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Biological/Pre-Medical Illustration

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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 1500Critical Thinking and Communication (grade of C or better)3
ENGL 2500Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition (grade of C or better)3
LIB 1600Introduction to College Level Research1
Choose one course from the following:3
Business Communication
Creative Writing: Playwriting
Two semesters of college-level world language0-8
Students with 3 years in high school world language are exempt
Total Credits10-18


B. Liberal Arts and Sciences Requirements*

Arts and Humanities **12
Natural Sciences and Mathematical Disciplines
MATH 1040Introduction to Probability3-4
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 Credits33-34
*

Choose courses to meet International Perspectives & US 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 2930DSpecial 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 3560Dendrology3-4
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 Credits19-22


B. Art Core

DSNS 1310Drawing I (F.S.)4
ARTIS 2300Drawing II (F.S.)3
ARTIS 2330Watercolor Painting (F.S.)3
ARTIS 3080Computer Modeling, Rendering and Virtual Photography (F.S.)3
ARTIS 3300Drawing III: Life Drawing (F.S.)3
BPMI 3230Scientific Illustration Principles and Techniques (F.)3
BPMI 3260Illustration and Illustration Software (S.)3
BPMI 3270Illustration as Communication (F.)3
BPMI 3370Application of Scientific Illustration Techniques (S.)3
BPMI 4970Illustration Internship1
Total Credits29

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 3350Three-Dimensional Studio3
ARTIS 3300Drawing III: Life Drawing3
ARTIS 4080Principles of 3D Animation3
ARTIS 4300Drawing IV (F.S.)3
ARTIS 4310Character and Scene Design3
ARTIS 4320Sequential Narrative Drawing3
ARTIS 4750Interactive Art3
ARTIS 4820Selected Topics in Studio Art1-3
BPMI 3230Scientific Illustration Principles and Techniques3
BPMI 3260Illustration and Illustration Software3
BPMI 3370Application of Scientific Illustration Techniques3
BPMI 4900Independent Study1-3
BPMI 4910Portfolio Design and Professional Development (S.)2
BPMI 4940Special Topics in Illustration1-3
General Art Area
ARTIS 2130Studio Fundamentals: Painting (F.S.)2
ARTIS 2270Introduction to Creative Digital Photography3
ARTIS 2380Painting I (F.S.)3
ARTIS 3290Creative Photography3
ARTIS 3380Painting II3
ARTIS 3560Relief Printmaking: Digital/Traditional3-4
ARTIS 3570Intaglio and Monotype Printmaking: Digital / Traditional3-4
ARTIS 3580Lithography: Digital / Traditional3
ARTIS 4070Principles of Character Animation3
ARTIS 4090Computer/Video Game Design and Development3
ARTIS 4380Painting III (F.S.)3
ARTIS 4730Video Art3
BPMI 3950Field Illustration (S.SS.)1-3
BPMI 4060XIntroduction to 3D Organic Modeling in ZBrush3
BPMI 4700XData, Code, and Form3
JLMC 3060Broadcast Media Production (F.S.)3
JLMC 3150Digital Storytelling (F.S.)3
STAT 3320Visual Communication of Quantitative Information3


D. Advanced Science Area

Select 9 credits total from below.
Pre-Med Illustration Science Area - required/recommended courses by most graduate schools
BBMB 3160Principles of Biochemistry (F.)3
BIOL 3130Principles of Genetics (F.S.SS.)3
BIOL 3140Principles of Molecular Cell Biology (F.S.)3
BIOL 3350Principles of Human and Other Animal Physiology (S.)3
BIOL 3520Vertebrate Histology (S.)4
BIOL 4230Developmental Biology (S.)3
BMS 3290Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals3
BMS 4480Principles of Human Gross Anatomy4
GEN 3400Human Genetics (F.S.SS.)3
General Science Area
AECL 3210Fish Biology (S.)3
AECL 3660Natural History of Iowa Vertebrates (S.)3
AECL 4570Herpetology (F.)2
AECL 4580Ornithology (S.)2
AECL 4590Mammalogy (S.)2
ANTHR 3070Biological Anthropology (S.)3
ANTHR 3190Skeletal Biology (F.)3
ANTHR 4240Forensic Anthropology (S.)3
BBMB 3010Survey of Biochemistry (S.SS.)3
BIOL 3120Ecology (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 3130LGenetics Laboratory (F.S.)1
BIOL 3150Biological Evolution (F.S.)3
BIOL 3280Molecular and Cellular Biology of Human Diseases (F.)3
BIOL 3360Ecological and Evolutionary Animal Physiology3
BIOL 3500Comprehensive Human Anatomy (F.)4
BIOL 3510Comparative Chordate Anatomy5
BIOL 3530Introductory Parasitology (S.)3
BIOL 3540Animal Behavior (F.)3
BIOL 3550Plants and People (S.)3
BIOL 3560Dendrology (F.)3
BIOL 3640Invertebrate Biology (F)3-4
BIOL 3650Vertebrate Biology (F.)4
BIOL 3660Plant Systematics (S.)4
BIOL 3930ANorth American Field Trips in Biology: Pre-trip Seminar1
or BIOL 3930B North American Field Trips in Biology: North American Field trip
BIOL 3940AInternational Field Trips in Biology: Pre-trip Seminar1
or BIOL 3940B International Field Trips in Biology: Field Trip to International Location
BIOL 4020Introduction to Pathology3
BIOL 4300Principles of Plant Physiology3
BIOL 4360Neurobiology (F.)3
BIOL 4510Plant Evolution and Phylogeny4
BIOL 4540Plant Anatomy (F.)4
BIOL 4550Bryophyte and Lichen Biodiversity3
BIOL 4560Principles of Mycology (F.)3
BIOL 4740Plant Ecology (S.)3
BIOL 4880Identification of Aquatic Organisms (F.S.)1
BPMI 3950Field Illustration (S.SS.)1-3
DS 2010Introduction to Data Science3
DS 2020Data Acquisition and Exploratory Data Analysis3
ENT 3700Insect Biology (F.)3
ENT 3740Insects and Our Health (S.)3
GEOL 1020History of the Earth3
GEOL 1030Age of Dinosaurs1
GEOL 1080Introduction to Oceanography3
GEOL 1110Geological Disasters1
GEOL 1400Climate and Society3
GEOL 1600Water Resources of the World3
GEOL 3240Energy and the Environment3
GEOL 4120Micropaleontology3
GEOL 4150Paleoclimatology3
MICRO 3020Biology of Microorganisms (F.S.SS.)3
MICRO 3020LMicrobiology Laboratory (F.S.)1
MICRO 3100Medical Microbiology (F.)3
MTEOR 2060Introduction to Weather and Climate3
MTEOR 3600Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions3
MTEOR 4040Global Change3
NREM 3010Natural Resource Ecology and Soils (F.)4
NREM 3300Principles of Interpretation (S.)3
PSYCH 3100Brain and Behavior (F.S.)3
VPTH 4010Basics of Medical Terminology1

 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. 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.

Biological/Pre-Medical Illustration, B.A.
120 minimum credits required.

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
LAS 10101LIB 16001Prepare application for BPMI entry / apply during second year 
ENGL 15003Humanities3Consider taking a science course over the summer 
CHEM 16304BIOL 21203 
CHEM 1630L1BIOL 2120L1 
BIOL 21103ARTIS 23003 
BIOL 2110L1Soc Sci Choice3 
DSNS 13104CHEM 2310 & 2310L or STAT or MATH3-4 
 17 17-18 0
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
Foreign Lang. or Humanities (ART 2800)3-4For Lang or Social Sci3-4Consider study abroad, or attending summer AMI / GNSI Conferences and enrolling in Art/Science/Techniques Workshops or Iowa Lakeside Lab to take advanced biology courses 
CHEM 2310 & 2310L or STAT or MATH3-4BPMI 32603Consider conducting BPMI 4970 Internship over the summer 
BPMI 32303ARTIS 33003 
ENGL 25003Humanities3 
Science Core Course3-4Science Core Course3-4 
LAS 20301  
 16-19 15-17 0
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
BPMI 32703BPMI 33703Work with BPMI Advisory Committee to fine tune/plan senior portfolio 
Advanced Science or Science Core Course3-4Science Core Course or Advanced Science3-4If planning to attend graduate school, take GRE over the summer, or at the latest in the fall, and prepare up to 20 portfolio pieces for submission over the summer and fine tune in the fall 
ARTIS 30803Soc Sci3 
Humanities or Social Sci3ARTIS 23303 
Advanced Science or Art3Humanities and Advanced Art3 
 Consider taking BPMI 4910, Portfolio Design and Professional Development, to begin preparing for post-graduation steps  
 15-16 15-16 0
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
Advanced Science3-5Advanced Science3-4 
Advanced Art3-6Advanced Art3-6 
Humanities/Social Elective3Humanities/Social Sci/Elective3-6 
BPMI 49701Advance English or Elective (ENGL 3020 through ENGL 3160 count as Advanced English)3 
Advanced English or Elective2-3  
 12-18 12-19

Minor

A minor in biological/pre-medical illustration is offered. A minimum of 17 credits must be taken, including 8 credits in biological science courses and 9 credits in art and design courses. The minor must include at least 9 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college, or university requirement.

The biological sciences must include:

BIOL 2110Principles of Biology I3
BIOL 2110LPrinciples of Biology Laboratory I1
BIOL 2120Principles of Biology II3
BIOL 2120LPrinciples of Biology Laboratory II1

The art and design courses must include:

BPMI 3230Scientific Illustration Principles and Techniques3
BPMI 3370Application of Scientific Illustration Techniques3
Advanced drawing, illustration, electronic media or painting course3

For more information, contact the BPMI advisor or view the website listed above.