Bachelor’s in Biology - Pre-Professional Human Medicine Track

  1. Academics
  2. Academic Programs
  3. Bachelor of Science in Biology
  4. Bachelor’s in Biology - Pre-Professional Human Medicine Track

Gain a strong foundation for graduate studies and training in the medical sciences with the Bachelor of Science in Biology - Pre-Professional Human Medicine Track at FranU. The multidisciplinary program equips you with a solid knowledge base in biology and chemistry while giving you enough flexibility to tailor your plan of study for your future goals.

Develop practical laboratory and research skills through rigorous coursework in biology, chemistry, anatomy, and microbiology, and participate in internships that enhance your studies and spirit of service. Faculty offer mentorship as you work toward building a competitive application for graduate school, and two-thirds of FranU students in this track receive acceptance to their first-choice programs.

School
School of Arts & Sciences
Career
Prepare for graduate degrees in medicine, dentistry, veterinary sciences, physical therapy, and physician assistant studies. The track also opens the door to opportunities in the healthcare industry, laboratory clinics, and academia.
Program Contacts

Request More Information

Learn more about the pre-professional human medicine track at FranU to discover how the program can help you on your path to graduate school!

REQUEST INFORMATION

Pre-Professional Medicine Track Highlights

  • Gear up for graduate medical programs - Designed to meet the prerequisites of medical or veterinary school, experience a curriculum offering rigorous, hands-on coursework, and service-learning education.

  • Benefit from engaged faculty - Enrich your experience with one-on-one attention from faculty who offer academic and career mentorship and actively conduct research in their field.

  • Hone a broad range of skills - Your academic journey reflects your interests through electives that sharpen your problem-solving abilities and courses that cover an array of topics in human health and medicine.

Gain practical experience - Apply your knowledge and expertise in a range of hands-on activities, internship opportunities, SETH simulation exercises, and the research-focused senior project.

Pre-Med Degree Features

Admissions Requirements

To apply to FranU, you must meet the following requirements:

  • TOPS Core Curriculum with a minimum 2.5 GPA computed on core courses only if you are a high school senior or graduate;
    • OR an acceptable HiSET exam score of 60 or higher.

    • OR a General Education Development (GED) test score of 500 or higher.

  • ACT or SAT scores:
    • ACT composite score of 20

    • SAT math and verbal combined score of 1040

  • You may also apply test optional. If applying test optional, you must take Math 0310 OR submit a test score for math placement. We accept to following scores for placement into Math 1315:
    • ACT Math subscore 18 or higher

    • SAT Math subscore 500 or higher

    • Accuplacer Quantitative Reasoning ≥250

    • CLEP College Algebra 50 or higher

Learn more about how to apply and application materials by visiting the Undergraduate Admissions Requirements page.

To join part of the pre-med biology program:

  • Declare the Bachelor of Science in Biology - Pre-Professional Human Medicine Track prior to completing the final 60 credit hours required for the degree.

  • Meet with a faculty advisor to develop a degree plan. All degree plans must be approved by the Dean of Arts and Sciences.


Program Mission

The mission of the Biology Program at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University is to create quality educational experiences in all areas of biology and chemistry, especially those integral to the health of the population. The core principles of scientific inquiry and ethics serve to integrate coursework throughout the curriculum.

Program Goals

FranU’s Bachelor’s in Biology - Pre-Professional Human Medicine program aims to meet the following goals:

  1. 80% of graduates who seek employment will be gainfully employed within 12 months of graduation.

  2. 80% of graduates in the GPA upper quartile who seek to further their education will be admitted to a graduate program within 12 months of graduation.

  3. 60% of graduates will be involved in community service and/or a professional organization within 12 months of graduation.

  4. 80% of graduating seniors will agree or strongly agree with the following statements:
    1. I am confident in my ability to be productive in a science laboratory.

    2. The curriculum has adequately prepared me for standardized exams necessary for successful admission into graduate schools.

  5. 80% of graduating seniors will indicate that coursework has contributed a fair amount or a great deal to their learning gains in the following:
    1. Using the scientific method to solve problems effectively.

    2. Understanding the relationship between science and ethics.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

Students graduate from the bachelor’s in biology - pre-professional human medicine track with the following abilities:

  • Use and, when identified as applicable, integrate natural science concepts to illustrate the processes of life.

  • Apply the scientific method in laboratory and simulated scenarios to solve problems in an ethical manner.

  • Communicate scientific findings and, when identified as applicable, their social implications in the context of the Franciscan values.

  • Apply anatomical and physiological concepts to the study of human biology and pathophysiology.

Program Curriculum

The pre-professional medicine track consists of 122 credit hours, 60 of which come from coursework earned toward a biology major. Students take classes in biology, chemistry, algebra, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, physics, biochemistry, genetics, and other sciences.

Lab credit hours reinforce many of the foundational courses, while electives in ethics and philosophy, humanities and fine arts, and behavioral and social sciences enrich students’ understanding of the human condition and allow them to explore their interests. Through our robust curriculum, students hone essential laboratory and research skills and fulfill the prerequisites for graduate programs in the medical sciences

Tuition & Financial Aid

As an affordable Catholic university, FranU aims to make your education more affordable as we work together to help ease the challenges of determining how to fund your education. We can assist you in finding grants, scholarships, loans and other forms of financial assistance.

We invite you to estimate the amount of financial aid you may receive with our Net Price Calculator Tool, or learn more about your funding options by visiting the Office of Financial Aid page.

FAQs

What will I learn in the biology program?

The biology bachelor’s degree will build a solid base of knowledge in the principles of biology and chemistry while also providing track-specific courses in concentrated subject areas. During the program of study, students will take courses in biology foundations, general chemistry, biology and chemistry labs, algebra, psychology, organic chemistry and microbiology. Beyond these foundational courses, students will encounter diverse course offerings tailored to each unique program track.

What can I do with a biology bachelors degree?

What are graduates doing now?

What percentage of Biology graduates who apply to a graduate clinical program are accepted?

How affordable is the BS in biology?

Resources

Document TitleTypeFile Size
Document Title: Premedical Advisory Committee PolicyType: pdfFile Size: 90.22 KBDownload

Prepare for a Career in Healthcare in FranU’s
Pre-Professional Human Medicine Program

Set your sights on graduate programs with FranU’s Pre-Professional Human Medicine Track for biology majors. Designed to hone necessary lab skills and provide practical learning experiences, our program can help you stand out as a med school candidate. Contact us today for more information.

REQUEST INFORMATION

APPLY NOW

Accreditation

For information about our SACSCOC accreditation, please visit our Institutional Accreditation page.

Curriculum

Curriculum Notes:

Total hours for the Bachelor of Science degree in Biology - Pre-Professional Human Medicine Track = 122 credit hours

*Students who wish to apply to medical school should strive to take BIOL4320 and BIOL4321 Biochemistry I and II in their junior year to prepare for the MCAT. These students should work with their advisor to optimize their schedule.

Behavioral/Social Sciences electives may be taken from ANTH, ECON, HIST, POLI, PSYC, RELS, SOCI.

Ethics/Philosophy electives may be taken from PHIL 2315, PHIL 2320, THEO 3345, THEO 3350, THEO 3360.

Humanities/Fine Arts electives may be taken from ENGL, MUSI, ART, HIST, HUMN, PHIL, RELS, THEO.

Human Biology electives may be taken from BIOL3000 or 4000 level; ideally these have physiology in the name but endocrinology, oncology, embryology, immunology, kinesiology, gross anatomy are also accepted.