Bachelor of Science in Biology (Pre-Physician Assistant)

Website: https://twu.edu/biology/undergraduate-programs/bachelor-of-science-in-biology-for-pre-health-professions/

Our bachelor's degree in Biology (pre-Physician Assistant track) is your first step toward a career as a Physician Assistant (PA).  PAs are medical providers who are licensed to diagnose and treat illness and disease and to prescribe medication for patients. They work in physician offices, hospitals, and clinics in collaboration with a licensed physician.  During our four-year program, you will develop a comprehensive understanding of the principles of biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, molecular biology, and cellular biology. The broad background provided by our bachelor's degree provides excellent preparation for those seeking admission into PA programs.  The curriculum is designed to meet all course prerequisites for PA school.  Students on this track are encouraged to visit the Pre-Health Resources site to learn more about medical school admissions procedures, shadowing and internship opportunities, writing your personal statement, and other valuable guidance and information.

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

  1. Written and oral communication skills.
  2. ​Demonstrate critical thinking by using logic and reasoning to interpret scientific results.
  3. Ability to design and conduct properly controlled experiments.
  4. Utilize modern scientific instruments and methods.
  5. ​Work collaboratively as part of a team to perform, analyze, and present research.
  6. ​Ability to understand and comply with laboratory safety guidelines.
  7. Appreciate the requirements for a career as a Physician Assistant.

Admissions

All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120  

Major: 27-28 SCH

Program Code: BIOLOGY.BS.PREPA;  CIP Code: 26.0101.00 

Lecture and lab must be taken concurrently.  A minimum grade of C is mandatory in all required courses for Biology majors.

Texas Core Curriculum

ENG 1013Composition I3
ENG 1023Composition II3
Mathematics3
Life & Physical Sciences6
Language, Philosophy, & Culture3
Creative Arts3
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-18653
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present3
POLS 2013U.S. National Government3
POLS 2023Texas Government3
Social & Behavioral Sciences3
CAO: Women's Studies3
CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics3
Total SCHs42

Courses Required for Major

ZOOL 3243
ZOOL 3241
Systemic Anatomy
and Systemic Anatomy Laboratory
4
ZOOL 4243
ZOOL 4241
Medical Physiology
and Medical Physiology Laboratory
4
BACT 3113
BACT 3111
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory
4
BIOL 4813
BIOL 4811
Molecular and Cellular Biology: Gene Expression
and Molecular and Cellular Biology: Gene Expression Laboratory
4
BIOL 4823
BIOL 4821
Molecular and Cellular Biology: Genetics and Inheritance
and Molecular and Cellular Biology: Genetics and Inheritance Laboratory
4
BIOL 4681Biology Seminar1
Choose one of the following:3-4
Immunology
and Immunology Laboratory
Virology
Biology Elective from BACT, BIOL, or ZOOL3
Biology Elective hours must include coursework appropriate for science majors. The following courses are not acceptable electives: BACT 1003/BACT 1001, BIOL 1013, BIOL 1023, BIOL 1033, BIOL 1223, ZOOL 2013/ZOOL 2011, and ZOOL 2023/ZOOL 2021.
Total SCHs27-28

Departmental Requirements

BIOL 1113
BIOL 1111
Principles of Biology I
and Principles of Biology I Laboratory
4
BIOL 1123
BIOL 1121
Principles of Biology II
and Principles of Biology II Laboratory
4
Choose one of the following:4
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I
Principles of Chemistry I
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I
Choose one of the following:4
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
Principles of Chemistry II
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 2213
CHEM 2211
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
4
CHEM 3223
CHEM 3221
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
4
MATH 1303College Algebra3-4
or MATH 2014 Calculus I
MATH 1703Elementary Statistics I3
PSY 1013Introduction to General Psychology3
SOCI 1013Introductory Sociology3
HS 3033Medical Terminology3
Choose one of the following:4
Principles of Physics I
and Principles of Physics Laboratory I
General Physics I
and General Physics Laboratory I
Choose one of the following:4
Principles of Physics II
and Principles of Physics Laboratory II
General Physics II
and General Physics Laboratory II
Electives - Choose 12 SCH from the following12
Biochemistry I
and Biochemistry I Laboratory
Developmental Sexuality
Health Aspects of Human Sexuality
Psychosocial Aspects of Mental Health
Trigonometry
Calculus I
Introduction to Nutrition
Bioethics
Developmental Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
Elementary Spanish I
Elementary Spanish II
Total SCHs59-60

 Students must satisfy the 3 SCH global perspectives graduation requirement.

Recommended Plan of Study

First Year
FallTCCNSCHs
BIOL 1113
BIOL 1111
Principles of Biology I
and Principles of Biology I Laboratory
BIOL 1406
& BIOL 1106
4
CHEM 1113
CHEM 1111
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 1311
& CHEM 1111
4
MATH 1303College Algebra MATH 13143
ENG 1013Composition I ENGL 13013
UNIV 1231Learning Frameworks: First-Year Seminar EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 13001
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
BIOL 1123
BIOL 1121
Principles of Biology II
and Principles of Biology II Laboratory
BIOL 1407
& BIOL 1107
4
CHEM 1123
CHEM 1121
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 1312
& CHEM 1112
4
MATH 1703Elementary Statistics I MATH 13423
PSY 1013Introduction to General Psychology PSYC 23013
ENG 1023Composition II ENGL 13023
 SCHs 17
Second Year
FallTCCN
BACT 3113
BACT 3111
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory
4
CHEM 2213
CHEM 2211
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 2323
& CHEM 2123
4
ZOOL 3243
ZOOL 3241
Systemic Anatomy
and Systemic Anatomy Laboratory
4
 SCHs 12
SpringTCCN
CHEM 3223
CHEM 3221
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
4
ZOOL 4243
ZOOL 4241
Medical Physiology
and Medical Physiology Laboratory
4
PHIL 3073Bioethics 3
HS 3033Medical Terminology 3
 SCHs 14
Third Year
FallTCCN
BIOL 4813
BIOL 4811
Molecular and Cellular Biology: Gene Expression
and Molecular and Cellular Biology: Gene Expression Laboratory
4
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-1865 HIST 13013
Biology Elective3
Additional Department Requirements3
 SCHs 13
SpringTCCN
BIOL 4823
BIOL 4821
Molecular and Cellular Biology: Genetics and Inheritance
and Molecular and Cellular Biology: Genetics and Inheritance Laboratory
4
BACT 4113
BACT 4111
Immunology
and Immunology Laboratory
4
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present HIST 13023
SOCI 1013Introductory Sociology SOCI 13013
Multicultural Women's Studies CAO Core3
 SCHs 17
Fourth Year
FallTCCN
PHYS 1133
PHYS 1131
Principles of Physics I
and Principles of Physics Laboratory I
PHYS 1301
& PHYS 1101
4
POLS 2013U.S. National Government GOVT 23053
BIOL 4681Biology Seminar 1
Additional Department Requirements3
Additional Department Requirements3
Elective3
 SCHs 17
SpringTCCN
PHYS 1143
PHYS 1141
Principles of Physics II
and Principles of Physics Laboratory II
PHYS 1302
& PHYS 1102
4
POLS 2023Texas Government GOVT 23063
Creative Arts Core3
Upper-level General Elective3
Elective3
 SCHs 16
 Total SCHs:  121