Biology Comprehensive Major: Pre-Physical Therapy Emphasis

The Pre-Physical Therapy Emphasis requires a minimum of 74 credits, including the 26-credit Biology Nucleus, 10 additional credits in Biology, and 38 credits of supporting courses.  

All Biology majors require the 26-credit Biology Nucleus.

Biology Nucleus
BIOL 150Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1)4
BIOL 151Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory)4
BIOL 301GENERAL ECOLOGY3
BIOL 310Cell Biology3
BIOL 312Genetics (with recitation)4
CHEM 111General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)3
CHEM 112General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1)1
CHEM 113General Chemistry II3
CHEM 114General Chemistry Laboratory II1
Total Credits26
Required Biology courses
BIOL 372Human Anatomy and Physiology I (with laboratory)4
BIOL 373Human Anatomy and Physiology II (with laboratory)4
At least two credits of Capstone Experience courses:2-4
Senior Seminar
Senior Thesis
Total Credits10-12
Minimum supporting courses:
CHEM 331Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM 332Organic Chemistry II3
CHEM 334Organic Chemistry Laboratory I1
CHEM 335Organic Chemistry Laboratory II1
CHEM 471Biochemistry I3
ESS 185Lifetime Wellness3
ESS 330Exercise Physiology3
ESS 331Exercise Physiology Lab1
ESS 380Biomechanics3
MATH 213Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1)3
PSY 100General Psychology (GT-SS3)3
At least one of the following:3
Development Psychology
Psychopathology
Select one of the following pairs of courses:8
Principles of Physics I (GT-SC2)
and Laboratory Physics I (GT-SC1)
AND
Principles of Physics II (GT-SC2)
and Laboratory Physics II (GT-SC1)
OR
General Physics I (GT-SC2)
and Laboratory Physics I (GT-SC1)
AND
General Physics II (GT-SC2)
and Laboratory Physics II (GT-SC1)
Total Credits38

Capstone Course Requirement

The following courses in the Biology Major fulfill the capstone course requirement: BIOL 495 Senior SeminarBIOL 496 Senior Thesis or EDUC 409 Secondary Student Teaching.

Graduation Requirements

Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation.  Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above).  Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued. 

Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
BIOL 150 Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) 4
CHEM 111 General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) 3
CHEM 112 General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1) 1
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
MATH 140 College Algebra (GT-MA1) 3
 Credits15
Spring
BIOL 151 Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory) 4
CHEM 113 General Chemistry II 3
CHEM 114 General Chemistry Laboratory II 1
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
ESS 185 Lifetime Wellness 3
PSY 100 General Psychology (GT-SS3) 3
 Credits17
Year Two
Fall
BIOL 310 Cell Biology 3
BIOL 372 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (with laboratory) 4
CHEM 331 Organic Chemistry I 3
CHEM 334 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 1
MATH 141 Precalculus (GT-MA1) 4
 Credits15
Spring
BIOL 301 GENERAL ECOLOGY 3
BIOL 373 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (with laboratory) 4
CHEM 332 Organic Chemistry II 3
CHEM 335 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 1
General Education course 3
 Credits14
Year Three
Fall
BIOL 312 Genetics (with recitation) 4
CHEM 471 Biochemistry I 3
ESS 380 Biomechanics 3
PHYS 170
Principles of Physics I (GT-SC2)
or General Physics I (GT-SC2)
3
PHYS 185 Laboratory Physics I (GT-SC1) 1
 Credits14
Spring
ESS 330 Exercise Physiology 3
ESS 331 Exercise Physiology Lab 1
General Education courses 3
MATH 213 Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1) 3
PHYS 171
Principles of Physics II (GT-SC2)
or General Physics II (GT-SC2)
3
PHYS 186 Laboratory Physics II (GT-SC1) 1
Psychology Elective course 3
 Credits17
Year Four
Fall
BIOL 495
Senior Seminar
or Senior Thesis
1
General Education Courses 6
Elective Elective 6
 Credits13
Spring
BIOL 495
Senior Seminar
or Senior Thesis
1
General Education Course 3
Elective Elective 11
 Credits15
 Total Credits120