Biomedical Sciences
Program Features
Xavier's Biomedical Science program offers a strong liberal arts curriculum for students who want to become doctors, dentists, veterinarians or optometrists. Students gain concrete skills through biology, chemistry and physics courses while also taking classes in theology, philosophy and ethics.
Xavier students are accepted into medical school at a rate of 92%, compared to the national average of 40%.
Curriculum
The sample course sequence below illustrates class offerings for the Biomedical Sciences major. Consult the official Xavier University course catalog for detailed registration and advising information.
Fall
- Biology 160: General Biology I............ 3cr.
- Biology 161: General Biology I Lab............ 1cr.
- Chemistry 160: General Chemistry I............ 3cr.
- Chemistry 161: General Chemistry I Lab............ 1cr.
- Core 100: First-Year Seminar or Theo 111............ 3cr.
- Core 101: First-Year Co-Curriculum Program I............ 0cr.
- Math 140/170 or Math 156/171............ 3cr.
Spring
- Biology 162: General Biology II............ 3cr.
- Biology 163: General Biology II Lab............ 1cr.
- Chemistry 162: General Chemistry II............ 3cr.
- Chemistry 163: General Chemistry II Lab............ 1cr.
- Core 100: First-Year Seminar or Theo 111............ 0cr.
- Core 102: First-Year Co-Curriculum Program I............ 3cr.
- English 101: English Comp or English 115 Rhetoric............ 3cr.
- Math 140/170 or Math 156/171............ 3cr.
Fall
- Chemistry 240: Organic Chemistry I............ 3cr.
- Chemistry 241: Organic Chemistry I Lab............ 1cr.
- Physics 160: College Physics I............ 3cr.
- Physics 161: Introductory Physics I Lab............ 1cr.
- Philosophy 100: Ethics as an Intro to Phil............ 3cr.
- Second Language............ 3cr.
Spring
- Chemistry 242: Organic Chemistry II............ 3cr.
- Chemistry 243: Organic Chemistry II Lab............ 1cr.
- Physics 160: College Physics II............ 3cr.
- Physics 160: College Physics II Lab............ 1cr.
- Philosophy 200: Philosophical Perspectives Elective............ 3cr.
- Psychology 101: General Psychology............ 3cr.
- Second Language II............ 3cr.
Fall
- Biology 410: Human Physiology............ 3cr.
- Biology 411: Human Physiology Lab............ 2cr.
- Biology 440/ Chemistry 440: Biochemistry............ 3cr.
- Chemistry 220: Principles of Physical Chemistry............ 3cr.
- English 205: Lit & the Moral Imagination............ 3cr.
- Psychology 261: social-impact Psychology............ 3cr.
Spring
- Biology 230: Genetics............ 3cr.
- Biology 231: Genetics Lab............ 1cr.
- Biology 354: Human & Comparative Anatomy............ 3cr.
- Biology 355: Human & Comparative Anatomy Lab............ 2cr.
- Sociology 101 Introduction to Sociology (DCR)*............ 3cr.
- MCAT pre class (optional)............ 0cr.
Fall
- Biology or Chemistry Senior Capstone**............ 2cr.
- Historical Perspectives Elective............ 3cr.
- Humanities Elective............ 3cr.
- Creative Perspective Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- Theological Perspective............ 3cr.
Spring
- Biology or Chemistry Senior Capstone**............ 1cr.
- Biology 450: General Microbiology............ 3cr.
- Biology 451: General Microbiology Lav............ 2cr.
- Chemistry 435: Medicinal Chemistry............ 3cr.
- E/RS Focus Elective*............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
Sample Courses
Xavier is known for providing an education that's both challenging and personal. Here are some courses that are part of the Biomedical Sciences major at Xavier:
General Biology I (BIOL 160) - Principles of molecular, cellular, and organismal biology, emphasizing the physiology of vertebrates.
Genetics (BIOL 230) - Principles of heredity and molecular genetics.
General Chemistry I (CHEM 160) - This course is the first in a two semester sequence of general chemistry. This is a pre-professional course approved by the American Chemical Society for chemistry majors and required of many other science majors. Fundamental principles of chemistry including atomic and molecular structure, states of matter, stoichiometry, energy relationships, periodic table and solution chemistry. The following mathematical concepts are used: scientific notation, logarithms, the quadratic equation and proportionality.
College Physics I (PHYS 160) - An algebra-based approach to introductory physics for premedical, pre-dental and other students. Topics include mechanics, heat, and sound.
Clubs
Biology Club
Student events include hiking trips, Break Out Games, scavenger hunts and trips to the Cincinnati Zoo and Newport Aquarium.
Outcomes
97% of students from Xavier's STEM majors, including Biology, are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduating.
Top Jobs: Software Engineer, Actuarial Analyst, Associate Consultant, Chemist, Developer, Electrical Engineer, Research Engineer
Top Companies: Good Samaritan Hospital, The Christ Hospital, AT&T, 84.51, TBM Consulting, ScribeAmerica, GE Aviation
All for one
Get Accepted
Xavier students apply to medical and dental schools with a better chance of being accepted. Xavier students are accepted into medical school at a rate of 92% (2019 graduating class), compared to the national average of 40%.
Hands On
Xavier has 14 research laboratories equipped with compound and stereoscopic microscopes, models, specimens, and specialized equipment for the study of vertebrate physiology, plant biology, development, anatomy, genetics, and bacteriology.
Research Opportunties
With the help of faculty, students complete high-level research projects in labs that begin freshman year. Topics include paleobiology, ecology, bird behavior, entomology and genetics.
The Xavier Community’s All For One Spirit
Gary Massa reaches out to the Xavier Alumni community regarding the Coronavirus and what the University is doing.
Biomedical Sciences Major at Xavier University
The Biomedical Sciences major presents a liberal arts program with emphasis on those sciences required for an excellent background for subsequent studies in medicine, dentistry, and similar health professions.
Xavier University’s College of Arts and Sciences challenges students to develop an integrated understanding of humanity, the world, and God by pursuing the questions raised in Xavier's core and departmental curricula. The College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest and largest college at Xavier University. The college provides an excellent liberal arts education in the Jesuit tradition that prepares students for careers, professional or graduate school, and life in a global society.
Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."