Click here to see the Biomedical Sciences section of the 2010-2011 JCHS Catalog.

If you are interested in a career in health care, but are undecided about which field you are most interested in, a bachelor of science in Biomedical Sciences would launch your career. This program is designed to maximally prepare you for medical school, physician assistant programs, dental school, pharmacy school and other professional schools. For the student who desires to further their education through graduate studies, we provide a strong background in the disciplines of biology, chemistry and physiology.

The biomedical sciences are defined as the science disciplines that provide a knowledge base most directly applicable to the biology of humans. It is the mission and intention of the Biomedical Sciences program at JCHS to prepare students with a solid scientific foundation essential for an understanding of human health and disease. Graduates will be prepared to enter graduate studies in preparation for being well-trained practitioners in healthcare or to enter professions that serve healthcare. The program was established for the purpose of providing a coordinated biomedical sciences curriculum to students preparing to enter graduate studies that lead to careers in healthcare. The program values the many associations that develop among basic, applied and clinical scientists in planning for and participating in quality preparatory methods for healthcare professionals.

Important functions of the program are: (1) to provide an interactive scientific environment among faculty and students in general biology, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pathophysiology, neurobiology, cell biology, molecular biology, immunology and introductory forensics; (2) to offer a similar interactive scientific environment among faculty and students in general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, math and physics; (3) to offer course work to support other programs that depend on a scientific knowledge base such as nursing, emergency medical services, respiratory therapy, occupational therapy, clinical laboratory sciences, health psychology, exercise science and physical therapist assisting. Through these activities the program serves the mission of Jefferson College of Health Sciences.

The program also offers and emphasizes opportunities for students to participate in research activities that impact health sciences. Student development of an understanding of the use of the scientific method is also regarded as fundamentally important to the program. Skills related to the application of appropriate research methods, methods of data collection, data management, and the use of the scientific method in the interpretation and analysis of data with regard to research questions is regarded as essential to the mission of the program.