Biology - Pre-Med, Dentistry, Optometry, and Podiatry Suggested Program of Study

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The following program is not required, but is highly recommended by the Pre-Health Advisory Committee.  This program meets the entrance requirements for the vast majority of medical, dental, optometry and podiatry schools as well as the general education requirement here at WKU.  You should however, consult with your advisor about your individual situation, especially concerning your major and minor course of study.

Note:  This is merely a suggested course of study, your actual program can be tailored to your needs and interests, consequently the timing of these courses may vary significantly from the table below.  
 

Year	Biology	Chemistry	Math	Physics	Cat. A(12 Hrs.)	Cat. B(9 Hrs.)	Cat. C(9 Hrs.)	Cat. E(3 Hrs.)	Cat. F(2-3 Hrs.)
FR.  1st Sem.	Concepts 120(3) 121(1)	Inorganic I 120 (4) 121 (1)	Math 116 (3)	#	English 100
FR.  2nd Sem.	Concepts 122(3) 123(1)	Inorganic II 222 (4) 223 (1)	Math 117 (3)		COMM 145 or 161	Elective  or	History 119 or 120
SOPH.  1st Sem.	Animal Biology 224 (3) 225 (1)	Organic I 340 (3) 341 (2)	Calculus142 (5)**	Physics Lecture + Lab (4)#	Foreign Language	or English 200	PSY 100& or Elective	or Elective	or Elective
SOPH. 2nd Sem.	Cell/ Molecular*  319 (3) 322 (1)	Organic II 342 (3) 343 (2)		Physics Lecture + Lab (4)#		English 200	or Elective
JUNIOR 1st Sem.	*	Quantitative Analysis 330 (5)@		#		Elective	or Elective	or Elective	or Elective
JUNIOR 2nd Sem.	*	@		#	English 300	or Elective	or Elective
SENIOR  1st Sem.	*	@		#		or Elective	or Elective
SENIOR2nd Sem.	*	@		#		or Elective	or Elective	or Elective	or Elective

* Check with your advisor concerning additional biology courses to complete a major or minor.  Courses that will assist in your preparation for the MCAT/DAT/OAT and your first 2 years of medical school include:  Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Animal Physiology, Microbial Biology, Comparative Anatomy, Histology, Developmental Biology, Immunology, Parasitology or Recombinant Genetics. NOTE:  Microbiology (Biol 207 or Biol 226) is a required course for optometry schools.

@ Completing Chem 330 will give you a minor in Chemistry.  Adding Chem 412, Physical Chemistry, should give you a major in Chemistry. Check with your advisor concerning courses to complete a major in Chemistry.  These with include, Physical Chemistry, Biochemistry and other advanced courses. Biochemistry is required by most optometry schools and is highly recommended by medical and dental schools.

#  If you are planning on majoring in Physics you will most likely take Physics 255/256 your first semester.  See your advisor concerning other major or minor requirements.  It is recommended that other students elect Physics 231/232 and 332/233 (Biophysics).

** If you are planning on majoring or minoring in Mathematics you should elect Math 136 for your Calculus requirement.

One or two courses in Psychology as well as a course in Statistics are required by most optometry schools and is suggested by other pre-professional schools. Optometry schools also require microbiology, and some require biochemistry. Check with the schools you plan on applying to.

The major + minor must total a minimum of 54 hours (48 of which are unduplicated).  Alternatively, a student may opt for a 48 hour major and not minor.  A total of 120 hours are required for graduation.