About Us
Combine your interests and aptitudes in science and art.
Iowa State University’s intercollegiate undergraduate major in Biological/Pre-Medical Illustration (BPMI) is a shared program of the ISU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) and the College of Design. The program is housed in LAS and administered by an advisory board of faculty members from both colleges.
Students take a mix of courses concentrated on the natural sciences and studio art. Learn the latest artistic techniques, visual design skills, and the business of being a visual communicator. You’ll become proficient in producing a broad range of scientifically accurate artwork, including:
- Drawings
- Paintings
- Photographs
- Animations
Award-winning faculty members with years of professional and academic experience and an advisory board of scientists and artists help direct, advise and mentor students through their academic career.
Fewer than a dozen such programs or opportunities exist for undergraduates studies in the U.S. and Iowa State has one of the country’s longest-running and most respected programs. The ISU BPMI program specializes in preparing students for graduate degree programs in medical and scientific illustration. Graduate schools often recommend that students receive their bachelor’s degree from Iowa State because of the strength of the combined science and art components of our program.