Advising Course Plan - Biology Major - Medical School Interest
Plan #1 - Students Interested in Medical School (MD, DO)
It is our experience that most incoming freshmen are not prepared for more than one lab science course the first semester. This plan was developed with that in mind and indicates an effective way to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and to complete the typical premedical requirements without taking two lab sciences in year 1.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Units | |
| BIOL 142P | Introductory Biology: Animal and Plant Physiology | 1 |
| FSEM 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| MATH 1511 | Mathematics for Life Sciences | 1 |
| BIOL 100 | Current Perspectives Biology | 0.0 |
| General Education requirement | 1 | |
| PRHP 101 | Introduction to the Health Professions | 0.0 |
| Term Units | 4 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 141P | Introductory Biology: Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics | 1 |
| General Education requirement | 1 | |
| General Education requirement | 1 | |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Term Units | 4 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 243Q | Biostatistics | 1 |
| CHEM 141P | General Chemistry I | 1 |
| PSYC 101S2 | Introduction to Psychology | 1 |
| General Education requirement | 1 | |
| Term Units | 4 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 244 | Introductory Biology III: Ecology and Evolution | 1 |
| CHEM 142P | General Chemistry II | 1 |
| SOCI 101S2 | Understanding Society: An Introduction to Sociology | 1 |
| General Education requirement | 1 | |
| Term Units | 4 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 300 or 400 level course | 1 | |
| CHEM 201 | Organic Chemistry I | 1 |
| PHYS 121P | College Physics I | 1 |
| Junior Seminar3 | 1 | |
| Term Units | 4 | |
| Spring | ||
| Elective | 1 | |
| CHEM 301 | Organic Chemistry II | 1 |
| PHYS 122P | College Physics II | 1 |
| BIOL 497 | Research Proposal | 0.5 |
| CHEM 204 | Biochemistry I | 1 |
| PRHP 102 | Applying to Health Professions | 0.0 |
| Term Units | 4.5 | |
| Summer | ||
| If you intend to start MD or DO school the fall after you graduate. During the summer between third year and fourth year you should take the MCAT (after proper preparation; a prep course is offered on campus) and apply to medical schools (via online services AMCAS and/or AACOMAS). | ||
| Term Units | 0 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 300 or 400 level course5 | 1 | |
| BIOL 498 | Senior Project I | 1 |
| BIOL 300 or 400 level course | 1 | |
| Elective | .5 | |
| Term Units | 3.5 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 300 or 400 level course | 1 | |
| BIOL 499 | Senior Project II | 0.5 to 1 |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Elective4 | 1 | |
| Term Units | 3.5 to 4 | |
| Total Unit: 31.5 to 32 | ||
- 1
The timing of the Math course is not critical; it can be taken at a later time. Some students may place into, and wish to take MATH 130 or MATH 141Q.
- 2
PSYC 101S and/or SOCI 101S can be taken any time before the MCAT.
- 3
The Junior Seminar can be taken in the spring instead of the fall.
- 4
During the spring of the third year or fourth year, you will need to take another 0.5 or 1 unit course to average 4 units per semester.
- 5
You should consider taking CHEM 304 in the spring of the fourth year.
Plan #2 - Students Interested in Medical School (MD, DO)
This plan indicates an effective way to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and to complete the typical premedical requirements. The plan also presents a way to be prepared to take the MCAT after the 3rd year by taking all courses on that exam before the end of that year. This path includes 2 lab sciences the first semester so is only for highly motivated students with strong backgrounds in high school Biology, Chemistry, and Math and/or a math SAT score ≥ 650.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Units | |
| BIOL 142P | Introductory Biology: Animal and Plant Physiology | 1 |
| CHEM 141P | General Chemistry I | 1 |
| MATH 1511 | Mathematics for Life Sciences | 1 |
| FSEM 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| BIOL 100 | Current Perspectives Biology | 0.0 |
| Term Units | 4 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 141P | Introductory Biology: Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics | 1 |
| CHEM 142P | General Chemistry II | 1 |
| General Education requirement | 1 | |
| General Education requirement | 1 | |
| PRHP 101 | Introduction to the Health Professions | 0.0 |
| Term Units | 4 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 243Q | Biostatistics | 1 |
| CHEM 201 | Organic Chemistry I | 1 |
| PHYS 121P3 | College Physics I | 1 |
| PSYC 101S | Introduction to Psychology | 1 |
| Term Units | 4 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 244 | Introductory Biology III: Ecology and Evolution | 1 |
| CHEM 301 | Organic Chemistry II | 1 |
| PHYS 122P3 | College Physics II | 1 |
| SOCI 101S | Understanding Society: An Introduction to Sociology | 1 |
| Term Units | 4 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 300 or 400 level course | 1 | |
| Elective | 1 | |
| General Education requirement | 1 | |
| Junior Seminar4 | 1 | |
| PRHP 102 | Applying to Health Professions | 0.0 |
| Term Units | 4 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 300 or 400 level course | 1 | |
| BIOL 497 | Research Proposal | 0.5 |
| General Education requirement | 1 | |
| CHEM 204 | Biochemistry I | 1 |
| Elective5,6 | 1 | |
| Term Units | 4.5 | |
| Summer | ||
| During the summer between third year and fourth year you should take the MCAT (after proper preparation; a prep course is offered on campus) and apply to medical schools (online service). | ||
| Term Units | 0 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 300 or 400 level course | 1 | |
| BIOL 498 | Senior Project I | 1 |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Term Units | 4 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 300 or 400 level course | 1 | |
| BIOL 499 | Senior Project II | 1 |
| Elective | .5 | |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Term Units | 3.5 | |
| Total Unit: 32 | ||
- 1
The timing of the Math course is not critical; it can be taken at a later time. Some students may place into, and wish to take MATH 130 or MATH 141Q.
- 2
The Math courses can be put off until later if needed.
- 3
Physics could be taken in third year.
- 4
The Junior Seminar can be taken in the spring instead of the fall.
- 5
During the spring of the third year or fourth year, you will need to take another 0.5 or 1 unit course to average 4 units per semester.
- 6
You should consider taking CHEM 304 in the spring of third year.