Apr 03, 2025

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Premedical Sciences, B.S.

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For the student who is serious about a career in medicine, the Premedical Sciences major includes all of the general academic requirements necessary for admission into Medical School (allopathic and osteopathic), Physician Assistant, Veterinary, Optometry, Pharmacy, Dental, and Chiropractic schools. Students take a holistic approach, and explore medicine from an ethical, psychological, and sociological perspective, in addition to a strong scientific foundation. This major emphasizes core competencies that are increasingly valued by pre-professional programs; scientific inquiry, critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and written communication are integrated throughout the curriculum. Students also have the opportunity to engage in patient interactions through courses taught by physicians at local hospitals. Although preparation for medical schools is the focus of this degree, graduates of Premedical Sciences would be fully prepared to enter into the workforce as laboratory technicians, research specialists, pharmaceutical representatives, and biotechnologists, among many other biology-related careers.

Premedical Sciences, B.S. Learning Outcomes

Degree Requirements

Institutional Degree Requirements

Program-Specific Degree Requirements: To be eligible for graduation, students majoring in Premedical Sciences must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

General Education Requirements

First Year Seminar

FYS 100 First-Year Seminar 3 credit hours
FYS 102 Common Hour 0 credit hours

Foundations Requirements

Communication course:

FCO 105 Rhetorical Communication 3 credit hours

Advanced Communication course:

Satisfied by major (BIO 392 and BIO 393 )

Quantitative Fluency:

Satisfied by major (MAT 171 )

Choose 3 credits of the following American Citizenship courses:

ECO 201 Principles of Economics (Micro) 3 credit hours
HIS 111 American History from Colonization to Civil War 3 credit hours
HIS 112 American History from Civil War to Global Power 3 credit hours
PS 101 American Government and Citizenship 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following Global Citizenship courses:

Students have the option to complete this requirement by successfully completing 6 credits of the same foreign language.

ECO 200 Principles of Economics (Macro) 3 credit hours
G 100 World Regional Geography 3 credit hours
HIS 102 The West in the World 3 credit hours
PS 102 Contemporary Global Issues 3 credit hours

Disciplinary Perspectives

Choose 3 credits of the following Humanities courses:

FLM 216 Introduction to Film 3 credit hours
HIS 101 The Foundation of the West 3 credit hours
LIT 200 Introduction to Literary and Textual Studies 3 credit hours
PHL 221 Introduction to Philosophy 3 credit hours
PHL 238 Race, Gender, and Sexuality 3 credit hours crosslisted as WGS 238 Race, Gender, and Sexuality 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following Arts courses:

ART 101 Art and Visual Culture 3 credit hours
CRW 272 Introduction to Creative Writing 3 credit hours
MUS 186 Listening to Music 3 credit hours
THE 154 Introduction to Theatre 3 credit hours

Social and Behavioral Sciences course:

Satisfied by major (PSY 100 or SOC 100 )

Natural and Physical Sciences course:

Satisfied by major (BIO 142 )

Constellation Requirement

The Constellation requirement is met when a student completes four courses from a minimum of three disciplines within the Constellation requirements. Students who transfer in 60 credits or more at the time of admission to the college will be waived from the Constellation requirement, except for Education majors. The waiver applies to the requirement for graduation but does not waive the credits to graduate; students need to meet the overall bachelor’s degree credit requirement.

Required Courses

Required Major Courses

BIO 142 Molecules, Genes and Cells 4 credit hours
BIO 152 Evolution, Ecology and Diversity 4 credit hours
BIO 220 Human Anatomy & Physiology I 4 credit hours
BIO 221 Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab 0 credit hours
BIO 222 Human Anatomy & Physiology II 4 credit hours
BIO 223 Human Anatomy & Physiology II Lab 0 credit hours
BIO 240 Genetics 4 credit hours
BIO 241 Genetics Lab 0 credit hours
BIO 290 Biostatistics 3 credit hours
BIO 350 Biochemistry I 4 credit hours
BIO 351 Biochemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
BIO 392 Biology Inquiry I: Genes to Ecosystems 3 credit hours
BIO 393 Biology Inquiry 2: Genes to Ecosystems 3 credit hours
CHM 134 General Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 135 General Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
CHM 136 General Chemistry II 4 credit hours
CHM 137 General Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
CHM 234 Organic Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 235 Organic Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
CHM 236 Organic Chemistry II 4 credit hours
CHM 237 Organic Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
MAT 171 Calculus I 4 credit hours
PHY 110 General Physics I 4 credit hours
PHY 111 General Physics I Lab 0 credit hours
PHY 112 General Physics II 4 credit hours
PHY 113 General Physics II Lab 0 credit hours
Physical Education and Wellness 2 credit hours
PSY 100 General Psychology 3 credit hours
OR
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology 3 credit hours
PHL 225 Philosophy of Medicine 3 credit hours
OR
PHL 346 Bioethics 3 credit hours
OR
HUM 310 Medical Humanities 3 credit hours

Upper Division Science Electives

Students must complete 11-12 credits of elective courses within the following science upper division courses. Depending on the requirements for acceptance into their professional education of choice, the students will discuss with their academic advisor which courses should be prioritized for their preparation.

BCM 400 Applied Biochemistry 4 credit hours
BIO 306 Animal Behavior 4 credit hours
BIO 308 Animal Physiology 4 credit hours
BIO 330 Microbiology 4 credit hours *
* Recommended to students interested in Physician Assistant, Veterinary, Optometry, Pharmacy, Dental, and Chiropractic School.
BIO 332 Developmental Biology 4 credit hours
BIO 352 Biochemistry II 4 credit hours **
** Recommended to students interested in Medical, Physician Assistant, Veterinary, Optometry, and Dental School.
BIO 354 Immunology 4 credit hours
BIO 355 Immunology Lab 0 credit hours
BIO 358 Cell and Molecular Biology 4 credit hours
BIO 360 Neurobiology 4 credit hours
BIO 364 Virology 4 credit hours
CHM 324 Physical Chemistry for Biosciences 3 credit hours
CHM 338 Instrumental Analytical Chemistry 4 credit hours ***
*** Must choose another course if getting a Chemistry minor.
CHM 339 Instrumental Analytical Chemistry Lab 0 credit hours
CHM 372 Introduction to Toxicology 3 credit hours

General Elective Courses

Students must complete 10-13 credits of free elective courses. Additional credits hours of the student’s choice can be earned towards the degree. Students are encouraged to discuss with their advisor prior to enrollment to ensure meeting the requirements for their preprofessional degree of choice.

Suggested Course Sequence

Freshman Year

Fall Semester (15 credits)

BIO 142 Molecules, Genes and Cells 4 credit hours
CHM 134 General Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 135 General Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
FYS 100 First-Year Seminar 3 credit hours
FYS 102 Common Hour 0 credit hours
MAT 171 Calculus I 4 credit hours

Spring Semester (17-18 credits)

BIO 152 Evolution, Ecology and Diversity 4 credit hours
CHM 136 General Chemistry II 4 credit hours
CHM 137 General Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
FCO 103 Rhetorical Communication Studio (if required)
FCO 105 Rhetorical Communication 3 credit hours
Foundations - American Citizenship course 3 credit hours
Foundations - Global Citizenship course 3 credit hours

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester (15 credits)

BIO 290 Biostatistics 3 credit hours
CHM 234 Organic Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 235 Organic Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
PHY 110 General Physics I 4 credit hours
PHY 111 General Physics I Lab 0 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives - Humanities course 3 credit hours
Physical Activity and Wellness course 1 credit hour

Spring Semester (15-17 credits)

CHM 236 Organic Chemistry II 4 credit hours
CHM 237 Organic Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
PHY 112 General Physics II 4 credit hours
PHY 113 General Physics II Lab 0 credit hours
PSY 100 General Psychology 3 credit hours
OR
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives - Arts course 3 credit hours
General Free Elective 1-3 credit hours

Junior Year

Fall Semester (14 credits)

BIO 240 Genetics 4 credit hours
BIO 241 Genetics Lab 0 credit hours
BIO 350 Biochemistry I 4 credit hours
BIO 351 Biochemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
BIO 392 Biology Inquiry I: Genes to Ecosystems 3 credit hours
HUM 310 Medical Humanities 3 credit hours
OR
Constellation course 3 credit hours

Spring Semester (14 credits)

BIO 393 Biology Inquiry 2: Genes to Ecosystems 3 credit hours
Upper Division Science elective 4 credit hours
Constellation course 3 credit hours
Physical Activity and Wellness course 1 credit hour
PHL 225 Philosophy of Medicine 3 credit hours
OR
PHL 346 Bioethics 3 credit hours

Senior Year

Fall Semester (17 credits)

BIO 220 Human Anatomy & Physiology I 4 credit hours
BIO 221 Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab 0 credit hours
Upper Division Science elective 4 credit hours
Constellation Course 3 credit hours
General Free Elective 3 credit hours

Spring Semester (14 credits)

BIO 222 Human Anatomy & Physiology II 4 credit hours
BIO 223 Human Anatomy & Physiology II Lab 0 credit hours
Upper Division Science elective 4 credit hours
General Free Elective 3 credit hours
Constellation course 3 credit hours