Biological/Pre-Medical Illustration

Contact Information

Kimberly Moss
378 College of Design

bpmi.iastate.edu
moss@iastate.edu
720-876-7501

Elizabeth Zimmerman, Academic Advisor
1608C Gilman Hall

ezim@iastate.edu
515-294-4832

Overview

The interdepartmental undergraduate BPMI major is designed for students who want to combine their interests and aptitudes in science and art. Based on the theme of Communicating Science Through Art, the major prepares students for careers in biological visualization/illustration or for graduate education in medical visualization/illustration. Graduates enter fields such as biocommunications, environmental display design, freelance illustration, UX/UI and museum display design, creative technologies, instructional design, and various careers in the publishing, research and education, and visual communication industries.

Student Learning Outcomes

Throughout its over 35-year existence, the underlying philosophy of BPMI has been to emphasize both art and science; students take approximately equal credit hours in the two major areas. Another important guiding principle has been visual thinking and problem-solving, and a third is maintaining student proficiency in a wide range of visual communication methods and technologies so they have the skill to choose the most effective tools for a given communication objective. Upon completion of the BPMI Program, graduates will:

Implement effective academic research methods and concept development processes for producing meaningful educational visual solutions.
Demonstrate advanced science knowledge in a science focus area of choice (for example, pre-medical, or non-medical areas of life and earth science).
Demonstrate the ability to deconstruct and visualize complex science in order to create accessible, accurate, aesthetic, and meaningful visual representations, including diagrammatic, realistic, and symbolic, for a range of outputs (print, modeled, online, mobile).
Implement interdisciplinary thinking in team-based and independent projects.
Flexibly adapt to new technology and communication challenges.
Showcase and analyze works by articulating key visual elements in formal presentations, in written and oral format, and during assessments and critiques.
Demonstrate effective use of design principles, problem solving skills, and visual organization.
Demonstrate career-readiness and professional practice competencies.
Exhibit an academic trajectory for engaging in life-long learning.

Entrance Requirements

Entrance into the BPMI program is by application to the BPMI Advisory Committee. Eligibility is based on an academic standard of at least 2.00 cumulative GPA on 30 credits of university level work and a consideration of artistic ability as demonstrated through submission of a portfolio of representative drawings or another artwork. Freshman and transfer students usually declare pre-BPMI as their major while satisfying the conditions for entrance into the major, although other majors can be declared.

Degree Requirements

The information below outlines the specific requirements for a B.A. degree in Biological/Pre-Medical Illustration (BPMI). There are four components to a degree in BPMI:

Liberal arts general education
Science core and advanced courses
Art core and advanced courses
Electives

Part 1. College Requirements

a. Communication Proficiency Requirements

ENGL 1500	Critical Thinking and Communication (grade of C or better)	3
ENGL 2500	Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition (grade of C or better)	3
LIB 1600	Introduction to College Level Research	1
Choose one course from the following:		3
ENGL 3020	Business Communication
ENGL 3160	Creative Writing: Playwriting
Two semesters of college-level world language		0-8
Students with 3 years in high school world language are exempt
Total Credits		10-18

B. Liberal Arts and Sciences Requirements*

Arts and Humanities ^**		12
Natural Sciences and Mathematical Disciplines
MATH 1040	Introduction to Probability	3-4
or MATH 1400	College Algebra
or MATH 1430	Preparation for Calculus
or MATH 1650	Calculus I
or STAT 1010	Principles of Statistics
or STAT 1040	Introduction to Statistics
or COMS 1070	Windows Application Programming
or more advanced
CHEM 1630 & 1630L	College Chemistry and Laboratory in College Chemistry	5
or CHEM 1770 & 1770L	General Chemistry I and Laboratory in General Chemistry I
CHEM 2310 & 2310L	Elementary Organic Chemistry and Laboratory in Elementary Organic Chemistry	4
Social Sciences ^***		9
Total Credits		33-34

*: Choose courses to meet International Perspectives & U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity) requirements
**: See https://las.iastate.edu/students/academics/general-education/
Consider HIST 2800, HIST 2810; ARTH 2800, ARTH 2810; DSNS 1830
***: See https://las.iastate.edu/students/academics/general-education/

Part 2. Course Requirements for Major in BPMI (continued in Part 3)

A. Biological Sciences Core

LAS 2930D	Special Projects: General (F.)	1
or LAS 1010	Orientation for Open Option and Preprofessional Students
BIOL 2110 & 2110L	Principles of Biology I and Principles of Biology Laboratory I (F.S.)	4
BIOL 2120 & 2120L	Principles of Biology II and Principles of Biology Laboratory II (F.S.)	4
BIOL 2550 & 2550L	Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Fundamentals of Human Anatomy Laboratory	4-5
or BIOL 2560 & BIOL 2550L	Fundamentals of Human Physiology and Fundamentals of Human Anatomy Laboratory
or BIOL 3130 & 3130L	Principles of Genetics and Genetics Laboratory
or BIOL 3350 & 3350L	Principles of Human and Other Animal Physiology and Principles of Human and Other Animal Physiology Laboratory
or BIOL 3500	Comprehensive Human Anatomy
or BIOL 3510	Comparative Chordate Anatomy
or BIOL 3650	Vertebrate Biology
Note: BIOL 3500, 3510 and 3650 courses include labwork.
BIOL 3560	Dendrology	3-4
or BIOL 3660	Plant Systematics
or BIOL 4510	Plant Evolution and Phylogeny
or BIOL 4540	Plant Anatomy
GEOL 1020 & 1020L	History of the Earth and History of the Earth: Laboratory	3-4
or BIOL 3120	Ecology
or BIOL 3150	Biological Evolution
Total Credits		19-22

B. Art Core

DSNS 1310	Drawing I (F.S.)	4
ARTIS 2300	Drawing II (F.S.)	3
ARTIS 2330	Watercolor Painting (F.S.)	3
ARTIS 3080	Computer Modeling, Rendering and Virtual Photography (F.S.)	3
ARTIS 3300	Drawing III: Life Drawing (F.S.)	3
BPMI 3230	Scientific Illustration Principles and Techniques (F.)	3
BPMI 3260	Illustration and Illustration Software (S.)	3
BPMI 3270	Illustration as Communication (F.)	3
BPMI 3370	Application of Scientific Illustration Techniques (S.)	3
BPMI 4970	Illustration Internship	1
Total Credits		29

Beyond the core preparation, students must take 9 credits in the advanced science area and 12 credits in the advanced art area. The courses acceptable in these areas follow. Other courses in art and biological science may be acceptable. See BPMI advisors and/or the BPMI Advisory Committee.

C. Advanced Art Area

Select 12 total credits from below. At least 6 credits must be studio classes. Some courses can be considered either pre-med illustration or general art; speak with your advisor for guidance.
Pre-Med Illustration Area
ARCH 3350	Three-Dimensional Studio	3
ARTIS 3300	Drawing III: Life Drawing	3
ARTIS 4080	Principles of 3D Animation	3
ARTIS 4300	Drawing IV (F.S.)	3
ARTIS 4310	Character and Scene Design	3
ARTIS 4320	Sequential Narrative Drawing	3
ARTIS 4750	Interactive Art	3
ARTIS 4820	Selected Topics in Studio Art	1-3
BPMI 3230	Scientific Illustration Principles and Techniques	3
BPMI 3260	Illustration and Illustration Software	3
BPMI 3370	Application of Scientific Illustration Techniques	3
BPMI 4900	Independent Study	1-3
BPMI 4910	Portfolio Design and Professional Development (S.)	2
BPMI 4940	Special Topics in Illustration	1-3
General Art Area
ARTIS 2130	Studio Fundamentals: Painting (F.S.)	2
ARTIS 2270	Introduction to Creative Digital Photography	3
ARTIS 2380	Painting I (F.S.)	3
ARTIS 3290	Creative Photography	3
ARTIS 3380	Painting II	3
ARTIS 3560	Relief Printmaking: Digital/Traditional	3-4
ARTIS 3570	Intaglio and Monotype Printmaking: Digital / Traditional	3-4
ARTIS 3580	Lithography: Digital / Traditional	3
ARTIS 4070	Principles of Character Animation	3
ARTIS 4090	Computer/Video Game Design and Development	3
ARTIS 4380	Painting III (F.S.)	3
ARTIS 4730	Video Art	3
BPMI 3950	Field Illustration (S.SS.)	1-3
BPMI 4060X	Introduction to 3D Organic Modeling in ZBrush	3
BPMI 4700X	Data, Code, and Form	3
JLMC 3060	Broadcast Media Production (F.S.)	3
JLMC 3150	Digital Storytelling (F.S.)	3
STAT 3320	Visual Communication of Quantitative Information	3

D. Advanced Science Area

Select 9 credits total from below.
Pre-Med Illustration Science Area - required/recommended courses by most graduate schools
BBMB 3160	Principles of Biochemistry (F.)	3
BIOL 3130	Principles of Genetics (F.S.SS.)	3
BIOL 3140	Principles of Molecular Cell Biology (F.S.)	3
BIOL 3350	Principles of Human and Other Animal Physiology (S.)	3
BIOL 3520	Vertebrate Histology (S.)	4
BIOL 4230	Developmental Biology (S.)	3
BMS 3290	Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals	3
BMS 4480	Principles of Human Gross Anatomy	4
GEN 3400	Human Genetics (F.S.SS.)	3
General Science Area
AECL 3210	Fish Biology (S.)	3
AECL 3660	Natural History of Iowa Vertebrates (S.)	3
AECL 4570	Herpetology (F.)	2
AECL 4580	Ornithology (S.)	2
AECL 4590	Mammalogy (S.)	2
ANTHR 3070	Biological Anthropology (S.)	3
ANTHR 3190	Skeletal Biology (F.)	3
ANTHR 4240	Forensic Anthropology (S.)	3
BBMB 3010	Survey of Biochemistry (S.SS.)	3
BIOL 3120	Ecology (F.SS. )	4
BIOL 2550 & 2550L	Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Fundamentals of Human Anatomy Laboratory	4
BIOL 2560 & 2560L	Fundamentals of Human Physiology and Fundamentals of Human Physiology Laboratory	4
BIOL 3130L	Genetics Laboratory (F.S.)	1
BIOL 3150	Biological Evolution (F.S.)	3
BIOL 3280	Molecular and Cellular Biology of Human Diseases (F.)	3
BIOL 3360	Ecological and Evolutionary Animal Physiology	3
BIOL 3500	Comprehensive Human Anatomy (F.)	4
BIOL 3510	Comparative Chordate Anatomy	5
BIOL 3530	Introductory Parasitology (S.)	3
BIOL 3540	Animal Behavior (F.)	3
BIOL 3550	Plants and People (S.)	3
BIOL 3560	Dendrology (F.)	3
BIOL 3640	Invertebrate Biology (F)	3-4
BIOL 3650	Vertebrate Biology (F.)	4
BIOL 3660	Plant Systematics (S.)	4
BIOL 3930A	North American Field Trips in Biology: Pre-trip Seminar	1
or BIOL 3930B	North American Field Trips in Biology: North American Field trip
BIOL 3940A	International Field Trips in Biology: Pre-trip Seminar	1
or BIOL 3940B	International Field Trips in Biology: Field Trip to International Location
BIOL 4020	Introduction to Pathology	3
BIOL 4300	Principles of Plant Physiology	3
BIOL 4360	Neurobiology (F.)	3
BIOL 4510	Plant Evolution and Phylogeny	4
BIOL 4540	Plant Anatomy (F.)	4
BIOL 4550	Bryophyte and Lichen Biodiversity	3
BIOL 4560	Principles of Mycology (F.)	3
BIOL 4740	Plant Ecology (S.)	3
BIOL 4880	Identification of Aquatic Organisms (F.S.)	1
BPMI 3950	Field Illustration (S.SS.)	1-3
DS 2010	Introduction to Data Science	3
DS 2020	Data Acquisition and Exploratory Data Analysis	3
ENT 3700	Insect Biology (F.)	3
ENT 3740	Insects and Our Health (S.)	3
GEOL 1020	History of the Earth	3
GEOL 1030	Age of Dinosaurs	1
GEOL 1080	Introduction to Oceanography	3
GEOL 1110	Geological Disasters	1
GEOL 1400	Climate and Society	3
GEOL 1600	Water Resources of the World	3
GEOL 3240	Energy and the Environment	3
GEOL 4120	Micropaleontology	3
GEOL 4150	Paleoclimatology	3
MICRO 3020	Biology of Microorganisms (F.S.SS.)	3
MICRO 3020L	Microbiology Laboratory (F.S.)	1
MICRO 3100	Medical Microbiology (F.)	3
MTEOR 2060	Introduction to Weather and Climate	3
MTEOR 3600	Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions	3
MTEOR 4040	Global Change	3
NREM 3010	Natural Resource Ecology and Soils (F.)	4
NREM 3300	Principles of Interpretation (S.)	3
PSYCH 3100	Brain and Behavior (F.S.)	3
VPTH 4010	Basics of Medical Terminology	1

As majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Biological/Pre-Medical Illustration students must meet College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and University-wide requirements for graduation in addition to those stated above for the major.

LAS majors require a minimum of 120 credits, including a minimum of 45 credits at the 3000/4000 level. You must also complete the LAS world language requirement and career proficiency requirement.

Students in all ISU majors must complete a three-credit course in U.S. cultures and communities (formerly U.S. diversity) and a three-credit course in international perspectives. Check (http://www.registrar.iastate.edu/courses/div-ip-guide.html) for a list of approved courses. Discuss with your advisor how the two courses that you select can be applied to your graduation plan.