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Undergraduate 2019-2020

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Biological Sciences B.S. – Pre-health and Biomedical Sciences Emphasis

College of Natural and Health Sciences

Contact: Susan M. Keenan, 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.

To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.

In accordance with University Policies, coursework earned more than 10 years prior to the date of matriculation to UNC may not be used to satisfy any major or minor requirements. Any exception to this policy is at the discretion of the academic program. The school's transfer advisor can be reached at 970.351.2921.

The program consists of three parts:

  1. Liberal Arts Core (LAC) Credits
  2. Required Major Credits
  3. 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.

  • NOTE: Students completing a major in Biological Sciences and a minor in Chemistry are exempt from the university policy that a maximum of 12 credit hours can be shared between a major and minor. A student must still complete a minimum of 6 upper-division UNC credits (300-400) or UNC approved Study Abroad credits in the minor.

Degree Requirements — 120 Credits

Degree Requirements

1. Required Specified LAC — 24 credits

LAC area 1.b. — Intermediate Composition

SCI 291Scientific Writing

3

LAC area 2 — Mathematics

MATH 171Calculus I for Life Sciences

4
STAT 150Introduction to Statistical Analysis

3

LAC area 6 — Physical and Life Sciences

BIO 110Principles of Biology

4
CHEM 111Principles of Chemistry I

4
CHEM 111LPrinciples of Chemistry I Laboratory

1
PHYS 220Introductory Physics I

5

Remaining LAC — 18 credits

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 (27 credits):

BIO 111Survey of Organismal Biology

4
BIO 210Cell Biology

3
BIO 220Genetics

4
BIO 351Microbiology

4
BIO 360Ecology

4
BIO 465Evolution

3
CHEM 112Principles of Chemistry II

4
CHEM 112LPrinciples of Chemistry II Laboratory

1

Choose from the following options (6-8 credits):

Complete both:
BIO 341Human Anatomy

4
BIO 350Human Physiology

4
Or, complete both:
BIO 552Advanced Systemic Physiology: Homeostats

3
BIO 553Advanced Systemic Physiology: Control Systems

3

Choose from the following options (3-5 credits):

Complete both:
CHEM 331Organic Chemistry I

4
CHEM 331LOrganic Chemistry I Laboratory

1
or complete
CHEM 231Principles of Organic Chemistry

3
Note: Medical, dental and some other health professional schools (pharmacy, veterinary, etc.) require CHEM 331, CHEM 331L, CHEM 332 and CHEM 332L. Consult an advisor to ensure that you are taking courses to match your career goals.

Biomedical Electives - Choose at least 15 credits from the following courses (15-18 credits):

BIO 320Introduction to Medical Genetics

3
BIO 325Introduction to Cancer Biology

3
BIO 328Introduction to Developmental Biology

3
BIO 333General Parasitology

4
BIO 381Principles of Immunology

3
BIO 425Molecular Genetics

3
BIO 442Molecular and Cellular Laboratory

2
BIO 448Pathobiology

3
BIO 450Cell Physiology

3
BIO 476Pharmacology

3
BIO 481Introduction to Neurobiology

3
CHEM 332Organic Chemistry II

4
and
CHEM 332LOrganic Chemistry II Laboratory

1
CHEM 381Principles of Biochemistry

3
and
CHEM 381LPrinciples of Biochemistry Lab

1
PHYS 221Introductory Physics II

5
Note: Medical, dental and some other health professional schools (pharmacy, veterinary, etc.) will require PHYS 221, CHEM 332, CHEM 332L, and other courses. If you need to take two semesters of biochemistry or do not need a biochemistry lab, enroll in CHEM 481 (CHEM 481L optional) and CHEM 482 (CHEM 482L optional) instead of CHEM 381 and CHEM 381L. Graduate level courses may be substituted for some of the courses above. Consult an advisor to ensure that you are taking courses to match your career goals.

Professional Supporting Course - Take one of the following options (3 credits):

ANT 110Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

3
ANT 355Medical Anthropology

3
BAMG 350Management and Organizational Behavior

3
COMM 100Basics of Public Speaking

1
and
COMM 101Speaking Evaluation

2
FND 245Introduction to Nutrition

3
LEAD 100Contemporary Leadership Theory

3
PHIL 250Medical Ethics

3
PSY 120Principles of Psychology

3
PSY 255Abnormal Psychology

3
SOC 100Principles of Sociology

3
Note: Medical, dental and some other health professional schools (pharmacy, veterinary, etc.) require specific courses from the list above. Not all course run in all semesters. Consult an advisor to ensure that you are taking courses to match your career goals.

Biological Science Advanced Study (10-15 credits)

Choose from BIO-prefix courses at the 300 level or higher to bring your Required Major Credits to 71 total.

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 an advisor to ensure that you are taking courses to match your career goals.

NOTE: A maximum of 3 credits total of BIO 422, BIO 492, BIO 493, and BIO 494 can count towards the fulfillment of this category.

Capstone Professional Experience (1 credit)

Take one credit (chosen in consultation with faculty advisor to help match career goals) from:

BIO 422Directed Studies

1- 3
BIO 492Internship in Biological Sciences

1- 3
BIO 493Clinical Internship in Biological Sciences

1- 3
BIO 494Practicum in College Biological Science Instruction

1- 2

3. University-Wide Credits — 7 credits

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for this degree at UNC; for this degree, that will typically be 7 credits.