BS/MD Program (Bachelor of Science)
The first two-years of this program is the Bachelor of Science (BS) program. This accredited, degree granting program utilizes a hybrid curriculum with the first year completed online (can be completed from home), and the second year completed in-person at our campus in Curacao. This degree granting program utilizes a hybrid curriculum with the first year completed online (can be completed from home), and the second year completed in-person at our campus in Curacao. Upon successful completion of this program students will be granted a BS degree and gain automatic admission into our MD program. The BS program incorporates the basic undergraduate courses that are the prerequisite courses required for the MD program. The BS program curriculum is designed to give high school graduates, or students who have not fully met the requirements for the MD program a firm foundation of the sciences to help prepare them for the MD program. The BS program is a great opportunity to meet the requirements for the MD program while earning a bachelor’s degree and ultimately gaining automatic admission into the MD program.
Dr. Sireesha Bala A.
M.B.B.S, M.S., Ph.D., MSPH, FIAMSE, AFAMEE, FHEA, FAcadMEd.
Dean of Bachelor of Science in Health Science
Academic Requirement
High School diploma, or, have not met the requirements of our MD program
Curriculum of BS MD Program
BS 1 – (Online)
| Course Name (Code) | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Calculus | 5 |
| General Chemistry I | 5 |
| Biology I | 6 |
| English I | 6 |
BS 2 – (Online)
| Course Name (Code) | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| General Chemistry II | 5 |
| Biology II | 6 |
| Physics I | 6 |
| English II | 6 |
BS 3 – (Online)
| Course Name (Code) | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Physics II | 6 |
| Organic Chemistry | 6 |
| Medical Terminology | 3 |
| Introduction to Epidemiology & Biostatistics | 4 |
| Medical Ethics and Communication Skills | 4 |
BS 4 – (In-Person)
| Course Name (Code) | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Histology | 6 |
| Fundamentals of Biochemistry | 6 |
| Behavior Science | 6 |
| Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology | 6 |
| Medical Informatics & Research Project 1 | 2 |
BS 5 – (In-Person)
| Course Name (Code) | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Human Embryology and Genetic Disorders | 6 |
| Neuroscience | 6 |
| Introduction to Microbiology and Immunology | 6 |
| Medical Informatics & Research Project 2 | 2 |
BS 6 – (In-Person)
| Course Name (Code) | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Essentials of Pharmacology | 6 |
| Basic Pathophysiology | 6 |
| Introduction to Medical Education & Research | 2 |
| Medical Informatics & Research Project 3 | 2 |
Bachelor of Science Program: Key Information and Resources
- Student Handbook (Must be logged in Avalon email address to access it)
Bachelor of Science Course Descriptions:
Online Semesters
- Biology 1 – 6 (Credit Hours)
- General Chemistry 1 – 5 (Credit Hours)
- Calculus – 5 (Credit Hours)
- English 1- 6 (Credit Hours)
Biology 1 (Credit Hours – 6): This course consists of complete knowledge of the biological facts and functional organization of life on earth. The course is designed to build a foundation of biological aspects that will be used in later studies. This course is an essential prerequisite to Histology and Cell Biology. The course will outline and describe basic biological principles, cycles, and processes. This course is an introductory sequence for majors in the biological sciences. Emphasis will be placed on learning, understanding and being able to use key biological concepts and the scientific method. The study of modern biology is not only a matter of assimilating factual information but learning how to use that information for problem-solving, posing hypotheses, and interpreting experimental results is also critical to understanding biology as a science.
General Chemistry 1 (Credit Hours – 5): Students will develop concepts and learn specific chemical information that will be applied within the context of a variety of chemistry-related applications. Chemical knowledge will allow you to make informed decisions about the risks and benefits and interpret much of the information you encounter. This course is an introduction to chemical reactions, the mole concept, properties and states of matter, atomic structure, periodic properties, chemical bonding, and molecular structure.
Calculus (Credit Hours – 5): Students will enhance their experience with mathematical functions as they study the fundamental concepts of calculus: limiting behaviors, differential quotients, and the derivative, Riemann sums and the definite integral, antiderivatives and indefinite integrals, and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. Students will also review and extend their knowledge of trigonometry and basic analytic geometry. In this course, students will study the foundations of calculus, the study of functions, and their rates of change. We want you to learn how to model situations to solve problems. The importance of calculus cannot be overstated. In physical and biological sciences, economics, and even social sciences, the transition from qualitative or descriptive understanding to a more quantitative understanding is invariably achieved through mathematics and calculus in particular.
English 1 (Credit Hours – 6): This course will help students write and speak with confidence. Using The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation, you will learn the basics to understand fundamental principles of the English language. This course will provide students with the rules and guidelines to make this language easy to understand with real-world conversational examples.
BS2 – Semester 2 – Online
- Biology 2 – 6 (Credit Hours)
- General Chemistry 2 – 5 (Credit Hours)
- Physics- 1 – 6 (Credit Hours)
- English 2 – 6 (Credit Hours)
Biology 2 (Credit Hours – 6): This course introduces the student to a variety of biological topics which are fundamental to all living organisms, with a specific focus on human biology. In particular, the course is a survey of organisms belonging to the Domains Archaea and Bacteria and, more extensively, the ones spanning the 4 kingdoms of the Domain Eukarya. A special focus will be dedicated to the higher animal organization, ranging from animal tissues to organs and organ systems, and how these compare in invertebrates vs. higher vertebrates. This is a continuation of the Biology I course, focusing on the basic description of living organisms ranging from Prokaryotes to higher Eukaryotes. Topics covered also include animal organization and description of their main organ systems, with particular attention to how such systems work in humans.
General Chemistry 2 (Credit Hours – 5): After studying all the materials and resources presented in this course, the student will be able to state the characteristics of liquids and solids, including phase diagrams and spectrometry, articulate the importance of intermolecular interactions and predict trends in physical properties. Students will also be able to identify and balance oxidation-reduction equations and solve redox titration problems. In General Chemistry 2, the fundamental principles learned in General Chemistry 1 will be explored in greater depth and a few new topics will be introduced. The major topics to be discussed include molecular orbital theory, intermolecular forces, polymers, semiconductors and superconductors, kinetics, chemical equilibrium, etc. At the completion of the course, students should be able to apply the scientific models learned to predict the composition, structure, properties, and reactivity of matter. This course will help you to develop the ability to solve qualitative and quantitative problems, promote original thought, and encourage the use of logic in problem-solving.
Physics 1 (Credit Hours – 6): The main objective is to give students an introduction to basic physics. They will understand the important conceptual models used in the core subject areas of physics and demonstrate their ability to draw logical conclusions from these models correctly. The course is designed to enable students to appreciate the role of physics in today’s society and technology. Emphasis on the fundamental laws of nature on which all science is based. Helping students develop a conceptual understanding of physics principles is the primary goal of this course.
English 2 (Credit Hours – 6): In this course, we will combine grammar and punctuation learned in English I with literature pertaining directly to health care by referring to both The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation and The Social Medicine Reader. The “Reader” provides a survey of the challenges facing today’s health care providers, patients, and caregivers. The literature brings together moving narratives of illness, commentaries by physicians, debates about complex medical cases, and more to enlighten the student and provide English literature related to their medical studies.
BS3 – Semester 3 – Online
- Physics 2 – 6 (Credit Hours)
- Organic Chemistry – 6 (Credit Hours)
- Medical Terminology – 3 (Credit Hours)
- Introduction to Epidemiology and Biostatistics – 4 (Credit Hours)
- Medical Ethics and communication skills – 4 (Credit Hours)
Physics 2 (Credit Hours – 6): In this course, we expand the ideals learned in Physics I with a broad survey of classical and modern physics. This course is designed to enable students to appreciate the role of physics in today’s society and technology. Emphasis is placed on the Fundamental Laws of Nature on which all science is based. Students will develop a conceptual understanding of physical principles, which is the primary goal of this course. This course will complete the study of introductory physics that began in Physics 1 with classical mathematics. In general, this course will address electricity and magnetism and conclude with an introduction to quantum physics. Topics include thermodynamics, waves and sound, linear superposition and interface phenomena, electric forces and fields, electric circuits, magnetic forces and magnetic fields, electromagnetic waves, the reflection of light: mirrors, special relativity, particles and waves, nuclear physics and nuclear energy and elementary particles.
Organic Chemistry (Credit Hours – 6): This course is designed to provide a unified overview of fundamental organic chemistry. Students who successfully complete the course will acquire an integrated understanding of molecular architecture, molecular transformations, reaction energetics and mechanisms, synthetic strategy, and structure determination.
Medical Terminology (Credit Hours – 3): This course is designed to increase familiarity with medical terms while reviewing basic anatomy and physiology, learning root words, and learning to analyze unknown words. This course provides students with the building blocks of medical terminology, prefixes, suffixes, roots, combining forms, pronunciation, spelling, and the definitions of medical terms related to different body systems required for future medical practice. Accurate pronunciation and spelling of terms will be emphasized. It also gives the student a basic understanding of body systems, anatomical structures, medical processes and procedures, and diseases.
Introduction to Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Credit Hours – 4): This course will provide students with a foundation in epidemiology and biostatistics, two essential components of public health research. Students will learn the basic principles of epidemiology, including the distribution and determinants of disease, risk factors, and measures of disease occurrence. In addition, students will develop an understanding of biostatistics, which involves the application of statistical methods to health research, including study design, data analysis, and interpretation of results. Throughout the course, students will learn to critically appraise published research and apply epidemiological and biostatistical concepts to real-world health problems. This course is designed to equip students with the necessary skills to become competent consumers of health research and to understand the scientific basis of public health interventions. By the end of the course, students will have gained a solid understanding of epidemiological and biostatistical concepts and be able to use them to address public health challenges.
Medical Ethics and communication skills (Credit Hours – 4): In this course, students will learn how to make correct ethical decisions and discuss them using ethical terminology, readily and accurately. Students will learn to make the correct ethical decisions in this course and discuss them using ethical terminology readily and accurately. The course also covers the ethics portion of the course of behavioral sciences. This also enhance students’ communication skills in the context of healthcare. Students will learn effective communication techniques with patients, families, and healthcare professionals, as well as the impact of cultural, linguistic, and technological factors on communication. Emphasis is placed on developing empathetic and patient-centered communication skills.
In-Person Semesters
- Fundamentals of Histology (Credit Hours: 6)
- Fundamentals of Biochemistry (Credit Hours – 6)
- Behavioral Science (Credit Hours: 6)
- Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology (Credit Hours: 6)
- Medical informatics and research project I (Credit Hours: 2)
Fundamentals of Histology (Credit Hours – 6): This course will provide an understanding of the structure and function of the cell and extracellular matrix as basic building blocks of tissues and organs. Specialization of cells and their interactions in forming tissues will be presented as well as how cells and tissues are structurally and functionally linked in organs. The lectures will focus on relating cell, tissue, and organ structure to their specific functions, while the laboratory studies will emphasize the microscopic recognition of tissues and organs.
Fundamentals of Biochemistry (Credit Hours – 6): This course also introduces biological molecules including carbohydrates, peptides & proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids from a molecular perspective. This course also explores the chemical processes that occur in living organisms. Through lectures, laboratory sessions, and case studies, students will gain an understanding of the fundamental principles of biochemistry and their relevance to human health and disease. Topics covered include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, metabolism, and the regulation of biochemical pathways. This course provides students with a strong foundation in biochemistry that is essential for further studies in healthcare and biomedical sciences.
Behavior Science (Credit Hours – 6): This course is designed to introduce you to the scientific study of human nature. You will learn how psychologists ask questions from several different perspectives; questions regarding the relation between brain and behavior, perception, learning and thinking, development, social behavior and personality, psychopathology, and psychotherapy. Students will also learn the methods psychologists use to find answers to these questions and become acquainted with many important findings and theoretical approaches in this field.
Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology (Credit Hours – 6): Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology (Credit Hours – 6): The overall goal of this course is to ensure that the student gains a solid understanding of the structures that make up the human body and its functions. This course introduces the structure and function of the human body, including the study of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems. Students will explore the relationships between anatomy and physiology, and how they relate to human health. Topics covered include the musculoskeletal, nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems. Students will also examine the interplay between these systems and how they contribute to the overall functioning of the body. By the end of the course, students will have a foundational understanding of human anatomy and physiology, which is essential for success in further health science studies and clinical practice.
Medical informatics and research project I (Credit Hours – 2): Medical Informatics is a course that introduces students to the principles and practice of health information technology (HIT) in healthcare. The course covers the use of HIT systems, including electronic health records, telemedicine, and mobile health applications, to improve patient care, population health management, and healthcare administration. Students will learn about the key concepts and standards of HIT, as well as the ethical and legal considerations involved in the use and management of health data. The course also provides an overview of the current state of HIT adoption in healthcare, the challenges, and opportunities for HIT implementation, and the future of HIT in healthcare. Research Project 1 is an introductory course that focuses on the fundamentals of research methodology and design in healthcare. The course covers the key principles of research ethics, data collection, and analysis, as well as the basic concepts of epidemiology and biostatistics. Students will learn how to formulate research questions, design a study, and collect and analyze data using appropriate statistical methods. The course also emphasizes the importance of effective communication of research findings, both in writing and oral presentation formats.
BS5 – Semester 5 – In person
- Human Embryology and Genetics Disorder (Credit Hours: 6)
- Neuroscience (Credit Hours: 6)
- Introduction to Microbiology and Immunology (Credit Hours: 6)
- Medical informatics and research project II (Credit Hours: 2)
Human Embryology and Genetics Disorder (Credit Hours: 6) This course provides an in-depth exploration of the development of the human embryo and the molecular and genetic mechanisms that underlie it. Through lectures, lab sessions, and case studies, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the stages of human embryonic development, as well as the genetic and environmental factors that can lead to congenital abnormalities and developmental disorders. This course also explores the ethical, legal, and social implications of prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling. Upon completion, students will have a strong foundation in embryology and genetics, essential for any health science career.
Neuroscience (Credit Hours – 6): This course provides an introduction to the field of neuroscience, focusing on the structure and function of the brain and nervous system. Topics covered include neuroanatomy, neural development, sensory and motor systems, learning and memory, emotion and motivation, and neurological disorders. This course also provides an in-depth understanding of the structure and function of the nervous system and its relationship to human health and disease. Topics covered include the anatomy and physiology of the brain and spinal cord, neuronal signaling and plasticity, sensory and motor systems, and the autonomic nervous system. Students will also learn about the neurological basis of various disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and epilepsy, and the pharmacological treatments used to manage them. The course will also emphasize the importance of ethical considerations in neuroscience research and the application of neuroscience principles in clinical practice.
Introduction to Microbiology and Immunology (Credit Hours – 6): This course will provide an in-depth understanding of the fundamental principles and scientific basis for understanding the basic principles of infectious diseases as they currently impact human medicine. Students will learn the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. The course will also cover the molecular and cellular mechanisms of host defense against these pathogens, including the structure and function of the immune system and the principles of immunological diagnostics. Additionally, students will learn the principles of vaccination and the role of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance. The course will include lectures, laboratory sessions, and interactive discussions to enhance students’ understanding of the topics covered.
Medical informatics and research project II (Credit Hours – 2): Research Project 2 builds on the knowledge and skills gained in Research Project 1, focusing on more advanced research methods and techniques. Students will learn how to design and conduct studies using various research designs, including observational studies, randomized controlled trials, and quasi-experimental designs. The course also covers advanced statistical methods, including regression analysis, survival analysis, and meta-analysis. Students will have the opportunity to apply these methods to real-world healthcare research problems and to critically evaluate research studies in healthcare literature.
BS6 – Semester 6 – In person
- Essentials of Pharmacology (Credit Hours: 6)
- Basic Pathophysiology (Credit Hours: 6)
- Introduction to Medical Education and Research (Credit Hours: 2)
- Medical informatics and research project III (Credit Hours: 2)
Essentials of Pharmacology (Credit Hours – 6): This course is one of the foundational course in the study of medicine. This course provides an in-depth exploration of the principles of pharmacology and the mechanisms of drug action. Through lectures, case studies, and hands-on activities, students will learn about drug classifications, mechanisms of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination, as well as the therapeutic and adverse effects of drugs. The course will also cover pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, drug interactions, and drug development. Additionally, the course will cover key pharmacological principles in different therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, endocrine and central nervous system disorders. Upon completion of this course, students will have a solid understanding of the principles and concepts that underlie the use of drugs in the treatment and prevention of disease and will have a solid understanding of pharmacology and be prepared to apply this knowledge in clinical practice.
Basic Pathophysiology (Credit Hours – 6): This course will provide an in-depth understanding the functional changes that occur in the body during disease states. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms of disease, including the causes, progression, and clinical manifestations of various disorders including cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, endocrine and central nervous system disorders. Students will learn about the physiological and biochemical alterations that occur in various organs and systems, and how these changes contribute to the pathogenesis of diseases. The course emphasizes the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and will prepare students for clinical practice by providing a solid foundation in the mechanisms of disease.
Introduction to Medical Education and research (Credit Hours – 2): This course will provide students with a broad exposure to several aspects of medical education which are pertinent to their future careers as physicians. The course will provide a platform for students to engage in discussion with faculty members to discuss topics often not included in the medical school curriculum, including: teaching methods and learning theories, assessment methods, curriculum development, and research methodology. The goal of this course is to encourage students to understand and appreciate the role of medical education in their development as thoughtful and effective teachers or clinical preceptors in the future and gain knowledge of medical education research.
Medical informatics and research project III (Credit Hours – 2): Research Project 3 is a capstone course in which students will apply the knowledge and skills gained in Research Project 1 and 2 to design and conduct a research project in the healthcare field. Students will work in teams to develop a research proposal, obtain Faculty or Research and Ethics committee approval, collect, and analyze data, and write a comprehensive research report. The course also emphasizes effective communication of research findings, both in written and oral presentation formats. Students will present their research findings to the class and faculty members and submit their research report for publication in a healthcare research journal.
