Biological Sciences B.S. – Pre-health and Biomedical Sciences Emphasis
College of Natural and Health Sciences
Contact: Catherine S. Gardiner, Ph.D., School Director
Location: Ross Hall 2480
Telephone: 970.351.2921
Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/biology
Advising Information:
Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.
Assigned advisor is available through the Ursa login; ursa.unco.edu; under Student tab Academic Profile channel and is term specific. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.
The program consists of three parts:
- Liberal Arts Core (LAC) Credits
- Required Major Credits
- University-Wide Credits
Program Description:
This emphasis is intended for premed and other students having an interest in the human and animal health professions. This program meets the minimal requirements for admittance to most professional schools of health science. Undergraduates entering this program should have a strong science and mathematics background in high school or be prepared to do additional remedial work.
Students who successfully complete the program will be prepared for admission to medical, veterinary, dentistry, chiropractic, or paramedical professional programs. They will also be prepared to continue their education in a wide range of graduate programs as diverse as microbiology and human physiology.
This would also be an appropriate emphasis for students interested in working in health communication, pharmaceutical sales, hospitals, biotechnology companies, or government laboratories such as the Centers for Disease Control.
Program Admission Requirements:
Academic Good Standing
Program Requirements:
- The State of Colorado has mandated that institutions of higher education assess student outcomes resulting from their college education. The School of Biological Sciences requires that all undergraduate students entering under this Catalog meet the following conditions in addition to meeting the graduation requirements of the University:
- In the senior year of study all undergraduates will take the Educational Testing Service's nationally standardized exam in Biology.
- All Biology majors are required to earn a minimum of a 2.0 grade in all BIO prefix courses taken to meet their major requirements. Students receiving a grade of less than 2.0 in BIO courses taken to meet their major requirements must repeat the courses.
Degree Requirements — 120 Credits
Degree Requirements
1. Required Specified LAC — 24 credits
LAC area 1.b. — Intermediate Composition
LAC area 2 — Mathematics
| MATH 171 | Calculus I for Life Sciences | 4 |
| STAT 150 | Introduction to Statistical Analysis | 3 |
LAC area 6 — Physical and Life Sciences
Remaining LAC — 16 credits
See “Liberal Arts Core ”.
NOTE: Students need to select courses from areas 7 and 8 that also count for areas 3, 4, or 5.
2. Required Major — 71 credits
Take all of the following courses:
Choose from the following courses:
Biological Science Advanced Study
Take 16 credits: Choose from this list of courses and BIO courses at 300 level or higher. Please see course listings in the graduate catalog for additional course options (must be a junior with a minimum 3.0 GPA to take graduate level courses). Consult with faculty advisor to match career goals:
NOTES : If BIO 552 and BIO 553 are completed for the Anatomy and Physiology requirement, the number of Advanced Study credits required will be increased by (1).
A maximum of 6 credits total of BIO 422, BIO 492, BIO 494, BIO 495, BIO 585, and BIO 592 can count towards the fulfillment of this category.
Capstone Professional Experience
Take 1 credit: Consult with faculty advisor to help match career goals.
Choose one of the following courses:
| BIO 422 | Directed Studies | 1 - 3 |
| BIO 492 | Internship in Biological Sciences | 1 - 3 |
| BIO 494 | Practicum in College Biological Science Instruction | 1 - 2 |
| BIO 495 | Special Topics in Biology | 1 - 3 |
3. University-Wide Credits — 9 credits
Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for this degree at UNC; for this degree, that will typically be 9 credits.