BS Medical Sciences

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Cincinnati

Program Overview

The B.S. in Medical Sciences at the University of Cincinnati is designed for students interested in medicine, biomedical sciences, and other health professions, combining biological and applied sciences, informatics, technology, and human health and disease. Students build a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, physics, calculus, and statistics before progressing into advanced medical sciences, research, clinical exploration, and mentored learning through the UC College of Medicine and Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students establish their scientific foundation through BIOL 1081 Biology I: Molecules, Cells, and the Foundation of Life, CHEM 1040 General Chemistry I, and MATH 1044 Applied Calculus I, alongside laboratory work and PD 1000 Exploring Health Professions. They also begin the Medical Sciences seminar sequence and study MEDS 1010 History of Medicine and Technology Innovation, giving them early exposure to both scientific and healthcare perspectives.

Year 2:

The curriculum develops stronger preparation for medical and biomedical study through CHEM 2040 Organic Chemistry I, CHEM 2041 Organic Chemistry II, and physics, while students continue the Medical Sciences seminar sequence. Courses such as PSYC 1001 Introduction to Psychology and SOC 1001 Introduction to Sociology broaden students' understanding of the human and social dimensions of healthcare.

Year 3:

Students move into advanced medical science with MEDS 3026 Medical Physiology, MEDS 3020 Essentials of Medical Biochemistry, and MEDS 3021 Fundamentals of Molecular Genetics. They also take MEDS 3023C Statistics and Experimental Design for the Biomedical Sciences, while choosing specialized Medical Sciences electives in areas such as medical microbiology, pharmacology, medical genetics, biomedical research, informatics, and clinical science.

Year 4:

The final year allows students to tailor their studies toward their professional interests through advanced electives and biomedical topics such as MEDS 4029 Fundamentals of Medical Pharmacology, MEDS 4052C Human Gross Anatomy, MEDS 4069 Pathophysiology, or MEDS 4030 Introduction to Medical Device Innovation. Students complete a senior capstone through either MEDS 5030/5031 Biomedical Research Capstone or MEDS 5050/5051 Health & Community: Service-Learning Capstone, bringing together their scientific, research, clinical, or community-health preparation.

Focus Areas:

Biomedical sciences, human health and disease, biology, chemistry, physics, medical physiology, biochemistry, molecular genetics, medical microbiology, pharmacology, medical informatics, statistics and experimental design, clinical and translational science, medical imaging, human anatomy, pathophysiology, biomedical research, healthcare exploration, service learning, integrative medicine.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop a strong scientific foundation alongside practical skills in scientific research, creative inquiry, writing, presentation, clinical and healthcare exploration, and biomedical analysis. The program also develops analytical, critical-thinking, communication, research, and evidence-based decision-making skills through advanced medical science courses, mentoring, experiential learning, and the senior capstone.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The program is designed to prepare students for advanced training in medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, physician assistant studies, anesthesia assisting, public health, and biomedical sciences, as well as master's and doctoral study in areas such as biology, neuroscience, physiology, and pharmacology. The University of Cincinnati and its regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC); the official Medical Sciences page does not identify a separate professional accreditation specifically for the B.S. in Medical Sciences.

Reputation (Employability & University Standing):

The University of Cincinnati has a strong institutional reputation for career-connected education. In the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, UC was ranked No. 3 nationally for co-ops and internships and No. 1 among public institutions, providing a university-wide indicator of its emphasis on experiential and career preparation. This ranking applies to the university rather than specifically to the Medical Sciences B.S.

The Medical Sciences program itself is housed within the UC College of Medicine and jointly connected with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, with students receiving peer, medical-student, faculty, and—where relevant—research, clinical, and service mentors. The program also offers research, clinical shadowing, service-learning, and healthcare exploration opportunities, creating a strong connection between undergraduate study and the health professions.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.S. in Medical Sciences gives students substantial opportunities to move beyond classroom learning through biomedical research, clinical exploration, service learning, and healthcare experiences. The program is jointly housed in the UC College of Medicine and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and students are assigned an upper-class peer mentor, medical student mentor, and faculty mentor; additional research, clinical-activity, and service mentors are available based on their interests. Students can also develop firsthand research, writing, presentation, and medical-facility skills through dedicated experiential courses and senior-level projects.

These opportunities give students access to specialized research environments, simulation technology, medical facilities, and health-science resources:

MEDS 3030 Biomedical Research Rotation: Students are exposed to the rigors of primary research in a modern biomedical laboratory and gain direct experience with biomedical research under faculty guidance.
MEDS 5030/5031 Biomedical Research Capstone: This two-semester senior capstone provides an original biomedical research experience, matching students with scientists in the UC College of Medicine and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
Research with UC and Cincinnati Children’s faculty: Students can work with faculty mentors across a broad range of biomedical research areas, developing research skills, expertise, critical-thinking abilities, and a professional résumé.
Summer research opportunities: UC College of Medicine offers multiple undergraduate research programs, including Cincinnati Children’s Hospital SURF, SURF-Neuro, SURF-ASPET, SURF-Heart, Cancer Research Scholars Program, SURF MedEx, and SURF Climate. UC reports that it typically awards fellowships to around 150 undergraduates each summer for clinical, translational, or basic biomedical research.
Clinical simulation technology: The UC College of Medicine Simulation Center provides high-fidelity SimMan patient simulators and low-fidelity task trainers, allowing learners to practice clinical skills and decision-making in simulated healthcare scenarios.
Simulation software and digital tools: The Simulation Center uses Learning Space Enterprise to manage simulation sessions, assignments, schedules, workflows, data and video capture, evaluations, and reports. Its examination rooms have cameras and desktop computers, with additional laptops available outside the rooms.
Team-based learning: The Simulation Center specifically incorporates technology, simulation, and teamwork, with SimMan designed for team training and realistic patient-care scenarios.
Medical Sciences Building: Students are connected to the Medical Sciences Building, home to UC College of Medicine laboratories, classrooms, and research facilities. The building also houses the UC Simulation Center.
Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library: The medical campus includes the Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library, located between the Medical Sciences Building and CARE/Crawley Building and supporting the health-science academic and research environment.
CARE/Crawley Building: This medical-campus facility provides approximately 240,000 square feet of laboratory, research, teaching, and library facilities, giving students access to the broader College of Medicine research environment.
Clinical and community research: UC's Medical Sciences curriculum includes opportunities in practice and community-based health research, with documented projects involving areas such as integrative medicine, chronic pain care, social anxiety, alcohol use, and diabetes outcomes.
Healthcare exploration and shadowing: The Medical Sciences program explicitly provides opportunities in clinical shadowing and healthcare exploration, alongside research and service learning. These experiences may also include paid positions depending on the opportunity.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Medical Sciences is designed to prepare students for professional healthcare programs, biomedical research, and graduate study in the life and health sciences. UC specifically identifies pathways including medicine, dentistry, optometry, physician assistant studies, pharmacy, public health, health administration, and biomedical sciences, while also listing careers such as clinical laboratory research technician, pharmacologist, hospital administrator, and public health specialist.

Typical career options include: Clinical Laboratory Research Technician, Pharmacologist, Public Health Specialist, Hospital Administrator.

Students can build on this preparation through UC's academic advising, research opportunities, professional mentoring, and career-focused resources:

Academic and pre-professional advising: Students work with an academic advisor to create an Individual Development Plan (IDP) based on their intended career. They also begin working with a Pre-Professional Advising Center advisor during the program, helping them plan appropriate courses and prepare for professional-school pathways.
Mentoring and professional connections: The Medical Sciences program provides students with peer, medical-student, and faculty mentors, with additional research, clinical, and service mentors available according to students' interests.
Research and clinical experience: Students can undertake biomedical research with faculty in the UC College of Medicine and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, as well as participate in clinical exploration, shadowing, and service-learning opportunities. These experiences can strengthen research skills and provide exposure to healthcare environments.
Career and employment statistics: UC publishes university-wide co-op outcomes rather than a Medical Sciences-specific employment rate or starting salary. Across UC's co-op program, students earned $99.5 million in co-op wages during AY 2025–26, and 1,798 employers hired UC students that year; these figures represent the university-wide co-op system and should not be interpreted as Medical Sciences graduate outcomes.
Co-op and professional experience: UC offers co-op opportunities across many majors, although participation requirements vary by college and program. Medical Sciences is not listed among UC's mandatory co-op programs, so students should not assume that a co-op is required for this B.S.; flexible career-related experiences are available across the university.
University–industry and healthcare connections: UC's broader employer network includes healthcare and biomedical organizations, while the Medical Sciences program has direct academic and research connections with Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the UC College of Medicine. These connections give students opportunities to work with medical faculty, researchers, and healthcare professionals.
Graduation outcomes: The program is intended to prepare graduates for professional schools and advanced degrees. UC specifically identifies progression into MD, MD/PhD, optometry, physician assistant, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, health administration, and PhD programs in biomedical sciences, in addition to master's-level health and life-science programs.
Long-term accreditation value: The Medical Sciences B.S. is an undergraduate degree within the UC College of Medicine. UC's official program information does not identify a separate professional accreditation specifically for the B.S. in Medical Sciences; therefore, students pursuing regulated professions should also consider the accreditation and admission requirements of the professional program they enter after graduation.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the B.S. in Medical Sciences, students can continue into professional programs such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, physician assistant studies, and pharmacy, or pursue graduate education in biomedical sciences, life sciences, public health, health administration, neuroscience, physiology, pharmacology, and related fields. The curriculum is specifically designed to allow students to select courses and experiences around their intended career, with UC's Medical Sciences program offering guidance for professional-school preparation as well as master's and doctoral pathways.