“It’s a great honor that shows just how much the Ripon College community can help individuals excel. This honor wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible professors and coaches I was fortunate to learn from and the teammates and peers who have worked with and supported me throughout the years.”
Cormac majored in chemistry-biology (now called biomedical science) at Ripon while also excelling as a football and baseball athlete, being named the 2023 Midwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Year for Men’s Sports.
Cormac Madigan '22, First Year Medical Student at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Modern chemistry is the study of matter and its transformations. Our department presents the theory, concepts and laboratory experiences of chemistry in an intimate environment that allows for the personal professional development of students through both individual and team-based approaches. The department’s program is framed within the liberal arts model where we consider multiple perspectives to enhance our understanding of phenomena. Throughout the chemistry curriculum, students advance in their problem-solving, critical thinking, laboratory safety, communication and ethical skills and become prepared for careers as productive scientists and for lives as responsible citizens.
The Department of Biology provides an intellectually challenging learning environment for students of the life sciences. In laboratory, field and discussions, students come to understand the foundations and diversity of life by posing meaningful biological questions, answering these questions through observation and experimentation, and presenting their findings to a wide audience. These experiences prepare students to make informed decisions in their daily life, to work in a range of careers, and to pursue advanced professional programs.
At a Glance
Previously called chemistry-biology at Ripon College, the newly titled biomedical sciences major includes prerequisites for most medical professional programs as basic requirements. Combine this with the dedicated faculty mentors and sophisticated instrumentation available at Ripon, graduates of this program leave prepared to succeed in the medical and health sciences fields as clinicians or researchers.
Expect to Experience
Leave Empowered To
Students who complete the biomedical sciences program graduate with the skills necessary to:
Collaborative research work between Ripon College professors and a student has resulted in a conference presentation and publication in the journal Behavioural Brain Research. “Decrease […]
Professor of Chemistry, L. Leone Oyster 1919 Chair in Chemistry
Professor of Biology, Patricia and Philip McCullough Class of 1969 Professor in Biology
Associate Professor of Biology
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Ripon College faculty and professional staff are dedicated to helping you reach your goals, whatever they may be and however often they may change along the way. It’s part of our value statement to you.
As a student at Ripon, you will be assigned a faculty adviser based on your area(s) of interest. You will meet with your faculty adviser throughout your time as a student to discuss your current aspirations, plan your course schedule and plot a future trajectory. We also work collaboratively with Ripon College Career and Professional Development to help match your interests and skills to concrete goals and construct a plan for professional success offering personalized career counseling, off-campus learning opportunities and an online job board with potential to connect with local, national and international employers.
Advising at Ripon| Requirements for a Major in Biomedical Science | |
|---|---|
| Core Courses | The basic core of required courses includes: BIO 122 Ecology, Evolution, and Diversity, 123 Molecules, Cells, and Genes; CHM 111 Organic Chemistry I, 112 Structure and Reactivity, and 211 Analytical Chemistry: Equilibrium and Quantitative Analysis; PHY 131 General Physics I: Mechanics and 152 Introductory Physics II: Electricity, Magnetism and Waves or PHY 131 General Physics I: Mechanics and 172 General Physics II: Electricity, Magnetism and Waves; MTH 201 Calculus I or higher-level calculus; and BIO 501 and 502 Senior Studies* or CHM 501 and 502 Departmental Seminar**. A senior thesis is required. *For students electing to take BIO 501 and 502 Senior Studies, MTH 120 Elementary Statistics or PSC 211 Research Design and Statistics and BIO 200 Scientific Writing and Communication or PSC 211-212 Research Design and Statistics are prerequisites. **For students electing to take CHM 501 and 502 Departmental Seminar, one writing prerequisite course is required from among the following: |
| Elective Courses | Students must also complete the following elective courses in Biology and Chemistry.
Biology elective requirements: Chemistry elective requirements: |
An undergraduate degree in biomedical science can lead to careers in medicine, chemistry, veterinary science, nursing, pharmacology, business, law, teaching and environmental protection.
Many Ripon graduates in this program become doctors, nurses, pharmacists, environmental scientists, college and university professors, elementary or secondary teachers, corporate or academic researchers and lawyers.
Our graduates are enrolled in a variety of graduate programs and medical schools at some of the nation’s most prestigious research universities.
| Graduate and Medical Schools Attended by Ripon College Graduates | ||
|---|---|---|
| Baylor College of Medicine | Purdue University | University of Minnesota |
| Colorado State University | Scripps | University of Oregon |
| Duke University | UCLA | University of Pennsylvania |
| Harvard University | University of Arizona | University of Tennessee |
| Iowa State University | University of California-Irvine | University of Washington |
| Miami of Ohio | University of Illinois | University of Wisconsin |
| Northwestern University | University of Iowa | Washington State University |
| Penn State | University of Massachusetts | Yale University |
| M.D. and Ph.D.'s Earned by Ripon College Biomedical Science Majors | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Chemistry | Immunology | Organic Chemistry |
| Biochemistry | Inorganic Chemistry | Chemical Biology |
| Molecular Biology | Molecular Pharmacology | Experimental Therapeutics |
Ripon College is here to provide unique experiences that will enhance your studies.
Research opportunities and internships, in collaboration with Ripon College professors. Paid summer internships are available through our Summer Opportunities for Advanced Research (SOAR) Program, and often this collaborative work is published.
The purpose of this program is to ensure quality, vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support inclusive of an annual stipend of $37,000 for graduate students. Ripon College faculty have a track record of success in working with interested students to secure this and other research grants.
The Oak Ridge Science Semester enables students to join ongoing investigations at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee in research areas as diverse as astrophysics, cell biology, DNA sequencing, genetic mutagenesis, parallel computing, robotics, toxicology and more.
"Your hard work will pay off in the end, especially when it comes to putting effort into maximizing academic performance and achieving future career goals. This year, I was accepted to my top-choice graduate program."
"The research I’ve done, the career path I’m pursuing and the people I’ve gotten to know due to my McNair experience led to who I am today."
Breaking ground in spring of 2023, the Franzen Science Center is a complete renovation of Farr Hall including 19,000 square feet of new construction featuring new laboratory, classroom and collaboration spaces throughout. The space, originally built in 1961, is designed to meet the STEM learning needs of science students today and with the flexibility to adapt to needs in the future. Click here to learn more about Ripon's ongoing investment in our campus.
Home to the science department, Farr Hall contains classrooms, labs, faculty offices, Bear Auditorium and a greenhouse. Departmental instrumentation includes LC/MS, GC/MS, 300 MHz NMR, FTIR, digital polarimetry with campus wide spectroscopic and molecular biology instrumentation available.