SCHOOL OF NATURAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

“Equipping for Every Good Work”

Biology Major -- Pre-Physical Therapy

Bachelor of Science Core Curriculum (57-59 hours)

RELIGION REL 101: Introduction to the Old Testament (3 hrs)

REL 102: Introduction to the New Testament (3 hrs)

ENGLISH ENG 101: Composition (3 hrs)

ENG 102: Research and Composition (3 hrs)

LITERATURE Literature with an ENG prefix (3 hrs)

and PHILOSOPHY PHI 201: Introduction to Philosophy OR Literature with an ENG prefix (3 hrs)

COMMUNICATION COM 101: Public Speaking (3 hrs)

OR COM 230: Oral Interpretation of Literature (3 hrs)

HISTORY HIS 101/102: World History to 1500 and World History since 1500 (6 hrs total)

OR

HIS 201/202: United States to 1865 and United States since 1865 (6 hrs total)

MATHEMATICS MAT 131: College Algebra (3 hrs) or higher

FINE ARTS ART 200: Art Appreciation (3 hrs)

OR THE 135: Theatre Appreciation (3 hrs)

OR MHL 101: Music Appreciation (3 hrs)

PHYSICAL Two 1-hour Activity Courses (PED prefix)

EDUCATION OR HEA 300: Health and Exercise for a New Lifestyle (3 hrs)

SOC./BEHAV. 6 hours from the following disciplines:

SCIENCES Geography, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, and/or Economics

LAB SCIENCE One 4-hour laboratory science course*

(Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Physical Science)

ADDITIONAL At least 6 hours of courses selected from ONE of the following areas:

REQUIREMENTS computing, fine arts, foreign language, natural/physical science*

AND

6 - 8 hours of courses selected from TWO of the following areas:

computing (BUS 102: Fundamental Computer Concepts and Applications, 3 hrs)

mathematics (MAT 132: Trigonometry, 3 hrs -- or higher)

natural science or physical science*

WRITING One Writing Intensive Course must be taken (in any subject); suitable

INTENSIVE choices are BIO 470, CHE 405, PSY 410, and EDU 300.

COURSE

* This requirement is fulfilled by courses taken as part of the Biology major or Chemistry minor (over)

Biological Sciences Core Curriculum
All Biology majors are required to take the following courses. Some of these courses will also satisfy Bachelor of Science core curriculum requirements.
Biology (10 hours)
Biology lab courses (8 hours)
(PT school requirement)
Biology Capstone (BIO 498) / Chemistry (12 hours)
Inorganic Chemistry I
Inorganic Chemistry II
Organic Chemistry I / Mathematics (10 hours)
6 hrs MAT courses (College Algebra or higher)
Psychological Statistics

Additional Coursework Required for Admission to Physical Therapy School:

PHY 101/102: General Physics I and II (8 hours)

Recommended Coursework (choose 30 hours to complete the Biology major; courses in bold are HIGHLY recommended):

BIO 234/235: Anatomy and Physiology I and II (8 hours)

BIO 260: General Microbiology

BIO 306: Introduction to Pharmacology (3 hours)

BIO 310: Genetics (4 hours)

BIO 312: Introduction to Pathology (4 hours)

BIO 390: Bioethics (3 hours)

BIO 407: Vertebrate Embryology (4 hours)

BIO 409: Vertebrate Histology (4 hours)

BIO 450: Advanced Physiology (3 hours)

BIO 470: Cell Physiology (3 hours)

HRP 201: Medical Terminology (1 hour)

Pre-physical therapy students should prepare to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in the spring of their junior year. Applicants to PT school are also required to provide evidence of 40 hours observation in at least two clinical departments or practices. (This is a UMMC requirement – other schools may have different requirements.)

Important General Degree Requirements (see current catalog for a complete list)

1. 128 total hours needed to graduate; 40 of these must be upper-level (300/400) in any subject.

2. The last 32 semester hours of the degree must be earned at WCU.

3. At least 12 upper-level hours in the major and at least 6 hours in the minor must be earned at WCU.

4. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required on the total academic attempted hours, all work done at WCU, and courses in the major and minor.

5. A maximum of 64 semester hours earned at a community/junior college may be applied toward a degree at WCU.

6. Application for degree must be made by October 15 for May graduation and by March 31 for August graduation.

PLEASE NOTE: This is an unofficial advisement form used only for planning purposes. Officially, graduation requirements are determined by the catalog as interpreted by the Registrar. Students may use any catalog in effect during their enrollment within six years of graduation.

Rev 2/17/15