Students at Sam Houston State University will have a chance to pursue a degree in Biomedical Science in the 2013 spring semester.
The new major is now available for students in DegreeWorks. Students can also register for classes under the new degree.
The new degree comes after students expressed interest in adding it to the department though Chad Hargrave Ph.D., Chair of Biological Sciences department, said he has heard from less than 15 students inquiring about the new program so far.
It was something that the Department of Biological Sciences came up with in response to student interest, Anne Gaillard Ph.D., associate professor of Biology said. A lot of students who are biology majors are interested in Biomedical Science.
Hailey Heatherly, a sophomore Biomedical Science major, will begin her courses under the new pogram next semester.
Ive been involved in sports my whole life. I just enjoy fixing up peoples scrapes and bruises and thought that it would be great to become a nurse and make a career out of it, Heatherly said. SHSU opening a [Biomedical Science] program was the final factor in making me want to attend Sam.
According to Gaillard, a degree in Biomedical Science will open up doors to a variety of career paths including a crime lab technician, food and drug inspector, or a mortician.
There is a wide variety of career paths a student with a Biomedical Science degree could take, said Gaillard. Biomedical Science research is a huge area of scientific research, so there will probably be several [students] that will pursue that route.
The program will also help prepare students for graduate or medical school along with more research opportunities, Gaillard said.
Its an opportunity for students to focus their studies on a particular area of biology, Gaillard said. Biology is very diverse and our current BS in Biology degree is sort of a well-rounded degree with lots of different types of focuses. Biomedical Sciences is focused toward the biomedical side of biology and that includes health professions, but it also includes [initiatives] for students that are interested in doing research.
The Biomedical Science degree at SHSU will join a list of other Texas universities with a undergraduate degree program including Texas A&M University and Tarleton State University.
Students interested in the program can contact Hargrave at cwhargrave@shsu.edu with any questions.