Overview
Develop a deep understanding of the role of the genomes of humans and pathogens in the development, prevention, and treatment of disease with the Bachelor of Science in Genomic Medicine, offered by the Department of Biology. Scientific innovations and technologies allow us to collect genetic information at unprecedented size and scale. At the center of this advancement is the study of the genome. Information from thousands—and soon to be millions—of genomes is revealing the root causes of our genetic and infectious diseases. Due to the growing clinical emphasis on genomic medicine in medical colleges, students in the Genomic Medicine program will acquire a valuable basis for understanding and working with modern biological data. Graduates also gain a foundation in the life sciences that emphasizes the medical relevance of genomics, evolutionary biology, and informatics. This degree will prepare students for growing trends in research and medical careers focused on genomic medicine that use the power of changes in genes, proteins, and next generation technologies to make clinical diagnoses, treat patients, and understand diseases.
Blending psychology and sociology courses with an increased focus on coursework required by most medical schools—biochemistry, cell structure, and function, and bioinformatics or biostatistics—the optional Pre-Medicine Concentration prepares graduates for entry into medical school and STEM research careers in medicine.
Campus Location: Main
Program Code: ST-GCMD-BS
Distinction in Major
To graduate with distinction in this major, a student must satisfy the following criteria:
- achieve a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA;
- achieve a minimum 3.2 major GPA;
- successfully complete BIOL 4391 Accelerated Research in Biology, BIOL 4291 Extradepartmental Research, or BIOL 4396 Advanced Study in Biology for a total of 6 credits over two semesters;
- write a final research paper; and/or
- present their research at a departmental research poster session.
Undergraduate Contact Information
Robert Sanders, Chair
Biology-Life Sciences Building, Room 255
215-204-8851
Erik Cordes, Vice Chair
Biology-Life Sciences Building, Room 315A
215-204-8876
Caryn Babaian, Faculty Advisor for Genomic Medicine Majors
Science Education and Research Center, Room 602
215-204-1814
caryn.babaian@temple.edu
Learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Genomic Medicine: Pre-Medicine Concentration.
These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.
Bachelor of Science Requirements
Summary of Requirements for the Degree
- University Requirements (123 total s.h.)
- Students must complete all University requirements including those listed below.
- All undergraduate students must complete at least two writing-intensive courses for a total of at least six credits at Temple as part of their major. The specific writing-intensive course options for this major are:
Course List Code Title Credit Hours BIOL 2297 Research Techniques in Genetics 3 BIOL 3396 Scientific Writing for Biology: The Art of Communicating 3 BIOL 4396 Advanced Study in Biology 3 - Students must complete the General Education (GenEd) requirements.
- See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for the GenEd curriculum.
- Students who complete CST majors receive a waiver for 2 Science & Technology (GS) and 1 Quantitative Literacy (GQ) GenEd courses.
- Students must satisfy general Temple University residency requirements.
- College Requirements
- A minimum of 90 total credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), and/or the College of Engineering (ENG).
- A minimum of 45 of these credits must be upper-level (courses numbered 2000 and above).
- Complete a one-credit first-year or transfer seminar.
- A minimum of 90 total credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), and/or the College of Engineering (ENG).
- Major Requirements for Bachelor of Science (87-89 s.h.)
At least 9 courses required for the major must be completed at Temple. At least 6 Biology courses must be completed at Temple.Course List Code Title Credit Hours Biology BIOL 1111 Introduction to Organismal Biology 4 or BIOL 1911 Honors Introduction to Organismal Biology Select one of the following: 4 Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes or BIOL 1912Honors Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology or BIOL 2912Honors Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology BIOL 2207 Genetics 3 BIOL 2297 Research Techniques in Genetics (WI) 1 3 BIOL 2512 Genomic Foundations of Medicine (S) 3 BIOL 3101 Evolution (F) 3 BIOL 3112 Fundamentals of Genomic Evolutionary Medicine (S) 3 BIOL 3204 Cell Structure and Function (F) 4 BIOL 3511 Pathophysiology of Genomic Medicine (F) 3 Select one of the following: 2 3 Introduction to Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Biostatistics (F) Select one of the following: 3 Scientific Writing for Biology: The Art of Communicating (WI, S) Advanced Study in Biology (WI) Chemistry Select one of the following: 4 General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory IHonors General Chemical Science I
and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory I (F)Select one of the following: 4 General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory IIHonors General Chemical Science II
and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory II (S)Select one of the following: 4 Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory IOrganic Chemistry for Honors I
and Organic Honors Laboratory I (F)Select one of the following: 4 Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory IIOrganic Chemistry for Honors II
and Organic Honors Laboratory II (S)CHEM 3401 Applications of Biochemistry 3 Computer & Information Sciences Select one of the following: 4 Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python or CIS 1951Honors Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python Computer Programming in C Program Design and Abstraction or CIS 1968Honors Program Design and Abstraction Genome Medicine Electives Select two of the following: 3, 4 6-8 Mammalian Anatomy (F) Human Evolution Integrative Cell and Tissue Biology Genomics in Medicine (F) Genomics and Infectious Disease Dynamics (F) Human Genetics (F) Introduction to Bioinformatics and Computational Biology 2 Evolutionary Genetics and Phylogenetics (S) Behavioral Genetics (F) Genomics and Evolutionary Biology of Parasites and Other Dependent Species (S) Parasitology Developmental Biology (F) Advanced Cell Biology (F) Biostatistics 2 General Microbiology (S) Molecular Biology Research Techniques in Molecular Biology (S) Immunology (S) Virology (F) Developmental Genetics Mammalian Physiology (S) Systems Neuroscience Organization and Development of the Nervous System (S) Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (S) Molecular Neuropharmacology Mammalian Development The New Neuroimmunology Endocrinology (F) Biology of Cancer (S) Cell Proliferation (S) Cell Signaling (S) Physical Biochemistry (S) Contemporary Biology Genomic Biology Biological Models in Python Epigenetics Genome Editing Research Techniques in Biochemistry (S) Biochemistry of Embryogenesis (F) Evolutionary Developmental Biology: Evo-Devo (S) Stem Cell Biology (F) General Biochemistry I (F) General Biochemistry II (F) Database Management Systems Data Structures Principles of Data Science (S) Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining Probability Theory I Mathematical Statistics (S) Probability Theory II (F) Mathematics MATH 1041 Calculus I 4 or MATH 1941 Honors Calculus I Select one of the following: 4 Calculus II or MATH 1942Honors Calculus II Introduction to Probability and Statistics for the Life Sciences Physics Select one of the following: 4 Introduction to General Physics I Elementary Classical Physics I or PHYS 1961Honors Elementary Classical Physics I General Physics I or PHYS 2921Honors General Physics I Select one of the following: 4 Introduction to General Physics II Elementary Classical Physics II or PHYS 1962Honors Elementary Classical Physics II General Physics II or PHYS 2922Honors General Physics II Social Sciences PSY 1001 Introduction to Psychology 3 or PSY 1901 Honors: Introduction to Psychology Select one of the following: 3 Introduction to Sociology or SOC 1976Honors Introduction to Sociology Introduction to Sociology for Health Professions Total Credit Hours 87-89 Course List Code Title Credit Hours (F) - Fall only course (S) - Spring only course - 1
This course has a co-requisite of BIOL 2207.
- 2
Either BIOL 3212 or BIOL 3312 must be taken to satisfy degree requirements. The course not selected may be chosen as a Genomic Medicine Elective.
- 3
Additional course prerequisites may be required.
- 4
Students may fulfill one upper-level elective by completing a total of 6 credits of research. A maximum of 3 credits may come from the junior level research course BIOL 3082 and the remaining 3 credits must come from a senior level (4000+) research course. Students may also complete all 6 credits using two semesters of the senior research course if they prefer. Consult with your departmental advisor to determine which course(s) are appropriate. Once completed, students must seek approval from a CST advisor to obtain the waiver for credit towards one upper-level elective.
With the exception noted in footnote 4 above, the research and independent study courses shown below do not count as Genomic Medicine electives, but they may count as free elective credits toward graduation. Most research courses can only be taken ONCE for a letter grade. Check individual course descriptions for details and/or exceptions.
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOL 2082 | Independent Research I | 1 to 4 |
BIOL 3082 | Independent Research II | 1 to 4 |
BIOL 3181 | Cooperative Research in Biochemistry | 3 |
BIOL 3681 | Cooperative Studies | 2 to 4 |
BIOL 3685 | Externship Studies | 3 |
BIOL 4291 | Extradepartmental Research | 1 to 4 |
BIOL 4391 | Accelerated Research in Biology | 1 to 4 |
BIOL 4483 | Accelerated Research in Biochemistry | 3 |
BIOL 4491 | Research in Biochemistry | 3 |
BIOL 4591 | Research in Neuroscience | 1 to 4 |
Note: Grades of C- or higher are required unless otherwise specified in all course for the major, including prerequisites. The College of Science and Technology requires that students have a GPA of at least 2.00 overall and at least 2.00 in the courses applicable to their major and/or minor GPA to graduate.
A total of one semester of Biology research courses numbered lower than 4000 (to include: BIOL 2082, BIOL 3082, BIOL 3181, and BIOL 3681) may be taken for a letter grade. Any additional semesters in research courses in this category can be taken only on a CR/NC basis.
Suggested Academic Plan
Bachelor of Science in Genomic Medicine with Pre-Medicine Concentration
Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year
Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credit Hours | |
BIOL 1111 or BIOL 1911 | Introduction to Organismal Biology or Honors Introduction to Organismal Biology | 4 |
MATH 1041 or MATH 1941 | Calculus I or Honors Calculus I | 4 |
SCTC 1001 | CST First Year Seminar | 1 |
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python or Honors Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python | ||
Computer Programming in C | ||
Program Design and Abstraction or Honors Program Design and Abstraction | ||
ENG 0802 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW] or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
Credit Hours | 17 | |
Spring | ||
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes or Honors Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes | ||
Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology or Honors Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology | ||
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
Honors General Chemical Science I and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory I | ||
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
Calculus II or Honors Calculus II | ||
Introduction to Probability and Statistics for the Life Sciences | ||
IH 0851 or IH 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Year 2 | ||
Fall | ||
BIOL 3101 | Evolution (F) | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II | ||
Honors General Chemical Science II and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory II | ||
IH 0852 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Introduction to Sociology or Honors Introduction to Sociology | ||
Introduction to Sociology for Health Professions | ||
Elective | 2 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
BIOL 2207 | Genetics | 3 |
BIOL 2297 | Research Techniques in Genetics [WI] | 3 |
BIOL 2512 | Genomic Foundations of Medicine (S) | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
Organic Chemistry for Honors I and Organic Honors Laboratory I | ||
PSY 1001 or PSY 1901 | Introduction to Psychology or Honors: Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
Credit Hours | 16 | |
Year 3 | ||
Fall | ||
BIOL 3511 | Pathophysiology of Genomic Medicine (F) | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | ||
Organic Chemistry for Honors II and Organic Honors Laboratory II | ||
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
Introduction to General Physics I | ||
Elementary Classical Physics I or Honors Elementary Classical Physics I | ||
General Physics I or Honors General Physics I | ||
GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 14 | |
Spring | ||
BIOL 3112 | Fundamentals of Genomic Evolutionary Medicine (S) | 3 |
CHEM 3401 | Applications of Biochemistry | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
Introduction to General Physics II | ||
Elementary Classical Physics II or Honors Elementary Classical Physics II | ||
General Physics II or Honors General Physics II | ||
Genomic Medicine Elective 1 | 3-4 | |
Elective | 3-2 | |
Credit Hours | 16 | |
Year 4 | ||
Fall | ||
BIOL 3204 | Cell Structure and Function (F) | 4 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Introduction to Bioinformatics and Computational Biology | ||
Biostatistics (F) | ||
GenEd Breadth Course | 3-4 | |
GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
Elective | 2-1 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Scientific Writing for Biology: The Art of Communicating [WI] (S) | ||
Advanced Study in Biology [WI] | ||
Genomic Medicine Elective 1 | 3-4 | |
GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
Elective | 3-2 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Total Credit Hours | 123 |
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
(F) - Fall only course | ||
(S) - Spring only course |
- 1
See the Genome Medicine Electives list under Requirements for course options.
Accelerated Programs
Students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.
The following accelerated programs may be of interest to students in the Genomic Medicine BS with Pre-Medicine concentration:
College of Science and Technology