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.
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).
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| BIOL 142P | 1 | BIOL 141P | 1 |
| FSEM 100 | 1 | General Education requirement | 1 |
| MATH 1511 | 1 | General Education requirement | 1 |
| BIOL 100 | 0.0 | Elective | 1 |
| General Education requirement | 1 | ||
| PRHP 101 | 0.0 | ||
| 4 | 4 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| BIOL 243Q | 1 | BIOL 244 | 1 |
| CHEM 141P | 1 | CHEM 142P | 1 |
| PSYC 101S2 | 1 | SOCI 101S2 | 1 |
| General Education requirement | 1 | General Education requirement | 1 |
| 4 | 4 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| BIOL 300 or 400 level course | 1 | Elective | 1 |
| CHEM 201 | 1 | CHEM 301 | 1 |
| PHYS 121P | 1 | PHYS 122P | 1 |
| Junior Seminar3 | 1 | BIOL 497 | 0.5 |
| CHEM 204 | 1 | ||
| PRHP 102 | 0.0 | ||
| 4 | 4.5 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| BIOL 300 or 400 level course5 | 1 | BIOL 300 or 400 level course | 1 |
| BIOL 498 | 1 | BIOL 499 | 0.5 to 1 |
| BIOL 300 or 400 level course | 1 | Elective | 1 |
| Elective | .5 | Elective4 | 1 |
| 3.5 | 3.5-4 | ||
| Total Units 31.5-32 | |||
- 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.
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).
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| BIOL 142P | 1 | BIOL 141P | 1 |
| CHEM 141P | 1 | CHEM 142P | 1 |
| MATH 1511 | 1 | General Education requirement | 1 |
| FSEM 100 | 1 | General Education requirement | 1 |
| BIOL 100 | 0.0 | PRHP 101 | 0.0 |
| 4 | 4 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| BIOL 243Q | 1 | BIOL 244 | 1 |
| CHEM 201 | 1 | CHEM 301 | 1 |
| PHYS 121P3 | 1 | PHYS 122P3 | 1 |
| PSYC 101S | 1 | SOCI 101S | 1 |
| 4 | 4 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| BIOL 300 or 400 level course | 1 | BIOL 300 or 400 level course | 1 |
| Elective | 1 | BIOL 497 | 0.5 |
| General Education requirement | 1 | General Education requirement | 1 |
| Junior Seminar4 | 1 | CHEM 204 | 1 |
| PRHP 102 | 0.0 | Elective5,6 | 1 |
| 4 | 4.5 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| BIOL 300 or 400 level course | 1 | BIOL 300 or 400 level course | 1 |
| BIOL 498 | 1 | BIOL 499 | 1 |
| Elective | 1 | Elective | .5 |
| Elective | 1 | Elective | 1 |
| 4 | 3.5 | ||
| Total Units 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.