Medical Biology (B.S.)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of South Dakota

Program Overview

The Medical Biology B.S. at the University of South Dakota is designed for students interested in medicine and other health professions, including dentistry, physician assistant studies, physical therapy and podiatry, while also building a strong foundation for biotechnology, physiology and cellular and molecular biology. Students develop biological-science knowledge alongside research and critical-thinking skills, with hands-on laboratory and research opportunities and access to faculty connected with the Sanford School of Medicine.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students begin by developing a strong foundation in biological and chemical sciences, supported by mathematics and general education coursework. Courses such as BIOL 151/L and BIOL 153/L introduce core biology concepts and laboratory skills, while CHEM 112/L and CHEM 114/L build the chemistry foundation needed for advanced medical biology study.

Year 2:

The curriculum progresses into more advanced biological and biomedical concepts, helping students understand how biological systems function at the cellular and organismal levels. Students continue strengthening their chemistry and biology background while preparing for upper-level work in areas such as physiology, molecular biology and human health.

Year 3:

Students move deeper into medically relevant biological sciences and can strengthen their preparation for professional or graduate study through advanced coursework and research. The program's emphasis on molecular biology, stress physiology and biomedical systems connects classroom learning with research questions relevant to human health.

Year 4:

In the final stage, students consolidate their knowledge through advanced study and undergraduate research, preparing for medical, dental, physical therapy and other professional programs or careers in biomedical and biological sciences. Research opportunities can include work in specialized laboratories and collaboration with the Sanford School of Medicine, with students having access to facilities such as genomics, molecular biology, proteomics/neurobiology and additional instrumentation including SEM and confocal microscopy.

Focus Areas:

Molecular biology, cellular biology, human health, physiology, biomedical sciences, genetics, biotechnology, stress physiology, medical research, biological sciences, pre-medical studies

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop biological-science knowledge, laboratory and research skills, critical-thinking abilities, scientific problem-solving skills and preparation for further study in medicine, dentistry, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, podiatry, biotechnology, physiology and cellular and molecular biology.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The Medical Biology B.S. is a pre-professional and biomedical science program rather than a separately licensed clinical degree, so the university does not identify a specialized professional accreditation for the program. Its curriculum is based on recent guidelines from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), supporting preparation for health-professional education.

Reputation (Employability & Academic Strength):

USD reports that more than half of the medical students in the Sanford School of Medicine are graduates of the USD Department of Biology, highlighting the department's connection with medical education. The university also reports $500,000 in grant funding from state and regional sources for departmental research and describes its faculty as nationally recognized for medically relevant teaching and research with undergraduates.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Medical Biology B.S. at the University of South Dakota gives students substantial opportunities to develop practical research skills alongside faculty in specialized laboratories. Students can work with the Department of Biology and the Sanford School of Medicine on medically relevant research, with access to specialized facilities and advanced instrumentation. Undergraduate research can involve areas such as molecular biology, stress physiology, neurobiology and biomedical research, and students have opportunities to present their findings at scientific meetings and contribute to publications.

Students can gain hands-on experience through the following USD-specific opportunities:

Specialized research laboratories: Students can work with active faculty researchers in areas including molecular biology, stress physiology and biomedical research.
Genomics Facility: Provides a dedicated environment for genomic research and training.
Molecular Biology Facility: Supports hands-on molecular biology research conducted by students and faculty.
Proteomics/Neurobiology Facility: Supports research involving proteins and neuroscience-related biological systems.
Ecology and Conservation Facility: Supports biological research in ecology and conservation alongside the program's broader biology research environment.
Collections Facility: Provides resources supporting biological research and teaching.
Advanced instrumentation: Through collaboration with the Sanford School of Medicine, students may gain access to equipment such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal microscopy.
Sanford School of Medicine: USD's proximity to South Dakota's only medical school gives Medical Biology students opportunities to conduct research with medical-school faculty and learn in facilities such as the cadaver laboratory.
Nolop Institute for Medical Biology: Supports medically oriented undergraduate research through research funding, student travel support and the Nolop Summer Research Scholar Program, which provides summer research stipends for three undergraduate students each year.
Research presentations and publications: USD reports that undergraduate researchers present findings at scientific meetings and may co-author publications; recent Medical Biology students have also been recognized through USD's Undergraduate Research Excellence Awards.
Undergraduate research funding: Students can apply for university undergraduate research grants and use research experiences to build their academic and professional portfolios.
Summer research: The Nolop Summer Research Scholar Program provides paid summer research opportunities focused on medically oriented research.
Biomedical & Translational Sciences: Housed within the Sanford School of Medicine, this division provides an interdisciplinary research environment focused on human disease and biomedical research.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Medical Biology B.S. at the University of South Dakota is designed to prepare students for careers and further study in medicine, biotechnology, biomedical research and other biological-science fields. The university specifically highlights pathways into medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacology, podiatry and biomedical research, while its Department of Biology also prepares graduates for employment in public and private sectors.

Typical career options: Biomedical Researcher, Molecular Biologist, Biotechnology Researcher, Laboratory Research Assistant

The program connects academic learning with research and career preparation through several university resources:

Career support: USD's Center for Career Design provides individual career coaching, internship support, resume and cover-letter assistance, interview preparation, employer connections, career fairs and job-search support. Students can also use Coyote Careers, USD's Symplicity-powered platform for full-time jobs, internships and other employment opportunities.
Internship and experiential opportunities: USD's Internship Academy connects students with hands-on internships, mentorship and career-readiness support, while the Center for Career Design offers both academic and experiential internships.
Biomedical research opportunities: The Nolop Institute for Medical Biology supports medically oriented undergraduate research, including research supplies, travel to scientific meetings and the Nolop Summer Research Scholars Program. Summer scholars receive approximately $5,500 in stipend funding plus a $1,000 research budget.
Medical-school connection: More than half of the medical students at USD's Sanford School of Medicine are graduates of the USD Department of Biology, demonstrating a strong progression pathway from biology studies into medical education.
Employer connections: USD's Center for Career Design works with regional employers through career fairs, networking events, employer information sessions and on-campus interviews, while Coyote Careers provides access to employer contacts and job postings.
Employment and salary data: USD provides graduate-outcome information through its Graduate Outcomes Dashboard, including employment and earnings data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes system. USD does not currently publish a Medical Biology-specific salary or employment percentage on the program page, so a program-specific figure should not be assumed.
Professional accreditation: Medical Biology is a pre-professional biomedical science degree rather than a licensed clinical program, so USD does not identify a specialized professional accreditation for the B.S. Its value for professional progression comes primarily from its preparation for medical and other health-professional programs and its research opportunities.
Graduation and further-study outcomes: USD's Biology Department states that its graduates are prepared for employment in public and private sectors and for professional schools such as medicine and physical therapy, as well as doctoral programs in biology and medical science.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the Medical Biology B.S., students can progress to medical school, dental school, optometry, physician assistant programs, physical therapy, podiatry, pharmacology and other health-professional programs. Students interested in research can also pursue M.S. or Ph.D. programs in biology, medical science, biomedical sciences or related fields; USD additionally offers an accelerated Biology B.S./M.S. pathway, allowing eligible students to begin the master's program after completing 90 undergraduate credit hours.