Biological Sciences B.S. – Pre-health and Biomedical Sciences Concentration

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Northern Colorado

Program Overview

The Biological Sciences B.S. – Pre-health and Biomedical Sciences Concentration at the University of Northern Colorado is designed for students interested in medicine and other human or animal health professions, while also providing a strong foundation for biomedical and graduate study. Across 120 credits, students build their knowledge through biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics and biomedical coursework while preparing for medical, veterinary, dental, chiropractic and paramedical professional programs.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students begin with the fundamentals of biological and chemical science through courses such as BIO 110: Biology: Atoms to Cells, BIO 111: Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems, and CHEM 111: Principles of Chemistry I. They also develop academic and scientific communication skills through ENG 122: College Composition and SCI 291: Scientific Writing, establishing the foundation for more advanced biomedical study.

Year 2:

The second year moves into more specialized biological and quantitative concepts, including BIO 210: Cell Biology, BIO 220: Genetics, and STAT 250: Statistics for Life Sciences. Students can also begin Organic Chemistry I and its laboratory, while MATH 171: Calculus I for Life Sciences strengthens the mathematical background needed for health and life-science study.

Year 3:

Students explore the human body and microorganisms in greater depth through BIO 341: Human Anatomy, BIO 350: Human Physiology, and BIO 351: Microbiology, alongside PHYS 220: Introductory Physics I. The curriculum also provides opportunities to complete upper-division electives and gain experience through options such as BIO 492: Internship in Biological Sciences or BIO 493: Clinical Internship in Biological Sciences.

Year 4:

The final year allows students to deepen their biological and biomedical knowledge through advanced coursework such as BIO 465: Evolution and selected upper-division major or biomedical electives. Students also complete a capstone professional experience, which can include Directed Studies, an Internship in Biological Sciences, a Clinical Internship in Biological Sciences, or a Practicum in College Biological Science Instruction.

Focus Areas:

Pre-health preparation, biomedical sciences, human and animal health, cell biology, genetics, human anatomy, human physiology, microbiology, medical genetics, cancer biology, immunology, molecular genetics, pathobiology, pharmacology, neurobiology, biochemistry and professional-school preparation.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop a broad foundation in biological sciences and supporting sciences, build knowledge of human biology and biomedical processes, develop scientific writing and quantitative skills, gain opportunities for research or clinical experience, and prepare for further study in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, chiropractic medicine, paramedical professions and graduate fields such as microbiology and human physiology.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The concentration is specifically structured to meet the minimum requirements for admission to most professional schools of health science. UNC states that the curriculum can prepare students for medical, veterinary, dental, chiropractic and paramedical professional programs; specific prerequisite courses should be selected with an academic advisor because requirements vary between professional schools.

Reputation & Employability:

The University of Northern Colorado describes itself as a public doctoral research institution with a strong health-sciences focus. While UNC does not publish a QS or Guardian ranking specifically for this Biological Sciences concentration, the university reports that its undergraduate Nursing program was ranked No. 54 nationally in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges, placing it in the top 8% of 686 nursing programs, and UNC was designated a Career-Connected Campus by the Colorado Department of Higher Education in 2025.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Biological Sciences B.S. – Pre-health and Biomedical Sciences Concentration at the University of Northern Colorado gives students substantial opportunities to apply classroom knowledge through laboratory, field and faculty-led research. UNC states that biology students can work alongside faculty mentors, conduct research and present their findings at the annual research symposium; the university also reports that about 80% of biology students participate in research by working in a faculty lab.

Students can develop practical skills using dedicated biological research laboratories, advanced imaging equipment and specialized instrumentation. The department's facilities support areas including molecular biology, genetics, cell biology, pharmacology, microbiology and physiology, making the environment particularly relevant to students pursuing the Pre-health & Biomedical Sciences concentration.

Key experiential opportunities include:

Faculty-led research: Students can work directly with faculty mentors on active research projects and potentially contribute to publications or present their findings at UNC's annual research symposium.
Biomedical research laboratories: Students can gain exposure to research in areas such as immunology and pharmacology, cancer biology, developmental biology, cell and molecular biology, inflammation and epigenetics.
Advanced laboratory equipment: Available instrumentation includes a Bio-Rad CFX 384 real-time PCR machine, Bio-Rad VersaDoc gel imager, Leica fluorescence microscope, atomic force microscope, Zeiss confocal microscope, scanning electron microscope, Sony cell sorter and Attune flow cytometer.
Imaging Suite: Students have access to specialized microscopy and imaging resources, including Zeiss laser-scanning confocal microscopes, a JEOL scanning electron microscope, Leica fluorescent microscope, Thermo Fisher flow cytometer and Sony cytometer/cell sorter.
Clinical and biomedical relevance: The Pullen Inflammation Lab provides research training in mast-cell biology, inflammation, autoimmunity, cancer and immune responses, with students from Biological Sciences and other programs participating in research training.
Field-based learning: UNC biology students can use nearby resources including Rocky Mountain National Park, U.S. Forest Service lands, Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland for field research and learning.
Herbarium: The UNC Herbarium provides a major plant-specimen collection that students can use for plant identification, ecological and taxonomic research and conservation-related projects.
Natural History Museum: The university's Museum of Natural History provides hands-on access to extensive biological specimens and opportunities related to biodiversity, evolutionary history, museum curation and research.
Internships: The Biological Sciences curriculum includes opportunities such as BIO 492: Internship in Biological Sciences and BIO 493: Clinical Internship in Biological Sciences, allowing students to connect their academic preparation with professional or clinical experience.
Student organizations: Biology students can become involved with organizations including the PreHealth Professionals Club, Biology Student Association and Tri Beta, providing additional opportunities for professional and academic engagement.
STEM research and internship support: UNC's S4: Scholarships for Science Student Success provides eligible students with scholarship support, mentoring, research experience and internships designed to develop STEM skills and career preparation.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Biological Sciences B.S. – Pre-health and Biomedical Sciences Concentration at the University of Northern Colorado can use their degree as a foundation for professional health programs or careers in biomedical and biological sciences. The concentration is specifically designed to prepare students for further study in areas such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic medicine and other health professions, while its research and internship opportunities can also support entry into biological science careers.

Typical career directions include: Medical Research Assistant, Clinical Research Coordinator, Biological Laboratory Technician, Biomedical Research Assistant.

Key career-development opportunities include:

Career support: UNC's Center for Career Readiness provides career coaching, résumé and cover-letter assistance, interview preparation, career fairs, employer connections and internship/job-search support to help students move from their degree into employment.
Research experience: Biology students can work with faculty on research projects, giving them practical experience that can strengthen applications for graduate and professional programs. UNC reports that approximately 80% of biology students participate in research by working in a faculty lab.
Internship experience: The curriculum includes BIO 492 – Internship in Biological Sciences and BIO 493 – Clinical Internship in Biological Sciences, providing opportunities to connect academic learning with professional or clinical environments.
Health-profession preparation: The concentration is designed around the prerequisites commonly required by professional health schools, including medical, dental, veterinary, chiropractic and paramedical programs. Students can work with academic advisors to select courses according to the requirements of their intended professional school.
STEM career development: UNC's S4: Scholarships for Science Student Success program supports eligible STEM students through mentoring, research experiences and internships, helping them build skills for graduate study and STEM careers.
Employment and salary data: UNC publishes career and employment information through its career resources and graduate-outcomes reporting; however, the university does not publish a program-specific employment rate or median salary for this Biological Sciences concentration on the official program page. I would therefore avoid inserting an unsupported salary figure.
Industry connections: Students can gain professional exposure through internships, clinical experiences, faculty research and employer engagement facilitated through UNC's career services. The university does not identify a specific industry partner exclusively attached to this concentration on its official program page.
Professional preparation: Rather than being tied to one professional accreditation, the concentration provides the academic foundation needed to apply to multiple health-profession programs. Individual medical, dental, veterinary or other professional programs determine their own admission and prerequisite requirements.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S., students can continue into medical school (MD/DO), dental school, veterinary school, chiropractic programs, physician assistant programs or other health-profession programs, depending on their career goals and prerequisite completion. Students interested in research can also pursue master's or doctoral study in biological sciences, biomedical sciences, microbiology, physiology, genetics or related fields.