Department of Biology

Three students, two in scrubs, walking in Robertson Life Sciences Building

Biology for Pre-Med

Biology Gives You An Edge for Med School

At PSU we are ready to help you prepare for medical school and beyond. Biology majors make up a large portion of medical students, and for good reason. Study of Biology delivers a comprehensive understanding of the human system and its building blocks, setting you up for success in medicine programs. At PSU, our faculty are invested in your success and offer meaningful hands-on experiential learning opportunities through coursework and mentorship. Our programs are unique in how closely we work with Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) and Oregon State University (OSU) dental and medicine students through our state-of-the-art Robertson Life Sciences Building at our vibrant waterfront campus. 

 

Biology Degree Requirements about this content
Pre-Med PrerequisitesPSU Course EquivalencyFulfills Biology major requirementsAdditional Info
MathematicsPrecalculus I: Functions: MTH 111Z and
Precalculus II: Trigonometry: MTH 112Z		N/A 
Inorganic Chemistry (1-year sequence with labs)General Chemistry:
CH 221/227
CH 222/228
CH 223/229		YesPrerequisite: Must take chemistry placement assessment and score 90% or higher prior to registration
Organic Chemistry (1-year sequence with labs)Organic Chemistry: CH 334/337
CH 335/338
CH 336		YesCH 334 fulfills Biology’s general departmental requirements; others in sequence can count toward 12 credits of additional coursework in related disciplines
BiochemistryBiochemistry: CH 350N/APrerequisite: CH 229 and CH 336
Physics (1-year sequence with labs)General Physics:
PH 201/214
PH 202/215
PH 203/216 or 
General Physics with Life Science and Medical Applications: 
PH 231/214
PH 232/215
PH 233/216		YesPrerequisite: MTH 111Z or MTH 251 or Aleks Placement Test score 76 or higher.
PH 201/214 or PH 231/214 fulfills Biology’s general departmental requirements; others in sequence can count toward 12 credits of additional coursework in related disciplines
StatisticsElementary Statistics I: STAT 243Z and
Introduction to Probability and Statistics II: STAT 244		Yes 
Biology (1-year sequence with labs)Principles of Biology:
BI 211/214
BI 212/215
BI 213/216		YesEnrollment requires concurrent enrollment or prior completion of CH 221/227
GeneticsIntroduction to Genetics: BI 341YesFulfills Biology’s Area A requirement
Microbiology (with lab)Microbiology: BI 380 and
Microbiology Techniques: BI 388		YesFulfills Biology’s Area B and the major lab/field requirements
Anatomy and PhysiologyHuman Anatomy and Physiology: BI 301
 		YesFulfills Biology’s major lab or field requirement
Behavioral SciencesPsychology as a Natural Science: PSY 200
Psychology as a Social Science: PSY 204
PSY 311U: Human Development		N/AFulfills general university requirements (10 credits minimum in social sciences)
Social SciencesIntroduction to Sociology: SOC 200 or
Introduction to Sociology for the Health Sciences		N/AFulfills general university requirements (10 credits minimum in social sciences)
WritingVariesN/ACompletion of University Studies or University Honors typically fulfills some or all of this requirement

Additional Biology Major Requirements

Though not required for medical school, the following courses are required to graduate with a Biology degree.

  • Area C: Ecology/Evolution
    • General Ecology: BI 357
    • Evolution: BI 358
  • 12 credits of upper-division courses numbered 412-499; courses recommended for medical school include:
    • Virology: BI 421
    • Immunology and Serology: BI 487
    • Cancer Biology: BI 452
    • Cellular Neuroscience: BI 462
    • Systems Neuroscience: BI 463
    • Evolutionary Medicine Bi 440/540