CANCER BIOLOGY, BS
Cancer Biology
The Undergraduate Program in Cancer Biology was established in 2020 as a joint program between the Department of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology (CDIB) in the Heersink School of Medicine. This program is the only one of its kind in the US to specifically train students in cancer biology.
The central mission of the new Cancer Biology undergraduate major is to provide students with a strong educational and research background that maximizes their chances to achieve career goals in cancer biology in particular and life sciences in general. This program is unique in that students will gain a broad background in the biomedical sciences by exposure to courses that support the current requirements of the biomedical enterprise and are applicable to academic, private and government settings. Furthermore, by requiring a research component, all students within this major will have early exposure to a cutting-edge research environment through participation in current investigator-led programs in multiple research-intensive departments at UAB and in collaboration with the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center.
UAB’s mission includes the promotion of discovery, knowledge dissemination and education. The Cancer Biology major helps to fulfill these goals by training students to take up positions in research and clinical laboratories, by providing a solid foundation for future graduate study, and by providing informed individuals appropriate for employment in multiple health-related settings. Disciplines covered will include not only cell biology and chemistry, but also microbiology, immunology, genetics, pathology, pharmacology and medicine. This interdisciplinary curriculum reflects the diverse nature of the disease itself.
Because of these features, students will be exposed to a robust and flexible educational experience. Undergraduates will have the opportunity to undertake high quality research in laboratory settings across campus. They will receive research training from world-class investigators at an earlier stage than their peers and have exposure to state-of-the-art technologies, which will increase the desirability of these students for both professional careers or post-graduate programs with an exceptional background in cancer biology and laboratory research.
Admissions
The Undergraduate Cancer Biology Program is designed for graduating high school seniors and college freshmen and sophomores with an outstanding academic record and the desire to pursue a career in biomedical research, medicine or the health professions. Successful applicants to the program should meet the admissions criteria below.
First-time freshmen applicants must have a high school cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) and an ACT composite score of 28 or higher (or the SAT combined V+Q score at 1300 or higher). High school students who do not meet these requirements may be accepted into the program as pre-Cancer Biology majors. Any student who is admitted as a pre-Cancer Biology major must have an overall GPA ≥3.0 after 24 credits of work at UAB, a GPA ≥3.25 in their Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics (MA 105 and higher) coursework, and have taken a freshman year curriculum that is compatible with the Program. Current UAB students and transfer students from other institutions who are freshmen or sophomores (non-direct admits) may select Cancer Biology for their major, but must have an overall GPA ≥3.0 and must have demonstrated excellent academic performance in science/mathematics courses and have a GPA ≥3.25 in those courses.
Students must maintain an overall GPA ≥3.0 in order to remain in good academic standing in the Cancer Biology Program. If a student’s overall GPA falls below 3.0, they will have one semester to bring their overall grade to 3.0 or better.
Those who wish to apply to the Program should contact the Program Directors for additional information. The Co-Directors of the Program, Dr. Braden McFarland and Dr. Sadanandan Velu, are available to meet with high school students and their parents, or with current UAB students to discuss the program.
Advising and Information
Program Leadership:
Dr. Braden McFarland
Co-Director, Undergraduate Cancer Biology Program
Assistant Professor of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology (CDIB)
(205) 934-3599
bdcox@uab.edu
Dr. Sadanandan Velu
Co-Director, Undergraduate Cancer Biology Program
Professor of Chemistry
(205) 975-2478
svelu@uab.edu
Academic Advising:
Jamie Grimes
Chemistry Building 212
cnbyadvise@uab.edu
