Program Overview

Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's (ABM) Program

The Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Program (ABM) in Multidisciplinary Biomedical Science allows undergraduate students to take courses that count simultaneously toward their undergraduate and graduate programs. Once admitted, an ABM student can take up to 12 hours of approved 500/600-level graduate courses that will count toward both undergraduate and graduate degrees.

How it Works

Our program offers two tracks: a 45-hour Thesis track and a 30-hour Non-Thesis track.

MBS-ABM Plan I Thesis Track (45 hours)

• MBS 601: Molecular and Cell Biology (Fall, 4 hours)
• MBS 602: Biochemistry and Cell Biology (Spring, 4 hours)
• MBS 603: General Human Physiology (Summer, 4 hours)
• BST 603 Biostatistics (or equivalent) (Fall/Spring/Summer, 3 hours)
• MBS 696 Intro to Research (Fall/Spring, 2 hours)
• MBS 697 Colloquium (Fall/Spring, 4 hours)
• MBS 698 Non-Thesis Research (Fall/Spring/Summer, 9 hours)
• MBS 699 Thesis Research (Fall/Spring/Summer, 6 hours)
• Electives (Fall/Spring/Summer, 9 hours)

Plan II Non-Thesis Track (30 hours)

Required Courses (18 hours)

• MBS 601: Molecular and Cell Biology (Fall, 4 hours)
• MBS 602: Biochemistry and Cell Biology (Spring, 4 hours)
• MBS 603: General Human Physiology (Summer, 4 hours)
• BST 603: Biostatistics (or equivalent) (Fall/Spring/Summer, 3 hours)
• Electives (Fall/Spring/Summer, 15 hours)

Electives

Elective Requirements

• In the same UG class with students taking at 400 level
• Complete additional work assignments that satisfy rigor of MS-level curriculum
• Grade appears on both UG and MS transcript
• Shared credit courses in:
  • Bioinformatics
  • Biology
  • Cancer Biology (CNBY)
  • Genetics and Genomic Sciences (GGSC)
  • Immunology
  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology

MBS-ABM Approved Shared Elective List

Immunology

• MIC 400/600: Microbiome in Health/Immunity (Spring online, 3 credits) for IMM majors only or by special permission
• MIC 401/601: Innate Immune System (Fall, 3 credits) - for IMM majors only or by special permission
• MIC 402/602: Adaptive Immune System (Spring, 3 credits) - for IMM majors only or by special permission
• MIC 403/603: Host-Pathogen Interactions (Fall, 3 credits) – for IMM Majors only or by special permission
• MIC 404/604: Immune-Mediated Diseases (Spring, 3 credits) - for IMM majors only or by special permission *pre-requisites (MIC 401 & MIC 402)
• MIC 660: Introduction to the Immune System (Fall, 3 credits)
• MIC 661: Immune-mediated Diseases (Spring, 3 credits)
• MIC 665: Current Topics in Immunology (Summer or Fall, 3 credits)

Cancer Biology

• CNBY 600: Introduction to Cancer Biology (NOT SHAREABLE)
• CNBY 410/610: Cancer Cell Growth (Spring, 3 credits)
• CNBY 420/620: The Cancer Genome (Fall, 3 credits)
• CNBY 430/630: The Tumor Terrain (Fall, 3 credits)
• CNBY 440/640: Tumor Signaling Pathways (Fall, 3 credits)
• CNBY 660: Cancer Immuno-histopath (Spring, 3 credits) required prerequisite (CNBY 320)
• CNBY 670: Oncology Therapy (Spring, 3 credits)
• CNBY 425/625 Sex Differences in Cancer
• CNBY 435/635 Pediatric Cancers
• CNBY 445/645 Cancer Neuroscience
• CNBY 650 Microbiome in Cancer
• CNBY 655 Cancer Bioinformatics

Genetics & Genomic Sciences

• GGSC 410/610: Genetic Basis of Human Disease (Spring, 3 credits)
• GGSC 415/615: Aquatic Animal Models of Human Disease (Fall, 3 credits)
• GGSC 420/620: Applications of Bioinformatics (Fall, 3 credits)
• GGSC 435/635: Zebrafish Models (Spring, 3 credits)
• GGSC 665: Research Techniques for Aquatic Animals of Human Disease (Spring, 3 credits)
• GGSC 470/670: Principles of Pharmacogenetics (Spring, 3 credits)
• GGSC 490/690: Model Systems for Genetic Disorders (Fall, 3 credits)
• GGSC 491/691: Personalized Genomic Medicine (Spring, 3 credits)
• GGSC 650: SpTp Genetics & Genomic Sciences

Bioinformatics

• INFO 401/601: Bioinformatics I-Introduction (Fall, 3 credits)
• INFO 403/602: Bioinformatics II-Algorithms (Spring, 3 credits) required prerequisite (INFO 601)
• INFO 404/603: Biological Data Management (3 credits)
• INFO 604: Next-gen Sequ Data Analysis (Spring, 3 credits) required prerequisite (INFO 601)
• INFO 410/610: Programming with Biological Data (Summer, 3 credits)
• INFO 625: Data Visualization for Bioinformatics (TBD, credits)
• INFO 691: Bioinformatics Seminar I (Spring, 1 credit) required prerequisite (INFO 601)
• INFO 697: Biomed Informatics Methods (Spring, 3 credits) required prerequisite (INFO 696)

Neuroscience

• NBL 600: Special Topics: Neurogenetics (Spring, 3 credits)
• NBL 424/624: Neuropsychopharmacology (Spring, 3 credits)
• NBL 425/625: Methods in Human Neuroimaging (Fall, 3 credits)
• NBL 432/632: Basic Science of the Nervous System I (3 credits)
• NBL 433/633: Diseases of the Nervous System II (Fall, 3 credits)
• NBL 434/634: Mechanisms of Memory (Spring, 3 credits)
• NBL 444/644: Memento Mori-Neurodegeneration (Spring, 3 credits)
• NBL 356/656: From Systems to Cognitive Neuroscience (Fall/Spring/Summer, 3 credits)
• NBL 684: Biological Rhythms and Sleep (Fall/Spring, 3 credits)
• PY 435/635: Motivation and Emotion (Fall/Spring, credits)
• PY 453/653: Foundations of Behavioral Neuroscience (Fall, 4 credits)
• PY 415/683: Developmental Disabilities *(Not Shareable for ABM Shared Credit)
• PY 431/687: The Dynamics of Pain (Spring, 3 credits)

Biology

• BY 511: Molecular Genetics (Fall, 3 credits)
• BY 512: 21st Century Gene Editing (Summer, 3 credits)
• BY 527: Histology & Lab (Spring, 4 credits)
• BY 330/530: Graduate Cell Biology (Spring, 3 credits)
• BY 431/531: Principles of DNA Technology (Spring, 3 credits; also approved as shareable for GGSC majors)
• BY 535: Natural History of Vertebrates (Fall, 4 credits) & Lab (1 credit)
• BY 555: Biol Data Interpret & Analysis (Fall, 3 credits)
• BY 570: Ecology (Spring, 3 credits)
• BY 595: Special Topics: Adv Genetics (Spring, 4 credits)
• BY 607: Microbial Ecology (Fall, 3 credits)
• BY 414/614: Advanced Cell Biology (Spring, 3 credits)
• BY 616: Cellular Physiology (TBA, 3 credits)
• BY 617: Science Policy (TBA, 3 credits)
• BY 418/618: Colloquium in Biology of Aging (Spring or Fall, 1 credit)
• BY 429/629: Evolutionary Biology (Fall or Spring, 3 credits)
• BY 433/633: Advanced Molecular Genetics (Fall, 3 credits)
• BY 434/634: Functional Genomics & Systems Biology (Spring, 3 credits)
• BY 436/636: Biological Processes in Aging (Spring, 3 credits)
• BY 437/637: Epigenetics (Fall, 3 credits)
• BY 440/640: Immunology (Spring, 3 credits)
• BY 642: Experimental Phycology & Lab (Spring, 4 credits)
• BY 444/644: Biological Experimental Design & Methods (Spring, 3 credits)
• BY 474/647: Contemporary Political Issues in Science (TBA, 3 credits)
• BY 651: Advanced Plant Biology (Fall, 3 credits)
• BY 655: Biometry (Spring, 3 credits)
• BY 662: Introductory Neurobiology (Fall, 3 credits)
• BY 674: Chemical Ecology (Spring or Fall, 3 credits)
• BY 675: Comp Developmental Biology (Spring, 3 credits)
• BY 677: Design Thinking to Solve Problems through Science Policy (TBA, 3 credits)
• BY 680: Epigenetics Discussion (Spring, 1 credit)
• BY 688: Colloquium in Algal Ecophysiol (Spring, 1 credit)
• BY 692: Colloquium in Ecology (Spring, 1 credit)

Pharmacology & Toxicology

• PHR 611: Physiological Principles of Pharmacology & Toxicology (Fall, 3 credits)
• PHR 612: Organ Systems Physiology & Pharmacology I (Spring, 3 credits)
• PHR 613: Organ Systems Physiology & Pharmacology II (Summer, 3 credits)
• PHR 614: Drug Development (Fall, 3 credits)
• PHR 615: Pharmacokinetics (Spring, 3 credits)

Behavioral Neuroscience Graduate Level Classes

• PY 520: Sensation & Perception cross-listed with PY 380: Sensory and Perceptual Brain
• PY 520: Psychology of Learning cross-listed with PY361: Psychology of Learning
• PY 620: Motivation and Emotion cross-listed with PY 425: Motivation and Emotion
• PY 687: Dynamics of Pain cross-listed with PY 431: Dynamics of Pain
• PY 707: Brain and Cognition … no cross-listing

Pre-Requisites: MSMBS-ABM

Before matriculating, students must:

• Minimum 3.5 undergraduate GPA
• Achieve Junior status (60 hours)
• Have completed ≥ 36 hours at UAB
• Have following required UAB pre-requisites (or non-UAB equivalent):
  • BY 123/124 Introductory Biology with labs
  • CH 235, 237 Organic Chemistry with lab

Application Process

Prior to applying, prospective students must create a plan of study and fill out an ABM form listing shared credits between both degrees. Prospective students must then schedule a meeting with MBS-ABM Academic Advisor and their undergraduate advisor to review the plan of study and sign the ABM form.

Requirements for Application Review

• UAB Transcript
• ABM Form
• Personal Statement
• Application Fee