University of Central Florida Biomedical Sciences Program: An Overview

The University of Central Florida (UCF) stands as a comprehensive research institution, boasting a diverse student body of over 69,500 individuals representing all 50 states and 149 countries. As one of the nation's fastest-growing and largest universities, UCF provides a wide array of educational and research programs that bolster the economy, featuring robust components in engineering, business, education, science, film, health, nursing, social sciences, and hospitality management. The university's programs in communication and fine arts further enrich the cultural and recreational landscape of the growing metropolitan area. In addition to undergraduate offerings, UCF provides an extensive range of graduate programs culminating in master's and doctoral degrees.

UCF has cultivated strong partnerships with businesses and industries in Central Florida and beyond, affording students exceptional research and learning opportunities. These collaborations introduce practical learning environments to students through cooperative education and internship programs, with joint curriculum development strategies implemented across the university.

Academic Programs and Opportunities

The University of Central Florida offers an extensive range of degree programs, including Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Education, Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Social Work, and Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences. UCF distinguishes itself by "having one of the largest student bodies in the country" and features "nearly every class or degree imaginable."

One of the ways in which UCF accommodates so many students is with a mix of in-person and remote learning options. These degrees are available in the colleges listed below, with majors or areas of specialization as indicated. The College of Arts and Humanities offers degrees in art, architecture, emerging media, English, French and Francophone Studies, history, humanities and cultural studies, Latin American Studies, music, music education, philosophy, photography, religion and cultural studies, Spanish, studio art, theatre, theatre studies, and writing and rhetoric. The College of Business Administration offers degrees in accounting, business economics, economics, finance, integrated business, management, real estate and marketing. The College of Community Innovation and Education offers degrees in criminal justice, early childhood development and education, elementary education, emergency management, exceptional student education, health informatics and information management, health services administration, legal studies, nonprofit management, public administration, secondary education, teacher education, and technical education and industry training. The College of Engineering and Computer Science offers degrees in aerospace engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, construction engineering, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, industrial engineering, information technology and mechanical engineering. The College of Health Professions and Sciences offers degrees in communication sciences and disorders, health sciences, kinesiology, and social work. The College of Medicine and the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences offers degrees in biotechnology, medical laboratory sciences, and biomedical sciences. The College of Nursing offers degrees in nursing. The College of Optics and Photonics offers degrees in photonic science and engineering. The College of Sciences offers degrees in actuarial science, anthropology, biology, chemistry, forensic science, international and global studies, mathematics, physics, political science, psychology, social sciences, sociology, and statistics. The College of Undergraduate Studies offers degrees in environmental studies, integrative general studies, and interdisciplinary studies. The Rosen College of Hospitality Management offers degrees in hospitality management, event management, entertainment management, restaurant and foodservice management, and senior living management. The Nicholson School of Communication and Media offers degrees in advertising/public relations, communication and conflict, digital media, film, human communication, journalism, radio/television. Pre-professional programs are offered in chiropractic, medicine (allopathic medicine (M.D.) and osteopathic medicine (D.O.)), occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physician assistant, physical therapy, podiatry, public health, dentistry, veterinary and law.

Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences Undergraduate Programs

The Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences provides comprehensive yet flexible undergraduate programs that offer excellent preparation for graduate education in the life sciences, professional degree programs, or specialized skill sets in medical laboratory sciences. The school's undergraduate advisors offer guidance on programs and assist with navigating a successful collegiate career. Students can also conduct undergraduate research with faculty and clinical internships through the school’s partnerships in Central Florida.

The Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences undergraduate programs offers five Bachelor’s degree and one track option:

Biomedical Sciences B.S.: This multi-disciplinary degree combines core courses in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, and Biochemistry alongside a broad array of elective courses. It is rooted in core courses in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Immunology.
Molecular Microbiology B.S.: Tailored for students with a strong interest in infectious disease.
Molecular and Cellular Biology B.S.: Designed for students with a strong interest in cell biology and the mechanisms that underlie human diseases.
Biotechnology B.S.: This program produces highly trained workers to meet the workforce needs of the biotechnology industry in Florida and beyond.
Medical Laboratory Sciences B.S.: Upon graduation and successful licensure, the technologist must possess skills and demonstrate the ability to interpret quality control and patient data, problem solve, teach, and manage in a laboratory setting.
Pre-medical track in Biomedical Science: This track shares the same common core pre-requisites and core course requirements as the Biomedical Science degree. However the track requires the SLS 2311 Selected Medical Careers course, ZOO 3733C Human Anatomy, PCB 3703C Human Physiology and we also strongly encourage other specific electives that can help student best prepare for application to medical schools.

Biomedical Sciences B.S. Program: A Closer Look

Offering a wide range of courses in the biomedical sciences, this program provides you with an opportunity to build a strong background in subjects such as anatomy, molecular biology, cell biology, neurobiology, physiology, microbiology, and immunology. You will learn the basic and functional anatomy in a clinically oriented way to study systems within the human body. The lab component of this honors course provides enrichment and an opportunity to view cadaver specimens.

During your time at UCF, you can join one of the several biomedical science student organizations or work with faculty on directed research. Biomedical science key research divisions include cancer, cardiovascular, immunity and pathogenesis, neuroscience, and molecular microbiology.

Career Prospects: Occupations in biomedical sciences are projected to grow more than 11% through 2029. The median earnings for biomedical sciences graduates is $89,000.

Biomedical Sciences, M.S.

The Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences program is a nonthesis program for students who wish to further their knowledge in the field and prepare for professional careers in medical fields, higher education, and research. Students interested in research and thesis work should apply to the Master of Science in Biotechnology program. This degree has MS Biomedical Sciences (no track) and 5 tracks: Cancer Biology Track, Infectious Disease Track, Integrated Medical Sciences Track, Metabolic and Cardiovascular Sciences Track, and Neuroscience Track. Students interested in online program should be applying to MS Biomedical Sciences-no track. Students interested in in courses taught in person or mix-mode should be applying to any of the MS Biomedical Sciences 5 tracks.

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Biomedical Sciences Ph.D.

Our program offers students an opportunity to study in-depth the molecular processes found in both normal and pathological disease states, disease intervention, and gene therapy. The Burnett Biomedical Sciences building at the UCF Health Sciences Lake Nona Campus opened in Fall 2009. This 198,000 square foot building is five stories of state-of-the-art equipment and has space for our research teams headed by 19 faculty members.

The curriculum of the Biomedical PhD program is continuously adapting to rapid changes in technology, science, ongoing research, public health, and evolving genetic discoveries. All students are required to complete the online Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI), Responsible Conduct of Research training and four face-to-face ethics/RCR workshops coordinated by the UCF College of Graduate Studies and the Office of Research and Commercialization. First year students prior to their laboratory rotation are required to complete laboratory safety, radiation safety, biosafety, and blood borne pathogen courses.

The program requires 23 credit hours of core courses, 12 credit hours of elective courses, and a minimum of 15 credit hours of dissertation research. The remaining 22 credit hours may consist of additional electives, doctoral research and/or dissertation research.

Partnership with Valencia College

UCF has partnered with Valencia College to offer the B.S. in Biomedical Sciences at the UCF-Valencia Osceola campus in Kissimmee. Students will take their four years of courses at the UCF-Valencia Osceola campus in Kissimmee. The first two years will be taught by Valencia faculty; the last two will be taught by faculty from the College of Medicine’s Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences who will travel to Osceola.

Admission Information

Freshman Admission

A freshman applicant is a student with fewer than 12 hours of college coursework after high school graduation. The most important criteria in the admission decision for these applicants is the high school academic record, rigor of coursework, grade point average, grade trends, and SAT I or ACT test scores. UCF operates on a rolling admission basis. Students are generally notified of their initial admission decision within two to three weeks after receipt of the application and all supporting documents. If the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number that the university is permitted to enroll, a waiting list will be established.

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All applicants must have earned a minimum of 18 high school academic units (yearlong courses that are not remedial in nature). These include 4 units of English (3 must include substantial writing), 4 units of mathematics at or above algebra I, 3 units of natural science (2 must include a laboratory), 3 units of social science, 2 units of one world language, and 2 units of academic electives. Grades in honors courses, International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, AICE and dual enrollment courses are given additional weight in the GPA computation. Students must meet the Florida Board of Governors minimum eligibility to be considered for admission. Applicants should understand that the satisfaction of minimum requirements does not automatically guarantee admission to UCF.

Transfer Admission

Admission requirements for Transfer applicants vary by the number of college credit hours the student has successfully completed prior to enrolling at UCF. A transfer credit summary evaluation is provided to students once they are offered admission to UCF.

Application Deadlines

Students are encouraged to apply several months in advance. It is recommended that freshman students apply early during the fall semester of their senior year. Applications are accepted up to one year prior to the start of the term for which entry is desired. Priority application deadlines are May 1 for the fall term (July 1 for transfers), November 1 for the spring term, and March 1 for the summer term.

Student Life and Campus Environment

UCF offers a vibrant campus life with a wide array of activities and organizations to suit diverse interests. Students participate in over 650 organizations, including special interest clubs, multicultural associations, fraternities and sororities, honor societies, and academic and pre-professional organizations. The Office of Student Involvement schedules a wide array of extracurricular programs, including concerts, movies, and guest speakers.

The innovative LEAD Scholars Academy fosters leadership and service commitment through a comprehensive student development program for freshman. The Major Exploration Program (MEP) helps entering freshmen define their career goals and develop an academic strategy to reach their goals. UCF offers Air Force and Army ROTC programs.

UCF is a member of the NCAA and the American Athletic Conference. All teams compete on the NCAA Division 1 Level. UCF's men's teams compete in intercollegiate baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, and tennis. Women's teams compete in basketball, cross-country, golf, rowing, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. Intercollegiate coed club activities include championship cheerleading, crew, and waterskiing teams. The university offers an extensive intramural sports program.

The university provides housing for approximately 12,140 students on campus and through affiliated housing. The on-campus and campus-affiliated housing facilities include traditional residence halls, apartment-style options, and Greek housing.

Campus Features

UCF's 1,415-acre Main Campus in East Orlando provides a safe and serene setting for learning, with natural lakes and woodlands. Other campuses include the Rosen College of Hospitality Management Campus, UCF Downtown Campus, and the Health Sciences Campus.

The library houses over 1.8 million print volumes and subscribes to more than 50,000 periodicals and journals (49,000 in electronic format). Students have access to an online computer catalog that provides information on the collections of the State University System libraries. An extensive online network of more than 500 computer PC's, laptops and iPads cover the campus.

The Institute for Simulation and Training gives students the opportunity to pursue undergraduate research. The College of Optics and Photonics allows faculty members and students to work directly with industrial personnel in conducting basic and applied research at the regional and national level. The Central Florida Research Park, located next to the UCF campus, houses more than 145 high-technology firms and agencies with approximately 10,000 employees. This proximity fosters relationships between industry and the University, which strengthens the academic programs at UCF. Career Services and Experiential Learning provides comprehensive and coordinated career development, enhances academic study, and builds ongoing partnerships with employers and the community. UCF is a participant in the National Student Exchange Consortium.

Transportation

The University of Central Florida shuttle services provides transportation from designated pick-up/drop-off areas within the residential communities, as well as designated stops on campus. In addition, shuttle transportation is also provided to local grocery stores and a nearby shopping center. Shuttles are accessible to riders with disabilities. Monday through Thursdays. On Fridays, shuttles end services at 8:00 pm. Service is also provided to the Health Sciences Campus, Downtown campus, and Rosen School of Hospitality Management. A valid UCF issued ID card is required prior to boarding the UCF shuttles. LYNX is the public transportation provider for Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties, offering a variety of transportation programs including a route t…

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