skip to main content
UTRGV

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Main Menu
Donate Now Directory myUTRGV

You are here:

About News Announcements Archive

Department of Health & Biomedical Sciences College of Health Professions

  • Home
  • About
    • Message from the Chair
    • Mission
    • Accreditation
    • Faculty
    • Staff
    • News
      • Events
      • News Archive
      • Announcements Archive
  • Graduate Programs
    • MS in Health Science, Concentration in Health Care Administration
      • Admission Criteria
      • Degree Plan
      • Contact Us
    • MS in Health Science, Concentration in Medical Laboratory Sciences
      • Admission Criteria
      • Degree Plan
      • Contact Us
    • MS in Health Science, Concentration in Nutrition
      • Admission Criteria
      • Degree Plan
      • Contact Us
    • MS in Health Science, Concentration in Healthcare Informatics
      • Admission Criteria
      • Degree Plan
      • Contact Us
    • MS in Health Science, Concentration in Health Professions Technology
      • Admission Criteria
      • Degree Plan
      • Contact Us
    • MS in Dietetics
      • Program Highlights
      • Admission Criteria
      • Curriculum
      • Tuition and Fees
      • Mission
      • Goals
      • Objectives
      • Dietetics in Action
    • FAQs
  • Undergraduate Programs
    • BS-BMED
      • Home
      • Admissions
      • Degree Plan and Roadmap
      • Program Description
      • Student Engagement
      • Student Success
      • BMED FAQs
      • News and Events
    • BAT - HST
      • Home
      • Admission Criteria
      • Program of Study
      • Roadmaps
    • Medical Laboratory Science Program
      • Home
      • Program Director
      • Admission Criteria
      • Program Outcomes
      • Student Learning Outcomes
      • Faculty
      • Degree Plans and Roadmaps
      • Accreditation
    • Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences Program (BSNS)
      • Home
      • Admission
      • Program Description
      • Newsletter
    • BS-BMED Syllabi
      • Fall 2015
      • Spring 2016
      • Fall 2016
      • Spring 2017
      • Summer I 2017
  • Student Engagement
    • BS Biomedical Sciences
      • HHMI Inclusive Excellence
      • Bridge to Baccalaureate in Biomedical Sciences (B2BMED)
      • BMED Scholars Program
      • BMED Ambassadors
      • Biomedical Freshman Research Initiative (BFRI)
      • Student Organizations
      • Summer Internships
      • Research and Clinical Opportunities
      • Scholarship Opportunities
      • Community Service
      • Photo Albums
    • BAT Health Services Technology
    • BS Medical Laboratory Science
    • BS Nutritional Science
    • MS Health Science
  • Student Success
    • BS Biomedical Science
      • BMED Profiles in Excellence
      • BMED Alumni
      • Conference Achievements
      • Students Accepted into Programs
      • Students Accepted Into Programs 2021-2022
      • Students Accepted into Summer Internships
    • BAT Health Services Technology
    • BS Medical Laboratory Science
    • BS Nutritional Science
    • MS Health Science
  • Student Resources
    • BS Biomedical Science
      • Announcements
      • Registration Instructions
      • BS in Biomedical Sciences Accelerated BMED Track Petition
      • Printable Schedule Planner
      • BMED FAQs
    • Roadmaps
    • Over Hour Credit Petition
    • Health Services
    • Financial Aid
    • Career Opportunities
    • PhD Programs/Graduate School Opportunities
  • Research
    • Faculty Research
    • Grants
    • Publications
  • Student Testimonials
    • BMED Student Testimonials

News - Related Links

  • Events
  • News Archive
    • Archive 2019
    • Archive 2018
    • Archive 2017
    • Archive 2016
  • Announcements Archive

Contact Us

Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences
Brownsville Campus: BBRHB 1.101
Edinburg Campus: EHABW 2.206
Email: healthandbiomedicalsciences@utrgv.edu
Phone: 956-882-7383 (Brownsville campus) 956-665-5269 (Edinburg campus)
Fax: 956-882-6835
Facebook Twitter

Quick Links

Department Chair Department Homepage Faculty Student Engagement Summer Internships Scholarship Opportunities Over Hour Credit Petition Roadmaps

Announcements Archive

Independent Research Course Creation Instructions & Deadlines

This is a reminder, that if you are seeking to request for an Independent Research (IR) course with a specific faculty member within the BMED Department or with a faculty member outside of the BMED department within the university in their labs, you must complete and follow the steps below as listed:

  • Faculty must submit an email request to Dr. Nair ( Saraswathy.Nair@utrgv.edu) with the following information:
    • Course Name and Number (student needs to refer to road map and must provide info to faculty)
    • Edinburg or Brownsville & Lab office number
    • Student cap size
    • Student ID# and email address
    • Instructional method (Traditional, Hybrid, Reduced/Hybrid)
    • Meeting dates and time if instructing Traditional or Hybrid courses
  • Upon Approval by Dr. Nair, the department will proceed to create course.
  • Once course has been processed and created, the faculty member will be advised by Elizabeth, that it is approved along with the corresponding information that is needed to be advised.
  • Once the faculty member has been informed, they will then contact the student with the following information below:
    • Course information including (Course Name, Course Number, Course Section & CRN)

NOTE: Students cannot be registered for two IR courses in one semester, as it is against BMED Registration compliance.

Please keep in mind the following deadlines that are enforced for submitting the creation of an IR course. All requests must be submitted  before 5pm on day of deadline, no exceptions:

Fall 2020 Semester:  August 10th, 2020 
Spring 2021 Semester: December 18th, 2020 (Hard deadline Jan. 4th 2021) 
Fall 2021 Semester: August 16th, 2021 
Spring 2022 Semester: December 1st, 2021 
Fall 2022 Semester: August 12th, 2022


ATTENTION BMED STUDENTS:

All BMED students should be aware that the reason we advise taking Chem I first semester, followed by Chem II and then O. Chem I and II as per the roadmaps is because these Chemistry courses are critical to doing well in the BMED coursework. So, please do NOT delay taking your Chemistry coursework-they should go hand in hand with the BMED coursework. Postponing taking them delays graduation plans as well as performance in the BMED program and standardized exams for professional schools.


Fall 2018 Registration Instructions:

  • If you have registration blocks/ holds (could be advising, financial, immunization record or for other reasons)-be sure to get that cleared ASAP at U Central (The Tower in Main).  You will not be allowed to self-register if you have a block/hold.  Do not panic, though, as registration will remain open through the spring and summer.
  • You should refer to the recommended lists of non-BMED classes, course sequencing roadmap, etc at this link. Use that, along with any advice you may have received from an academic advisor, to guide you.
  • All of the BMED-specific courses below are marked with a “BR” within the section number.  This is an easy way to identify the courses that are specific to this program.
  • Should you need assistance or if you run into issues after today.  Contact us via email.
  • Below, is the list of BMED-specific courses that you should self-register for Fall 2018.  Please follow the steps below to select your courses.
  • BMED Sections/courses are designed for specific Cohorts/tracks. Make sure you have the correct registration instructions based on your current track/cohort. You will only be able to self-register for the classes/section listed on this document.
  • If you need additional classes than those listed here, please come by the BMED office to make an appointment to meet with Dr. Nair.
  • Ensure you are registered for enough credit hours to meet your financial aid or scholarship requirements.
  • If registering for more than 18 credit hours you will need to submit an Over-Hour Petition Form.  Access form and instructions or visit our website under student resources.
    • Please note that it may take up to 10 business days for this request to be processed.  Deadline to accept over hour credit petitions is Monday, August 13, 2018.

 

Registration Instructions by Cohort/Track

  • Cohort Fall 2015 4 YR Track Registration Instructions
  • Cohort Fall 2016 4 YR Track Registration Instructions
  • Cohort Fall 2016 3 YR Track Registration Instructions
  • Cohort Fall 2017 4 YR Track Registration Instructions
  • Cohort Fall 2017 3 YR Track Registration Instructions

 


Please note that Jan 15th is MLK holiday. If you have not followed up, and completed your overload petitions, taken care of your blocks and class conflicts and registration requests by Jan 16th, we will not guarantee that you will be registered in BMED classes for SP2018. Any requests/changes beyond Jan 16th are at risk for not meeting Registrar’s deadline.

 
The Last day to add/drop classes for Spring is Friday, January 19.
For more information on academic deadlines see:  UTRGV Academic Calendar

ATTENTION BMED STUDENTS - Spring 2018

Dear Students,

Please make every effort to attend the medical school application workshop presented by  Dr. Judianne Kellaway,  MD., Associate Dean of Admissions at the UT Health San Antonio, Joe R. & Teresa Long School of Medicine on  April 13 th, 2018. 1:00pm – 3:00pm in BRHP 1.222

This is particularly important for students who are planning to apply to medical school. Despite excellent GPAs and MCAT scores, one can still submit a suboptimal application package which will not make it competitive. So please attend and hear from the Associate Dean of Admissions of the San Antonio School of Medicine directly about the process.

Also, this is your opportunity to ask questions, address concerns etc.

Dr. Saras Nair,

Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences Chair


Below is a UTRGV Summer course that will provide you field research experience.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Suad Ghaddar ( suad.ghaddar@utrgv.edu)

HLTH 3305 – SELECTED TOPICS - Applied Health Research Methods
SUMMER III 2018 (JUNE 4 – AUGUST 17)

The overall purpose of the course is to provide undergraduate students with a unique, comprehensive, field research experience contextualized within a population health equity framework. The course will (1) allow students to understand the whole research process from developing the research question(s) to the interpretation and dissemination of results; (2) raise awareness of issues related to population health equity; (3) stimulate interest in pursuing graduate school or medical education; and (4) enhance student competitiveness in the academic and practice domains through improved cultural competency and transferable research skills. The hybrid research methods summer course offers hands-on data collection at Operation Lone Star (OLS), an annual emergency preparedness health exercise, taking place over a one-week period along the Texas-Mexico border. The experience will offer a unique enriching lens to student education, providing them with unique skill sets that embrace a holistic, coordinated approach to health and health care delivery.

The class is scheduled to meet twice a week (T,TH 2-4 pm) on the Edinburg campus. However, given the hybrid nature of the course,  some of the meeting times will take place virtually. During the field research experience, the week of July 30 th – August 3 rd, different class times will be assigned. The course is open to juniors and seniors. It is co-taught by Dr. Chris Ledingham and Dr. Suad Ghaddar.

For more information on 2018-2019 registration dates and deadlines see:  UTRGV Academic Calendar


 

Diagnostic MCAT examination Saturday, April 7, 2018

Dear Students,

Thank you for signing up to participate in the Diagnostic MCAT. If you did not sign up to register for this examination we will not be able to offer you an access code and you will not be able to sit for this diagnostic exam. This examination should help you locate your strengths and weaknesses in your preparation for any professional terminal degree you may choose to enter.

Firstly, it should be noted that the time of the examination is at 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. Registration will begin at 8:30 am sharp. We have four rooms available, three of these rooms are computer labs and one is a lecture hall. The computer labs are located in  Main 1.504, Main 2.518, and LHSB 1.402. If you are planning to bring your own laptop, you will be taking your exam in  Main 1.502. The seats available for the examination will be assigned on a first come first serve basis. When you arrive you will be asked to sign in and will receive your access code to being the registration process.

The registration process will be as follows:

Please log onto the link provided below. 
http://mcat.nextsteptestprep.com/course/signup/  (EACH STUDENT's UNIQUE CODE GOES HERE) 
*The access codes will be provided on the morning of the examination*

Once you have created your account, you can access your tests by signing into your account at mcat.nextsteptestprep.com. Your exams and other resources will be located on the "Resources" tab.

Each student will be able to go at his or her own pace on the timed diagnostic mode, and the exam must be completed in the allotted period we have designated. We strongly encourage students to limit their bathroom breaks to a maximum of 5 minutes between blocks. In the event that students have not finished their exam in the allotted time frame will be forced to submit their exams as is.  Once you have completed the exam you will be asked to sign out from the attendance sheet located in the front of your room.

General rules for examination;

  1. No cell phones or other electronic devices may be used (including calculators)
  2. No headphones may be used during the examination
  3. Students talking or cheating will be removed from the examination
  4. Please be respectful of the other students taking their test when leaving for your break
  5. Scratch paper will be provided

These rules are the same ones implanted during the actual examination and we are aiming at having a similarly serious testing environment.
Any questions please let us know immediately.

Regards,

Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences.


Dear BMED students and faculty,

Please be aware that  current students  (even if not planning to go to Medical School) who do not take the announced MCAT diagnostic tests  ( next one on April 7, 2018) will not be prioritized for clinical/research experiences recommendations, scholarships or Student Ambassadorship opportunities. This is because the MCAT diagnostic tests are for students’ benefit in assessing  academic progress as well as BMED program Student Learning assessment purposes.


Dear BMED students,

All students planning to apply to medical school, regardless of class standing (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, or Seniors) should have  started planning for the MCAT or should be well into their preparations to take it. You were emailed an invitation to attend a diagnostic MCAT examination on Saturday April 7th, 2018 at 9 AM. There is a signup sheet in BRHP 1.101. Please sign up ASAP.

Over 99% of BMED students aspire to medical schools yet less than a third make it… Why? Primary reason is noncompetitive MCAT scores… MCAT is a tough standardized exam you can ace,  IF  you practice. First step is to know where you are at today, and then practice and prepare to increase test taking skills and strategies.

Also, BMED  program faculty cannot help you prepare if we have no baseline or benchmarks for progress. Therefore we need data as well.  It costs nothing to take the diagnostic MCATS. We have not mandated this yet… But, if we see students failing to take the diagnostic MCATS, we will consider making these mandatory…

When you ask for LORs or ask to be in research labs or clinical experiences, we will check to see your academic standing. This will include compliance in MCAT diagnostic exams, workshops, volunteering etc.  Therefore for your own benefit, please sign up and plan to take these diagnostic exams as they are announced.


Thank you,

Dr. Nair


 

Please note that Jan 15 th is MLK holiday. If you have not followed up, and completed your overload petitions, taken care of your blocks and class conflicts and registration requests by Jan 16 th, we will not guarantee that you will be registered in BMED classes for SP2018. Any requests/changes beyond Jan 16 th are at risk for not meeting Registrar’s deadline.

The Last day to add/drop classes for Spring is Friday, January 19.
For more information on academic deadlines see:  UTRGV Academic Calendar



 

ATTN: BMED STUDENTS 10-25-17

*Any student who has not been attending CSHR will be reported by tutors to faculty and chair of HABS. This is mandatory for all students attending missions . Please see chair if any special accommodations need to be arranged.

*Students taking more than 18 hours:
When submitting your Over Hour Credit Petition the following must be included:

1.  Over Hour Credit Petition Form 
2. Your Unofficial Transcript (available on your ASSIST) 
3. Your Degree Plan or Roadmap (available on the UTRGV website)

Over Hour Credit Petition Packets can be turned in to the Brownsville or Edinburg Campus.

Brownsville Office: 
BBRHP 1.101 Monday through Friday 8:00am to 5:00 pm
Edinburg Office: 
EHABW 2.206  Monday through Friday 8:00am to 5:00 pm

ATTENTION BMED STUDENTS: 9-13-17

Please make sure that if you are taking one of the missions below you are also registered for the corresponding Coached Study Hour, if you are missing the Coached Study Hour, please contact the Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences with your name, ID#, and course#/section# of the CSHR that you are missing. 

3YR Honors Incoming Students:
M1- BMED 1101/1104  1BR, 2BR & 5BR
M2- BMED 1103/2102  1BR & 6BR
M3- 1105/1109  1BR & 2BR
M4- BMED 1106/1107  1BR & 3BR
CSHR 1001 1BR & 4BR
CSHR 1001 1BR & 4BR
CSHR 1001 1BR & 5BR
CSHR 1001 1BR & 5BR
4YR Hybrid Incoming Students:
M1- BMED 1101/1104 3BR, 4BR & 5BR
M2- BMED 1103/2102 3BR, 4BR & 5BR
CSHR 1001 2BR, 3BR & 4BR
CSHR 1001 2BR, 3BR & 4BR
4YR Honors Incoming Students:
M1- BMED 1101/1104  2BR & 5BR
M2- BMED 1103/2102  2BR & 5BR
CSHR 1001 2BR, 3BR & 4BR
CSHR 1001 2BR, 3BR & 4BR
4YR Hybrid Students - Cohort 2:
M5- BMED 1108/3104/3108  1BR, 2BR & 3BR
M7- BMED 1110/2102  1BR, 2BR & 3BR
CSHR 1002 1BR & 2BR
CSHR 1002 1BR & 2BR
4YR Hybrid Students - Cohort 1:
M8- BMED 3102/4280  1BR & 2BR
M9- BMED 3103  1BR & 2BR
CSHR 1003 1BR
CSHR 1003 1BR
3YR Hybrid Students - Cohort 2:
M8- BMED 3102/4280  1BR & 2BR
M9- BMED 3103  1BR & 2BR
CSHR 1003 1BR
CSHR 1003 1BR

 


Attention BMED Students: 7-12-17

Recommended Biomedicine integrated NON-BMED courses for Fall 2017​

Dept. Subject Course
Number
Section CRN Course
Level
Campus Schd Type Title
PSYC PSYC 2301 01B 19700 UG BRW LEC General Psychology
WRLS ENGL 1301 09B 19196 UG ED LEC Rhetoric & Composition I
CHEM CHEM 1111 01B 24998 UG BRW LAB General Chemistry I Lab
CHEM CHEM 1111 02B 25000 UG BRW LAB General Chemistry I Lab
CHEM CHEM 1311 01B 24997 UG BRW LEC General Chemistry I
CHEM CHEM 1311 02B 24999 UG BRW LEC General Chemistry I
CHEM CHEM 2123 01B 25051 UG BRW LAB General Chemistry I Lab
CHEM CHEM 2123 02B 25052 UG BRW LAB General Chemistry I Lab
CHEM CHEM 2123 03B 25053 UG BRW LAB General Chemistry I Lab
CHEM CHEM 2123 01B 25050 UG BRW LEC General Chemistry I
PHYS PHYS 1401 01B 24872 UG BRW LEC General Physics I
PHYS PHYS 1401 02B 24873 UG BRW LEC General Physics I
PHYS PHYS 1401 AB 19493 UG BRW LAB General Physics I
PHYS PHYS 1401 BB 19494 UG BRW LAB General Physics I

Dr. David Fisher is offering the Big History course this Fall on Tuesday / Thursday, 12:15-1:30. BMED students, honors or non-honors, are welcome to enroll. This is not part of general education core.

HONR 2385. Big History. Course Description

Honors I is a seminar in Big History - an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the universe and the individual's place in it through the study of cosmology, Earth and life sciences, and human history. Our seminar is organized around the question of whether the short - and long-term prospects for our species, Homo sapiens, are dreadful or promising. We will investigate our cosmic, terrestrial, and biological homes as well as the history of our species in order to make an informed argument about where we are, where we came from, and where we might be headed. Critical reading, discussion, and writing are the fundamental methods of work in the course.


Math Placement Guidelines

If you have a certain MATH SAT/ACT score you can avoid having to test out of Pre-Cal or take the Pre-Cal course.

  • ACT score 25 or higher  
  • SAT score 570 or higher

If you have taken calculus in high school, they will let you sign up (repeat) your highest level math course from high school. At present students can repeat the highest level mathematics course taken in high school. Contact the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences to see a mathematics advisor for placement into an appropriate college level course. 

For more information on testing contact the  High School to University Program  & Testing Services.


Attention Students: 5-11-17

Students enrolling in 2017 Summer Classes. If SI and SII undergraduate classes do not have at least 15 students enrolled, they will most probably be canceled. If you are concerned that your summer class may be canceled please contact the Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences office for more information.


Attention BMED Students: 1-26-17

Anyone who needs MATH3331 (Applied Statistics I) should instead take STAT3301  (Applied Statistics for Science, Engineering and Medical Science) starting Fall 2017. Prereqs and content remain the same. Anyone who took MATH3331 will receive credit for it.

Please be advised that we have extended online registration for students to add classes in Assist through Thursday, January 26th


BMED students/fees/drops: 1-18-17

  1. All BMED students should contact Student Accounting Services ( student_billing@utrgv.edu) to understand their statement of charges, and what they should pay.
  2. BMED students should make an effort to contact  Student Accounting Services  by email: ( student_billing@utrgv.edu) or by phone: 956-665-3622 / 956-665-7824 / 956-882-8251, if they need help understanding their statements.
  3. The -350/350 lines on the statement was simply to cancel out erroneously applied discounts (waivers) in FA16 and SP17.
  4. ONLY Hybrid students are charged the BMED fee of $350/semester (iPad lease/Apps/textbooks etc.)
  5. Dept. should be notified if you are at risk of being dropped for non-payment of what you owe.

Attention BMED students 1-17-17

It is on the hybrid students if they do not register in the mandatory CSHRs. Any graded activity/attendance points during CSHRs they will get zero.

ONLY hybrid students should  be charged the $350 Biomedical Sciences fee for leasing iPads containing Apps and textbooks. All traditional (legacy) students should not be charged. If you are, please contact the department immediately.


Attention BMED Students: 11-14-16

TRADITIONAL STUDENTS- DO NOT register for BMED sections that have B or BR-those sections are only for Hybrid students


Attention BMED students interested in a research project with the South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute 11-4-16

Please contact Dr. Arthur Porto at  arthur.porto@utrgv.edu or 956-882-7563 (email preferred). 

Ideas for student projects:  Potential projects involving laboratory opossums for UTRGV undergraduate students


Attention Legacy BMED students: 9-13-16

The correct literature course for all legacy BMED students is ENGL 2341. Please see advising for further information on this.


BMED students interested in applying to the Honors College should apply online right away. 

Students should follow the link on the  Honors College site to apply for admission. It will only take a few minutes and the Dean should provide a response within 2 weeks.

While waiting for a response students should:

  • Review the  contracts link and begin planning a contract for this semester.
  • Attend the Honors convocation
    • Brownsville Campus: Wednesday, September 21, 2016. El Gran Salon, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
    • Edinburg Campus: Tuesday, September 20, 2016. University Ballroom, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
  • Contact Dean Andersen or David Fisher with any questions.

Dean Mark Andersen 
mark.andersen@utrgv.edu 
STAC 2109 (Edinburg) 
956-665-2341

David Fisher 
david.fisher@utrgv.edu 
Main 1.432 (Brownsville) 
956-882-8836


Attention traditional BMED students: 8-30-16

  1. We are in year 2 of teaching out of our traditional BMED program. So ALL traditional students should have completed their BMED 11XX courses by now. If they did not, they should see their program advisor ASAP.  These courses will not be offered again (if we continue the hybrid program) unless there are more than 10 students.
  2. All traditional students have the last opportunity to sign up for 1108, 2101, 2102, 1111, 3103 this semester.  If they don’t, they will not be offered again (if we continue the hybrid program) unless we have at least 10 students.
  3. TIME students especially have missed several lower level courses assuming they would get medical school credits. But cohort 1 (2013) and cohort 2 (2014) TIME students who are no longer TIME students (and thus will NOT receive medical school credits) need to be advised of above,  if they haven’t been already. Unless we have at least 10 students NO courses that are taught out will be offered again.
  4. ALL traditional students signed up in BR/B (hybrid sections) will be dropped from BMED and non-BMED hybrid sections.
  5. ALL hybrid students in traditional BMED sections will be dropped.

Clinical Microbiology in Health Care (Brownsville campus): 8-10-16

The Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences is offering the course, Clinical Microbiology in Health Care at the Brownsville campus for pre nursing, pre nutrition and pre CLS students for the FIRST TIME. We need more students to enroll in this class for the Brownsville campus. If enrollment is less than 15 students, then the class will have to be postponed until Spring 2017. Contact your program advisor for more information. This course is currently being offered in Edinburg

Jump to Top
Give to UTRGV

UTRGV

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • CARES, CRRSAA and ARP Reporting
  • Site Policies
  • Contact UTRGV
  • Required Links
  • Fraud Reporting
  • Senate Bill 18 Reporting
  • UTRGV Careers
  • Clery Act Reports
  • Web Accessibility
  • Mental Health Resources
  • Sexual Misconduct Policy
  • Reporting Sexual Misconduct