Undergraduate programs on the Bloomington campus include anatomy, physiology, medical science of psychoactive drugs, and other related topics

Undergraduate Medical Sciences Education

The Indiana University School of Medicine—Bloomington is involved with the education of thousands of Indiana University undergraduate students each year, offering undergraduate courses in anatomy, physiology, health and disease, the medical science of psychoactive drugs and other related topics.

A minor in medical sciences is available to undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in the life sciences. Students should check with their major advisor to determine if the medical sciences minor is an option for them.

Undergraduate students interested in research can arrange to work in the laboratory of an IU School of Medicine faculty member, and undergraduates interested in teaching can apply for a paid undergraduate teaching associate position.

Minor in Medical Sciences

The medical sciences minor provides undergraduates interested in a career in life sciences with a solid foundation to pursue future studies. Students considering allied health, exercise science, medicine, dentistry, optometry or nursing careers gain basic knowledge, experience and critical thinking skills by participating in this program.

Students must check with their major advisor to determine if the medical sciences minor is an option for them. If so, the recorder in the major school will add the medical sciences minor to the student’s electronic record so it can be tracked. Majors in the College of Arts and Sciences may add this minor by logging in to the College of Arts and Sciences secure website. For more information, contact the student services coordinator or the assistant director of undergraduate education at IU School of Medicine—Bloomington.

Requirements for a Minor in Medical Sciences

9 credits (at the 300 or 400 level) for College of Arts and Sciences students
6 credits for non-College of Arts and Sciences students.

2 credits — ANAT-A361 History of Anatomy^3,*

4 credits — ANAT-A464 Human Tissue Biology*

4 credits — ANAT-A480 Human Anatomy for Medical Imaging⁴

4 credits — ANAT- A487/587 Advanced Human Anatomy

3 credits — ANAT-A455 Introduction to Clinical Neuroanatomy²

3 credits — ANAT-A491 Human Embryology⁴

3 credits — MSCI-M131 Disease and the Human Body
OR MSCI-M216 Medical Science of Psychoactive Drugs
(College of Arts and Sciences students cannot include MSCI-M131 or MSCI-M216 in this minor.)

3-6 credits — MSCI-M300 Topics in Medical Sciences

2 credits — MSCI-M325 Introduction to Medicine¹

3 credits — MSCI-M335 Biopsychosocial Medicine – A Case Study Approach^1,*

3 credits — MSCI-M345 Medicine and the Media^5,*

3 credits — MSCI-M360 Introduction to Pathophysiology*

4 credits — MSCI-M375 Human Parasitology OR BIOL-M 375 Human Parasitology³

3 credits — MSCI-M401 Basic and Clinical Pharmacology^1,*

2 credits — MSCI-M410 Research Methods in Cell and Molecular Biology¹

3 credits — MSCI-M440 Health Care in America¹

1-3 credits — MSCI-M 450 Undergraduate Research in Biomedical Sciences⁺

3 credits — MSCI-M465 Medicine and Well-being³

3 credits — MSCI-M480 Molecular Biology of Cancer: Cell Signaling and Fate³

4 credits — MSCI-M485 Physiology of Human Disease

1-3 credits — MSCI-M490 Special Topics in Biomedical Sciences⁺

3 credits — PHSL-P416 Comparative Animal Physiology¹

3 credits — PHSL-P454 Environmental Physiology⁴

¹Every Fall only
²Every other Fall only
³Spring only
⁴Every other Spring only
⁵Intersession or Spring
* Hybrid or Online course
⁺ May be used for a maximum of 3 credits for the minor. MSCI-M450 and M490 are independent research credits or independent readings course typically reserved for those students already working in the lab of a Medical Sciences faculty member.

All courses are offered on the IU Bloomington campus unless otherwise specified.

Frequently Asked Questions

Undergraduate Medical Sciences Courses

The Medical Sciences program at IU School of Medicine—Bloomington offers numerous undergraduate courses that satisfy selected requirements for specific majors, and which may count for credit for the Medical Sciences minor. These courses are also popular electives for many undergraduates who are not pursuing life science degrees.

Explore undergraduate courses

two students work together during anatomy lab

Undergraduate Teaching Associate Positions

An undergraduate teaching associate (UTA) in the Medical Sciences Program is a junior or senior undergraduate student with at least 60 credit hours completed and an overall GPA of at least 3.0. UTAs assists faculty, associate instructors and laboratory directors with the teaching mission of the program. UTAs primarily help in teaching laboratories but also assist in other essential roles as specified for each course. In return, UTAs develop communication and leadership skills and insight to how people learn. Participation in this program is reserved for the truly outstanding undergraduate student. A student must have completed the course for which they serve as a UTA. Contact the IU School of Medicine—Bloomington Student Services Coordinator, the ANAT-A215 lab coordinator, or the PSHL-P215 lab coordinator for further information.

Apply to be an undergraduate teaching associate

Undergraduate Medical Sciences Education

Minor in Medical Sciences

Requirements for a Minor in Medical Sciences

Credits and GPA

Required courses

Elective courses

Frequently Asked Questions

How many credits do I need to complete the minor?

Why do I need to complete more credits for the minor if I am a College of Arts and Sciences major?

I am a double major. One of my majors is in the College of Arts and Sciences, and the other is in another school. How many credits do I need to earn for the minor?

I took transfer coursework that articulated at IU as 4 credits (or less) of A215/225 (or P215/225). Will these credits count for the minor?

I took transfer coursework that articulated at IU as 5 credits (or more) of A215/225 (or P215/225). Will these credits count for the minor?

I am a College of Arts and Sciences student. How do I sign up for the minor?

I am a student who is majoring in a school other than the College of Arts and Sciences. How do I sign up for the minor?

Do I need to speak to the student services coordinator or the assistant director of undergraduate education prior to signing up for the minor?

Are there any exceptions to the list of required courses that are allowed for the minor?

I will be graduating soon and I am one or more credits short of completing the minor. Can an exception be made in my case?

Undergraduate Medical Sciences Courses

Undergraduate Teaching Associate Positions