Pre-Medicine/Biochemistry and Biophysics Option
This option is available within the Biochemistry and Biophysics major at the following location:
- Corvallis
Biochemistry and Biophysics students interested in a career in medicine should choose this option. It may also be suitable for students interested in some other health professions, and these students should first consult with their advisor. In addition to offering a rigorous foundation in general chemistry, organic chemistry, mathematics, physics, biology, biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, biophysics, statistics, and biological sequence analysis, the Pre-medicine option meets the requirements for most medical schools in the U.S. by providing students with training in genetics, psychology, ethics, and social sciences. Students have a wide choice of medically relevant electives in areas such as anatomy and physiology, microbiology, neuroscience, and immunology. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in undergraduate research. Faculty pre-medical advisors guide students to integrate undergraduate research and other relevant professional opportunities into their undergraduate experience and to prepare themselves as strong candidates for admission to the professional schools of their interest.
Option Code: 928
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate a core knowledge base in the theory and practice of modern Biochemistry and Biophysics.
- Demonstrate experimental design and laboratory skills relevant to biochemistry and molecular biology, including preparation, experimental design, evaluation of data, and safe laboratory practices.
- Critically evaluate data and design experiments to test hypotheses relevant to the practice of Biochemistry and Biophysics.
- Read and evaluate primary literature in the discipline.
- Effectively communicate scientific data and ideas, using various formats appropriate for different target audiences.
- Use databases, computational tools and other online resources effectively.
- Demonstrate awareness of ethical issues in the practice of science.
Options in the Biochemistry and Biophysics major require a minimum of twenty-one credits to complete in addition to the Biochemistry and Biophysics major. Most students can complete the major and Pre-medicine/Biochemistry and Biophysics option requirements in four years.
Students may pursue either the Pre-medicine/Biochemistry and Biophysics, Advanced Biophysics, or Neuroscience option with the Biochemistry and Biophysics major-- no dual combinations are permitted.
For further information, see MyDegrees or the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics website.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| BI 109 | HEALTH PROFESSIONS: MEDICAL | 1 |
| Electives | ||
| Select a minimum of 20 credits from the following courses: 1 | 20 | |
| Psychology | ||
| +*INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY I | ||
or PSY 202Z | +*INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY II | |
| Ethics | ||
| *BIOMEDICAL ETHICS | ||
or PHL 205 | *ETHICS | |
| Additional Social Science | ||
| *INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY | ||
or SOC 204 | *INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY | |
| Science Electives | ||
| Select a minimum of 10 credits from the following courses: | ||
| *MOLECULAR MEDICINE | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO NEUROSCIENCE | ||
| NEUROSCIENCE OF SENSORY AND MOTOR SYSTEMS | ||
| UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH (1–3 credits allowed) | ||
| GENETICS | ||
| ADVANCED HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY and ADVANCED HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY 2 | ||
| GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY | ||
| GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY | ||
| BACTERIAL MOLECULAR GENETICS | ||
| IMMUNOLOGY | ||
| BACTERIAL PATHOGENESIS | ||
| VIROLOGY | ||
| THE HUMAN MICROBIOME | ||
| Total Credits | 21 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)
- +
Core Education course. Applies only to students admitted to an OSU undergraduate degree from Summer 2025 onwards
- 1
Must include a minimum of 15 upper-division credits
- 2
Option Code: 928