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Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Justice concentrated in Surgical Technologies (4-Year Texas Degree Plan)
Transferable to the University of Houston (UH)
Admissions Requirements and Eligibility
Admission to the B.S. in Biomedical Justice: Surgical Technologies at the University of Justice is a highly competitive, selective process, limited to only 15 students per cohort. To ensure compliance with Texas state regulations and university mandates, applicants must meticulously organize their records regarding residency, academic prerequisites, and health clearances. Meeting these standards is the essential first step in securing a place within this rigorous program, which integrates clinical surgical training with a complex legal curriculum.
Texas Residency and Tuition Status
Verification: Must complete the Core Residency Questionnaire to verify Texas domicile under Education Code Section 54.052.
Documentation: Provide proof of 12-month residency (e.g., utility bills, lease agreements, or employer verification).
Financial Impact: Residency status dictates tuition rates; discrepancies discovered during audits may lead to application cancellation or retroactive billing for non-resident tuition.
Texas Core Curriculum Requirements
42-Hour Foundation: Completion of the state-mandated core (English, History, Government, Social Sciences).
Program Specifics: Prioritize General Chemistry and Human Anatomy within the Life and Physical Sciences core.
Transfer Credits: Obtain "Core Complete" status on transcripts from other Texas public institutions to facilitate a block transfer of credits.
Specialized Program Prerequisites
Mandatory Courses: Must complete Medical Terminology and Introduction to Ethics prior to the application deadline.
Review Process: Course substitutions are rarely granted; any advanced science coursework must be approved by Admissions to align with state guidelines.
Application Documentation and Submission
Records: Submit official transcripts from all previously attended institutions.
Academic Fresh Start: Must submit a formal agreement with the Registrar’s office if utilizing the Texas Academic Fresh Start provision.
Required Items: Include the supplemental application, two letters of recommendation, immunization records, and residency proof.
Verification of Technical Standards
Physical Requirements: Attest to the ability to perform surgical duties, such as standing for long periods and maintaining a sterile field.
Manual Dexterity: Confirm the physical and mental capacity to handle fine surgical instruments and survive the program’s heavy clinical and legal workload.
Eligibility Requirements:
GPA Standards: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
Grade Thresholds: All lower-division prerequisites must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.
Application Materials: Official transcripts, a completed USJ application and two formal letters of reference (preferably from science instructors or employers).
Interview: A personal interview with program faculty is required to assess professional alignment and communication skills.
Mandatory Immunizations and Health Documentation
Clinical Compliance: Proof of immunity is required for Hepatitis B, MMR, Varicella, and Tdap (per Title 25 of the Texas Administrative Code).
Annual Screenings: Submission of an annual TB test or chest X-ray is mandatory before clinical rotation placement.
Meningitis Vaccine: Required for students under age 22; must be administered at least ten days before the start of the semester.
Criminal Background Checks and Drug Screening
Mandatory Screening: Admitted students must undergo a 10-panel drug screen and fingerprinting via a state-approved vendor.
Eligibility: Certain criminal convictions may prevent graduation by barring access to required clinical hours.
Transparency: Applicants are encouraged to disclose past legal issues during the interview phase.
Freshman Year
Semester 1 (15 credits)
ENGL 1301 – English Composition I (Writing & Communication)
MATH 2413 – Calculus I (Differential/Integral)
BIEN 1120 – Intro to Biomedical Engineering (Foundations of the field) & BIEN 1160 – Biomedical Engineering Lab I (Basic electronics measurements)
CSCI 1301 – Intro to Programming (Python/Code for data analysis) or Introduction to Computer Science
BIOL 1408 – General Biology I (Cell biology/genetics)
Semester 2 (15 credits)
ENGL 1302 – English Composition II (Scientific writing/presentations)
BIOT 1323 – Medical Terminology
UH Equivalent: 2380 – BIOS 2380
Core medical language for healthcare and legal professionals.
TORT 1305 – Fundamentals of Torts and Liability
UH Equivalent: 3306 – POLS 3306 (Civil Rights and Tort Law)
Introduction to legal theories behind negligence and liability.
SUMMER 1:
MATH 2414 – Calculus II (Sequences/series/applied math)
Sophomore Year
Semester 3:
PHYS 2425 – University Physics I (Mechanics with calculus)
BIOL 2401 – Human Anatomy & Physiology I (Tissue/systems)
JUST 2031: Biomechanics (equivalent to UH 2331: Biomechanics)
Course Description: Study of the mechanical properties of living tissues and the application of biomechanics in medical device design.
JUST 2041: Biomaterials (equivalent to UH 2341: Biomaterials)
Course Description: Introduction to biomaterials, including their properties, applications, and biocompatibility.
ELEN 2147 – Circuits & Electronics I (DC/AC circuits for medical devices)
Semester 4 (15 credits)
BIEN 2300 – Ethics in Biomedical Engineering (Regulatory compliance)
PHYS 2426 – University Physics II (Electromagnetism/optics)
ENGR 2108 – Engineering Problem Solving (MATLAB/Simulink)
ELEN 2148 – Circuits & Electronics II (Amplifiers/filter design for medical sensors)
BIEN 2330 – Biomedical Instrumentation (Signal processing for devices)
BIEN 2340 – Medical Terminology for Bio-Medical Engineers (Language of clinical environments)
Summer II
Semester 1: (15 credits)
BIOL 2402 – Human Anatomy & Physiology II (Nervous/Circulatory system)
Semester 5 (15 credits)
BIOL 3371 – Microbiology for Health Sciences (Sterilization/contamination control)
MATH 3323 – Differential Equations (Modeling biological systems)
JUST 3061: Medical Device Design (equivalent to UH 3361: Medical Device Design)
Course Description: Design principles and methodologies for developing medical devices, including prototyping and testing
BIEN 3342 – Biomedical Signals & Systems (Surgical equipment signal analysis)
MEEN 3190 – Intro to Thermodynamics (Medical device environmental control)
Semester 6 (15 credits)
JUST 3051: Medical Imaging and Diagnostics (equivalent to UH 3351: Medical Imaging Diagnostics and Repairs)
ELET 3422 – Digital Electronics (Microcontroller basics for modern devices)
BIEN 3362 – Surgical Equipment Technology (Laparoscopic/robotic surgery tools)
MEEN 3640 – Control Systems (Feedback loops in patient monitoring devices)
BIEN 3301 – Quality Assurance in Biomedical Devices (FDA/cGMP standards)
ELET 3385 – Medical Device Safety (Risk analysis/IEC 60601 compliance)
BIEN 3310 – Capstone Prep for Public Health in Bio-Medical Justice(Team project planning)
Senior Year
Semester 7 (15 credits)
JUST 4091: Medical Product Development (equivalent to UH 4391: Medical Product Development)
BIEN 4335 – Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation (Calibration/repair of high-tech devices)
ELET 4430 – Embedded Systems (Programmable logic in surgical robots)
BIEN 4350 – Regulatory Affairs for Biomedical Devices (FDA submission processes)
CHEM 3345 – Advanced Organic Chemistry (Materials science for medical devices)
JUST 4101: Biomedical Ethics and Law (equivalent to UH 4401: Biomedical Ethics and Law)
BIEN 4315 – Capstone Project I (Design a medical device maintenance protocol)
Semester 8 (12 credits)
BIEN 4390 – Field Internship in Biomedical Equipment and Device Errors and Repair (Clinical rotation at local hospital/labs)
BIEN 4380 – Biomedical Equipment Management (Inventory/procurement in healthcare)
BIEN 4385 – Surgical Equipment Case Studies (Failure analysis of devices in operations)
JUST 4315 – Tort Law and the Criminal Courts Cases in biomedical justice
UH Equivalent: 4310 – POLS 4310 (Tort Law and Judicial Systems)
Legal procedures for proving negligence in surgical malpractice.
BIEN 4395 – Capstone Project II (Present final solution to faculty/industry partners)
Elective: PSYC 1301 – Health Psychology (Understanding clinician-device interactions)
Transfer Notes for University of Houston (UH):
BIEN and ELET/ELEN courses transfer directly as BIEN at UH (e.g., BIEN 2340 → BIEN 2340).
PHYS 2425/2426 aligns with UH’s PHYS 1301/1302.
Capstone projects are critical for UH’s cooperative education program.
Electives like PSYC 1301 count toward UH’s “Wellness & Society” core.
Tuition Rate Schedule
The University of Justice adopts a tiered tuition structure designed to sustain advanced laboratory facilities and legal training simulations.
In-State/Resident Tuition: $45,717.44 Annually (Base Rate).
Credit Hour Calculation: Based on a standard 30-credit-hour academic year, the rate is $1,523.91 per credit hour.
Out-of-State/Non-Resident Tuition: $68,576.16 Annually.
Credit Hour Calculation: $2,285.87 per credit hour.
International Student Rates: $72,500.00 Annually.
Includes additional administrative compliance fees for visa sponsorship (SEVIS) and international student integration services.
Differential Tuition: As a Specialized STEM/Pre-Law hybrid, the BioMedical Justice program carries a $3,500 annual differential surcharge to cover the costs of high-fidelity mock courtroom simulations and CRISPR-lab maintenance.
Mandatory Fees
Mandatory fees are assessed to provide students with universal access to essential academic and wellness infrastructure.
Technology Fee: $850.00/semester. Includes access to specialized legal research databases (Westlaw/LexisNexis) and high-performance computing labs.
Student Activity/Facility Fee: $600.00/semester. Covers access to the UOJ Health & Wellness Center, library archives, and campus extracurricular programming.
Registration/Enrollment Fee: $250.00 (One-time, non-refundable, upon initial matriculation).
Health Services Fee: $350.00/semester. Provides primary care consultation and mental health counseling services.
Additional Program-Specific Costs
Beyond standard tuition, students should anticipate the following annual variable expenditures:
Lab/Course Fees: $1,200 annually. Covers specialized reagents, sterile laboratory wear, and anatomical models.
Books and Supplies: Estimated at $1,800 annually.
Program-Specific Software/Licensing: $450/year. Includes access to SPSS/Stata for public health data analysis and bioethics case management software.
Graduation Fee: $200.00 (Assessed in the final semester).
Payment & Financial Policies
Payment Plans: UOJ offers an "Installment Pay" model, allowing students to divide annual tuition into eight equal monthly payments (interest-free) starting in August.
Refund Policy: 100% refund for drops before the Census Date (Day 12 of the semester); 50% refund through week 4; 0% refund thereafter.
Third-Party Billing: The Bursar’s Office maintains a dedicated portal for employer-reimbursement verification and government-sponsored billing.
Financial Aid & Savings Opportunities
UOJ encourages all students to complete the FAFSA annually. Program-specific Dean’s Scholarships for "Equity in BioMedicine" are available based on merit and community service.
Texas-Based Work & Pay Programs (Graduate/Post-Baccalaureate Pathways)
For students transitioning from the B.S. in BioMedical Justice to graduate studies or public service in Texas, the following assistance programs exist:
Teach For America (Texas Region): Provides salary, benefits, and significant education award stipends for corps members serving in under-resourced schools.
Texas Health Corps (State-Run): A public health service initiative that offers student loan repayment assistance in exchange for two years of service in rural or underserved Texas clinical sites.
The Legislative Fellows Program (Texas State Capitol): A paid fellowship program for graduates focusing on public policy, which often offers tuition waivers or stipends for students continuing their education in law or medicine.
Academic Fresh Start
The Academic Fresh Start program at the University of Justice offers a valuable opportunity for returning students to reset their collegiate records by disregarding past academic performance that may hinder their current goals. By electing this provision, candidates benefit from an improved cumulative grade point average (GPA) that exclusively reflects their new academic efforts, an elimination of previous low-performing credits from institutional calculations, and a clean slate that fosters renewed confidence and eligibility for academic standing. While these former credits and grades are excluded from GPA requirements, applicants should be mindful that they cannot use these specific courses to fulfill new program prerequisites, ensuring that their current foundation is built upon fresh, relevant knowledge.