Biomedical Sciences

Program Overview

The Archbishop Riordan Biomedical Sciences Program offers an honors-level science curriculum designed for dedicated students eager to explore the biomedical sciences during their high school career. Students in this program often express strong interest in future fields such as medicine, nursing, dentistry, surgery, EMS, veterinary science, and biomedical research, to name a few.

To help support these interests, in addition to core science courses like biology, chemistry, and physics, students in the Biomed track delve into specialty courses based on the award-winning Project Lead the Way curriculum. These unique courses, available only to Biomed students, use hands-on and inquiry-driven projects to showcase how fundamental science concepts relate to medical sciences. As a culmination of their studies at Riordan, seniors will enroll in a Biomed Capstone class, where they'll showcase their accumulated knowledge and skills through independent learning projects, specifically a research project focusing on a student's area of interest. Students who complete the full program will receive a program-specific pin and stole at graduation.

Program Details

Requirements

To participate in this program, students must:

Apply to the program while applying to Riordan as an incoming freshman
Complete all seven science course in the course progression (see panel below)
Maintain a 3.5 GPA within program science courses and a 3.0 overall GPA
Complete Senior Capstone research project

In addition, although not expressly required, students in this program are also strongly encouraged to participate in summer internship opportunities through local universities and research groups. The Archbishop Riordan High School Biomed program instructors are available to help recommend programs and assist in the application process.

Course Progression

The seven required courses for each year of the program are as follows:

Freshmen: Honors Biology
Sophomores: Principles of Biomedical Sciences AND Chemistry
Juniors: Human Body Systems AND AP Biology*
Seniors: Senior Biomed Capstone AND either AP Chemistry* or Physics*

*Before the end of the program, students must complete AP Biology and EITHER AP Chemistry or Physics. AP Biology is strongly recommended Junior year, but depending on individual scheduling needs, students may opt to take AP Chemistry or Physics their Junior year instead, and complete AP Biology their Senior Year.

Maintaining Program Standing

The Biomed program is certainly not required in order to find a future successful career in science and medicine, but it is meant to support students who are motivated and curious about the field now, while building collaborative student community. As a result, students in the program are expected to not only maintain a solid GPA (outlined above), but demonstrate good academics habits and uphold the community values of our Marianist community.

Students...

Who do not demonstrate good engagement with the required Biomed classes
With significant non-medically-exempt absences in required Biomed classes
With a pattern of poor H.A.S. grades in Biomed or other STEM classes
With multiple Academic Integrity violations (in any classes)

...may not be allowed to continue in the Biomed program, pending discussion with their counselor, the STEM programs coordinator, and the Vice Principal of Academics. Leaving the Biomed program does not affect a student's enrollment at Archbishop Riordan High School

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