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Degree Pathway for the Bachelor of Science in Biology - Pre-Medical/Pre-Health Option - 2023

Suggested Degree Pathway for Biology - Pre-Medical/Pre-Health Option

For students who entered fall 2023 and beyond.

Freshman Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total15
BIOL.1110Principles of Biology I3
BIOL.1170LPrinciples of Biology I Laboratory1
BIOL.1160Freshmen Seminar1
CHEM.1210Chemistry I (SCL)3
CHEM.1230LChemistry I Lab1
ENGL.1010 /
HONR.1100
College Writing I / FYSH (CW)3
xxxx.xxxxArts and Humanities Perspective (AH)13

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total15
BIOL.1120Principles of Biology II3
BIOL.1180LPrinciples of Biology II Laboratory1
CHEM.1220Chemistry II (SCL)3
CHEM.1240LChemistry II Lab1
ENGL.1020College Writing II (CW)3
MATH.1380Calculus for Life Sciences I (MATH)4

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total15
BIOL.2330LExperimental Methods in Biology72
BIOL.2xxxOrganisms, Evolution and Environment Elective2/73
CHEM.2210Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM.2290LOrganic Chemistry IB Lab1
xxxx.xxxxSocial Sciences Perspective (SS)13
xxxx.xxxxArts and Humanities Perspective (AH)13

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total16
BIOL.2xxxCell and Tissue Elective2/73
MATH.2830Introduction to Statistics3
CHEM.2230Organic Chemistry IIB3
CHEM.2300LOrganic Chemistry IIB Lab1
xxxx.xxxxFree Elective33
xxxx.xxxxArts and Humanities Perspective (AH)13

Junior Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total16
BIOL.2350Genetics74
BIOL.4190Biochemistry73
BIOL.4210LBiochemistry Techniques72
PHYS.1030General Physics I (STEM)3
PHYS.1030LGeneral Physics I Lab1
PSYC.1010Introduction to Psychology (SS)13

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total14-15
BIOL.3/4xxxPre-Med/Health Elective w/Lab3/74-5
BIOL.3/4xxxBiology Elective4/73
PHYS.1040General Physics II3
PHYS.1040LGeneral Physics II Lab1
SOCI.1010Introduction to Sociology (SS)13

Senior Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total14
BIOL.4510Senior Seminar (AIL), (WOC), (IL)72
BIOL.3/4xxxPre-Med/Health Elective3/73
xxxx.xxxxFree Elective53
xxxx.xxxxFree Elective53
xxxx.xxxxFree Elective53

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total14-15
BIOL.3/4xxxPre-Med/Health Elective w/Lab3/74-5
BIOL.3/4xxxPre-Med/Health Elective3/73
xxxx.xxxxFree Elective53
xxxx.xxxxFree Elective53
xxxx.xxxxFree Elective5/60-2

Total Minimum Credits = 120.

1The Arts and Humanities (AH) and Social Sciences (SS) perspectives are subsets of the Breadth of Knowledge (BOK) requirements in the Core Curriculum. No more than two BOK courses can be taken with the same four-letter prefix.

The Core Curriculum also includes seven Essential Learning Outcomes (ELOs). The Diversity and Cultural Awareness (DCA) and Social Responsibility and Ethics (SRE) are met outside the major requirements. See the DCA course listing and the SRE course listing for a full list of classes that fulfill these requirements.

The Class Search tool can be used to identify AH and SS courses that simultaneously satisfy the DCA or SRE requirement.

The Core Curriculum courses may be taken in any sequence. Refer to the Core Curriculum policy for further details. You should meet with your college-based professional advisor and/or faculty advisor to determine how best to satisfy the Core Curriculum requirements.

Note: It’s highly recommended for students in the Pre-Medical/Pre-Health option to take PHIL.2030 Introduction to Ethics (AH) for one of their Arts and Humanities Electives.

2Students are required to take one course from the “Organisms, Evolution, and Environment” (OEE) category and one from the “Cell and Tissue” (CT) category to ensure they have adequate Breadth of Knowledge at the sophomore level. Courses are selected from approved lists, and each course can only be counted towards one category. Students should consult with their advisor regarding course selection to satisfy the OEE and CT elective requirements.

  • Organisms, Evolution, and Environment Electives
  • Cell and Tissue Electives

3Students must complete four (4) Pre-Med/Health electives of which two (2) must be taken with their corresponding labs. Labs can be taken as a 3-credit lecture with a 1-credit lab or both combined into a 4-credit class. In addition, some lab courses have a 3-credit lecture with 2-credit lab for a total of 5-credits. Courses can be taken at the graduate level with permission of the instructor.

Choose from the following:

4In addition to the four Pre-Med/Health elective courses, students must complete at least one additional upper-level biology elective. This can be any 3-credit BIOL course at the 3000/4000-level not used as a Pre-Med/Health elective. This course can be taken at the graduate level with permission of the instructor.

5Free electives can be satisfied by any UML course xxxx.1010 or above, with the following exceptions:

  • Math courses must be above the level of calculus with the exception that you may apply 1 pre-calculus course equivalent to MATH.1200, MATH.1225 or MATH.1230 (up to 4 credits).
  • Courses with the LIFE prefix may NOT be used.
  • Additional biology courses can be used, but NO MORE than 60 credits of BIOL coursework may be applied towards the minimum 120 credits requirement to graduate.
  • Pre-Medical/Pre-Health students are strongly encouraged to include public health courses for some of their free electives.
  • Students who intend on applying to physician assistant programs and some dental schools will need to take HSCI.1010 / HSCI.1030L (Anatomy and Physiology I) and HSCI.1020 / HSCI.1040L (Anatomy and Physiology II) as two of their free electives.

6Students only need to complete enough free elective credits to reach the minimum 120 credits required to graduate.

  • For example, if a student completes no more than two 1-credit elective labs (whether the lab is a separate course or combined with the lecture into a 4-credit class), then at least 2 additional credits of free elective, beyond those already listed, will be needed to reach the minimum 120 required to graduate.
  • Completion of additional labs can result in further reduction of required free elective credits – so long as no more than 60 BIOL credits are counted in the 120-credit total.

7Course may be taken in either semester of the year listed.

Current UMass Lowell students should use their Advisement Report ins SIS. If you need assistance, please contact your advisor.

Restriction on off-campus study:

Be advised that any course taken at another institution must be formally approved prior to enrollment. See the catalog policy for details.