Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science at UTRGV is designed for students who want a strong foundation in biomedical science while preparing for professional schools in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, public health and related healthcare fields. Students explore cell and molecular biology, genetics, genomics, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, immunology and neuroscience, combining scientific knowledge with research and experiential learning.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students begin with the scientific foundations of biomedical science through General Chemistry I, General Chemistry II, and Introduction to Biomedical Sciences I, alongside laboratory work. They then progress into Introduction to Biomedical Sciences II and its laboratory, establishing the chemistry and biomedical foundation needed for more advanced study.

Year 2:

The second year builds stronger scientific and clinical foundations through Organic Chemistry I, Organic Chemistry II, and Integrated Body Systems I. Students also undertake Integrated Body Systems II and begin Independent Research I and II, giving them an early opportunity to develop research skills.

Year 3:

Students move into advanced biomedical subjects including Advanced Cell Biology, Advanced Molecular Biology, and Medical Biochemistry. The curriculum also introduces Medical Neuroscience and Neurochemistry, Medical Microbiology, Medical Bioinformatics, Genomics, and Systems Biology, and Human Genetics and Medical Genomics, alongside experiential learning options.

Year 4:

The final year focuses on advanced biomedical and human-health topics, including Medical Immunology, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Medical Syndromes, supported by Applied Statistics and Human Behavior. Students also complete physics, advanced electives and additional integrative/experiential learning, bringing together the scientific knowledge and skills developed throughout the degree.

Focus Areas:

Cell and molecular biology, genetics and genomics, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, immunology, neuroscience, medical biochemistry, bioinformatics, pathophysiology, human health, biomedical research and experiential learning.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop an understanding of biomedical sciences and their application to human health, build laboratory and research capabilities, apply scientific and quantitative knowledge to health-related problems, and develop preparation for professional healthcare schools and graduate study.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The B.S. in Biomedical Science is not listed as holding a separate specialized professional accreditation in UTRGV's current specialized-accreditation listing. UTRGV itself is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), while UTRGV's School of Medicine separately holds LCME accreditation; the latter applies to the medical school rather than this bachelor's program.

Reputation (Employability / Rankings):

UTRGV reports that it ranked No. 1 in Texas and No. 4 nationally in Washington Monthly's 2026 College Rankings, which considers factors including access, affordability, student outcomes and public service. The university also highlights its role in developing the Rio Grande Valley's healthcare workforce through medical education, residency training and specialized programs.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.S. in Biomedical Science at UTRGV gives students opportunities to build practical research experience alongside their biomedical coursework. The Department of Health & Biomedical Sciences supports undergraduate involvement in active research projects, including work related to neurological disorders, public health and biomedical technologies, while the university's research environment includes facilities in both Edinburg and Brownsville. Students can also pursue structured internship and undergraduate research opportunities, allowing them to apply biomedical concepts in laboratory and professional settings.

Key experiential opportunities include:

Biomedical Freshman Research Initiative (BFRI): Students can engage in hands-on biomedical research from the early stages of their undergraduate education through UTRGV's BFRI.
Research laboratories: B.S. Biomedical Science students interested in research can approach faculty and explore opportunities in laboratories across Biomedical Sciences, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Health and Human Performance, the South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute (STDOI) and the UTRGV School of Medicine.
Faculty-led research: Current research areas within the department include neurological disorders, cell signaling, bone tissue engineering, cancer, health disparities and other biomedical topics, giving students opportunities to connect classroom learning with active research.
GET PHIT internships: The department offers the GET PHIT internship, a 160-hour, part-time paid internship designed to provide practical experience at participating internship sites.
Biomedical Research & Health Building: UTRGV's Biomedical Research & Health Building (BBRHB) in Brownsville houses Department of Health & Biomedical Sciences research activities, while the department also has research facilities in the Health Affairs Building West in Edinburg.
Research publications: Students can work within a department actively producing biomedical research, with UTRGV maintaining an open-access collection of Health & Biomedical Sciences faculty publications.
Experiential STEM research: UTRGV's Department of Health & Biomedical Sciences is involved in an NSF-funded project focused on Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs), supporting experiential learning in STEM.

Facilities and research resources: UTRGV's research-facilities network includes the Department of Health & Biomedical Sciences in the Health Affairs Building West (Edinburg) and Biomedical Research & Health Building (Brownsville), alongside research facilities across the university's campuses.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biomedical Science at UTRGV is designed particularly well for students planning to progress into professional healthcare schools or biomedical research, with the curriculum providing preparation for medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and other health professions. Graduates can also pursue science and healthcare-related careers in research, public health, laboratory work, data science and biotechnology.

Typical career roles include: Biomedical/Translational Research Scientist, Epidemiologist, Research/Lab Technician, Bioinformatics or Health Informatics Professional.

Students can strengthen their transition from university to employment through several UTRGV resources:

Career Center: Students can work with career advisors, access internships and jobs, attend career fairs and employer information sessions, participate in networking events, and take part in on-campus interviews.
12twenty: UTRGV's current career-management platform allows students and alumni to search and apply for jobs and internships, attend career events, schedule career-advisor appointments, and access salary and employment-outcome data.
Biomedical internships: The Department of Health & Biomedical Sciences offers the GET PHIT internship, a 160-hour paid internship with a stipend of $2,440–$3,000, providing practical experience in public-health informatics and related areas.
Research experience: The department provides opportunities through the Biomedical Freshman Research Initiative (BFRI) and research projects covering areas such as neurological disorders, public health and biomedical technologies.
University-industry/professional connections: UTRGV's Career Center hosts career and internship expos where national and regional employers recruit UTRGV students and alumni for internships and career opportunities.
Salary and employment information: UTRGV's 12twenty platform provides students with access to real-time career-trend, salary and employment-outcome information. UTRGV does not publish a specific graduate salary figure for the B.S. Biomedical Science on the program page, so a program-specific salary figure should not be assumed.
Professional preparation: The BMED Scholars Program combines academic support with mentoring, professional development, service learning, research opportunities and clinical experiences, with the stated goal of preparing students for graduate and medical school.

Accreditation value: UTRGV is institutionally accredited by SACSCOC; the university's institutional accreditation applies to UTRGV rather than representing a separate professional accreditation for the B.S. Biomedical Science. The program itself is positioned as preparation for entry into professional schools and graduate education rather than as a separately licensed professional degree.

Graduation outcomes: UTRGV's B.S. Biomedical Science specifically prepares students for professional-school pathways in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and other healthcare fields, while the university also identifies research, public health, laboratory, informatics and biotechnology-related career options.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the B.S. in Biomedical Science, students can apply to medical, dental, veterinary, pharmacy, physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy and other professional programs, depending on their prerequisites and admission requirements. Students interested in research can progress to graduate-level study; UTRGV also identifies a 4+1 master's pathway as an option for eligible BMED students, while the B2BMED program specifically supports progression from the bachelor's degree into graduate school or the biomedical research workforce.