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Bachelor of Science in Medical and Molecular Biology

Location: Boston
Start Term: Fall

As a medical and molecular biologist, you have the power to impact lives by conducting laboratory tests and experiments. This program allows you to gain a foundation in key laboratory knowledge and skills combined with practical real-world experience.

In this full-time, four-year program, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside professional experts in modern laboratories to perfect your laboratory skills and experimental techniques while progressively building an academic foundation in microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, and more. And you’ll graduate with the experience required to begin your career with confidence or to advance your education at the graduate level.

The mission of the Bachelor of Science in Medical and Molecular Biology program is to produce graduates who have the knowledge and skills for entry into careers in biotechnology, research and development, forensic science, clinical laboratory sciences, and graduate studies in biology, as well as entry into medical school and other health profession programs. The curriculum design provides a broad foundation in the sciences, a range of liberal arts courses, and a concentration in medical and molecular biology. Courses in this program provide foundational knowledge in biology, chemistry, molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics. Elective courses in biology allow students the freedom to tailor their program to their career interest, focusing either on the molecular/cellular aspects or the medical/physiological aspects of biology.

The following program goals were established in 2010:

  • Provide a new degree program for students who are interested in developing skills in molecular biotechnology.
  • Provide undergraduate education that would lead to careers in clinical laboratory sciences, biotechnology, forensic science, public health, graduate and professional education.
  • Demonstrate the value of integrating communication skills; experimental design and analysis; and scientific literacy to explore relationships of science to medicine and to problems of social, cultural and intellectual concern.
  • Provide an alternative major for students who do not continue in the Premedical and Health Studies Program.
  • Encourage purposeful and coordinated selection of elective credits.

Freshman applicants can view their admission requirements on the Undergraduate Applicants page.  

Students with 12 or more college credits may transfer in to the first or second year of the program. Courses must have been completed at a regionally accredited college or university with a grade of C or better for transfer. Math and science courses taken more than ten years prior to the anticipated date of matriculation to MCPHS will not be accepted.

While there are no specific required courses for entry into the first year of our program, the admission committee will look for success in any math and science courses you have already taken. If you complete any of the courses listed below, you may receive transfer credit and your first year course load may be lighter. However, due to the block registration nature of MCPHS programs, entering the first year of the program with transfer credits will not change the total length of your program. Courses, other than elective courses, may not be moved forward in your schedule.

Required Courses For Entry to Year II

  • General Biology I & II with lab (8 credits)
  • General Chemistry I & II with lab (8 credits)
  • Calculus I & II (8 credits)
  • American Culture, Identity, and Public Life (3 credits) (Acceptable substitutions include Introduction to Sociology or upper-level sociology course)
  • Expository Writing I & II (6 credits)

Additional Courses Accepted for Transfer Credit

  • Organic Chemistry I & II with lab (8 credits)
  • Molecular Biology (3 credits)
  • Microbiology with lab (4 credits)
  • Statistics (3 credits) (Acceptable substitutions include Basic Statistics, Biostatistics, Psychological Statistics, Economic Statistics)
  • Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)
  • Cultural Anthropology (3 credits)
  • Humanities elective (3 credits) (Acceptable courses include Literature, Creative Writing, Philosophy, Ethics, Religious Studies, Select Fine Arts, Advanced Level Languages)
  • General Elective (3 credits) (Acceptable courses include History, English, Fine Arts, Philosophy, Government, Ethics, Foreign Language, Psychology, Religious Studies, Anthropology, Communications, and Economics)

Year I-Fall

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS
BIO 150L Biology I: Laboratory 1
BIO 151 Biology I: Cell and Molecular Biology 3
CHE 131 Chemical Principles I (w/ lab) 4
FYS 101 First Year Seminar 1
LIB 111 Expository Writing I 3
MAT 151 Calculus I 3
TOTAL 15

Year I-Spring

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS
BIO 152 Biology II: Biology of Organisms (w/ lab) 4
CHE 132 Chemical Principles II (w/ lab) 4
LIB 112 Expository Writing II 3
LIB 133 American Culture, Identity and Public Life 3
MAT 152 Calculus II 3
TOTAL 17

Year II-Fall

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS
BIO 260 Molecular Biology 3
CHE 231/L Organic Chemistry I (w/ lab) 4
LIB 120 Introduction to Psychology 3
SSC 230 Cultural Anthropology 3
SSC 495 Evolution of the Health Professions 3
TOTAL 16

Year II-Spring

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS
BIO 255/L Medical Microbiology (w/ lab) 4
General elective 3
CHE 232/4L Organic Chemistry II (w/ lab) 4
MAT 261 Statistics 3
Humanities elective 3
TOTAL 17

Year III-Fall

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS
BIO 360 Cellular Biochemistry 4
LIB 220 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication for Health Professionals 3
PHY 270/2L Foundations of Physics I (w/ lab) 4
Humanities elective 3
Behavioral Sciences elective 3
TOTAL 17

Year III-Spring

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS
BIO 332 Genetics 3
LIB 512 Healthcare Ethics 3
Behavioral Sciences elective 3
General elective 3
Biology elective 3
TOTAL 15

Year IV-Fall

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS
BIO 420 Communication in the Biological Sciences 3
Biology elective 3
Biology elective 3
General elective 3
Liberal Arts elective 3
TOTAL 15
 

Year IV-Spring

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS
Biology elective 3
Biology elective 3
Biology elective 3
General elective 3
General elective 3
TOTAL 15
Total credits to complete degree requirements: 127 s.h. Students must complete six Biology electives: two from the Molecular and Cellular Biology Elective list, two from the Medical Biology Elective list, and two more from either list. Molecular and Cellular Biology Electives:
COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS
BIO 335L Experimental Techniques in Molecular Biology
BIO 405 Plagues of the Past, Present and Future
BIO 430 Molecular Biology of Cancer
BIO 434 Immunology
BIO 440 Cell Biology
BIO 455 Advanced Microbiology (w/ lab)
BIO 530 Undergraduate Research Project
PSB 440 Molecular Biotechnology
Development (COF)
Medical Biology Electives:
COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS
BEH 341 Biological Psychology
BIO 321O Nutrition Science
BIO 345 Exercise Physiology
BIO 110 Anatomy and Physiology I
BIO 210 Anatomy and Physiology II
BIO 445 Advanced Human Physiology
BIO 530 Undergraduate Research Project
MAT 461 Biostatistics
PSB 328 Physiology/Pathophysiology I
PSB 329 Physiology/Pathophysiology II
Endocrinology (COF)
Medical Neuroscience (COF)
Neurobiology (COF)
 

Our students learn from faculty who are leaders in their fields and are committed to the success of each student. Discover our full list of Medical and Molecular Biology faculty.