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BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE

Our human-centered major, this program of study provides a solid foundation in biology, chemistry, and physics coursework to help prepare you for many careers in allied health fields, including Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy, Optometry and others.

Like our other majors, 40-42 credit hours of biology courses must be completed. This includes 29 credit hours of core courses, including microbiology, genetics, and human anatomy and physiology, plus 12 credit hours of biology electives.

An additional 18-19 credit hours of chemistry and physics is required.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (REQUIRED BIOLOGY HOURS: 29)CREDIT HOURS: 59 (60)
BIOL 1101 ORIENTATION TO BIOLOGY1
BIOL 1214 FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOLOGY4
BIOL 2003 HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I3
BIOL 2041 HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I LAB1
BIOL 2103 HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II3
BIOL 2141 HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II LAB1
BIOL 2314 INTRODUCTORY MICROBIOLOGY or4
BIOL 3114 GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY4
BIOL 2812 MEDICAL VOCABULARY2
BIOL 3003 GENETICS3
BIOL 3103 INTRODUCTORY BIOCHEMISTRY3
BIOL 4052 ANALYSIS OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE2
BIOL 4502 BIOLOGY CAPSTONE2

Additional 12 credit hours of biology electives are required. This can include General Zoology and/or General Botany and/or 3000- or 4000- level BIOL-prefix courses. No more than 6 credit hours total may be in BIOL-prefix directed study, research and/or internship courses.

REQUIRED ANCILLARY HOURS18 (19)
CHEM 1104 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I4
CHEM 1141 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LAB1
CHEM 1204 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II4
CHEM 1241 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LAB1
CHEM 3103 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I3
CHEM 3141 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY1
PHYS 1503 GENERAL PHYSICS I OR3
PHYS 2104 UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I(4)
PHYS 1541 GENERAL PHYSICS I LAB OR1
PHYS 2141 UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I LAB(1)

Fall semester: freshman year (16 credit hours)

  • Orientation to Biology (BIOL 1101)
  • Fundamentals of Biology with lab (BIOL 1214)
  • General Chemistry I + Lab (CHEM 1104,1141)
  • English Composition I (ENGL 1113)
  • Liberal Arts Seminar (LAS 1063)

Spring semester: freshman year (15-16 credit hours)

  • Medical Vocabulary (BIOL 2852) or Biology Elective1
  • General Chemistry II + lab (CHEM 1204,1241)
  • English Composition II (ENGL 1213)
  • College Algebra (MATH 1503)

General education classes to total 15-16 Credit Hours

Fall semester: sophomore year (15-16 credit hours)

  • Human Anatomy & Physiology I + lab (BIOL 2003,2041)
  • Organic Chemistry I + lab (CHEM 3103,3141)

General Education classes to total 15-16 Credit Hours

Spring semester: sophomore year (15-16 credit hours)

  • Human Anatomy & Physiology II + lab (BIOL 2103,2141)
  • Medical Vocabulary (BIOL 2852) or Biology Elective1
  • [Optional: Organic Chemistry II + lab (CHEM 3203, 3241)]2

General Education classes to total 15-16 Credit Hours

Fall semester: junior year (15-16 credit hours)

  • Genetics (BIOL 3003) or Biology Elective1
  • General Physics I + lab (PHYS 1503,1541)

General Education classes to total 15-16 Credit Hours

Spring semester: junior year (15-16 credit hours)

  • Introductory Biochemistry (BIOL 3103)
  • Analysis of Scientific Literature (BIOL 4052)
  • Introductory Microbiology (BIOL 2314) or Biology Elective1
  • [Optional: General Physics II+ lab (PHYS 1603, 1641)]2

General Education classes to total 15-16 Credit Hours

Fall semester: senior year (15-16 credit hours)

  • Biology Capstone (BIOL 4502)
  • Genetics (BIOL 3003) or Biology Elective(s)1

General Education classes to total 15-16 Credit Hours

Spring semester: senior year (16 credit hours)

  • Introductory Microbiology (BIOL 2314) or Biology Elective(s)1

General Education classes to total 15-16 Credit Hours

124 total credit hours

112 Credit Hours of Biology elective courses are required for the degree and may include General Zoology (BIOL 2414), General Botany (BIOL 2214), and/or any 3000- and/or 4000-level BIOL-prefix courses. No more than six credit hours may be BIOL- prefix Directed Study, Research and/or Internship courses.

2Organic Chemistry II + lab, and General Physics II + lab are not required for this degree plan. However, they are necessary courses for some students in order to fulfill pre-requisites for certain graduate degree programs.

The Biomedical Sciences major is ideal if you're interested in pursing an advanced degree or career in physical therapy, occupational therapy or physician assistant. Be sure to consult with your admissions counselor for advice on selecting your major based on your goals and future plans. OCU offers both physical therapy and physician assistant programs of study.

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