Starting in the 2012-13 academic year EMU will be offering an MA in Biomedicine. "Unlike other programs, our approach is to educate broadly by combining social science, cross-cultural, theology and ethics courses with our core curriculum in the natural sciences," said Roman Miller, PhD, director of the program (left, pictured with Jennifer Bock). Photo by Jon Styer.

Aspiring Doctors Boosted by New MA in Biomedicine

Building on the stellar reputation of its undergraduate pre-medical program and Eastern Mennonite University’s (EMU)  global emphasis, EMU will offer an MA in biomedicine beginning fall 2012. The program will prepare people from a variety of backgrounds for further graduate-level training in health-related fields.

Upper-level courses in topics such as cross-cultural health care/biomedicine, will appeal to and prepare students from science as well as other backgrounds.

“Many people realize after graduation, once they are in the job market, that they would like to prepare to help meet the needs of our society’s aging population or work to address other under-served health care needs,” says Roman Miller, PhD, program director. “This program will build on the skills people bring from other undergraduate programs to prepare for further professional work in the health care industry.”

This is EMU’s sixth graduate degree, joining MA in nursing leadership (added in 2010), MBA, MA in counseling, MA in education and a graduate program in conflict transformation. In addition, Eastern Mennonite Seminary offers graduate programs in divinity, church leadership and religion.

Program exceeds national average

EMU far exceeds the national average of undergraduates who apply and are accepted into medical school. Over the past 10 years, more than 90 percent of EMU students who completed the pre-medical program were accepted to medical school, compared to the current national average of 46 percent.

“Our faith-based approach and trans-disciplinary studies make EMU’s program unique,” said Miller. “We use natural science courses as our core curriculum, and students immerse themselves in the physical, social and spiritual dimensions of biomedicine.”

The MA in biomedicine program adds integrative seminars, practicums and cross-discipline requirements in social science and theological ethics to accent the intersection of faith and science. In addition, students will enroll in a cross-cultural practicum to further hone their skills in a unique cultural setting.

“Unlike other programs, our approach is to educate broadly by combining social science, cross-cultural, theology and ethics courses with our core curriculum in the natural sciences,” said Miller.

One-on-one attention and guidance from faculty mentors is integral to the program.

“As a result of my education at EMU, I feel that I am more prepared to take on a medical school curriculum than my fellow classmates,” said Ian Koons ’07, a post-baccalaureate student who is a first-year medical student at American University of the Caribbean. “The EMU education encourages students to explore an eclectic education which instills a strong foundation on which to build a career.”

More information, links

For more information on the MA in biomedicine contact (540) 432-4400 or ma-biomed@emu.edu.

Learn more about the MA in biomedicine at EMU: