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
FallUnits
BIOL 142PIntroductory Biology: Animal and Plant Physiology1
FSEM 100First Year Seminar1
MATH 1511Mathematics for Life Sciences1
BIOL 100Becoming a Stetson Biologist0.0
General Education requirement1
PRHP 101Introduction to the Health Professions0.0
 Term Units4
Spring
BIOL 141PIntroductory Biology: Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics1
General Education requirement1
General Education requirement1
Elective1
 Term Units4
Second Year
Fall
BIOL 243QBiostatistics1
CHEM 141PGeneral Chemistry I1
PSYC 101S2Introduction to Psychology1
General Education requirement1
 Term Units4
Spring
BIOL 244Introductory Biology III: Ecology and Evolution1
CHEM 142PGeneral Chemistry II1
SOCI 101S2Understanding Society: An Introduction to Sociology1
General Education requirement1
 Term Units4
Third Year
Fall
BIOL 300 or 400 level course1
CHEM 201Organic Chemistry I1
PHYS 121PCollege Physics I1
Junior Seminar31
 Term Units4
Spring
Elective1
CHEM 301Organic Chemistry II1
PHYS 122PCollege Physics II1
BIOL 497Research Proposal0.5
CHEM 204Biochemistry I1
PRHP 102Applying to Health Professions0.0
 Term Units4.5
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 Units0
Fourth Year
Fall
BIOL 300 or 400 level course51
BIOL 498Senior Project I1
BIOL 300 or 400 level course1
Elective.5
 Term Units3.5
Spring
BIOL 300 or 400 level course1
BIOL 499Senior Project II0.5 to 1
Elective1
Elective41
 Term Units3.5 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
FallUnits
BIOL 142PIntroductory Biology: Animal and Plant Physiology1
CHEM 141PGeneral Chemistry I1
MATH 1511Mathematics for Life Sciences1
FSEM 100First Year Seminar1
BIOL 100Becoming a Stetson Biologist0.0
 Term Units4
Spring
BIOL 141PIntroductory Biology: Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics1
CHEM 142PGeneral Chemistry II1
General Education requirement1
General Education requirement1
PRHP 101Introduction to the Health Professions0.0
 Term Units4
Second Year
Fall
BIOL 243QBiostatistics1
CHEM 201Organic Chemistry I1
PHYS 121P3College Physics I1
PSYC 101SIntroduction to Psychology1
 Term Units4
Spring
BIOL 244Introductory Biology III: Ecology and Evolution1
CHEM 301Organic Chemistry II1
PHYS 122P3College Physics II1
SOCI 101SUnderstanding Society: An Introduction to Sociology1
 Term Units4
Third Year
Fall
BIOL 300 or 400 level course1
Elective1
General Education requirement1
Junior Seminar41
PRHP 102Applying to Health Professions0.0
 Term Units4
Spring
BIOL 300 or 400 level course1
BIOL 497Research Proposal0.5
General Education requirement1
CHEM 204Biochemistry I1
Elective5,61
 Term Units4.5
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 Units0
Fourth Year
Fall
BIOL 300 or 400 level course1
BIOL 498Senior Project I1
Elective1
Elective1
 Term Units4
Spring
BIOL 300 or 400 level course1
BIOL 499Senior Project II1
Elective.5
Elective1
 Term Units3.5
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.