2024-25 Catalogs

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BS in Biological Sciences with emphasis in Medical Science and Human Biology

Degree Program Description

The emphasis in Medical Science and Human Biology will provide students with the opportunity to expand their knowledge beyond the BS in Biological Science by allowing them to take additional coursework that will help them on post-baccalaureate examinations and entry to a variety of professional programs including pre-med, veterinary medicine and health sciences.     

Major Program Requirements

The following degree requirements must be completed in addition to University, general education, and College of Arts and Science requirements, students must also meet the following major program requirements. All major requirements in the College of Arts and Science must be completed with grades of C- or higher unless otherwise indicated.

Major Core Requirements Biology
BIO_SC 1500Introduction to Biological Systems with Laboratory5
or BIO_SC 1010
BIO_SC 1020
General Principles and Concepts of Biology
and General Biology Laboratory
or BIO_SC 1200 General Botany with Laboratory
(Grades of B- or higher required for BIO_SC 1010/BIO_SC 1020)
BIO_SC 2200General Genetics4
BIO_SC 2300Introduction to Cell Biology4
BIO_SC 3400Evolution and Ecology3
or BIO_SC 4600 Evolution
BIO_SC 3700Human Physiology5
BIO_SC 3750General Microbiology3-4
or MICROB 3200 Medical Microbiology and Immunology
BIOCHM 4270Biochemistry3
Capstone: Select from the following
BIO_SC 4950
BIO_SC 4952
Undergraduate Research in Biology
and Undergraduate Research in Biology
3-6
BIO_SC 4972Developmental Biology3
BIO_SC 4976Molecular Biology3
BIO_SC 4978Cancer Biology3
BIO_SC 4982Human Inherited Diseases3
BIO_SC 4984Mammalian Reproductive Biology3
BIO_SC 4988Nerve Cells and Behavior3
BIO_SC 4990Vertebrate Histology and Microscopic Anatomy5
BIO_SC 4994Senior Seminar (only specific sections)3
Electives:
Related Sciences
Chemistry (all courses required)
CHEM 1400
CHEM 1401
College Chemistry I
and College Chemistry I Laboratory
4
CHEM 1410
CHEM 1411
College Chemistry II
and College Chemistry II Laboratory
4
CHEM 2100Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM 2110Organic Chemistry II3
CHEM 2130Organic Laboratory I2
Physical Sciences (select one set of courses)
PHYSCS 1210
1210
College Physics I
and College Physics I
8
PHYSCS 2750
PHYSCS 2760
University Physics I
and University Physics II
10
Mathmatical Sciences (select one calculus option and one statistics option)
MATH 1400Calculus for Social and Life Sciences I3-5
or MATH 1500 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
STAT 1200Introductory Statistical Reasoning3
or STAT 2500 Introduction to Probability and Statistics I

For students who elect the Second Language Substitute, the existing track, Medicine, Health, and Society, will be required.

Behavioral Sciences Requirements
Choose 6 hours from the following:
PSYCH 1000General Psychology3
PSYCH 2210Mind, Brain, and Behavior3
PSYCH 2220Drugs and Behavior3
PSYCH 2310Social Psychology3
PSYCH 2410Developmental Psychology3
PSYCH 2510Survey of Psychopathology3
PSYCH 2810Human Sexuality3
SOCIOL 2200Social Inequalities3
Humanities and Fine Arts Requirements
Students will need to choose 9 hours in three subject areas from the standard list available to all A&S students, including at least one of the following courses:
PHIL 1150Introductory Bioethics3
PHIL 2400Ethics and the Professions3
PHIL 2440Medical Ethics3

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Semester Plan

NOTE: These plans are intended only as general guides. Courses outside Biology and Chemistry are provided only for illustrative purposes. Advanced credit or exemption from the Second Language requirement and/or advanced credit in non-science courses, along with the interests of each individual student will determine a final combination of courses in each semester that is unique for each student. Note also that the sample schedules in Semester 5 and beyond are left incomplete on purpose because each schedule should be highly individualized at that point.

Plan 1

A student that is exempt from MATH 1100

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CHEM 1400
CHEM 1401
4CHEM 1410
CHEM 1411
4
ENGLSH 10003BIO_SC 15005
Behavioral Sciences Course3Humanities Course (2000 level)**3
Social Sciences Course (MO State Law)3Social Science Course**3
Elective1-2 
 14-15 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CHEM 21003CHEM 21103
BIO_SC 22004CHEM 21302
STAT 12003BIO_SC 23004
Second language I or Second Language Alternative3-4MATH 1400*See Grad Plan for Mathematical Sciences Option3
Elective1-2Second language II or Second Language Alternative3-4
 14-16 15-16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIO_SC 37005PHYSCS 12204
PHYSCS 12104BIOCHM 42703
Second language III or Second Language Alternative3-4Behavioral Science3
Elective3Humanities (2000 Level)3
 15-16 13
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Biology Capstone3Biology Elective- Writing Intensive3
Biology Diversity4Evolutionary Biology 3
Social Science (2000 level)3Humanities3
Humanities3Elective/FLA3
Writing Intensive Elective3Elective3
 16 15
Total Credits: 117-122
**

 Could meet A&S Diversity Intensive Requirement (3 hrs).

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Plan 2

A student that needs MATH 1100

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIO_SC 15005CHEM 1400
CHEM 1401
4
MATH 11003ENGLSH 10003
Behavioral Sciences Course3Humanities Course (2000 level)**3
Social Sciences Course (MO State Law)3Social Sciences Course**3
Elective1Elective1-2
 15 14-15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CHEM 1410
CHEM 1411
4CHEM 21003
BIO_SC 22004BIO_SC 23004
STAT 12003MATH 14003
Second Language or Second Language Alternative3-4Second Language or Second Language Alternative3-4
 Elective3
 14-15 16-17
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIO_SC 37005PHYSCS 12104
CHEM 21103BIOCHM 42703
CHEM 21302Behavioral Science3
Second Language or Second Language Alternative3-4Humanities (2000 level)3
Elective 3 
 16-17 13
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Biology Capstone3Biology Elective- Writing Intensive3
PHYSCS 12204Evolutionary Biology3
Social Science (2000 level)3Biology Diversity4
Humanities3Elective/FLA3
Writing Intensive Elective3Humanities3
 16 16
Total Credits: 120-124
**

 Could meet A&S Diversity Intensive Requirement (3 hrs).

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Degree Audit

The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree. 

MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.

Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.

Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.

For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.

Major and Career Exploration

The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.

  • If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.

  • If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major

  • If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.

For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.

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