Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences

This 9-month intensive Program includes both day (afternoon) and evening courses.  Courses are scheduled to allow students larger blocks of time for studying, completing an externship, or volunteering.  Given the time demands of this program and its required externship (10-15 hours per week), it is highly recommended that students not be employed for more than 10hours per week.  Dedicated graduate courses are classroom or laboratory based and no larger than 24 students.  Courses are closely coordinated and include cross-course team-based learning. The externship course during spring semester is a guided academic externship in a health, biotechnology-research, or biomedical research setting that, along with the final Biomedical Seminar, requires completion of a written final research project and short presentation.  The final program seminar includes a program cumulative examination.

The sequential seminar series serves as the means by which students can better determine where they wish to go in the future and how best they can get there. An initial seminar experience in August before the beginning of the natural science curriculum serves to both orient students to and focus students on the coming demands of the program and help students begin to develop a focused career plan. The remaining three seminars continue this work as well as helping students pull their program work together into their final project. The seminar series of courses also includes student attendance at a speaker series including members of the biomedical health care community and biomedical researchers.

The guided academic externship ensures that students put their education into the larger context of a biomedical field, gain valuable real-world experience, and improve their likelihood of admittance into a graduate health or research program. The value of such experiences for admission to graduate programs has increased dramatically in the last few years. Learn more by viewing our externship FAQs and examples.

Progressive educational methods such as Problem and Team-Based Learning techniques encourage students to make the most of their intensive time at Regis and truly feel that they are part of a goal-oriented team, rather than just a number. Our small class size also ensures that students feel connected with their colleagues and professors and build relationships that extend beyond the coursework.

Admissions are rolling, so applying early has a distinct advantage. May 1st is the deadline for full consideration. However, additional new applications will continue to be considered until the start of the program in August. Students applying after May 1st will have a higher chance of being waitlisted or declined. Turnaround time is variable, but generally students can expect to receive an indication of acceptance status (accept, decline or waitlist) between 3 and 6 weeks from application completion.

Yes. The online application system does not allow an applicant to revise or add to submitted applications. We will gladly accept relevant corrections or updates (additional transcripts, new MCAT scores, letters of recommendation) to your file by emailing them to our team. Please note on your application if you plan to take an admissions exam at a later date.

An exam score is required for admission and we do not grant exceptions to this rule. You have a choice of exams (GRE, MCAT, PCAT, DAT, OAT, VAT) depending on your interests. We recommend MCAT scores above 25 and DAT above 15 for competitive applicants (although we look at each applicant's total profile). To submit an MCAT score to us, print the score page with the security code and AAMC ID#, and then e-mail that information to the Regis Biomedical Science Program (with the unofficial score) so that we may directly view your score from AAMC. If you have not yet taken a standardized exam we recommend completing the general GRE (biology specific not required) for this program and wait to take the specific professional-school-required exam until you are prepared.

Yes, we will consider applications that are close to 3.0, particularly if there has been significant recent improvement. If your GPA is less than a 3.0, please offer a brief explanation and strategy for improvement in your personal statement. We may also extend probationary or deferred conditional admittance. GPAs, cumulative or science, of under 2.7 are not considered competitive in our application pool. Please see our more detailed advice for students with lower GPAs.

Resume submission is an optional part of our application. While our application shell has a resume tab, the application itself is not set up to receive them. If it will help our admissions committee to have a better understanding of your background, you may submit your resume via email. Even if a resume is sent, please fill out the work/experience section of the application completely.

We do selectively conduct candidate interviews either on the phone or in person with faculty members. Students will be contacted by the program coordinator for scheduling, if needed.

At least one national exam score must be submitted before your application will be considered. We also anticipate that some students may only be taking their first MCAT, DAT, or other health-graduate-program test after May 1. As stated above, we recommend the GRE for these students. Please do not rush to take the MCAT, DAT, or other health-graduate-program test before you are ready.

Yes, exam planning is part of our advising services. Because each student in our program has different needs, we work with them individually to develop an exam timeline and study plan. (Extra costs may apply if intensive study is necessary).

Yes. If you already have a medical school application (or dental school or other school application) assembled, please use as much of it as possible when applying to our program. We do require three separate letters either submitted separately or by the pre-med/health advisor. We do not accept a single composite committee letter, unless it contains direct quotations from individuals. Please indicate the names of the individual letter writers if sent via a pre-med/health advisor.

At least one letter from an undergraduate natural science or mathematics professor is required for admission into medical, dental, or most other similar programs and therefore is also required for our program. A letter from current employer or volunteer supervisor is acceptable as one of the other two letters. If your goal is future employment in the biomedical industry, rather than continued education, please contact the program coordinator for consideration of a waiver for this requirement.

Regis University
Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences
3333 Regis Boulevard D-8
Denver, CO 80221

Regis is a private, Catholic based institution, but we do not give preference to Colorado students and we are very open to students of all religious (or not) backgrounds and practices. Jesuit values are at our foundation and they dovetail nicely with the goals of healthcare education, but Catholic beliefs or practices are in no way an expectation of our students.

We do not do a waiting list ranking. We try to have a balanced and diverse class and so students are selected from the waiting list in context of the profile of the current class of accepted students. Yes, please do contact us with updates and statements of continued interest while you are on the waiting list. E-mail is preferred for these communications. We expect to accept a good portion (at least half) of our waiting list which we maintain at roughly the size of the incoming class. We understand that it is difficult to be in limbo and try to minimize the time that students spend on the list. If you are on our list, we thank you for your patience.

Please contact the program coordinator as soon as possible. If you must decline your acceptance, we regret to see you go, but we will understand and doing so as soon as possible makes it much easier on the person from the waiting list who is the recipient of your spot. Application fees and paid deposits are non-refundable.

Please re-submit the entire online application, including the fee and alert the admissions staff that you are re-applying. The essay should be written as a "continuing story" and update us as to activities since the last application cycle. Letters of reference, transcripts that have not changed and exam scores may be drawn from our files and therefore do not need to be resubmitted if they are less than 3 years old.

Students are strongly encouraged to apply in June of the summer either before the Biomed MS program starts or after the program's conclusion. This timing allows for the benefits of applying early and also gives the opportunity to complete the secondary applications outside of the rigorous MS coursework window. Excused absences are given for interviews. All students are given many individual and group advising opportunities throughout the year. Being a part of a focused and supportive community while going through the complex graduate admissions process is extremely helpful.

If you are holding a conditional acceptance for another graduate program, please email our team a copy of your conditional acceptance letter. We require that you fill out our complete application. You may reuse your essay and letters of recommendation. The letters must still be received from your recommenders, a letter service or a university office.

Yes, the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences students take classes only with the 20-24 other students in the program. None of the courses are cross listed or will enroll students outside the program. The curriculum is coordinated among courses and tailored specifically to this program's students' needs.

No, although the greatest number of students will have interests in medicine or dentistry. Students who are undecided as to a further educational program, or who desire to earn our MS as more direct preparation for a career like clinical research or the biotech industry are also welcome. Please indicate your goals for the program in your essay.

Our program is new and very small so, due to potential confidentiality issues and lack of data, we do not currently give out our medical school application statistics. We are confident that we provide students with excellent opportunities and resources, but ultimately, as with many things in life, success in this program relies heavily on individual student effort and commitment.

The one-year Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences tuition cost is about $23,000 for the 2012-2013 academic year. There are no special/separate fees beyond tuition, however, this amount does not include books or administrative costs like the background check and certifications (about $100). As a private institution, Regis does not have a variable tuition rate based on state residency. Financial aid is sometimes available; students should contact the financial aid office for more information.

We recommend students work no more than 10 hours per week (preferably on the weekend), and absolutely no more than 15 hours per week. The one-year Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences is full time and designed to be academically intense in a manner similar to medical and dental schools. In addition, students need to take their externship and volunteer responsibilities seriously. Thus we very strongly recommend that students keep their outside commitments to a minimum.

Yes, nontraditional students are encouraged to apply and considered equally in our applicant pool with all other students. Life experience is valuable and is taken into account in the application profile, but it is not a substitution for good past academic performance.

Yes, however, it is important that international students have a Bachelors level degree from an institution in the United States, an excellent grasp of English and clearly provide a realistic plan of continuation beyond our program. Please see our International Applicants tab on our admissions page for more information.

No, while many longer, research based MS and Ph.D. programs will offer these types of positions, it is not typical for a one year post-bacc program to have them.

The Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences course offerings are designed to leave all mornings before lunch and one full day completely free to facilitate externship/volunteer activities, to schedule interviews and prepare applications, and of course to do the studying necessary to do well in the program. In Fall 2011, for example, students had Tuesday free in addition to all mornings until 12:30 p.m.

No, our program only starts at one point during the year, the 3rd week of August.

It is important to have realistic expectations. We have built this program to provide a strong direction, structure and springboard for students to pursue their goals, but like most graduate programs, we cannot guarantee admission or employment after graduation. However, that said, we feel students' chances of success are certainly enhanced by working hard, and dedicating an academic year to following our program and advice.

Most medical, dental or other programs will grant their acceptance with the understanding that a student is in an MS program and will want to see the degree completed before matriculation into their program. They will also want to receive semester and final grades. Demonstrating follow-through on commitments, especially in graduate level academics, is important. Special circumstances may alter this expectation, such as for students who receive an acceptance for a program with a January start.

We welcome undecided students and feel that our program is an excellent way to gain academic and real-world experience that can help to solidify career direction. Career advising is readily available and encouraged.

The MS courses can only be taken as a part of the MS degree program and the coursework is not open to additional students. We also do not accept transfer credits.