Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences

The pre-professional program designed to meet the basic requirements for admission to colleges or schools of nursing, dentistry, podiatry, optometry, pharmacy, and medicine.

The Life Sciences Program will prepare students to pursue advanced degrees in the health professions and matriculation in post- baccalaureate programs in the health sciences. The curriculum is designed to meet the basic requirements for admission to colleges and schools of nursing, dentistry, podiatry, optometry, pharmacy, and medicine. In addition, students interested in pursuing advanced degrees in areas such as audiology, physical therapy, physician assistant, and public health will also find the appropriate background in this major.
Students are immersed in a comprehensive program, rarely offered at the undergraduate level in other colleges and universities, that will give them:

  • A fundamental understanding of the natural sciences through the traditional pre-medical courses: biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics.
  • The opportunity to choose elective courses to tailor a program of study that fits personal career goals.
  • An excellent liberal arts education through core university courses such as history, anthropology, logic and English.


Explore health and medical science careers! Click here.
Requirements for the Major:  130 Units

Lower Division Required Courses (50 Units)
BMS 130 ABL   General Biology
BMS 140ABL    General Chemistry
BMS200            Leadership Seminar I
BMS210ABL     Organic Chemistry
MTH130            Pre-Calculus
MTH230            Calculus I
MTH231            Calculus II
PHY250            General Physics I
PHY251            General Physics II
PSY141            General Psychology
PHE250            Community Health Issues

Upper Division Required Courses (14 Units)
BMS310ABL     Anatomy & physiology
BMS400            Leadership Seminar II
BMS450            Ethics in Research
PHE450            Senior Health Seminar and Capstone
PHE451            Research Methods/Stats

General Education Requirements (33 Units)

Electives (32 Units)

The basic course requirements for different health professions are virtually the same: two semesters each of English Composition and Mathematics; two semesters each of General Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and General Physics, all with labs.

Health-related elective courses such as Health and the Creative Arts or Community Health Issues, provide additional perspectives on medicine.

The purpose of elective courses is:

  • To build up a background in one area of life sciences
  • To broaden the student’s knowledge of biomedical disciplines and greatly enhance the academic preparation of individuals seeking future entry into human or veterinary medical, dental, or pharmacologic professional degree programs.
  • To facilitate career advancement of individuals employed in the areas of biomedical research and general science education.

A list of available Electives can be obtained from the department during the registration period for each semester.

Successful completion of the major requires a minimum C (2.0) overall grade point average in all courses. At least 15 units of upper division course work that fulfills major requirements must be taken in residence (not to include courses graded CR/NC).

Application filing periods

The Life Sciences program starts only once every year in the Fall semester. The date below is a recommended deadline; however, the program offers rolling admissions and applications are considered until the class is filled.

  •  March 1      (Priority Deadline:  December 1)

 For more information, contact the Office of Admissions at admissionsinfo@cdrewu.edu or at (323) 563-4838.

Click here for instructions on how to apply for admission and to request an application package.

Fees, Tuition, and Estimated Student Budget

Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science is committed to helping students finance their education; the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships works closely with all students who need financial assistance. A financial aid award generally consists of a combination of scholarships and grant money from Charles Drew University and other sources, low-interest loans, and a work-study job during the academic year.

We recommend that you take the initiative to research the wide range of scholarship opportunities sponsored by outside organizations. Every year thousands of dollars go un-awarded because students are not aware of these resources.

College-bound students who plan to major in science, math, and engineering fields will benefit from the HyperAid database that provides information on academic programs, financial aid, internships, and fellowships available at colleges and universities across the country.

For more information about financing your education, contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships at finaid@cdrewu.edu or  (323) 563-4824.