Biomedical Science - BS - Bachelor of Science

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

City University of New York

Program Overview

The Biomedical Science B.S. at The City College of New York is designed for students who want to build a strong foundation in biomedical science while preparing for a career in medicine and healthcare. As part of the Sophie Davis Biomedical Education Program, students study the sciences alongside health, medicine, public health and community-focused subjects before progressing into the CUNY School of Medicine's M.D. program as part of the seven-year BS/MD pathway.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students begin with a strong foundation in the natural sciences and the skills needed for further biomedical study. Courses include subjects such as Biological Foundations I, General Chemistry I, and Health, Medicine and Society, helping students understand biological processes while beginning to explore healthcare from both scientific and social perspectives.

Second Year: The curriculum becomes more focused on understanding the human body, disease and the wider healthcare environment. Students continue their scientific preparation while studying areas such as Health, Medicine and Society and community and population health, giving them opportunities to connect classroom learning with real healthcare issues and the needs of different communities.

Third Year: Students bring together their biomedical knowledge with more advanced preparation for medical education and professional practice. The program develops understanding of medicine, public health, research and patient-centered care, helping students transition confidently toward the medical curriculum that follows the B.S. stage.

Focus Areas

Biomedical science, human biology, health and medicine, public health, community health, medical statistics, health disparities, research, clinical preparation, healthcare systems, medicine and society

Learning Outcomes

Students develop a strong scientific foundation in biomedical subjects while building an understanding of health, medicine, communities and healthcare disparities. The program also develops research, communication, analytical and professional skills that support progression into medical education and other health-related pathways.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Biomedical Science B.S. is part of the Sophie Davis Biomedical Education Program/CUNY School of Medicine's integrated BS/MD pathway, rather than an engineering or laboratory-professional degree requiring a separate discipline-specific accreditation. The CUNY School of Medicine's medical education pathway is designed to prepare students for physician training, with the broader program focused on improving healthcare access and preparing physicians to serve communities experiencing healthcare shortages.

Reputation (Employability and Progression Outcomes)

The program has a strong history of graduates progressing into medical education and healthcare careers. CCNY's official graduate profiles include Biomedical Science graduates who have progressed to medical schools including NYU School of Medicine, Albany Medical College and SUNY Downstate, while the CUNY School of Medicine reports that 93% of alumni are employed or in graduate school in its published program facts.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students gain practical exposure by combining biomedical science with research, community health activities and clinical preparation. CCNY encourages undergraduate research and provides opportunities to work with faculty, hospitals and research institutions, while the Sophie Davis program also provides academic support, clinical exposure and preparation for the transition into medical education.

The program's practical opportunities include:

Biomedical research: Students can take part in research projects and develop laboratory experience through CCNY's undergraduate research opportunities. The university's U-RISE program provides research placements, faculty mentoring, professional development, tuition assistance and stipends for eligible students pursuing biomedical research careers.
CCNY–Memorial Sloan Kettering partnership: The university has a long-standing research and training partnership with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, including undergraduate opportunities connected with cancer research and clinical research experiences.
Community health fieldwork: Students have undertaken community-based work involving population and medical statistics and fieldwork in New York communities, helping connect biomedical learning with real public-health challenges.
Clinical exposure: The Pre-Health and medical education environment provides opportunities for students to connect with hospitals and clinical centers for volunteering, research and clinical shadowing.
Research internships: CCNY students have participated in summer research and internships in hospitals, research organizations and international healthcare settings, including opportunities involving cancer research and community health.
Learning Resource Center: The CUNY School of Medicine Learning Resource Center provides tutoring, review workshops, study groups, academic counseling, computer facilities and a reference library specifically supporting Sophie Davis students.
Peer learning: CCNY's Peer-led Team Learning model allows successful students to facilitate discussions and problem-solving sessions, strengthening both subject knowledge and collaborative skills.
Health and biomedical research environment: Students benefit from being part of a campus that includes the CUNY School of Medicine, biomedical research programs and research infrastructure spanning biomedical science, population health, neuroscience and cellular and molecular biology.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biomedical Science B.S. is particularly suited to students who want to continue toward medicine, while its strong foundation in biomedical science and research can also support other health and research directions. The integrated program allows eligible students to move from the three-year B.S. curriculum directly into the CUNY School of Medicine's M.D. program, creating a structured seven-year route to becoming a physician.

Typical progression and career directions include Physician, Biomedical Researcher, Clinical Researcher, Public Health Professional and other health and biomedical roles:

Academic and career support: The School of Biomedical Education's Learning Resource Center provides tutoring, review workshops, study groups and academic counseling, while the medical school provides career advising to help students identify specialties and develop professionally.
Research opportunities: Students can build research experience through CCNY faculty, U-RISE and the CCNY–Memorial Sloan Kettering partnership, strengthening preparation for research-focused graduate and medical programs.
Medical progression: The defining pathway is progression from the B.S. portion into the CUNY School of Medicine M.D. program, creating a seven-year integrated BS/MD route.
Graduate outcomes: CCNY's published graduate profiles show Biomedical Science alumni progressing to medical schools including NYU School of Medicine, Albany Medical College and SUNY Downstate.
Community healthcare focus: The program has a longstanding mission of preparing physicians to improve healthcare access and serve communities experiencing shortages of healthcare providers.
Employment and further-study outcome: The CUNY School of Medicine has reported that 93% of alumni are employed or in graduate school in its published program facts.
Professional preparation: Students develop scientific knowledge alongside communication, research, community-health and professional skills, creating a foundation for medical and other health-related careers.

Further Academic Progression: The clearest next step is the CUNY School of Medicine M.D. program, which follows the three-year B.S. stage as part of the integrated seven-year BS/MD pathway. Students can also build toward biomedical research and other advanced health-related study through research programs and professional opportunities offered across CCNY and the CUNY School of Medicine.