Biomedical Sciences Research Information

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Admission

The Biomedical Sciences Research Master’s program is now participating in the Graduate Centralized Application Service (GradCAS).

Applicants to the program must have:

A bachelor’s degree prior to matriculating as an EVMS student
- If the bachelor’s degree was issued by a U.S. college or university, as a general rule it should be from a regionally accredited institution. However, the program may grant exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
- Official transcripts from the awarding institution must specify the date upon which the degree was conferred.
A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) or better (preferred)
- We consider an applicant’s entire record, and applicants with a GPA between 2.8 and 3.0 may be accepted. We pay special attention to science and math course grades, and we prefer to accept applicants with mostly A’s and B’s in these courses.
Successfully completed the following courses:
- General Biology (1 semester with lab)
- Additional Biology (1 semester with lab)
- General Chemistry (2 semesters with labs)
- Organic Chemistry I (1 semester with lab)
- Organic Chemistry II or Biochemistry (1 semester, lab not required)
- General Math, Calculus or Statistics (1 semester)
- College Math or Physics (1 semester)
Competitive Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores
- This applies to international applicants only.

Early Assurance Program

The Early Assurance Program (EAP) exists to offer outstanding and qualified undergraduate students with firm interests in a career as a biomedical researcher and in attending EVMS the opportunity to gain early assurance of acceptance into the Biomedical Sciences Research Master’s program at EVMS before beginning their final year of college.

By granting early assurance of acceptance into the program, students will be able to broaden their academic focus, engage in extracurricular leadership activities and pursue first-hand, lab experience.

Partner Institutions

Christopher Newport University
Norfolk State University
Regent University

Each January, early assurance program advisers at each partner institution will forward names of eligible students who are interested in applying to the Biomedical Sciences Research Master’s program through the Early Assurance Program to EVMS. Students interested in the program are required to maintain regular contact with the EAP adviser during their college career. Eligible students will receive an email containing the necessary links and instructions to apply.

Below are the main steps necessary to apply through the Early Assurance Program at EVMS:

Meet with the EAP adviser at your institution as soon as possible.
Establish a plan to complete prerequisites, certification and patient care experience prior to application deadline.
Complete the EVMS EAP application by May 30 during the spring semester of your junior year.
Complete the GradCAS application (GradCAS Application Site) by June 15 of your junior year.
Complete the undergraduate degree requirements and maintain EAP eligibility.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for the Early Assurance Program, a student must:

Have completed the fall semester of their junior year with only one more academic year to complete;
Meet all institutional and degree requirements to continue as a student in good standing;
Maintain an overall (cumulative) GPA of 3.25 or better;
Have satisfactorily completed 7 of 8 prerequisite courses by the time of application without withdrawing from or repeating any courses used to satisfy the prerequisites;
Obtain grades of B or above in all science courses taken in sophomore, junior, or senior year;
Have no academic or conduct code violations.

Maintaining Eligibility

Continuation in the EAP will require evidence of general academic progress consistent with past performance, and of significant progress toward achievement of individually specified goals outlined in the application. Ongoing communication between the EAP applicant, the EAP advisor, and the EVMS Biomedical Sciences program will ensure that both the school’s requirements and individual applicant’s objectives are being met. In addition, the following criteria must be maintained by the student to continue eligibility:

Meet with EAP adviser each semester;
Maintain contact with the EVMS Biomedical Sciences Program during the senior year;
Carry sufficient credit load during the remaining regular academic semesters to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements;
Maintain an overall (cumulative) GPA of 3.25 or better with consistent academic performance; obtain grades of B or above in all science courses taken after the freshman year;
Make significant progress toward achieving the individually-specified goals outlined on the PUR submitted with the student’s application, including accumulation of additional hours to meet a goal of 300 hours of research experience before matriculating into the EVMS program;
Fulfill all institution and degree requirements to maintain status as a student in good standing (no academic or conduct code violations) and earn a bachelor’s degree prior to matriculating in the EVMS Research MS program;
Complete any additional specific matriculation conditions set by the EVMS Research MS program at the time of acceptance notification (e.g., official transcripts confirming date of degree conferral, a criminal background check, indication of ability to independently meet the Technical Standards, and submission of all health requirements)

Failure to meet or maintain these eligibility standards will constitute grounds for dismissal from the program. Admission to the Research MS Program can be denied if events occur that would cause the Admissions Committee to question a student’s suitability to pursue a career in biomedical research. These include, but are not limited to, misdemeanor or felony convictions, academic dishonesty or other code of conduct violations, unprofessional conduct in a laboratory or education setting, or inability to meet the Technical Standards.

Transfer Credit Policy

Transfer of credit may be allowed for courses comparable to those offered in our programs. Courses must have been taken at an accredited biomedical or biological sciences graduate program in the U.S. Grades of B or higher or a passing grade in a pass/fail course are required. The Biomedical Sciences Research master’s program may accept up to 9 transfer credits. Transfer credit will be determined by the Program Director in consultation with program faculty after a student matriculates into the program.

Official transcripts must be sent to GradCAS. Test scores and supportive application documents should be electronically submitted or mailed to EVMS Admissions and Enrollment.

Technical Standards

The abilities and skills candidates and students must possess in order to complete the education and training of the Biomedical Sciences Research master’s programs are referred to as technical standards. These abilities and skills are essential for entry into most professional practice settings associated with this degree program.

Observation Skills Technical Standard
1. Demonstrate sufficient attention and accuracy in observation skills (visual, auditory and tactile) in the lecture hall, laboratory and/or online settings.
2. Indicators include, but are not limited to, this example:
  - Accurate visualization and discrimination of text, numbers, patterns, graphic illustrations and other imaging texts.
Communication Skills Technical Standard
1. Demonstrate effective communication skills with other students, faculty members, laboratory staff members and scientific colleagues.
2. Indicators include, but are not limited to, these examples:
  - Clear, efficient and intelligible articulation of verbal language.
  - Legible, efficient and intelligible written English language.
  - Accurate and efficient English language reading skills.
  - Accurate and efficient expressive and receptive communication skills.
  - Ability to accurately follow oral and written directions.
Critical Reasoning Skills Technical Standard
1. Demonstrate critical reasoning skills, including, but not limited to, intellectual, conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities.
2. Indicators include, but are not limited to, these examples:
  - Demonstrate ability to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, integrate and synthesize information.
  - Demonstrate ability to acquire, retain and apply new and learned information.
  - Demonstrate ability to pursue a course of independent research in a laboratory setting, including the ability to plan and execute experiments.
Motor And Sensory Function Technical Standard
1. Demonstrate sufficient motor and sensory function to perform typical research laboratory duties.
2. Indicators include, but are not limited to, these examples:
  - Functional and sufficient sensory capacity (visual, auditory and tactile) to use laboratory equipment and perform experiments.
  - Execute motor movements that demonstrate safety and efficiency in the various learning settings (i.e., classroom and laboratories).
  - Physical stamina sufficient to complete the didactic and laboratory requirements, including prolonged periods of sitting or standing.
Behavioral And Social Attributes Technical Standard
1. Demonstrate the behavioral and social attributes vital to participation in a professional program and service as a practicing laboratory professional.
2. Indicators include, but are not limited to, these examples:
  - Possess the emotional health required for full utilization of mental faculties (judgment, orientation, affect and cognition).
  - Ability to develop mature and effective professional relationships with faculty, students and other members of the research team.
  - Demonstrate impartial motives, attitudes and values in roles, functions and relationships.
  - Ability to monitor and react appropriately to one’s own emotional needs and responses.
  - Display appropriate flexibility and adaptability in the face of stress or uncertainty associated with technical difficulties in research or scientific review (e.g., criticism of ideas shared in written or oral presentations, manuscripts, etc.)

Compliance with standards, policies and practices set forth in the EVMS Student Handbook and the program handbook.