Biomedical Health Sciences

Purdue University in West Lafayette

Biomedical health sciences is designed to prepare students for entry into professional and graduate schools, as well as other careers in the wide arena of healthcare and biomedical sciences. Building a solid foundation in the biomedical health sciences prepares our undergraduates for the challenges of pursuing a career in the diverse and ever-changing industry of healthcare and health science.

Due to the thoughtful design of our curriculum, students take similar coursework the first two years of enrollment, allowing the flexibility of switching from one pre-professional concentration to another. The most outstanding feature of this degree is that the course requirements for entry into professional or graduate school are incorporated into the plans of study, resulting in no extra coursework for our undergraduates.

Students in the School of Health Sciences often pursue undergraduate research in areas such as toxicology, cancer treatment and prevention, Parkinson’s disease, neurodegenerative disorders, heavy metals, health physics, medical imaging and occupational and environmental health. Students can also participate in an undergraduate honors program, with the ability to potentially conduct research as early as the first year. All students complete HSCI 10100, Introduction to Health Professions, in the first semester. During this course, students have the opportunity to explore careers across the allied health professions and to hear from practicing health professionals to gain an introduction to the numerous opportunities within the healthcare industry.

Students pursuing this major are eligible to apply for the accelerated five-year Master of Public Health (MPH) program as a junior.

Pre-professional concentrations include interdisciplinary health sciences, pre-dentistry, pre-medicine, pre-optometry, and pre-physician assistant.

School of Health Sciences Honors Program
Students admitted to biomedical health sciences may have the opportunity to participate in the School of Health and Sciences Honors Program, a program that promotes and supports honors research for high-achieving students.