Overview
The interdepartmental undergraduate BPM I 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 BPM I 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 BPM I 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 BPM I program is by application to the BPM I 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 other art work. Freshman and transfer students usually declare pre-BPM I 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 BA degree in Biological/Pre-Medical Illustration (BPM I). There are four components to a degree in BPM I:
- Liberal arts general education
- Science core and advanced courses
- Art core and advanced courses
- Electives
Part 1. College Requirements
a. Communication Proficiency Requirements
| ENGL 150 | Critical Thinking and Communication (grade of C or better) | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition (grade of C or better) | 3 |
| LIB 160 | Introduction to College Level Research | 1 |
| Choose one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Business Communication | ||
| 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 104 | Introduction to Probability | 3-4 |
| or MATH 165 | Calculus I | |
| or STAT 101 | Principles of Statistics | |
| or STAT 104 | Introduction to Statistics | |
or more advanced | ||
| CHEM 163 & 163L | College Chemistry and Laboratory in College Chemistry | 5 |
| or CHEM 177 & 177L | General Chemistry I and Laboratory in General Chemistry I | |
| CHEM 231 & 231L | Elementary Organic Chemistry and Laboratory in Elementary Organic Chemistry | 4 |
| Social Sciences *** | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 33-34 | |
| * | Choose courses to meet International Perspectives & US Diversity requirements |
| ** | See https://las.iastate.edu/students/academics/general-education/ |
| *** | See https://las.iastate.edu/students/academics/general-education/ |
Part 2. Course Requirements for Major in BPM I (continued in Part 3)
A. Biological Sciences Core
| LAS 293D | Special Projects: General (F.) | 1 |
| or LAS 101 | Orientation for Open Option and Preprofessional Students | |
| BIOL 211 & 211L | Principles of Biology I and Principles of Biology Laboratory I (F.S.) | 4 |
| BIOL 212 & 212L | Principles of Biology II and Principles of Biology Laboratory II (F.S.) | 4 |
| BIOL 255 | Fundamentals of Human Anatomy (F.) | 3 |
| BIOL 256 | Fundamentals of Human Physiology (S.) | 3 |
| BIOL 351 | Comparative Chordate Anatomy (S.) | 5 |
| BIOL 356 | Dendrology | 3-4 |
| or BIOL 366 | Plant Systematics | |
| or BIOL 454 | Plant Anatomy | |
| Total Credits | 23-24 | |
B. Art Core
| DSN S 131 | Drawing I (F.S.) | 4 |
| ARTIS 230 | Drawing II (F.S.) | 3 |
| ARTIS 233 | Watercolor Painting (F.S.) | 3 |
| ARTIS 308 | Computer Modeling, Rendering and Virtual Photography (F.S.) | 3 |
| ARTIS 330 | Drawing III: Life Drawing (F.S.) | 3 |
| BPM I 323 | Scientific Illustration Principles and Techniques (F.) | 3 |
| BPM I 326 | Illustration and Illustration Software (S.) | 3 |
| BPM I 327 | Illustration as Communication (F.) | 3 |
| BPM I 337 | Application of Scientific Illustration Techniques (S.) | 3 |
| BPM I 497 | 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 BPM I advisors and/or the BPM I 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 335 | Three-Dimensional Studio | 3 |
| ARTIS 330 | Drawing III: Life Drawing | 3 |
| ARTIS 408 | Principles of 3D Animation | 3 |
| ARTIS 430 | Drawing IV (F.S.) | 3 |
| ARTIS 431 | Character and Scene Design | 3 |
| ARTIS 432 | Sequential Narrative Drawing | 3 |
| ARTIS 475 | Interactive Art | 3 |
| ARTIS 482 | Selected Topics in Studio Art | 1-3 |
| BPM I 323 | Scientific Illustration Principles and Techniques | 3 |
| BPM I 326 | Illustration and Illustration Software | 3 |
| BPM I 337 | Application of Scientific Illustration Techniques | 3 |
| BPM I 490 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| BPM I 491 | Portfolio Design and Professional Development (S.) | 2 |
| BPM I 494 | Special Topics in Illustration | 1-3 |
| General Art Area | ||
| ARTIS 213 | Studio Fundamentals: Painting (F.S.) | 2 |
| ARTIS 227 | Introduction to Creative Digital Photography | 3 |
| ARTIS 238 | Painting I (F.S.) | 3 |
| ARTIS 329 | Creative Photography | 3 |
| ARTIS 338 | Painting II | 3 |
| ARTIS 407 | Principles of Character Animation | 3 |
| ARTIS 409 | Computer/Video Game Design and Development | 3 |
| ARTIS 438 | Painting III (F.S.) | 3 |
| BPM I 395 | Field Illustration (S.SS.) | 1-3 |
| JL MC 306 | Broadcast Media Production (F.S.) | 3 |
| JL MC 315 | Digital Storytelling (F.S.) | 3 |
D. Advanced Science Area
| Select 9 credits total from below. | ||
| Pre-Med Illustration Science Area - required/recommended courses by most graduate schools | ||
| BBMB 316 | Principles of Biochemistry (F.) | 3 |
| BIOL 313 | Principles of Genetics (F.S.SS.) | 3 |
| BIOL 314 | Principles of Molecular Cell Biology (F.S.) | 3 |
| BIOL 335 | Principles of Human and Other Animal Physiology (S.) | 3 |
| BIOL 352 | Vertebrate Histology (S.) | 4 |
| BIOL 423 | Developmental Biology (S.) | 3 |
| B M S 329 | Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals (S.) | 3 |
| B M S 448 | Principles of Human Gross Anatomy (S.) | 4 |
| GEN 340 | Human Genetics (F.S.SS.) | 3 |
| General Science Area | ||
| A ECL 321 | Fish Biology (S.) | 3 |
| A ECL 366 | Natural History of Iowa Vertebrates (S.) | 3 |
| A ECL 457 | Herpetology (F.) | 2 |
| A ECL 458 | Ornithology (S.) | 2 |
| A ECL 459 | Mammalogy (S.) | 2 |
| ANTHR 307 | Biological Anthropology (S.) | 3 |
| ANTHR 319 | Skeletal Biology (F.) | 3 |
| ANTHR 424 | Forensic Anthropology (S.) | 3 |
| BBMB 301 | Survey of Biochemistry (S.SS.) | 3 |
| BIOL 312 | Ecology (F.SS. ) | 4 |
| BIOL 313L | Genetics Laboratory (F.S.) | 1 |
| BIOL 315 | Biological Evolution (F.S.) | 3 |
| BIOL 328 | Molecular and Cellular Biology of Human Diseases (F.) | 3 |
| BIOL 336 | Ecological and Evolutionary Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 350 | Comprehensive Human Anatomy (F.) | 4 |
| BIOL 353 | Introductory Parasitology (S.) | 3 |
| BIOL 354 | Animal Behavior (F.) | 3 |
| BIOL 355 | Plants and People (S.) | 3 |
| BIOL 356 | Dendrology (F.) | 3 |
| BIOL 364 | Invertebrate Biology (F) | 3-4 |
| BIOL 365 | Vertebrate Biology (F.) | 4 |
| BIOL 366 | Plant Systematics (S.) | 4 |
| BIOL 393 | North American Field Trips in Biology | 1-4 |
| BIOL 394 | International Field Trips in Biology | 1-4 |
| BIOL 402 | Introduction to Pathology (F.) | 3 |
| BIOL 430 | Principles of Plant Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 436 | Neurobiology (F.) | 3 |
| BIOL 454 | Plant Anatomy (F.) | 4 |
| BIOL 455 | Bryophyte and Lichen Biodiversity | 3 |
| BIOL 456 | Principles of Mycology (F.) | 3 |
| BIOL 474 | Plant Ecology (S.) | 3 |
| BIOL 488 | Identification of Aquatic Organisms (F.S.) | 1 |
| BPM I 395 | Field Illustration (S.SS.) | 1-3 |
| ENT 370 | Insect Biology (F.) | 3 |
| ENT 374 | Insects and Our Health (S.) | 3 |
| MICRO 302 | Biology of Microorganisms (F.S.SS.) | 3 |
| MICRO 302L | Microbiology Laboratory (F.S.) | 1 |
| MICRO 310 | Medical Microbiology (F.) | 3 |
| NREM 301 | Natural Resource Ecology and Soils (F.) | 4 |
| NREM 330 | Principles of Interpretation (S.) | 3 |
| PSYCH 310 | Brain and Behavior (F.S.) | 3 |
| V PTH 401 | Basics of Medical Terminology (F.) | 1 |
Biological/Pre-Medical Illustration, B.A.
120 minimum credits required.
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| LAS 101 | 1 | LIB 160 | 1 | Prepare application for BPMI entry / apply during second year | |
| ENGL 150 | 3 | Humanities | 3 | Consider taking a science course over the summer | |
| CHEM 163 | 4 | BIOL 212 | 3 | ||
| CHEM 163L | 1 | BIOL 212L | 1 | ||
| BIOL 211 | 3 | ARTIS 230 | 3 | ||
| BIOL 211L | 1 | Soc Sci Choice | 3 | ||
| DSN S 131 | 4 | CHEM 231 & 231L or STAT or MATH | 3-4 | ||
| 17 | 17-18 | 0 | |||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| Foreign Lang. or Humanities (ART 280) | 3-4 | For Lang or Social Sci | 3-4 | Consider 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 231 & 231L or STAT or MATH | 3-4 | BPM I 326 | 3 | Consider conducting BPMI 497 Internship over the summer | |
| BPM I 323 | 3 | ARTIS 330 | 3 | ||
| ENGL 250 | 3 | Humanities | 3 | ||
| BIOL 255 | 3 | BIOL 256 | 3 | ||
| 15-17 | 15-16 | 0 | |||
| Junior | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| BPM I 327 | 3 | BPM I 337 | 3 | Work with BPMI Advisory Committee to fine tune/plan senior portfolio | |
| Advanced Biology | 3-4 | BIOL 351 | 5 | If 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 308 | 3 | Soc Sci | 3 | ||
| Humanities or Social Sci | 3 | ARTIS 233 | 3 | ||
| Advanced Biology or Art or plant science | 3 | Humanities and Advanced Art | 3 | ||
| Consider taking BPMI 491, Portfolio Design and Professional Development, to begin preparing for post-graduation steps | |||||
| 15-16 | 17 | 0 | |||
| Senior | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| Advanced Biology | 3-5 | Advanced Biology | 3-4 | ||
| Advanced Art | 3-6 | Advanced Art | 3-6 | ||
| Humanities/Social Elective | 3 | Humanities/Social Sci/Elective | 3-6 | ||
| BPMI 497 | 1 | ENGL 302 or 316 | 3 | ||
| Electives | 2 | ||||
| 12-17 | 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 211 | Principles of Biology I | 3 |
| BIOL 211L | Principles of Biology Laboratory I | 1 |
| BIOL 212 | Principles of Biology II | 3 |
| BIOL 212L | Principles of Biology Laboratory II | 1 |
The art and design courses must include:
| BPM I 323 | Scientific Illustration Principles and Techniques | 3 |
| BPM I 337 | Application of Scientific Illustration Techniques | 3 |
| Advanced drawing, illustration, electronic media or painting course | 3 | |
For more information, contact the BPM I advisor or view the website listed above.