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 | 151 | Biological Principles | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: Recommend CHEM 111 or concurrent enrollment.
| BIOL | 152 | Biological Principles | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 151; recommend CHEM 112 or concurrent enrollment.
| BIOL | 210 | General Zoology | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 152 or faculty permission.
| CHEM | 111 | General Chemistry | 4.0 | FS * |
Prerequisites: Second-year high school algebra; one year high school chemistry. (One year of high school physics and one year of high school mathematics past Algebra II are recommended.)
| CHEM | 112 | General Chemistry | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHEM 111.
| CHEM | 270 | Organic Chemistry | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
| PHYS | 202A | General Physics | 4.0 | FS * |
Prerequisites: High school physics or faculty permission. High school trigonometry and second-year high school algebra or equivalent (MATH 051 and MATH 118 at CSU, Chico).
| PHYS | 202B | General Physics | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: PHYS 202A.
Recommended courses:
| MATH | 120 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus | 4.0 | FS * |
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement; both MATH 118 and MATH 119 (or high school equivalent); a score that meets department guidelines on a department administered calculus readiness exam.
| PSYC | 101 | Principles of Psych | 3.0 | FS * |
Upper-Division
Prerequisites: BIOL 152.
| BIOL | 416 | Vertebrate Physiology | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 152; CHEM 108 or CHEM 270. Strongly recommended: BIOL 210.
| BIOL | 430 | Comparative Anat: Vertebrates | 4.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: BIOL 152, BIOL 210.
Recommended Courses:
| BIOL | 410 | Cell and Molecular Biology | 4.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: BIOL 152.
Prerequisites: CHEM 370.
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 in biological sciences, with emphasis on fulfilling pre-medical requirements.
Lower-Division:
| BIOL | 151 | Biological Principles | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: Recommend CHEM 111 or concurrent enrollment.
| BIOL | 152 | Biological Principles | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 151; recommend CHEM 112 or concurrent enrollment.
| BIOL | 210 | General Zoology | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 152 or faculty permission.
| CHEM | 111 | General Chemistry | 4.0 | FS * |
Prerequisites: Second-year high school algebra; one year high school chemistry. (One year of high school physics and one year of high school mathematics past Algebra II are recommended.)
| CHEM | 112 | General Chemistry | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHEM 111.
| CHEM | 270 | Organic Chemistry | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
| MATH | 120 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus | 4.0 | FS * |
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement; both MATH 118 and MATH 119 (or high school equivalent); a score that meets department guidelines on a department administered calculus readiness exam.
| PHYS | 202A | General Physics | 4.0 | FS * |
Prerequisites: High school physics or faculty permission. High school trigonometry and second-year high school algebra or equivalent (MATH 051 and MATH 118 at CSU, Chico).
| PHYS | 202B | General Physics | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: PHYS 202A.
Upper-Division:
| BIOL | 351 | Intro to Biological Literature | 1.0 | FS WP |
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher; junior standing; BIOL 152.
Prerequisites: BIOL 152.
| BIOL | 400 | Fundamentals of Ecology | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 152 or faculty permission. Some taxonomic background is recommended.
| CHEM | 370 | Organic Chemistry | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHEM 270.
| CHEM | 370L | Organic Chem Laboratory | 1.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHEM 370 may be taken as a prerequisite or concurrently with CHEM 370L.
Additional courses recommended to complete the pre-medical requirement include:
| BIOL | 416 | Vertebrate Physiology | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 152; CHEM 108 or CHEM 270. Strongly recommended: BIOL 210.
Prerequisites: BIOL 152; BIOL 210 or faculty permission.
| BIOL | 430 | Comparative Anat: Vertebrates | 4.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: BIOL 152, BIOL 210.
Plus additional 400-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 | 151 | Biological Principles | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: Recommend CHEM 111 or concurrent enrollment.
| BIOL | 152 | Biological Principles | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 151; recommend CHEM 112 or concurrent enrollment.
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
| BIOL | 210 | General Zoology | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 152 or faculty permission.
| CHEM | 111 | General Chemistry | 4.0 | FS * |
Prerequisites: Second-year high school algebra; one year high school chemistry. (One year of high school physics and one year of high school mathematics past Algebra II are recommended.)
| CHEM | 112 | General Chemistry | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHEM 111.
| CHEM | 270 | Organic Chemistry | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
| CMST | 131 | Speech Comm Fundamentals | 3.0 | FS * |
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
| CMST | 132 | Small Group Communication | 3.0 | FS * |
| ENGL | 130 | Academic Writing | 3.0 | FS * |
Prerequisites: English Placement Test.
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement.
MATH 315 may be substituted for MATH 105.
| PHYS | 202A | General Physics | 4.0 | FS * |
Prerequisites: High school physics or faculty permission. High school trigonometry and second-year high school algebra or equivalent (MATH 051 and MATH 118 at CSU, Chico).
Upper-Division
Prerequisites: BIOL 152.
| BIOL | 416 | Vertebrate Physiology | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 152; CHEM 108 or CHEM 270. Strongly recommended: BIOL 210.
Prerequisites: BIOL 152; BIOL 210 or faculty permission.
| CHEM | 370 | Organic Chemistry | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHEM 270.
Prerequisites: CHEM 370.
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement.
MATH 105 may be substituted for MATH 315. Elective courses in social sciences or humanities for a minimum of 8 units.