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Biomedical Sciences Minor

Planning to pursue the pre-med or pre-veterinary path? Interested in biomedical research opportunities in graduate school? If so, a biomedical sciences minor is an ideal complement for a number of science-focused majors.

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Program Overview

Dordt's biomedical sciences minor allows students interested in biology and medicine to gain skills related to healthcare or public health. If you're interested in gaining a strong foundation in coursework related to the healthcare profession, then choosing to minor in biomedical sciences is probably a good choice for you.

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What You'll Learn

You’ll have a chance to take classes on human biology as well as nutrition, microbiology, molecular biology, and more. And you’ll be ready to put that knowledge to use with whatever major you choose.

What You Can Do With A Minor In Biomedical Sciences

There are many options for those who choose to study biomedical sciences, including:

Biomedical Researcher

A Biomedical Researcher studies and analyzes different biological diseases and processes in order to develop a treatment or cure.

Clinical Research Associate

A Clinical Research Associate oversees clinical activities, study sites, data systems, and research procedures.

Biomedical Scientist

Biomedical Scientists perform a variety of scientific tests to confirm the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Career Preparation

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To earn a biomedical sciences minor, students must choose four biology courses from a variety of human and medical related options, and two biology two chemistry courses.

  • Medical Terminology: The course is designed for students in pre-health professions and secretarial science–medical emphasis. Students will learn medical terminology and its meaning within the context of the healing professions. Programmed texts and computer software will be used with regular testing periods throughout the semester.
  • Human Biology I: An overview of the structure and function of the human body, using an experimental approach. Addresses how worldview impacts the use of one’s own body and guides ethical decision-making. Cadaver lab exercises will be included. Three lectures and one laboratory per week. For nursing, HHP, and other non-biology majors.
  • Human Biology II: A study of human anatomy and physiology in the context of common diseases and disorders, integrating core knowledge of structure and function with clinical correlations. The complex connections of the human body are investigated with applied lab exercises and activities. Three lectures and one laboratory per week.
  • Human Anatomy: A detailed study of the organ systems of the human body, with an emphasis on dissections, including cadaver dissections. Three lectures and one laboratory per week.
  • Human Physiology: An advanced study of the functions of the human body and how it responds to stress and disease. Three lectures and one laboratory per week.
  • Medical Terminology: The course is designed for students in pre-health professions and secretarial science–medical emphasis. Students will learn medical terminology and its meaning within the context of the healing professions. Programmed texts and computer software will be used with regular testing periods throughout the semester. Recommended that Biology 203 or 325 be completed before taking this course.
  • Cell and Molecular Biology: An introduction to molecular mechanisms in living organisms. Topics include structure and functions of cellular components, gene structure and expression, and recombinant DNA technology. Concepts of reductionism and evolutionary theory will be addressed. Three lectures and one laboratory period of three hours per week.
  • Nutrition: This course will focus on the basic science of foods and their components including relationships to health and disease. The implications of personal decision making and behavior change, as well as social, economic, and cultural influences, will be discussed.
  • Developmental Biology: A study of the mechanisms of development of representative vertebrates and invertebrates including fish, frog, chick, mouse, human, and fruit fly. Two lectures and one laboratory period of three hours per week.
  • Microbiology: A study of the form, structure, and classification of microorganisms, including an introduction to viruses. The course will emphasize bacteria, general laboratory techniques, culturing and control of microbial growth. A substantial portion of the course will deal with immunologic processes: antibodies and antigens, host-antigen reactions, T & B cell response mechanisms, and non-specific host defense mechanisms. Three lectures and one laboratory period per week.
  • Histology: A study of the microscopic anatomy of animal tissues and organs, emphasizing the relationship between structure and function. Three lectures and one laboratory period per week.
  • Cell Biology: A study of the morphology and physiology of the cell, its organelles, and its constituents.
  • Two college chemistry courses

See the course catalog for more information.

Ready to take the next step?

Science and Technology Center

As a biomedical sciences minor, you'll have the opportunity to spend time in Dordt's Science and Technology Center. Informally known as the "Science Building," the Science and Technology Center is home to numerous laboratories of varying sizes that are used for teaching and for student research projects. These labs include a molecular biology laboratory with genomics equipment allows upper-class students to do DNA sequencing, DNA fingerprinting, and other types of genetic analysis and a dedicated cell culture laboratory allows students to do mammalian tissue culture experiments.

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