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To apply to the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences program at Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences, here’s what you need to know:
Academic Prerequisites
Bachelor’s Degree
To be considered for admission to DMU’s Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or regionally accredited university from within the United States prior to the start of orientation, or meet the requirements of a specific articulation agreement.
Your undergraduate degree should be in the biological or physical sciences; however, applicants with non-science degrees will be considered if they have a strong science background.
Grade Point Average
A cumulative grade point average and science grade point average of a 2.8 on a 4.0 scale or higher is recommended to be considered for admission. All prerequisite courses must be taken at regionally accredited institutions (or foreign equivalents). No grade lower than a C will be accepted for prerequisite coursework. CLEP credits, AP credits, IB credits and P/F credits will not be considered for prerequisites.
See our current class profile for more information.
Required Courses
The courses below are required for admission; you may apply while coursework is in progress. Coursework completion is required prior to matriculating, and pending coursework during the application cycle is acceptable.
- Biology/Zoology — 8 Semester Hours (Labs required, when available)
- General Chemistry — 8 Semester Hours (Labs required, when available)
- Organic Chemistry — 4 Semester Hours (Labs required, when available)
- Biochemistry — 3 Semester Hours
- Physics — 8 Semester Hours (Labs required, when available)
- May substitute 3 semester hours of statistics for 3 semester hours of physics
- English, English Composition, Speech or Literature— 6 Semester Hours
Other highly recommended courses include cell biology, microbiology, immunology, physiology and anatomy.
Entering Class Averages
DMU’s latest admitted MSBS class includes students from four different states.
Successful MSBS applicants typically present cumulative GPAs around 3.4 and science GPAs near 3.2, along with a variety of experiences in the sciences with an interest in health care and medicine.
These figures represent overall trends, not minimum requirements.
Other Important Requirements
Optional Entrance Exams
Applicants have the option to supply results of the Medical College Admission Test, Graduate Record Examination, Optometry Admission Test or Dental Admissions Test with their application.
Technical Standards
A candidate seeking an MSBS degree at Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences must be capable of completing core educational requirements and achieving the competencies in the basic and applied sciences. DMU seeks to develop candidates who have a deep and robust medical knowledge base, with the ability to appropriately apply it, effectively interpret information, and contribute to decisions across a broad spectrum of laboratory situations in all settings.
The critical skills required to be successful are outlined in the academic catalog and include the ability to observe, communicate and perform motor functions, as well as to understand, integrate core knowledge and skills and to behave appropriately in varied educational and professional situations.
We encourage you to review the MSBS program’s comprehensive technical standards for the thesis and non-thesis tracks. For information about accommodations, refer to the Accommodations in Education Policy.
Background Checks
Complete a criminal background check, which may include a drug screen, as well as Iowa Child and Dependent Adult Abuse Registry checks through the DMU preferred vendor and process. Results must be released to DMU prior to matriculation. The cost of this process will be paid by the student. Students are required to disclose all past or present charges, convictions, dismissals, deferred judgments and expunged records related to a misdemeanor or felony. They are also obligated to disclose any additional charges and convictions that occur following completion of the initial criminal background check. Admission to the program may be revoked if misrepresentations or omissions from the application are noted in the background check. DMU students are required to complete annual criminal background checks, which may include drug screening, while enrolled at DMU.
Residency Status
At DMU, all students enrolled in on-campus programs must be either U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. Permanent resident applicants must provide a notarized copy of their permanent resident card (green card) prior to matriculation. Please be aware of the potential impact if your permanent resident card (green card) expires and is not renewed, or you do not obtain U.S. citizenship, during your enrollment at DMU. In such a case, you would no longer be eligible for federal financial aid, and because you would no longer meet the enrollment requirements, you could be dropped from enrollment in your coursework.
Note: Applicants with a permanent residency status of “pending” are not eligible for admission.