Bridge to the Future

Bridge to the Future

One-year master’s program provides path toward professional biomedical studies.

Story by Joe Montgomery

Dr. Cathy Sparks (in green) gives an overview on musculature with a new anatomage machine to students in the one-year master's degree in biomedical science. From left: Elizabeth Grimes, Tara Brush, Cesar Aparicio-Lopez and Jamie Hughes.

Photo by Audrey Hambright.

A new program started just over a year ago has been attracting a broad mix of students into the veterinary college while serving as a bridge for opportunities both inside and outside of the veterinary medical curriculum.

Part of the prorgram’s appeal is because it only requires a yearlong commitment for the completion of a master’s degree. The official title is the one-year master’s degree in biomedical science.

“Often students are not sure what their future holds,” says Dr. Matthew Basel, clinical assistant professor and associate director of the program. “The pre-professional one-year master’s program is designed to introduce students to the biomedical field and prepare them for professional school. In our program, students are taking advanced courses in a wide range of biomedical sciences, including anatomy, physiology, histology and pharmacology.”

First of its kind

This three-semester program is the first of its kind in Kansas and is specifically designed to bridge the gap between undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

“I applied for the one-year master’s program in order to strengthen my application for veterinary school and gain the confidence I needed to successfully enter a professional program,” says Elizabeth Grimes, a member of the program’s first class of students who graduated in May 2021.

Hosted in the anatomy and physiology department, the preprofessional one-year master’s program in biomedical science is a non-thesis, coursework-based master’s degree that can be completed in 12 months. Typically a master’s degree program takes about two years to complete. This program starts during the summer session and is completed at the end of the following spring semester. The inaugural class of students completed the degree in May, with 23 total graduates.

Along with Dr. Basel, course coordinators include Drs. Pradeep Malreddy and Cathy K. Sparks, who both teach anatomy courses in the veterinary college.

“There are no specific admission requirements for this program, as we would like to serve a wide range of potential students,” Dr. Malreddy says. “We do have some suggested guidelines for students that we think will help them be more likely to succeed. We recommend a bachelor’s degree in a biomedical science-related field, a minimum 2.5 or higher overall grade point average and at least a 2.8 grade point average in their higher-level science courses or the last 45 hours of bachelor’s degree studies.”

All students earning a master’s degree at Kansas State University must complete a “culminating experience” that will be determined by the student in concert with his or her graduate committee. Culminating experiences include either an intellectually creative project, a final report or a culminating examination.

“We believe the best place to prepare for professional school is at a professional school where students can interact with professors who understand the program,” Dr. Basel says. “Students are taking courses designed to have the same rigor as any other professional health school and have access to world-class facilities. The first round of classes for the incoming class will begin in the summer semester with an intensive introduction to anatomy and physiology, followed

Student success

“I chose this program because I was undecided about the professional path I wanted to follow,” explains Cesar Aparicio-Lopez, another member of the program’s first class of students. “While in the program, I strengthened my application by taking high-level classes in amazingly equipped laboratories.”

“This program has been a great way to strengthen my application for dental school,” adds student Julissa Andazola. “I have been able to improve my grade point average, while working on a rigorous coursework.”

Applications for admission into the program are made through the Graduate School at Kansas State University, while the curriculum for the one-year master’s program in biomedical science is administered through the College of Veterinary Medicine. Being located in the college provides several advantages for students, especially for those who are interested in being veterinarians.

“This program gave me just the little extra I needed to make my application for veterinary college more competitive,” says Kimberly Glotzbach, who graduated in May. “I feel it gave me the opportunity to continue my education with only a one-year commitment while helping me prepare to take on professional school course.”

For a full description of the program, the admission requirements and application procedures, go to vet.k-state. edu/education/graduate/one-year-masters/admissions.html.

Elizabeth Grimes holds up a sloth at the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi. She has now been accepted for DVM studies at Texas A&M University.

Julissa Andaloza will attend dental school at the University of Missouri Kansas City, this fall.