Pre-Professional Programs
The following pre-professional programs are offered by the Department of
Biological Sciences.
Pre-Dentistry
While dental schools do not require a degree in biology, over 90 percent
of students accepted into dental schools have four years of undergraduate
education or more, and over 65 percent have majors in some area of the
biological sciences. It is usual for pre-dental students to complete a
bachelor’s degree in biological sciences while broadly educating themselves
in non-scientific subjects. Other scientific majors are also possible (see
chemistry). The most important part of the pre-dentistry program is a solid
general education. Dental schools select highly motivated students who
have shown evidence of above-average accomplishments in a rigorous academic
program. During each semester your program of courses outside the sciences
should reflect this commitment to becoming well-educated.
The courses listed here meet the minimum requirements of most dental schools.
It is not realistic, however, to expect to be accepted into a dental school
with just the minimum course requirements.
Lower-Division:
BIOL 006A Biological Principles 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: Recommend CHEM 037 or concurrent enrollment.
BIOL 006B Biological Principles 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 006A; recommend CHEM 038 or concurrent enrollment.
BIOL 010 General Zoology 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 006B or faculty permission.
CHEM 037 General Chemistry 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: Second-year high school algebra; one year high school chemistry
or CHEM 016. (One year of high school physics and one year of high school
mathematics past Algebra II are recommended.)
CHEM 038 General Chemistry 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 037.
CHEM 070 Organic Chemistry 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 038.
PHYS 002A General Physics 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: High school physics or faculty permission. High school trigonometry
and second-year high school algebra or equivalent (MATH 003 and MATH 004
at CSU, Chico).
PHYS 002B General Physics 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: PHYS 002A.
Recommended courses:
MATH 007A Analytic Geometry and Calculus 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement; both MATH 004 and MATH 006
(or high school equivalent); a score that meets department guidelines on
a department administered calculus readiness exam.
PSY 001A Principles of Psych 3.0 FS *
Upper-Division:
BIOL 205 Comparative Anatomy: Vertebrates 4.0 FA
Prerequisites: BIOL 006B, BIOL 010.
BIOL 207 Genetics 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 006B.
BIOL 214 Vertebrate Physiology 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 006B, BIOL 010; CHEM 028 or CHEM 070.
Recommended Courses:
BIOL 202 Cell and Molecular Biology 4.0 FA
Prerequisites: BIOL 006B.
CHEM 250A Biochemistry 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 170.
Any upper-division Psychology course.
While acceptance rates into dental schools vary from year to year, CSU,
Chico has a high rate of acceptance.
Pre-Medicine
Although a BS in biological sciences is not absolutely essential for admission
to medical schools, the majority of students admitted to those schools
that release their admissions statistics have degrees in the biological
sciences. Exotic majors often represent second majors of admittees who
also have a biological sciences major. Degrees in other science majors
are possible (see chemistry for an alternative program). While students
may apply for admission to medical school any time after their junior year,
the majority of those admitted have completed a four-year degree, and a
sizable number are admitted only after additional graduate work. The education
recommended, therefore, is also appropriate for those seeking advanced
training in graduate schools or employment in fields related to medicine.
The following list of courses can be used to attain a BS degree in biological
sciences, with emphasis on fulfilling pre-medical requirements.
Lower-Division:
BIOL 006A Biological Principles 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: Recommend CHEM 037 or concurrent enrollment.
BIOL 006B Biological Principles 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 006A; recommend CHEM 038 or concurrent enrollment.
BIOL 010 General Zoology 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 006B or faculty permission.
CHEM 037 General Chemistry 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: Second-year high school algebra; one year high school chemistry
or CHEM 016. (One year of high school physics and one year of high school
mathematics past Algebra II are recommended.)
CHEM 038 General Chemistry 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 037.
CHEM 070 Organic Chemistry 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 038.
MATH 007A Analytic Geometry and Calculus 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement; both MATH 004 and MATH 006
(or high school equivalent); a score that meets department guidelines on
a department administered calculus readiness exam.
PHYS 002A General Physics 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: High school physics or faculty permission. High school trigonometry
and second-year high school algebra or equivalent (MATH 003 and MATH 004
at CSU, Chico).
PHYS 002B General Physics 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: PHYS 002A.
Upper-Division:
BIOL 201 Intro to Biological Literature 1.0 FS
Prerequisites: ENGL 001 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher;
junior standing; BIOL 006B.
BIOL 207 Genetics 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 006B.
BIOL 258 Fundamentals of Ecology 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 006B. Some taxonomic background is recommended.
CHEM 170 Organic Chemistry 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 070.
CHEM 170L Organic Chem Laboratory 1.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 170 may be taken as a prerequisite or concurrently
with CHEM 170L.
Additional courses recommended to complete the pre-medical requirement
include:
BIOL 205 Comparative Anatomy: Vertebrates 4.0 FA
Prerequisites: BIOL 006B, BIOL 010.
BIOL 214 Vertebrate Physiology 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 006B, BIOL 010; CHEM 028 or CHEM 070.
BIOL 220 Embryology 4.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 006B; BIOL 010 or faculty permission.
Plus additional 200-level courses selected according to interests.
While acceptance rates into medical schools vary from year to year, CSU,
Chico has a high rate of acceptance.
Pre-Forestry and Pre-Physical Therapy
The requirements of schools offering programs in Forestry and Physical
Therapy vary widely. Pre-Forestry and Pre-Physical Therapy students should
consult the Department of Biological Sciences for the names of the faculty
advisers in their program of interest.
Pre-Veterinary Medicine
Admission to a veterinary college is highly competitive. Academic performance
and non-academic factors, such as appropriate work experience, are a major
part of the selection criteria. Pre-veterinary medicine students should
consult with the pre-veterinary adviser each semester. The following courses
prepare the student to meet the minimum course requirements for admission
to the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis.
Lower-Division
BIOL 006A Biological Principles 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: Recommend CHEM 037 or concurrent enrollment.
BIOL 006B Biological Principles 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 006A; recommend CHEM 038 or concurrent enrollment.
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
BIOL 010 General Zoology 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 006B or faculty permission.
CHEM 037 General Chemistry 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: Second-year high school algebra; one year high school chemistry
or CHEM 016. (One year of high school physics and one year of high school
mathematics past Algebra II are recommended.)
CHEM 038 General Chemistry 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 037.
CHEM 070 Organic Chemistry 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 038.
CMST 011 Speech Comm Fundamentals 3.0 FS *
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
CMST 012 Small Group Communication 3.0 FS *
ENGL 001 Freshman Composition 3.0 FS *
Prerequisites: English Placement Test.
MATH 005 Statistics 3.0 FS *
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement.
MATH 215 may be substituted for MATH 005.
PHYS 002A General Physics 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: High school physics or faculty permission. High school trigonometry
and second-year high school algebra or equivalent (MATH 003 and MATH 004
at CSU, Chico).
Upper-Division
BIOL 207 Genetics 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 006B.
BIOL 214 Vertebrate Physiology 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 006B, BIOL 010; CHEM 028 or CHEM 070.
BIOL 220 Embryology 4.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 006B; BIOL 010 or faculty permission.
CHEM 170 Organic Chemistry 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 070.
CHEM 250A Biochemistry 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 170.
MATH 215 Biometrics 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement.
MATH 005 may be substituted for MATH 215. Elective courses in social sciences
or humanities for a minimum of 8 units.
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