About

Do you have a deeper interest in biomedical science? Do you want to build a foundation for earning a PhD or MD degree?

Our MS degree in biomedical sciences is an interdisciplinary program that provides research and educational opportunities for students to master the principles of the biomedical sciences. It features both basic science and clinical faculty with a wide variety of research interests. The program has a high faculty-to-student ratio, offers small class sizes, provides ample personal contact with faculty members, and has a strong core of grant-funded research programs.

Faculty are a blend of senior and junior investigators. This is a research-oriented program that prepares students for employment in industry and academic settings or provides research training and experience for students interested in more advanced study leading to PhD or MD degrees.

Specific areas of research include arthritis; bacterial pathogenesis; bioenergetics; cancer; cardiovascular disease; cardiovascular-, pulmonary-, neuro-, and behavioral-pharmacology; cell motility; diabetes; drug discovery; growth and differentiation; immunology; neuroscience; physiology; regulation of gene expression; stem cells; toxicology; transportation; and virology.

ECU Advantage

The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University offers small class sizes, dedicated faculty and nationally recognized research programs. We offer opportunities for translational and basic research and some assistantships are available.

What You Will Study

Program Director: Richard A. Franklin (5N96D Brody School of Medicine; 252-744-2705; franklinr@ecu.edu)

The Biomedical Sciences, MS is an interdisciplinary degree program administered by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies of the Brody School of Medicine (BSOM). This research-oriented master of science (MS) prepares students for employment in the biomedical industry or provides research training and experience for students interested in more advanced study leading to the doctor of philosophy (PhD) or doctor of medicine (MD) degrees.

The Biomedical Sciences, MS program has two degree pathways to obtain the degree. The post-bachelor's pathway requires a minimum of 38 s.h. and the post-doctor of medicine (post-MD) or currently enrolled in medical school pathway requires a minimum of 24 s.h. The program also offers an option for students interested in pursuing a neuroscience concentration that requires a minimum of 39 s.h.

Each applicant must meet the admission requirements of the university, and make satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The GRE is not required for applicants enrolled in medical school or with a MD. Each entering student should consult the program director prior to the beginning coursework. Medical students require the permission of the dean of the BSOM to enroll in the master's degree program.

In addition to coursework each student must complete a research-based thesis, a comprehensive defense of thesis proposal, a seminar based on thesis research, and a thesis defense.

Degree Pathways and Option

Select one of the following degree pathways or the neuroscience option:

    1. Post-Bachelor's Pathway - 38 s.h.

    The curriculum for students entering with a bachelor's degree consists of a minimum of 38 s.h. as follows:

      a. Core courses - minimum 18 s.h.
      • BIOS 7021 - Biostatistics for Health Professionals I OR
      • PHAR 7777 - Practical Problems in Biometry

      • BMSC 6113 - Introduction to Biomedical Research
      • BMSC 6121 - Seminar in Biomedical Science (must take 4 times)
      • BMSC 6133 - Biomedical Research
      • HUMS 7004 - Ethics and Research
        • And select one of the following courses:
        • ANAT 7202 - Molecular Cell Biology
        • BIOC 7301 - Biochemistry I
        • MCBI 7410 - Molecular Cell Biology
        • PHAR 7640 - Pharmacology of the Central Nervous System
        • PHLY 7701 - Graduate Physiology I
      b. Electives - minimum of 14 s.h.

      Electives must be approved by the program director and be at the 6000 or 7000 level.

        c. Thesis - maximum of 6 s.h.
        • BMSC 7000 - Thesis
      2. Post-MD or Currently Enrolled in Medical School Pathway - 24 s.h.

      The curriculum for post-MD or students currently enrolled in medicial school consists of 24 s.h. as follows:

        a. Core courses - 17 s.h.
        • ANAT 7202 - Molecular Cell Biology OR
        • MCBI 7410 - Molecular Cell Biology

        • BMSC 6113 - Introduction to Biomedical Research
        • BMSC 6121 - Seminar in Biomedical Science (must take twice)
        • BMSC 6133 - Biomedical Research
        • BMSC 6136 - Biomedical Research
        b. Thesis - maximum of 6 s.h.
        • BMSC 7000 - Thesis
        c. Electives - 1 s.h.

        Electives must be approved by the program director and be at the 6000 or 7000 level.

        3. Neuroscience Concentration Degree Option - 39 s.h.

        The curriculum for students selecting the neuroscience concentration degree option is a minimum of 39 s.h. as follows:

          a. Core courses - minimum of 18 s.h.
          • BIOS 7021 - Biostatistics for Health Professionals I OR
          • PHAR 7777 - Practical Problems in Biometry

          • BMSC 6113 - Introduction to Biomedical Research
          • BMSC 6121 - Seminar in Biomedical Science (must take 4 times)
          • BMSC 6133 - Biomedical Research
          • HUMS 7004 - Ethics and Research
            • And select one of the following courses:
            • ANAT 7202 - Molecular Cell Biology
            • BIOC 7301 - Biochemistry I
            • MCBI 7410 - Molecular Cell Biology
            • PHAR 7609 - Introduction to Pharmacology
          b. Specialty courses - 9 s.h.
          • NEUR 7902 - Advanced Neuroscience
          • PHAR 7640 - Pharmacology of the Central Nervous System
          • PHLY 7703 - Graduate Neuroscience
          c. Thesis - maximum of 6 s.h.

          Thesis must be in the area of neuroscience.

          • BMSC 7000 - Thesis
          d. Electives - 6 s.h.

          Electives must be approved by the program director and be at the 6000 or 7000 level.

        For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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