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Academics & Degree Programs

NMHU Pre-Professional Curriculum

Biology Major, Chemistry Minor  

Biology majors must complete a total of 78-81 hours in the following areas:  Core Requirements (31 hrs), Additional Requirements (34 hrs), and Electives (16 hrs).

Core requirements (31 hrs)

Additional Requirements (34)
  • Biol 211Gen Biology I (4) (Fall, Spr)
  • Biol 212Gen Biology II (4) (Fall, Spr)
  • Biol 300Genetics (4) (Spr)
  • Biol 301Gen Microbiology (4) (Fall)
  • Biol 302Animal Struct & Funct (4) (Fall)
  • Biol 303 Plant Struct & Funct (4) (Spr)
  • Biol 423 Molecular/Cell Biology (4) (Fall)
  • Biol 492Senior Project (3) (Spr)
  • Chem 211 Gen Chemistry I (3) (Fall)
  • Chem 215 Chemistry Lab I (2) (Fall)
  • Chem 212 Gen Chemistry II (3) (Spr)
  • Chem 216 Chemistry Lab II (2) (Spr)
  • Chem 341Organic Chem I (4) (Fall)
  • For 340 Quantitative Methods (3) (Fall) OR Math 345 Statistics (3) (Spr
  • Phys 291 Calculus Physics I (5) (Fall)
  • Phys 292 Calculus Physics II (5) (Spr)
  • Math 211*Calculus I (4) (Fall, Spr)
  • Math 252 Calculus II (4) (Fall, Spr)

* Students will need to show proficiency in the prerequisites Math 150-Trigonometry and Math 140-College Algebra.

 

Biology Electives (16 hrs)

In consultation with your Biology discipline advisor, choose any combination of electives to receive a minimum of 16 credit hours with at least 12 hours from Biology and the remainder from the Natural Sciences. See below for examples of electives important to students interested in careers in medicine and biomedical research. Most of these courses are offered every other year and some every three years. See course descriptions for prerequisites. Students anticipating advanced degrees are encouraged to take additional science electives in order to better prepare for the MCAT, DAT, or GRE exams.

  • Biol 331 Human A&P I (Fall, yearly)
  • Biol 332 Human A&P II (Spr, yearly)
  • Biol 405 Adv Bacteriology (Fall, alternating)
  • Biol 415 Biotechnology (Spr, alternating)
  • Biol 427 Immunology (Fall, alternating)
  • Biol 432 Vert Physiology (Fall, alternating)
  • Biol 480 Parasitology (Fall, alternating)
  • Biol 481 Developmental Biology (Spr, alternating)
  • Biol 485 Endocrinology (Fall, alternating)
  • Biol 487 Histology (Spr, alternating)

Additional pre-professional courses required for most medical, veterinary and dental schools and necessary for the Chemistry minor at NMHU.

  • Chem 342 Organic Chem II (4) (Spr)
  • Chem 482 Biochemistry II (3)
  • Chem 481 Biochemistry I (3)
  • Chem 321 Quantitative Analysis (4) (recommended but not required)

Valuable research and laboratory experience may be gained by registering for Independent Research credit hours with individual faculty members (Biol 499). Independent studies (Biol 490) also are available for more in depth exploration into an area of student interest.

Sample of Pre-Professional Program of Study

Biology major with Chemistry Minor, 143 total credit hours

Year 1

Fall Semester

 Hrs Area †
Math 211 Calculus I 4 II
Biol 211 General Biology I 4 III
Chem 211 General Chemistry I 3 III
Chem 215 Chemistry Lab I 2 III
Engl 111 Freshman Composition I 3 I
Indp 135 First Year Experience* (PreFall 1 week session) 3
Total Hrs   19

Spring Semester

 Hrs  
Math 252 Calculus II 4 II
Biol 212 General Biology II 4 III
Chem 212 General Chemistry II 3 III
Chem 216 Chemistry Lab II 2 III
Engl 112 Freshman Composition II 3 I
University Requirement (PE) 1 VI
Total Hrs   17  

Summer
CS 101 Living with Computers 3

 

Year 2

Fall Semester

 Hrs Area †
Phys 291 Calculus Physics I 5 III
Biol 302 Animal Structure & Funct 4 III
Chem 341 Organic Chemistry I 4 III
University Core 3 I, IV, or V
Total Hrs 16

Spring Semester

 Hrs Area†
Phys 292 Calculus Physics II 5 III
Biol 300 Genetics 4 III
Chem 342 Organic Chemistry II 4 III
University Core 3 I, IV, or V
University Core (PE) 1 VI
Total Hrs 17

 

Year 3

Fall Semester

 Hrs Area†
Biol 301 General Microbiology 4 III
Chem 481 Biochemistry I 4 III
Biol 331 Human A&P I 4 III
Chem 321 Quantitative Analysis 3 III
University Core 3 I, IV, or V
Total Hrs 18

Spring Semester

 Hrs Area†
Biol 303 Plant Structure & Funct 4 III
Chem 482 Biochemistry II 4 III
Biol 332 Human A&P II 4 III
University Core 3 I, IV, or V
University Core 3 I, IV, or V
Total Hrs 18

 

Year 4

Fall Semester

 Hrs Area†
For 340 Quantitative Methods 3 III
Biol 423 Molecular & Cell Biology 4 III
Biology Elective 4 III
University Core (Literature) 3 VI
University Requirement (language) 4 I, IV, or V
Total Hrs 18

Spring Semester

 Hrs Area †
Biology Elective 4 III
Biology Elective 4 III
Biol 492 Senior Project 3 III
University Core 3 I, IV, or V
University Requirement (language) 4 I, IV, or V
Total Hrs 17

*Indp 135 First Year Experience 3 credit hrs (Freshman only)

Required Proficiency Courses

can waive if demonstrate proficiency through examination

  • Computer Science 3 credit hrs
  • Language 8 credit hrs

† University Core Requirements: 40 credit hrs total

  • Area I Communications 9 credit hrs
  • Area II Mathematics 3 credit hrs
  • Area III Lab Sciences 8 credit hrs
  • Area IV Social/Behavioral Sciences 6 - 9 credit hrs
  • Area V Humanities and Fine Arts 6 - 9 credit hrs
    Area IV and V must total 15 hrs
  • Area VI Other University Requirements 5 credit hrs (Literature and PE)

NMHU B.S. requirements 128 total credit hrs; 51 credit hrs at 300 or 400 level

 

For more information, contact

Ben S. Nelson, DVM
NMHU Biology Discipline Coordinator and Pre-Professional Advisor
505-454-3305
nelsonben@nmhu.edu