2025-2026 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog

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Biomolecular Sciences, B.S.

Program is pending final approval by the Board of Regents.

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biomolecular Sciences offers a comprehensive curriculum focused on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying biological processes, integrated with organismal physiology. The program emphasizes hands-on learning through laboratory instruction and independent research. Graduates are well-prepared for careers in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and academic or clinical research. The degree also provides a strong foundation for students interested in pursuing further education in professional medical programs (e.g., medicine, physician assistant, pharmacy, dentistry, or veterinary school) or advanced degrees (MS or PhD) in molecular biology, cell biology, and related fields

Outcomes

1. Biomolecular Sciences majors will be able to demonstrate foundational knowledge in Biomolecular science, including an understanding of:

- The relationship between the properties of macromolecules and cellular activities

- The relationship between cellular activities and biological responses

- Cell metabolism, chemical composition, physiochemical and functional organization of organelles

- Gene replication, expression, regulation and mutation

- Cell signaling, trafficking and differentiation

- Contemporary approaches and techniques used in modern cell and molecular biology-

2. Biomolecular Sciences majors will be able to evaluate, summarize and critique papers from the scientific literature.

3. Biomolecular Sciences majors will be able to develop a research question and discuss and evaluate approaches to address that question.

4. Biomolecular Sciences majors will be able to design and conduct a research project under the guidance of a faculty member, including data collection, evaluation, and presentation in an oral or written format.

Biomolecular Sciences (BMS) Major Requirements

  • The Biomolecular Science (BMS) BS degree begins with the Biomolecular Sciences Core courses.
  • Students then choose one of three pathways:
  1. BMS General Program: Offers the greatest flexibility in course selection.
  2. BMS for Medical Careers Specialization: Includes essential prerequisites for students intending to apply to post-graduate programs in medicine (including physicians and physician assistants), dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and nursing through accelerated programs.
  3. BMS for Research Specialization: Emphasizes hands-on research experience, preparing students for careers in biomedical research and for further studies at the master’s and doctoral levels.
  • In addition to the core courses and specializations, all students must complete a set of Related Requirements in Math, Chemistry, and Physics.

Biomolecular Sciences Core Requirements (10 credits)

These courses are taken by all students in the Biomolecular Sciences Program (General Program, BMS for Medical Careers, BMS for Research) and serve as prerequisites for the upper-level courses.

BMS 102Intro to Biomolecular Sciences

3
BMS 103Intro to Biomolecular Sci Lab

1
BMS 190Friday Seminar in Biomolecular Sciences I

.5
BMS 290Friday Seminar in Biomolecular Sciences II

.5
BMS 201Prin Cell/Molecular Biology

4
BMS 390Independent Research in Biomolecular Science

1

BIO 121 may be substituted for BMS 102/BMS 103.

1. BMS General Program (25 credits)

Students in the BMS General Program complete the Biomolecular Sciences Core Requirements, General Program Directed Electives, General Program Electives, and BMS Related Requirements.

BMS General Program Directed Electives

General Program students will select courses totaling 12 credits from the following list:

BMS 306Genetics

3
BMS 308Genetics Laboratory

1
BMS 307Genomics

4
BMS 311Cell Biology

4
BMS 316Microbiology

4
BMS 362Developmental Biology

3
BMS 363Developmental Biology Laboratory

1
BMS General Program Electives

Students in the BMS General Program will take 13 credits of elective courses in Biomolecular Sciences. All BMS courses at the 300 level or above may be elective courses. Chem 354 may also count towards the elective category if Chem 212 is used in the Related Requirements category. BMS 380: 3 credits only of this 6-credit course count towards BMS electives.

2. BMS for Medical Careers Specialization

The BMS for Medical Careers Specialization provides students with the courses required to apply for programs in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, accelerated nursing, and other health careers. Students in the BMS for Medical Careers Specialization complete the Biomolecular Sciences Core Requirements, BMS for Medical Careers Requirements, and the BMS Related Requirements.

BMS for Medical Careers Requirements (24-28 credits)

Students will take courses in each of the following categories: Genetics/Genomics, Microbiology, Cell/Developmental Biology, Physiology, Statistics/Physics, and elective.

Students will select courses from each category in consultation with their advisor.

Genetics/Genomics

BMS 306Genetics

3
and
BMS 308Genetics Laboratory

1
or
BMS 307Genomics

4

Microbiology

BMS 316Microbiology

4
or
BMS 216Microbiology for Nursing

3
and
BMS 217Microbiology for Nursing Lab

1

Cell/Developmental Biology

BMS 311Cell Biology

4
or
BMS 362Developmental Biology

3
and
BMS 363Developmental Biology Laboratory

1

Physiology

Many health career graduate programs require two courses in Anatomy and Physiology. Others prefer a single semester of Human Physiology. Consult with your BMS advisor when selecting physiology courses.

BMS 318/BIO 318Anatomy and Physiology I

4
or
BMS 412/BIO 412Human Physiology

3
and
BMS 413/BIO 413Human Physiology Laboratory

1
BMS 319/BIO 319Anatomy and Physiology II

4
or
BMS 490Topics in Biomolecular Sciences

1 to 4

Statistics or Physics

Students should select an additional physics course or a statistics course in consultation with their BMS advisor. Your course selection will depend the type of medical program you plan to pursue.


STAT 104Elementary Statistics

3
or
PHYS 122General Physics II

4
or
PHYS 126University Physics II

4

BMS for Medical Careers Elective

All BMS courses at the 300 level or above may be elective courses. Chem 354 may also count towards the elective category if Chem 212/213 is used in the Related Requirements category. BMS 380: 3 credits only of this 6-credit course count towards BMS electives.

3. BMS for Research Specialization

The BMS for Research Specialization provides students with extensive hands-on laboratory research experience. Students in the BMS for Research Specialization complete the Biomolecular Sciences Core Requirements, the BMS for Research Requirements, the BMS for Research Directed Electives, and the BMS Related Requirements.

BMS for Research Requirements (25 credits)

BMS for Research Directed Electives

BMS for Research students will select courses totaling 12 credits from the following list:

BMS 306Genetics

3
BMS 308Genetics Laboratory

1
BMS 307Genomics

4
BMS 311Cell Biology

4
BMS 316Microbiology

4
BMS 362Developmental Biology

3
BMS 363Developmental Biology Laboratory

1
Advanced Independent Research
BMS 491Advanced Independent Research in Biomolecular Science

1-3
Laboratory Skills

Students select courses totaling 4 credits from the following list:

BMS 421Experimental Developmental Biology

2
BMS 340Biomolecular Techniques

2
BMS 417Experimental Microbiology

2
BMS 420Cell Biological Techniques

2
BMS for Research Electives

Students in the BMS for Research Specialization will take 8 credits of elective courses. Additional courses from the directed electives list may be used as electives once the 12-credit Directed Elective Requirement is fulfilled. Additional credits of Advanced Independent Research (BMS 491) may be used as Electives.

BMS 411Molecular and Cellular Immunology

3
BMS 430Virology

3
BMS 450Epigenetics of Clinical and Model Systems

3
BMS 460/BMS 560Pharmacogenetics

3
BMS 490Topics in Biomolecular Sciences

1 to 4
BMS 492Mentorship in Biomolecular Science

1
BMS 495Capstone in Molecular Biology

4
BMS 496Capstone in Cellular Metabolism and Energetics

3
BMS 499Undergraduate Thesis in Biomolecular Sciences

1
CHEM 354Foundations of Biochemistry

3
BMS 418Medical Microbiology

3
BMS 462Topics in Developmental Biology

3

Biochemistry (CHEM 354) can be used as an elective if a student takes Organic II (CHEM 212) to satisfy their Related Requirement

Related Requirements

All Biomolecular Sciences students (BMS General Program, BMS for Medical Careers, BMS for Research) are required to complete the following courses in Math, Chemistry, and Physics.

MATH 115Trigonometry

3
or
MATH 119Pre-Calculus with Trigonometry

4
MATH 125Applied Calculus

3
or
MATH 152Calculus I

4
CHEM 161General Chemistry

3
CHEM 162General Chemistry Laboratory

1
CHEM 200Fndtns of Analytical Chemistry

3
CHEM 201Fndtns of Analytical Chem Lab

1
CHEM 210Organic I - Foundations

3
CHEM 211Organic I Lab - Foundations

1
CHEM 212Organic Synthesis

3
or
CHEM 354Foundations of Biochemistry

3
PHYS 121General Physics I

4

Students should consult with their BMS advisor if they are considering applying to graduate programs in the health sciences. Some programs may require additional semesters of physics (PHYS 122 or PHYS12) and/or chemistry (CHEM 212/213 AND CHEM 354).

Accelerate Central BS MS Biomolecular Sciences

Eligibility

Eligible students can apply for admission to the Accelerate Central B.S. / M.S. Program in Biomolecular Sciences during their junior year of study. Full time students may be able to complete a B.S. and M.S. in Biomolecular Sciences in as few as five years on a full-time basis. For accepted students, up to 8 credits of graduate courses will replace up to 8 credits in the B.S. Biomolecular Sciences Program. In addition, up to 8 credits of graduate courses may be taken before matriculation as a graduate student; these 8 credits will be excluded from the student’s B.S. program and transferred into the student’s M.S. program.

Students typically apply during their junior year of study and must meet the requirements specified below:

· have at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average, either overall or in the most recent 60 credits.

· have completed 60 earned credit hours by the end of the Fall semester of their junior year. At least 12 credits must have been earned at CCSU.

· Have completed BMS 201 and two other upper level BMS courses at CCSU with grades of C or higher.

Students who are accepted into Accelerate Central B.S. / M.S. Program in Biomolecular Sciences will officially matriculate into the School of Graduate Studies the semester immediately following conferral of their Bachelor’s degree, even if they have already taken graduate-level courses while completing their Bachelor’s degree. Students wishing to defer their graduate studies must notify Graduate Admissions of this decision prior to the start of the term following the conferral of their bachelor’s degree.

How to Apply

Students will submit Change of Major form and a narrative statement (about 500 words) describing their academic and career goals, and their reasons for entering this graduate program to their undergraduate advisor. The documents will go through the proper parties for review and approval, including the Graduate Program Director. Once the form has been approved by all required parties, the Registrar’s Office will change the student’s undergraduate curriculum to note the Accelerate Central program.

Total Credit Hours: 35