Pre-Professional Health Sciences, BS

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Contact Information

Dr. Sara Elizabeth Rácz
Interim Biology Program Coordinator
Lecturer
Department of Chemistry, Biology and Health Sciences
Chemical and Biological Engineering/Chemistry 3316
Office Phone: (605) 394-2260
Email: Sara.Racz@sdsmt.edu
Department Website: https://www.sdsmt.edu/cbh/

PHN Flowchart

The Department of Chemistry and Applied Biological Sciences (ABS) offers a Bachelors of Science degree in Pre-professional Health Sciences. The degree is a science degree requiring core courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and math while allowing multidisciplinary electives and support courses from other areas such as psychology, sociology, and humanities. Students work closely with an advisor to design an individualized plan of study that will provide an excellent preparation for entry into competitive graduate and professional schools in high demand areas of health care.

For detailed information about this major or department please go to the department website.

Health Sciences Curriculum/Checklist

The sequence of courses taken will depend on the academic preparation and career objectives of incoming students. Students should consult with their advisor for a more personalized course of study based on career goals within the health sciences program.

Freshman Year

First Semester

BIOL 111 Introduction to Chemistry and Applied Biological Sciences Credits: (1-0) 1
BIOL 151 General Biology I Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 6)*
BIOL 151L General Biology I Lab Credits: (0-1) 1 (Goal 6)*
CHEM 112 General Chemistry I Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 6)*
CHEM 112L General Chemistry I Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
ENGL 101 Composition I Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 1)*
MATH 123 Calculus I Credits: (4-0) 4 (Goal 5)*

Total 16

Second Semester

BIOL 153 General Biology II Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 153L General Biology II Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
CHEM 114 General Chemistry II Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 114L General Chemistry II Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 6*
Free Elective Credits: 3

Total: 17

Sophomore Year

First Semester

BIOL 221 Human Anatomy Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 221L Human Anatomy Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
BIOL 331 Microbiology Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 331L Microbiology Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
ENGL 279 Communication in the STEM Workplace Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 1)*
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 3*
PHYS 111 Introduction to Physics I Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 111L Introduction to Physics I Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1
OR
PHYS 211 University Physics I Credits: (3-0) 3

Total: 17 or 18

Second Semester

BIOL 326 Biomedical Physiology Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 326L Biomedical Physiology Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
BIOL 371 Genetics Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 371L Genetics Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 3*
Free Electives Credits: 1-3
PHYS 113 Introduction to Physics II Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 113L Introduction to Physics II Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1
OR
PHYS 213 University Physics II Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 213L University Physics II Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1

Total: 16-18

Junior Year

First Semester

ENGL 289 Explorations in STEM Communications Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 2)*
Free Electives Credits: 3-6
Upper Level (300/400) Humanities or Social Sciences Elective(s) Credits: 3-6
Upper Level (300/400) Science Elective(s) Credits: 3-6

Total: 15-18

Second Semester

MATH 281 Introduction to Statistics Credits: (3-0) 3
OR
MATH 381 Introduction to Probability and Statistics Credits: (3-0) 3
Free Electives Credits: 3
Upper Level (300/400) Humanities or Social Sciences Elective(s) Credits: 3-6
Upper Level (300/400) Science Elective(s) Credits: 3

Total: 15-18

Senior Year

First Semester

BIOL 490 Seminar Credits: 1 to 3
Free Electives Credits: 6-12
Upper Level (300/400) Science Elective(s) Credits: 3-6

Total: 16-18

Second Semester

Free Electives Credits: as needed to meet 120 hours
Upper Level (300/400) Science Elective(s) (if needed) Credits: 3

Total: 12-16

120 credits required for graduation

Curriculum Notes

*Fulfills General Education requirement. Students should consult the General Education Requirements section of this catalog for a complete listing of all general education requirements. PPHS majors should consult their advisor to tailor an individualized curriculum based on their areas of interest and academic preparedness.

Math Requirement: 7 credits (MATH 123 and 281 or 381)

Physics Requirement: 7 credits (100 or 200 level PHYS courses)

Chemistry Requirement: 8 credits (CHEM 112, 112L, 114, 114L)

Biology Requirement: 26 credits (BIOL 111, 151, 151L, 153, 153L, 221, 221L, 326, 326L, 331, 331L, 371, 371L, and 490)

Upper Level Humanities/Social Science: 6 Credits Social Science, 3-6 credits Humanities

Upper Level Science Electives: 12 credits (Choose from Biology, Chemistry, or Department approved science course.)

Free Electives: Variable credits hours sufficient to equal 120 hours required for graduation (any courses selected by student and advisor.)

Total 120 credits required for the Bachelors of Science in Pre-professional Health Sciences.

Suggested Pre-Professional Health Sciences Upper Level Program Electives

BIOL 311 Principles of Ecology Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 311L Principles of Ecology Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1
BIOL 375 Current Bioethical Issues Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 406/506 Global Environmental Change Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 423 Pathogenesis Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 438/538 Industrial Microbiology Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 446/546 Molecular Cell Biology Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 455/555 DNA Structure and Function Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 470/570 Cancer Biology Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 478/578 Microbial Genetics Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 487/587 Diagnostic Parasitology Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 490 Seminar Credits: 1 to 3
BIOL 491 Independent Study Credits: 1 to 4
BIOL 492 Topics Credits: 1 to 5
BIOL 498 Undergraduate Research/Scholarship Credits: 1 to 12
CHEM 326 Organic Chemistry I Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 326L Organic Chemistry I Lab Credits: (0-2) 2
CHEM 328 Organic Chemistry II Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 328L Organic Chemistry II Lab Credits: (0-2) 2
CHEM 332 Analytical Chemistry Credits: 2 or 3
CHEM 332L Analytical Chemistry Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
CHEM 342 Physical Chemistry I Credits: 2 to 3
CHEM 342L Physical Chemistry I Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
CHEM 344 Physical Chemistry II Credits: 2 to 3
CHEM 344L Physical Chemistry II Lab Credits: 1 to 2
CHEM 352 Systematic Inorganic Chemistry Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 420/520 Organic Chemistry III Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 421/521 Spectroscopic Analysis Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 426/526 Polymer Chemistry Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 434 Instrumental Analysis Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 452/552 Inorganic Chemistry Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 452L/552L Inorganic Chemistry Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
CHEM 462/562 Green Chemistry and Processes Credits: 2 to 3
CHEM 464/564 Biochemistry I Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 464L/564L Biochemistry I Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
CHEM 465/565 Biochemistry II Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 482/582 Environmental Chemistry Credits: (3-0) 3
CP 297/397/497 Cooperative Education Credits: 1 to 3
NANO 401 Introduction to Nanoscience Credits: (3-0) 3