Apr 11, 2025  
2015-2016 Undergraduate catalog 
    
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2015-2016 Undergraduate catalog [Archived Catalog]

Medical Biology (B.S.)

77-79 Major Hours (includes minor), 120 Degree Hours

Students in this major must also complete requirements for a degree in the College of Arts & Sciences .

The Medical Biology program offers an interdisciplinary B.S. degree designed to prepare students for medical school and for other healthcare professional programs such as dentistry, optometry, pharmacology, physician assistant, physical therapy, and podiatry. The curriculum is based on the most recent guidelines of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). It focuses on competencies in the natural and social sciences relevant to medical education and to the practice of medicine. Hosted by USD’s Department of Biology, the Medical Biology major provides a broad background and excellent training in the biological sciences for students interested in pursuing graduate or professional degrees in health care, biotechnology, physiology, and cellular and molecular biology.

Departmental Requirements (21 hours)

 

Required Support Courses (47-49 hours)

 

Required Electives (9 hours):

 Select 9 credit hours from below:

Note:

If used to fulfill a specific requirement, BIOL 443 and CHEM 330 may not also be used as electives. Students may petition to include 1-3 credits of BIOL 498-Undergrad Research/Scholarship or a comparable course in a related discipline as an elective for the program. This petition must be approved by the Biology Department chair or designee. Students in the University Honors Program may substitute UHON 498 for BIOL 490 and may substitute appropriate UHON courses for PSYC 101 and/or SOC 100 with approval of the Biology Department chair or designee.

Students who complete the Medical Biology major will have fulfilled the requirements for the Interdisciplinary Sciences Minor  and are not required to complete an additional minor, although they are welcome to add any minor other than Biology. Students completing a Medical Biology major cannot also complete a double major in Biology with the Physiology, Cell & Molecular Biology Specialization, although they may complete the Biology, Conservation & Biodiversity major.