Master of Biomedical Sciences Program in Downers Grove

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Fast Facts

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Degree

Master of Biomedical Sciences (M.B.S.)

General Requirements

Bachelor's degree
Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
GRE General Test scores or Professional Exam Scores

Length of Program

21-24 months, full-time; begins fall quarter only

Class Size

2012 Class Profiles (Class of 2014)

Female: 34%
Male: 66%
Average Age: 24
Average Overall GPA: 3.26
Class Size: 32
Top Home States: Illinois (47%), Wisconsin, Minnesota

Graduation Rate

63% of students matriculating in the class of 2012 graduated from the program
77% of matriculants either graduated or left the program to attend a professional program

Postgraduate Education Opportunities

Medical, Dental, Pharmacy, Physician Assistant, Optometry and Podiatry School
Ph.D. Programs in the sciences

Career Opportunities

Research technicians
Governmental and regulatory agencies
Pharmaceutical laboratories
Teaching

MWU Outcomes (Class of 2012)

71% of matriculants were accepted into professional programs (Ph.D., medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physician assistant, optometry, podiatry or physical therapy), or were offered a research job in academia or industry

US Employment Projections

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the 2010-2011 occupational outlook report suggests the biomedical scientist employment is expected "to increase 40 percent over the 2008-18 decade, much faster than the average for all occupations".
Employment of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians is expected to grow by 15% by 2020
Employment of biological scientists is expected to grow by 31% by 2020
Employment of medical scientists is expected to grow by 36% by 2020
Employment of science technicians is expected to grow by 14% by 2020

Median Salary (2011)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor (BLS) Statistics: $39, 020 (Biological Technician) - $76, 700 (Medical Scientist)¹

¹http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2012/spring/art02.pdf

Admission Requirements

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To be considered for admission to the Master of Biomedical Sciences Program, an applicant must have:

A bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale.
Test scores less than five years old from either:
- Graduate Record Examination general test (GRE) using the institutional code for Midwestern University of 1769. Contact Educational Testing Services (ETS) at 866/473-4373 or visit www.ets.org/gre.
  OR
- Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores. Contact the MCAT Program Office at 202/828-0690 or visit www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat.
  OR
- Dental Admission Test (DAT) scores. Contact the American Dental Association (ADA) at 312/440-2500 or visit www.ada.org.
  OR
- Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) scores. Contact Harcourt Assessment, Inc. (also known as Pearson) at 800/627-7271 or visit www.pcatweb.info.
  OR
- Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) scores. Contact Optometry Admission Testing Program at 800/232-2159 or www.opted.org.
Two letters of recommendation (or one committee letter).
Official transcripts from each college or university attended.
Commitment to abide by the Midwestern University Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy.
Passage of the Midwestern University criminal background check.

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Program Description

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The Master of Biomedical Sciences Program is a full-time, graduate level program that provides the student with a broad background in the biomedical sciences, laboratory experiences, and research skills. Successful completion of the program leads to a Master of Biomedical Sciences degree. The curriculum is designed to prepare and graduate students who have extensive knowledge, technical skills, and expertise to function in a variety of biomedical professions. These include careers in areas such as technicians and supervisors in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, research personnel in biomedical sciences laboratories, employees in governmental and regulatory agencies, and undergraduate teaching. In addition, the curriculum will make the successful student a competitive candidate for admission to postbaccalaureate professional schools offering degrees in the health sciences.

The 72 quarter-hour curriculum typically is completed in 21 months. Students who need more than 21 months to complete the program will be required to enroll in a thesis continuation course. Students must complete the program within four years of matriculation, excepting approved leaves of absence. All students are required to complete a research project approved by the student's thesis committee. The required curriculum includes six basic science courses, but allows the student to choose areas of emphasis, such as physiology, pharmacology, microbiology and immunology, or biochemistry. In addition to the basic science courses, the students must take a series of research courses that prepare the student for a research project and thesis that is the culmination of the degree program. The research courses include Research Design and Methodology, Principles of Biostatistics, Literature Review, Professional Development, Advanced Topics, Seminar in Biomedical Sciences, Fundamentals of Research, Ethics of Research and Experimentation, Thesis Proposal, Laboratory Research, and Thesis. A series of electives and independent studies are available to complete the 72 quarter-hour requirement. The electives allow students to further specify an area of interest to better prepare them for a career in their chosen field. A dual degree option is available to students who are accepted into another professional program.

The Master of Biomedical Sciences program will also benefit students who wish to improve their credentials for application to medical school or other health professions programs. The Master of Biomedical Sciences Program allows students to demonstrate their ability to perform at a graduate level, improve their GPA, better prepare for the professional undergraduate coursework.

NOTE: Transferring between degree programs is prohibited. MBS students who leave after their first year will not be granted an MA degree. MA students who do not get accepted into a professional program after the first year cannot "stay on" for a second year and get the MBS degree.

Program Strengths

Opportunities to do research with Medical School faculty
Opportunities to present research at local and national conferences
Opportunities to submit grant applications
Opportunities to write publications for peer-reviewed scientific journals

Mission

The Midwestern University Master of Biomedical Sciences Program provides students with an in-depth education in the biomedical sciences and a significant experience in laboratory research.

Planned Program Improvements

A new Medical Microbiology course with laboratory (MICR 0580)
A new Molecular Immunology course (MICR 0599)

Accreditation

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Midwestern University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission/A Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC/NCA), 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1413.