Biomedical Science

Unique Features

• The university is strategically located within the Boston-area biomedical and pharmaceutical/biotech industry ecosystem.
• The MS program provides opportunities for original research experience in department labs and the option to do a literature- or laboratory-based master's thesis for credit.
• The curriculum includes opportunity for laboratory coursework and instruction in experimental design and data analysis.
• Northeastern's School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is consistently ranked first in NIH funding among all private U.S. schools of pharmacy.
• The program offers opportunities for experiential learning through department and off-campus co-ops and internships.
• Those already employed in pharmaceutical/biotechnology-related fields can take specific courses for advanced training.

Career Outlook

Graduates of the Biomedical Science program are primarily healthcare professionals who gain basic training in human biology and disease, and go on to advancing in their current roles. Some graduates from the department have established careers as independent:

• Industry scientists and administrators (Big Pharma, biotech)
• Clinical laboratory staff members
• Academic biomedical researchers
• Science teaching faculty
• Medical liaison specialists
• Pharmaceutical product representatives
• Medical writers

Program Objectives

Upon completion of the MS in Biomedical Sciences program, students will be able to:

• Evaluate critical topics of contemporary focus in the biomedical sciences, including:
  • Analyze current research trends in the biomedical sciences
  • Apply human biology and pathology to drug pharmacology, invention, and clinical application
  • Integrate cross-disciplinary knowledge about drugs and their therapeutic value
  • Produce literature reviews encompassing retrieval, critical analysis, assessment, and written/oral presentation on a current topic in the biomedical sciences


• Execute experiments in the biomedical sciences that advance the medical application and clinical utility of drugs, specifically:
  • Use methodology and instrumentation to increase biomedical knowledge
  • Maintain and use data, records, and notes/documentation according to ethical standards of research practice and academic integrity


• Identify major themes, knowledge gaps, and research problems regarding the application of human biology and pathology to drug pharmacology, invention, and clinical application:
  • Conceptualize and communicate to diverse constituencies in good oral and written English principal concepts in the biomedical sciences
  • Judge how social, economic, and ethical issues may influence drug invention and utility
  • Recognize unsatisfied medical needs where new drugs could make a positive impact
  • Integrate cross-disciplinary information at the intersection of biology and medicine that advance understanding of drug actions and applications


• Advance clinical and translational medicine by applying knowledge of the biomedical sciences:
  • Recognize applications of the pharmaceutical sciences to improve healthcare outcomes
  • Apply principles of biomedical science to facilitate drug discovery
  • Identify areas where additional information on drug action and properties is needed to improve patient care
  • Recognize unsolved issues in disease treatment and how they may be addressed by new therapies