Program: Biology (B.S.) - Pre-professional Specialization - South Dakota State University

2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog

Apr 03, 2025

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

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

Institutional Graduation Requirements

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

Major Requirements

Advanced Writing and Capstone

BIOL 490 - Seminar (AW) Credits: 1-3 (2 credits required)
ENGL 379 - Technical Communication (COM) (AW) Credits: 3 (Section: Biology and Microbiology)

Pre-professional Specialization Requirements

BIOL 221-221L - Human Anatomy and Lab (COM) Credits: 4 ¹
BIOL 325-325L - Physiology and Lab (COM) Credits: 4 ¹
MICR 439 - Medical and Veterinary Immunology Credits: 3

Electives

Select at least four courses from the list. Credits: 12-16

BIOL 383 - Bioethics ** (COM) (G) Credits: 4
BIOL 467-467L/567-567L - Parasitology and Lab (COM) Credits: 3
BIOL 476-576 - Advanced Mammalian Physiology Credits: 4
BIOL 483-483L - Developmental Biology and Lab (COM) Credits: 4
BIOL 494 - Internship Credits: 1-12 (3 credits required) ²
or BIOL 498 - Undergraduate Research/Scholarship Credits: 1-12 (3 credits required) ²
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: 3
PE 454-454L - Biomechanics and Lab Credits: 3 ³

Electives

Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements. Recommended courses 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
NUTR 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

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.

Biology (B.S.) - Pre-professional Specialization

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

System General Education Requirements

Institutional Graduation Requirements

Major Requirements

Biology and Microbiology

Chemistry

Physics

Mathematics

Advanced Writing and Capstone

Pre-professional Specialization Requirements

Electives

Electives

Total Required Credits: 120

Notes