Advising Course Plan - Molecular and Cellular Biology Major - Medical School Interest
Plan Option 1
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 Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) and to complete the typical premedical requirements without taking two lab sciences in the First Year.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| BIOL 100 | 0.0 | BIOL 142P | 1 |
| FSEM 100 | 1 | MATH 131Q1 | 1 |
| BIOL 141P | 1 | SOCI 101S2 | 1 |
| MATH 1301 | 1 | General Education requirement | 1 |
| PSYC 101S2 | 1 | ||
| 4 | 4 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| BIOL 243Q | 1 | BIOL 300 | 1 |
| CHEM 141P | 1 | CHEM 142P | 1 |
| PHYS 121P3 | 1 | PHYS 122P | 1 |
| General Education requirement | 1 | General Education requirement | 1 |
| 4 | 4 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| BIOL 3024 | 1 | BIOL 497 | 0.5 |
| Junior Seminar5 | 1 | CHEM 301 | 1 |
| CHEM 201 | 1 | CHEM 204* | 1 |
| Elective | 1 | Elective | 1 |
| Elective | 1 | ||
| 4 | 4.5 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| BIOL 498 | 1 | BIOL 499 | 1 |
| BIOL 300- or 400-level course6 | 1 | BIOL 300 or 400 level course6 | 1 |
| Elective | 1 | Elective | 1 |
| Elective | 1 | Elective | 1 |
| 4 | 4 | ||
| Total Units 32.5 | |||
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).
- 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 141Q or MATH 151 instead of MATH 130 and MATH 131Q.
- 2
PSYC 101S and SOCI 101S can be taken at any time before the MCAT is taken.
- 3
The Physics courses can be taken later.
- 4
BIOL 300, BIOL 302, and the other 300- or 400-level course can be taken in any order.
- 5
The Junior Seminar can be taken in the spring instead of the fall.
- 6
Other recommended upper division courses include: BIOL 301, BIOL 314, BIOL 315, BIOL 401, BIOL 409, BIOL 410, BIOL 415, BIOL 425.
- *
Two core courses are required for the MCB major (Core course options: BIOL 302, BIOL 425, and CHEM 204).
Plan Option 2
This plan indicates an effective way to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) and to complete the typical premedical requirements. 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 | Spring | Units |
| BIOL 100 | 0.0 | BIOL 142P | 1 |
| FSEM 100 | 1 | CHEM 142P | 1 |
| BIOL 141P | 1 | MATH 131Q1 | 1 |
| CHEM 141P+ | 1 | General Education requirement | 1 |
| MATH 1301 | 1 | ||
| 4 | 4 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| BIOL 243Q | 1 | CHEM 301 | 1 |
| PHYS 121P3 | 1 | CHEM 204* | 1 |
| General Education requirement | 1 | PHYS 122P3 | 1 |
| General Education requirement | 1 | Elective | 1 |
| 4 | 4 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| Junior Seminar5 | 1 | BIOL 300 | 1 |
| BIOL 3023 | 1 | BIOL 497 | 0.5 |
| PSYC 101S2 | 1 | CHEM 204 | 1 |
| Elective | 1 | SOCI 101S2 | 1 |
| Elective | 1 | ||
| 4 | 4.5 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| BIOL 498 | 1 | BIOL 499 | 1 |
| BIOL 300- or 400-level course6 | 1 | BIOL 300 or 400 level course6 | 1 |
| Elective | 1 | Elective | 1 |
| Elective | 1 | Elective | 1 |
| 4 | 4 | ||
| Total Units 32.5 | |||
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).
- 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 141Q or MATH 151 instead of MATH 130 and MATH 131Q.
- 2
PSYC 101S and SOCI 101S can be taken at any time before the MCAT is taken.
- 3
The Physics courses can be taken later.
- 4
BIOL 300, BIOL 302, and the other 300- or 400-level course can be taken in any order.
- 5
The Junior Seminar can be taken in the spring instead of the fall.
- 6
Other recommended upper division courses include: BIOL 301, BIOL 314, BIOL 315, BIOL 425, BIOL 401, BIOL 409, BIOL 410, BIOL 415, BIOL 422.
- +
Students can concurrently take BIOL 141P with CHEM 141P and/or BIOL 142P with CHEM 142P. However, student must obtain additional academic advising and get permission from their academic advisor before enrolling in both courses.
- *
Two core courses are required for the MCB major (Core course options: BIOL 302, BIOL 425, and CHEM 204).