BIOPHY-BS - Biophysical Sciences

Program Website

The B.S. degree in biophysical sciences bridges the disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics, connecting the complexity of life to the laws of physics. The program at SMU consists of core courses in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and the School of Education. It includes the entire SMU pre-health curriculum and additional courses that provide advanced learning in order to provide a strong foundation for careers in medicine or research. The remaining credit hours can be obtained from a selection of elective courses that are available in the degree plan. This program is advised in the SMU Department of Chemistry.

Students obtaining a B.S. degree in biophysical sciences cannot receive a minor or second major in chemistry, or a minor or second major as B.A. in physics. For students who are planning to obtain a second major as B.S. in physics, the following three courses cannot be chosen to fulfill the six elective course credits in the B.S. in biophysical sciences: PHYS 4311 - Laboratory Physics; PHYS 4382 - Introduction to Quantum Mechanics; PHYS 4390 - Special Projects in Physics.

Note that APSM 3321 - Biomechanics can be counted as an elective either for the B.S. in biophysical sciences or the B.S. in physics, but not simultaneously for both programs.

In addition, no advanced biology courses, except Genetics and Cell Biology, can be double counted towards a minor or second major in biology.

SMU-UT Southwestern Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program
The Biophysical Sciences program offers the SMU-UT Southwestern Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program. This fellowship program is designed to provide selected students (Fellows) with a unique opportunity to perform scientific research at the UT Southwestern (UTSW) Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences under the guidance of UTSW faculty and an SMU faculty mentor.

Fellows conduct this research full-time for one semester on the UTSW campus while remaining a full-time SMU student. Students in the program carry out a well-defined research project and make original contributions to their scientific discipline. The SMU faculty mentor assigns the final grade based on an evaluation from the UTSW faculty member, a mid-term research paper, and a poster presentation.

Upon successful completion, Fellows receive 6 credit hours toward their biophysical sciences major requirements by enrolling in CHEM 4308 and PHYS 4390 and 6 credit hours toward their graduation total as advanced elective credits by enrolling in CHEM 4697.