HEALTH PROFESSIONS
Biomedical Sciences Degree
Health Professions Bachelor’s Degree Programs
The biomedical sciences bachelor’s degree program is fundamentally focused on the health sciences as a whole but leaves ample room for development of outside interests that enhance an application for professional schools. BVU is the only private college in Iowa offering this versatile biomedical sciences major that will prepare students for any health-related field.

Take Me To
Why should I earn a biomedical sciences degree?
Dr. Potential
Physicians hold the highest paying in-demand job in America with a base salary of $212,000 in 2016, according to Forbes.com.
Start High
The median annual wage for healthcare practitioners and technical occupations was $62,610 in May 2015, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations.
Demand
The health sciences are always in demand and listed as growth industries in the future. Jobs in healthcare are often listed as jobs with the highest projected future increases in employment.
What I Can Do With a Biomedical Sciences Degree
- Medical doctor
- Nurse practitioner and physician assistant
- Optometrist
- Dentist
- Veterinarian
- On Campus
On Campus
Storm Lake
Why study biomedical sciences at BVU?
Our faculty and advisors will work with you to prepare for your post-undergraduate goals by offering guidance through the application process, as well as prep sessions for the MCAT and other pre-professional entrance exams.
Nearly 100 percent of BVU students who have applied to medical school have gained admission.
High-Tech Research Facilities
Take advantage of BVU’s outstanding Siebens Science Center. Put classroom concepts into practice in cutting-edge labs and research facilities.
The 70,000 square-foot Science Center contains 18 labs and three research areas, including:
- Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscope (NMR)
- Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS)
- Confocal microscope
- Spectrophotometers
- Gene guns
- Human Cadaver Lab
- Fossils
- Specimens and skeletons
- Sterile hoods
- Labs fully equipped to study DNA and RNA
- Thermal cyclers
- UV and chemiluminescent imaging equipment
- Greenhouse with three environmental growth chambers
Rural Medicine Internship
The Undergraduate Rural Medicine Education and Development (URMED) internship is awarded to select BVU pre-med students who have an interest in practicing rural medicine. The students are introduced to a variety of clinical and healthcare practices at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center (BVRMC) and other area rural hospitals. Recipients also receive a $3,000 stipend to help them cover the costs of applying to medical school.
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Join a Welcoming Community.
Share Remarkable Experiences.
EMILY KIM, Class of 2019
Emily was awarded the J. Leslie Rollins Fellowship to further pursue her interest in medicine. She spent January 2018 in Kijabe, Kenya, where she broadened her global perspectives of culture and medicine by shadowing local doctors and visiting patients in hospital wards. Emily also received an Undergraduate Rural Health Fellowship award, which led her to spend time shadowing the physical therapy department at Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Fairmont, Minnesota, as well as a local physical therapist in Storm Lake. Throughout her time at BVU, Emily has traveled to Spain, South Africa, Chile, and Hawaii. Emily says she is grateful for the funding she has received to pursue her passions.
Biomedical Science Courses
Builds relevant career skills and foundational knowledge while focusing your degree on an in-demand area of concentration:
Health Sciences | Chiropractic | Dentistry | Medical Technology | Medicine | Mortuary Science | Optometry
Osteopathy | Pharmacy | Physical Therapy | Physician's Assistant | Podiatry | Veterinary
Financial Aid & Scholarships
We’ll help you figure out your options for financial assistance and possible scholarships.
Learn MoreBiomedical Sciences Faculty
Our instructors are committed to helping you build the future in Iowa and beyond.
See Our FacultyTransfer Your Credits
Do you have previously earned credits or an associate degree? BVU accepts most — if not all — of your credits so you don’t have to retake courses.
View Course EquivalenciesEarn a Master’s Degree Faster with Our Accelerated Program
With BVU's Plus One program, you can earn your teaching English as a second language or organizational leadership master's within one year of graduating with your bachelor’s degree.

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Explore a Biomedical Sciences Degree
Find out more about earning a health professions bachelor’s with BVU.
