's career goals.

Students can build their career and academic pathway through several UWM resources:

Career development: UWM's Center for Student Experience and Talent (SET) helps students research career options, develop resumes and interviewing skills, plan job searches, negotiate salaries, and locate internships, part-time, full-time or volunteer opportunities.
Academic and career advising: Biomedical Sciences students can meet with professional advisors who help them explore academic and career interests, plan their course sequence, access tutoring and other academic support, identify campus opportunities and prepare for graduation.
Employment outlook: UWM cites the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2024 median annual wage of $61,890 for medical and clinical laboratory technologists and technicians. This is an occupation-level figure rather than a salary guarantee or a Biomedical Science graduate-specific salary.
University-wide employment outcomes: UWM reports that 89% of graduates were working or continuing their education within six months of earning their degree, based on its 2023–24 figures. UWM also reports an average graduate salary of $65,301 for the 2023–24 survey; these figures apply university-wide rather than specifically to Biomedical Sciences.
Healthcare connections: The School of Biomedical Sciences & Health Care Administration reports partnerships with hundreds of healthcare providers where students in its programs undertake internships and clinical training. The specific Biomedical Science submajor is non-clinical, so these school-wide partnerships should not be interpreted as a mandatory clinical-placement component of this degree.
Alumni network: UWM's School reports a network of more than 202,000 UWM Panthers across 110 countries. Its alumni examples include graduates working in public health laboratories, forensic science, toxicology and healthcare-related roles, illustrating the range of pathways available through the School.
Research environment: UWM is classified as an R1 research university, and the university reported $69.7 million in research expenditures in fiscal year 2025. This gives students access to a broader research-intensive university environment alongside the Biomedical Sciences program.
Accreditation value: The Biomedical Science submajor itself is not presented by UWM as a professional licensure/certification program. UWM is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), while students pursuing regulated professions such as medicine, dentistry or physician assistant practice would continue into the relevant accredited professional program after completing their bachelor's degree.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the B.S. in Biomedical Sciences, students can pursue medical school, physician assistant programs, dental school, veterinary medicine, optometry, pharmacy, chiropractic programs or other advanced health-profession programs. Students interested in research can also progress into graduate-level biomedical or health sciences education; UWM's School offers an M.S. in Biomedical Sciences and a Ph.D. in Health Sciences, providing routes toward advanced research and academic careers.