Biology Major - Pre-professional Specialization

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Program Coordinator/Contact
Volker Brözel, Department Head
Department of Biology and Microbiology
Alfred Dairy Science Hall 228
605-688-6141
E-mail: biomicro@abs.sdstate.edu
www.sdstate.edu/biomicro
Click here for additional information.

Program Information
The curriculum in the Biology preprofessional specialization is designed for students planning to apply to health-related pre-professional programs (i.e. pre-chiropractic, pre-dentistry, pre-medicine, pre-optometry, pre-occupational therapy, pre-physical therapy and pre-physician assistant.)

Academic Requirements
A minimum GPA of 2.0 must be maintained in the major courses.

Course Delivery Format
Program coursework is on-campus, in classroom and laboratories, as well as field-based settings. Additional coursework is available at off-campus attendance centers. Limited coursework is available online.

Requirements for Biology Major - Pre-professional Specialization: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences

System General Education Requirements*: 33-35

Goal #1 Written Communication:
ENGL 101
and
ENGL 201
Credits: 6
Goal #2 Oral Communication:
SPCM 101
Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity : Credits: 6
Goal #4 Humanities and Arts/Diversity : Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics:
MATH 102
and
MATH 120
or
MATH 115
or
MATH 121-121L
or
MATH 123

(123L)
Credits: 4-6
Goal #6 Natural Sciences:
BIOL 151-151L
and
BIOL 153-153L
Credits: 8

Institutional Graduation Requirements**: 5

Goal #1 First Year Seminar:
BIOL 109-109L
** Credits: 2
Goal #2 Cultural Awareness and Social and Environmental Responsibility Credits: 3

Major Requirements: 62-71

Biology and Microbiology: 13

BIOL 202-202L - Genetics and Organismal Biology and Lab
Credits: 3, 1
BIOL 204-204L - Genetics and Cellular Biology and Lab
Credits: 3, 1
MICR 233-233L - Introductory Microbiology and Lab
Credits: 4, 0
BIOL 290 - Seminar
Credits: 1

Chemistry: 16

CHEM 112-112L - General Chemistry I and Lab * (COM)
Credits: 3, 1
CHEM 114-114L - General Chemistry II and Lab * (COM)
Credits: 3, 1
CHEM 326-326L - Organic Chemistry I and Lab (COM)
Credits: 3, 1
CHEM 328-328L - Organic Chemistry II and Lab (COM)
Credits: 3, 1

Physics: 4-8

PHYS 111-111L - Introduction to Physics I and Lab * (COM)
Credits: 4 and
PHYS 113-113L - Introduction to Physics II and Lab * (COM)
Credits: 4
or
PHYS 101-101L - Survey of Physics and Lab * (COM)
Credits: 4⁴

Mathematics: 3-4

MATH 125 - Calculus II * (COM)
Credits: 4
or
STAT 281 - Introduction to Statistics * (COM)
Credits: 3

Advanced Writing: 3

ENGL 379 - Technical Communication (COM) (AW)
Credits: 3

Specialization Core Requirements

BIOL 221-221L - Human Anatomy and Lab (COM)
Credits: 4¹
BIOL 325-325L - Physiology and Lab (COM)
Credits: 4¹
MICR 439 - Medical and Veterinary Immunology
Credits: 3

Electives

Select at least four courses from the list of courses.

BIOL 383 - Bioethics ** (COM) (G)
Credits: 4
BIOL 494 - Internship
Credits: 3²
or
BIOL 498 - Undergraduate Research/Scholarship
Credits: 3²
CHEM 464 - Biochemistry I (COM)
Credits: 3
MICR 424-524 - Medical and Veterinary Virology
Credits: 3
MICR 433-533 - Medical Microbiology (COM)
Credits: 3
MICR 436 - Molecular and Microbial Genetics
Credits: 4
MICR 440L - Infectious Disease Lab
Credits:
PE 454-454L - Biomechanics and Lab
Credits: 3³
BIOL 476-576 - Advanced Mammalian Physiology
Credits: 4
BIOL 467-467L/567-567L - Parasitology and Lab (COM)
Credits: 3
BIOL 483-483L - Developmental Biology and Lab (COM)
Credits: 4

Suggested Electives

Recommended if not taken to meet core requirements.

CHEM 466 - Laboratory Methods- Biochemistry
Credits: 1
HLTH 120 - Community Health
Credits: 2
HLTH 364-364L - Emergency Medical Technician and Lab (COM)
Credits: 4
MICR 440L - Infectious Disease Lab
Credits: 3
NFS 315 - Human Nutrition
Credits: 3
NURS 323 - Introduction to Pathophysiology
Credits: 3
PSYC 101 - General Psychology * ** (COM)
Credits: 3
SPCM 201 - Interpersonal Communication (COM)
Credits: 3
STAT 281 - Introduction to Statistics * (COM)
Credits: 3
MATH 121-121L - Survey of Calculus and Lab* (COM)
Credits: 5
or
MATH 123 - Calculus I * (COM)
Credits: 4 and
MATH 125 - Calculus II * (COM)
Credits: 4

Total Required Credits: 120

Curriculum Notes

¹ Pre-Vet students can substitute VET 223-223L, Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals and Lab and one additional course (at least 4 credits) from the Health Related electives (or an advanced animal science course like Advanced Animal Nutrition or Reproductive Physiology).

²A total of 3 credits is required for field study, internships, and research experiences to count as one elective. These credits can be combined from various experiences.

³ Recommended only for Pre-Chiro, Pre-OT, and Pre-PT programs.

⁴PHYS 101-101L is generally not sufficient for students planning to enter professional or graduate degree programs.

* The 30 credit Board of Regents System General Education Requirements (SGRs) must be completed as part of a student’s first 64 credits (Biology-Preprofessional specialization is exempt).

** South Dakota State University has a 5 credit Institutional Graduation Requirement (IGRs).

(G) Globalization Requirement.

(AW) Advanced Writing Requirement.

Students must take the proficiency examination after completing 48 credits. English 101, and a course in each of the General Education areas of social science, mathematics, natural science, and humanities and arts must be taken prior to taking this exam.