Medical Biology (Pre-Physician Assistant Track - MPA)

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Medical Biology - Pre-Physician Assistant Track
College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)
School of Biological Sciences

Contact

Dr. Steven Travis
stravis@une.edu

Dr. Kristin Burkholder
kburkholder@une.edu

Mission

Biology is an exploration of the living world that underscores and explains the unity and diversity of life. But it is also a truly human endeavor in that it affects us all. Because we live at this time in human history — at the beginning of what many believe to be a biological age — students must be able to apply biological concepts to the wide array of problems and choices they inevitably face.

Students who major in biology programs become familiar with all levels of biological organization from molecules to ecosystems and gain practical experience in both laboratory and field studies. Small classes enable the faculty to adopt an approach to learning that stresses how different subjects are related to each other, facilitates critical thinking, and encourages a collaborative approach to learning between students and faculty. Professors want students to experience the excitement and to see the applications of biology as well as appreciate science as a way of knowing about the world around them. In addition, the medical biology program stresses the importance of field opportunities, research experience, and experiential learning. The School of Biological Sciences also offers a graduate degree in Biological Sciences (master level) which is detailed in the graduate portion of this catalog. The School of Biological Sciences medically related programs benefit from interaction with the College of Osteopathic Medicine as well as 911±¬ÁÏÍøºìÁì½í's graduate programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and physician assistant. Visit our graduate programs page for details.

Major Description

The medical biology major is designed to provide a strong foundation in the biological sciences for students who ultimately pursue careers in human medicine, dentistry, other health professions (e.g. physical therapy), biomedical research, or the biotechnology industry. Students in the medical biology major can choose one of two possible tracks: (1) medical sciences track or (2) pre-physician assistant track.

The pre-physician assistant track is designed for students who wish to eventually enroll in a physician assistant program. This track provides students with a solid foundation in the biological sciences at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, and organismal levels. In addition to the comprehensive introduction to general biology, the courses offered in this track introduce the student to the fields of physiology, biochemistry, cellular biology, and genetics. This track includes those courses that are prerequisite courses for entrance into physician assistant schools. In addition, students in this track have the opportunity to complete off-campus internships for college credit (e.g. in a hospital, clinical, or laboratory setting).

Curricular Requirements

CAS Core RequirementsCredits
Total42–46
Program Required CoursesCredits
BIO 105/105L – Biology I: Ecology/Evolution (included in core requirements)4
BIO 106/106L – Biology II: Cellular/Molecular4
BIO 214/214L – Genetics4
BIO 245/245L – Gen Prin Anat/Phys/Pathophys I4
BIO 232/232L – Microbiology4
BIO 345/345L – Gen Prin Anat/Phys/PathophysII5
BIO 370 – Cell and Molecular Biology3
BIO 400 or higher capstone course (not satisfied by Internship/Research/Speaker Series)3–4
Total31–32
Program Required Science and Mathematics CoursesCredits
CHE 110/110L – General Chemistry I or CHE 150/150L - University General Chemistry I4
CHE 111/111L – General Chemistry II or CHE 151/151L - University General Chemistry II4
CHE 210/210L/210S or 210G/210LG/210SG – Organic Chemistry I or CHE 250/250L/250S – University Organic Chemistry I5
CHE 310/310L – Fundamentals of Biochemistry4–5
MAT 150 – Statistics for Life Sciences3
MAT 190 – Calculus I4
PHY 110 – Physics I or PHY 210 – University Physics I4
PHY 111 – Physics II or PHY 211 – University Physics II4
Total32–33
Open Elective Courses (as needed to reach 120 credits)Variable
Minimum Required Total Credits120

Additional Guidelines

BIO 410 and BIO 495 research and internship courses do not meet 200- and 400-level course requirements.

Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee

The Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee (PHPAC) consists of professional staff and faculty members of the College of Arts and Sciences. The major function of this committee is to draft letters of evaluation for students applying to health professions programs such as Medical, Dental, and Veterinary schools. Interested students should view our web page for information regarding the proto