This program prepares students for a wide variety of opportunities which have a basis in cellular and molecular biology, human/animal anatomy and physiology. In addition to enrolling in required courses, students will have opportunities to engage in elective courses and laboratory research in specialty areas of endocrinology, pharmacology, pathophysiology, neurophysiology, reproductive physiology, and cardiopulmonary physiology. In this process, students are able to tailor their educational experiences to specific career objectives. The curriculum will prepare graduates to pursue further studies in professional schools for medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and optometry, as well as other programs such as nursing, physician assistant and physical therapy. The Anatomy and Physiology concentration will also prepare students for graduate studies in animal and human health sciences as well as for employment in a variety of innovative and developing fields in biotechnology.

The basic science curriculum meets many requirements for entrance into professional schools. Experiential learning opportunities are encouraged and could include participating in laboratory research, teaching/tutoring in selected courses, volunteer experiences and leadership positions within student club(s), study abroad, internships, and honors curriculum. These opportunities are encouraged with the student’s interests and career goals as the focus.

Effective Fall 2023

Freshman
AUCCCredits
CHEM 111General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)3A4
CHEM 112General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)3A1
CHEM 113General Chemistry II 3
CHEM 114General Chemistry Lab II 1
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
LIFE 102Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)3A4
VMBS 100Introduction to Biomedical Sciences Major 2
Select one from the following: 3
Biomedical Sciences  
Concentration Elective (See list below)1
  
Select one course from the following: 4
Calculus for Biological Scientists I (GT-MA1)1B 
Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1)1B 
Arts and Humanities3B3
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion1C3
 Total Credits 31
Sophomore
 
Select one course from the following: 4
Principles of Human Physiology  
Fundamentals of Physiology  
BMS 302Laboratory in Principles of Physiology 2
LIFE 210Introductory Eukaryotic Cell Biology 3
LIFE 212Introductory Cell Biology Laboratory 2
Select one course from the following: 3-4
Molecular and General Genetics  
Introductory Genetics: Molecular/Immunological/Developmental (GT-SC2)3A 
Principles of Genetics  
Select one group from the following:  8
Group A  
Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry  
Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory  
Concentration Elective (see list below)
  
Group B  
Modern Organic Chemistry I  
Modern Organic Chemistry II  
Modern Organic Chemistry Laboratory  
Select one course from the following: 3
Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods  
Introduction to Biostatistics  
Arts and Humanities3B3
Historical Perspectives3D3
 Total Credits 31-32
Junior
 
BC 351Principles of Biochemistry 4
Select one course from the following 5
General Physics I (GT-SC1)3A 
Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1)3A 
Select one course from the following: 4-5
Human Gross Anatomy  
Domestic Animal Gross Anatomy  
Microscopic Anatomy  
Concentration Electives (See list below)1 7
Electives 3
Advanced Writing 23
Social and Behavioral Sciences3C3
 Total Credits 29-30
Senior
 
MIP 300General Microbiology 3
MIP 302General Microbiology Laboratory 2
Select one group from the following: 5
Group A:  
Functional Neuroanatomy4B 
Neuroanatomy Through Clinical Case Studies4A,4C 
Group B:  
Cardiopulmonary Physiology4B 
Perspectives in Cardiopulmonary Diseases4A,4C 
Group C:  
Essentials of Pathophysiology4B 
Pathophysiology Perspectives4A,4C 
Concentration Electives (See list below)1 6
Electives2 11-13
 Total Credits 27-29
 Program Total Credits: 120

Concentration Electives – Select a minimum of 19 total credits

  • BMS 260 may count as a Concentration Elective. Freshmen must take BMS 260.
  • BMS 330 may count as a Concentration Elective if either BMS 301 or BMS 305 were taken to satisfy the anatomy requirement in the Junior year.
  • BMS 345, BMS 420, and BMS 460 may count as Concentration Electives if not taken to satisfy All-University Core Curriculum (AUCC) Category 4 in the major.
  • BMS 384 may be taken for a maximum of 3 credits.
  • A maximum total of 3 credits earned in BMS 487, BMS 495, and BMS 498 may count toward the Concentration Electives. Additional credits earned in these courses will count as free elective credits.
  • Only one of the following courses may count as a Concentration Elective: BMS 496A, BMS 496B, BMS 496C, BMS 496D. Additional credits earned in these courses will count as free elective credits.
  • CHEM 343 may count as a Concentration Elective for students who select organic chemistry Group B in the Sophomore year.
BC 463Molecular Genetics3
BC 465Molecular Regulation of Cell Function3
BMS 192First Year Seminar in Biomedical Sciences1
BMS 260Biomedical Sciences 13
BMS 325Cellular Neurobiology3
BMS 330Microscopic Anatomy 14
BMS 345Functional Neuroanatomy 14
BMS 384Supervised College Teaching 11-3
BMS 401Laboratory Research in Biomedical Sciences4
BMS 405Nerve and Muscle-Toxins, Trauma and Disease3
BMS 409Human and Animal Reproductive Biology3
BMS 420Cardiopulmonary Physiology 13
BMS 425Introduction to Systems Neurobiology3
BMS 430Endocrinology3
BMS 450Pharmacology3
BMS 460Essentials of Pathophysiology 13
A maximum of 3 credits may selected from the following:
Internship 1
Independent Study 1
Research 1
A maximum of one course may selected from the following:
Honors: Human Gross Anatomy 1
Honors: Physiology Lab 1
Honors: Physiology Case Studies 1
Honors: Animal Gross Anatomy 1
BMS 500Mammalian Physiology I4
BMS 501Mammalian Physiology II4
BMS 521Comparative Reproductive Physiology3
BMS 531Domestic Animal Dissection3
BMS 575Human Anatomy Dissection4
BZ 220Introduction to Evolution3
CHEM 343Modern Organic Chemistry II 13
MIP 342Immunology4
MIP 351Medical Bacteriology3
PH 122General Physics II (GT-SC1)5
1

 See Concentration Elective notes directly above the course list. 

2

Select enough free electives at student's discretion to complete degree program of 120 credits. Enough upper division (300- and 400-level) credits must be taken to bring total number of upper division credits to 42.

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:
To Declare Major: competitive entry controls required and capped enrollment in place. Please contact Director of Student Success in the CVMBS Student Success Center for more information.

To Prepare for First Semester:   The curriculum for the anatomy and physiology concentration assumes students enter college prepared to take calculus.  Entering students who are not prepared to take calculus will need to fulfill pre‐calculus requirements in the first semester.  Those pre‐calculus requirements are listed as benchmark courses in Freshman Semester 1 below. LIFE 102 requires high school chemistry as a prerequisite; CHEM 111 requires Algebra II as a prerequisite (this prerequisite is met by having Algebra II by test credit, transfer credit, or placement out of MATH 117 and MATH 118 on Math Placement Exam.

Freshman
Semester 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
Students will be required to take either MATH 155 or MATH 160 in Freshman semester 2. Students who intend to take MATH 160 will need to take MATH 126 in addition to MATH 124 and MATH 125    
CHEM 111General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)X 3A4
CHEM 112General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)X 3A1
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2) X1A3
LIFE 102Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)X 3A4
VMBS 100Introduction to Biomedical Sciences Major   2
MATH 124, MATH 125, and MATH 126 must be completed by the end of Semester 1, if necessary.    
 Total Credits   14
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CHEM 113General Chemistry IIX  3
CHEM 114General Chemistry Lab IIX  1
Select one course from the following:   4
Calculus for Biological Scientists I (GT-MA1)  1B 
Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1)  1B 
Select one course from the following:   3
Biomedical SciencesX   
Concentration Elective (see list on Requirements Tab):
    
Arts and Humanities  3B3
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion  1C3
 Total Credits   17
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
LIFE 210Introductory Eukaryotic Cell BiologyX  3
LIFE 212Introductory Cell Biology Laboratory   2
Select one group from the following:   3-5
Group A    
Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry    
Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory    
Group B    
Modern Organic Chemistry I    
Select one course from the following:   3
Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods    
Introduction to Biostatistics    
Arts and Humanities  3B3
 Total Credits   14-16
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
Select one course from the following:X  4
Principles of Human Physiology    
Fundamentals of Physiology    
BMS 302Laboratory in Principles of Physiology   2
Select the same group (A or B) as selected in semester 3:   3-5
Group A    
Concentration Elective (see list below)
    
Group B    
Modern Organic Chemistry II    
Modern Organic Chemistry Laboratory    
Select one course from the following:   3-4
Molecular and General Genetics    
Introductory Genetics: Molecular/Immunological/Developmental (GT-SC2)  3A 
Principles of Genetics    
Historical Perspectives  3D3
CHEM 341 must be completed by the end of Semester 4.X   
 Total Credits   15-18
Junior
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
BC 351Principles of Biochemistry   4
Select one course from the following:   5
General Physics I (GT-SC1)X 3A 
Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1)  3A 
Concentration Electives (See list on Requirements Tab):   3
Advanced Writing  23
 Total Credits   15
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
Select one course from the following:   4-5
Human Gross Anatomy    
Domestic Animal Gross Anatomy    
Microscopic Anatomy    
Concentration Electives (See list on Requirements Tab):   4
Social and Behavioral Sciences X3C3
Electives   3
 Total Credits   14-15
Senior
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
Select one group from the following:   5
Group A:    
Functional Neuroanatomy  4B 
Neuroanatomy Through Clinical Case Studies  4A,4C 
Group B:    
Cardiopulmonary Physiology  4B 
Perspectives in Cardiopulmonary Diseases  4A,4C 
Group C:    
Essentials of Pathophysiology  4B 
Pathophysiology Perspectives  4A,4C 
Concentration Electives (See list on Requirements Tab):   3
Electives   7
 Total Credits   15
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
MIP 300General MicrobiologyX  3
MIP 302General Microbiology LaboratoryX  2
Concentration Electives (See list on Requirements Tab):X  3
ElectivesX  4-6
The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.X   
 Total Credits   12-14
 Program Total Credits:   120