Health-professions schools require a sound science preparation along with a broad background in the humanities and social sciences. Thus, all medical schools require the following courses:
BIO 111 General Biology I| A rigorous study of basic biological principles, designed for science majors. Topics emphasized include basic biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, embryology, histology, and evolution. |
| This course, also rigorous and designed for science majors, covers concepts in animal and plant physiology, botany, and ecology. |
| Laboratory exercises include protein quantification, enzyme kinetics, isolation and identification of plant pigments, microscopy, and histological techniques. |
| Laboratory exercises include invertebrate dissections, sensory physiology, renal physiology, plant development in angiosperms, stomate response to environmental changes, and an ecological field study of predator-prey interactions. |
| An introduction to chemistry for the science major. First semester topics include atomic and molecular structure, chemical reactions, calculations involving chemical concentrations, gas laws and bonding. |
| A continuation of first semester. Topics include kinetics, acids and bases, equilibrium, oxidation- reduction chemistry, thermodynamics, electro- chemistry and nuclear chemistry. |
| Laboratory course to accompany 111. Experiments cover stoichiometry, gas laws, quantitative analysis, equilibrium, electrochemistry, chemical synthesis and the use of computers for collecting data. Students are introduced to instrumentation including infrared, UV-visible, and atomic absorption spectrometers. |
| Second semester laboratory course to accompany 112. Experiments cover stoichiometry, gas laws, quantitative analysis, equilibrium, electrochemistry, chemical synthesis and the use of computers for collecting data. Students are introduced to intrumentation including infrared, UV-visible, and atomic absorption spectrometers. |
| An introduction to the principles of organic chemistry. The focus of the course is on the structure of organic molecules and how the structure of various functional groups affects their reactivity. The concepts of reactivity, structure and mechanism are applied to organic synthesis. |
| Second semester of an introduction to the principles of organic chemistry. The focus of the course is on the structure of organic molecules and how the structure of various functional groups affects their reactivity. The concepts of reactivity, structure and mechanism are applied to organic synthesis. |
| An introduction to the practice of classical organic chemistry and modern instrumental organic chemistry. The techniques of organic synthesis are taught along with instrumental methods including infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. |
| Second smester of an introduction to the practice of classical organic chemistry and modern instrumental organic chemistry. The techniques of organic synthesis are taught along with instrumental methods including infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. |
| This course will help the student develop his or her own voice while meeting the demands of academic and public expression. It will emphasize the development of clear, organized, and rhetorically effective written prose. Offered fall semester. |
| This course continues to help the student develop his or her own voice while meeting the demands of academic and public expression. In addition to emphasizing the development of clear, organized, and rhetorically effective written prose, this course also focuses on speaking, reading, and research skills. Offered spring semester. |
| A calculus sequence covering functions, limits, differentiation, integration and applications. |
| An introduction to the fundamental concepts and laws of the various branches of physics, including mechanics, heat, sound, electricity, magnetism, optics, and atomic and nuclear structure, with laboratory work in each area. |
| A continuation of PHY 103. Fundamental concepts and laws of the various branches of physics, including mechanics, heat, sound, electricity, magnetism, optics, and atomic and nuclear structure, with laboratory work in each area. |
In addition, many schools recommend the following courses:
BIO 201 Genetics
| A study of the principles, mechanisms and concepts of classical, molecular, and population genetics. The laboratory stresses key concepts of genetics utilizing both classical and molecular approaches. Laboratory exercises include analysis of nucleic acids, genetic crosses, and studies of bacteria and plasmids. |
| Comparative anatomy with special attention to the structure and function of mammalian systems and special references to humans. Intensive laboratory work involves dissections and demonstrations using the cat as a model. |
| An organismal and molecular approach to the study of animal development using typical invertebrate and vertebrate organisms. The laboratory includes the study of slides as well as experiments on fertilization, regeneration and metamorphosis. |
| The study of chemical systems from a molecular perspective. Basic concepts of quantum chemistry applied to atomic and molecular structure. Thermodynamic laws and functions applied to mechanical, thermal, and material equilibrium in gases, liquids, and solids. Also included are electrochemical systems, as well as kinetic and transport processes occurring in gases, in solutions, and at solid surfaces. |
| Second semester of a study of chemical systems from a molecular perspective. Basic concepts of quantum chemistry applied to atomic and molecular structure. Thermodynamic laws and functions applied to mechanical, thermal, and material equilibrium in gases, liquids, and solids. Also included are electrochemical systems, as well as kinetic and transport processes occurring in gases, in solutions, and at solid surfaces |
Biological courses that are not specifically recommended but should help in a health-professions school are:
BCMB 401 Molecular Biology
| Gene structure, function and regulation at the molecular level in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Recombinant DNA techniques (genetic engineering) and gene sequencing are covered in detail. |
| The study of the chemistry of the molecules of life. Topics covered include: the applications of pH & buffers, amino acid chemistry, protein structure & function, the thermodynamics of protein folding, protein purification & analysis, ligand binding, enzyme mechanisms and enzyme kinetics. |
| The continued study of the chemistry of the molecules of life. Topics covered include carbohydrate chemistry & metabolism, coenzyme mechanisms, electron transport & oxidative phosphorylation, lipid chemistry, membranes, lipid metabolism amino acid metabolism and the integrated function of intermediary metabolism & its metabolic control. |
| A study of cell ultrastructure and the microscopic anatomy of vertebrate tissues, including the structure and function of membranes and organelles, cell motility and excitability, and vertebrate tissue similarities and specialization in relation to function. Laboratory includes the preparation and staining of sections using selected histochemical and histological procedures as well as a variety of microscopic techniques. |
| A study of the morphology, physiology and biochemistry of representative microorganisms. The laboratory emphasizes basic bacteriological techniques and procedures. |
| A study of the principles of vertebrate body function, with emphasis on the mechanisms by which cells and organs perform their functions and the interactions of the various organs in maintaining total body function. |
| An introduction to the anatomical, physiological and biochemical factors underlying the immune response. The course begins with a discussion of non-specific immunity, cellular immunity and antibody-mediated immune responses. The course then moves into a study of contemporary immunological topics which are discussed with respect to major research papers in each area. Topics include autoimmunity, histocompatibility, immunogenetics and acquired immune deficiencies. |