The non-thesis Integrated Medical Sciences Track in the Biomedical Sciences MS program is designed to prepare students for acceptance into medical, dental, osteopathic, and/or other related professional schools of their choice by providing them with an opportunity to take two first-year medical school courses with the medical students in combination with graduate courses in biomedical sciences. In addition, the IMS track also serves as a potential off-ramping MS degree option for UCF medical students who have successfully completed 1.5 or more years of medical school at UCF but have discontinued the MD program for personal or other non-academic/non-disciplinary reasons. The off-ramping option is only open to UCF medical students.
Track Prerequisites
A bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences or related area.
Applicants who hold a BS degree in unrelated fields are expected to have the equivalent of 16 semester hours in biological sciences including a course in general microbiology, biochemistry or molecular biology or cell biology, plus one year of organic chemistry, one year of physics, basic university mathematics and statistics, and laboratory skills equivalent to the minimum required of our own undergraduates. Minor deficiencies may be remedied after acceptance by enrollment at the first opportunity in an appropriate course.
Degree Requirements
Required Courses
18 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- BMS6001 - Cellular Function and Medical Genetics (5)
- BMS6006 - Health and Disease (5)
Student take one of the following four options- Complete 1 of the following
Option 1- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- PCB5834C - Advanced Human Physiology (4)
- PCB5709C - Laboratory Virtual Simulations in Physiology (3)
- Earn at least 1 credits from the following types of courses: MCB 6938 - Seminar 1 Credit Hour or IDS 7680 - Seminar 1 Credit Hour
Option 2- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- PHT6115C - Gross Anatomy/Neuroscience I (6)
- Earn at least 2 credits from the following types of courses: MCB 6938 - Seminar 1 Credit Hour (can be repeated by all students) or IDS 7680 - Seminar 1 Credit Hour (can be repeated by all students)
Option 3- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- BSC5665 - Clinical Embryology and Congenital Malformations (3)
- ZOO5758C - Vertebrate Histology (4)
- Earn at least 1 credits from the following types of courses: MCB 6938 - Seminar 1 Credit Hour or IDS 7680 - Seminar 1 Credit Hour
Option 4 - Complete all of the following
- Earn at least 7 credits from the following:
- BMS6002 - Structure and Function (11)
- Earn at least 1 credits from the following:
Elective Courses
12 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
Biomedical Specialization- Complete all of the following
- Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
- MCB5225 - Molecular Biology of Disease (3)
- MCB6226 - Molecular Diagnostics (3)
- PCB5238 - Immunobiology (3)
- PCB5238 - Immunobiology (3)
- PCB5265 - Stem Cell Biology (3)
- PCB5275 - Signal Transduction Mechanics (3)
- PCB5527 - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (3)
- PCB5709C - Laboratory Virtual Simulations in Physiology (3)
- PCB6815 - Molecular Aspects of Obesity, Diabetes and Metabolism (3)
- PCB5834C - Advanced Human Physiology (4)
- IDS5127 - Foundation of Bio-Imaging Science (3)
- BSC5418 - Tissue Engineering (3)
- GEB5516 - Technological Entrepreneurship (3)
- ZOO5748C - Clinical Neuroanatomy (5)
- ZOO5749C - Clinical Neuroscience (5)
- BMS6636 - Brain and Behavior (6)
- BMS6633 - Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Systems (5)
- BMS6631 - Hematology and Oncology (4)
- Other courses may be substituted with approval by the graduate committee. Please note that courses with the "BMS" prefix from this list are medical courses that can only be applied for students who have completed those while in medical school at UCF and wish to apply them towards an MS degree via the IMS track in lieu of the MD degree (i.e., the courses can only be used toward IMS or MD, but not both),
Microbiology Specialization- Complete all of the following
- Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
- MCB5205 - Infectious Processes (3)
- MCB5505 - Molecular Virology (3)
- MCB5208 - Cellular Microbiology: Host-Pathogen Interactions (3)
- MCB5654 - Applied Microbiology (3)
- MCB6417C - Microbial Metabolism (3)
- MCB5932 - Current Topics in Molecular Biology (1 - 99)
- MCB5415 - Cellular Metabolism (3)
- MCB5209 - Microbial Stress Response (3)
- PCB5235 - Molecular Immunology (3)
- BMS6634 - Gastrointestinal and Renal Systems (5)
- BMS6635 - Skin and Musculoskeletal Systems (4)
- BMS6632 - Endocrine and Reproductive Systems (5)
- Other courses may be substituted with approval by the graduate committee. Please note that courses with the "BMS" prefix from this list are medical courses that can only be applied for students who have completed those while in medical school at UCF and wish to apply them towards an MS degree via the IMS track in lieu of the MD degree (i.e., the courses can only be used toward IMS or MD, but not both),
Capstone
3 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
- MCB6026 - Molecular Biology and Microbiology Capstone (3)
- BMS6910 - Focused Inquiry and Research Experience (5)
- The Capstone Project for the IMS Track is customizable based on student needs. Options include the following: Scholarly in-depth literature review in biomedical and/or clinical sciences (report required) Physician-Shadowing Experience (report required) Service-Learning/Volunteer Work Experience (report required) Laboratory Research (report required) Other (must be pre-approved by the program coordinator/director) (report required)
The Capstone Process- Students are encouraged to contact faculty as early as possible to identify a faculty whose research focus complements the student's interest. The student and the mentor should select one additional faculty member to serve on the capstone evaluation committee. Students must submit a signed Capstone Committee and Capstone Topic form to the Program Coordinator for approval as soon as the registration for the course is complete. These forms must be submitted to the Program Office. When the student is ready to defend the Capstone project the student must register for the capstone course (MCB 6026) for three credit hours. It is important that the student register for the capstone course with the intention of completing the project at the end of the semester.
The Capstone Report- Evaluation of the capstone project requires a written report (in the format of a mini-review manuscript) and a presentation (project defense) in front of the capstone committee. Students may ask for advice and guidance from the project mentor/chair. The average capstone report ranges from 10 to 15 single-spaced pages in a manuscript format with proper citations. The student's Committee Chair will be responsible for checking the report for plagiarism using iThenticate before the report is shared with the committee. The committee must receive the report at least one week before the time of presentation.
The Capstone Defense- Note: The defense (presentation) must be held no later than one week before the final exam week. The capstone defense and comprehensive exam evaluation is designed to assess the student's knowledge and understanding of the project and other relevant subjects in the field. Questions asked by the capstone committee to evaluate the student as competent in the field will satisfy the requirement of the comprehensive exam. The oral presentation will take place in the form of a 30-40 minute seminar and will be followed by questions and discussion. The student will be evaluated on performance in all three sections (written report, oral presentation, and ability to answer questions). Should the student fail, a second opportunity will be provided within two weeks of the first attempt. A second failure will result in an Unsatisfactory (U) grade in the course and dismissal from the program.
Comprehensive Exam
0 Total Credits
- Students must pass an oral comprehensive exam to qualify for the Master of Science. The oral comprehensive exam tests the student's understanding of the basic concepts in the field and relevant applications. The comprehensive exam will be conducted during the capstone defense and will be administered by the capstone committee. Should the student fail this exam, a second opportunity will be provided within two weeks of the first attempt. A second failure will result in dismissal from the program.
Teaching Requirement
0 Total Credits
- Students without significant prior teaching experience, such as, but not limited to, a minimum of a year in secondary schools or colleges, are required to serve as Classroom Laboratory Teaching Assistants for a minimum of one semester (one semester in at least one lab section).
Research Shadowing (Optional)
0 Total Credits
- Students are encouraged to discuss with their capstone mentor the possibility of joining the lab for research shadowing of other graduate students. Acquired lab skills should assist students with the capstone project and with future endeavors.
Independent Learning
0 Total Credits
- In the final semester of study, students will complete a capstone course that requires an in-depth current literature research report on a relevant subject, which will serve as the independent learning experience. The student will select a faculty adviser to chair a faculty committee of two members for evaluation of the report.
Grand Total Credits: 33
Application Requirements
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Nonthesis students are not considered for departmental graduate assistantships or tuition assistance.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
