This can be done in five years, but not four. Premedicine, Predentistry and Preoptometry Students may prepare for admission to medical, dental or optometry school by following the option in biomedical sciences in the Department of Biology. While this option provides a strong background for most professional schools, students can satisfy requirements for professional schools in any major area of their interest. Application for admission should be made during the registration period preceding the semester during which the student intends to enroll in upper division Biology Department courses.
All options require the following common core of courses.
Most professional positions in biology require completion of one or more graduate degrees. The biology option provides the basic formal background required for application to programs of graduate study while allowing students the opportunity to select those biology courses which best meet their interests and objectives. It accomplishes this by leaving 20 of the 40 required credits in biology unspecified. In addition, students may use the elective credits to develop strength in a second area which may enhance their prospects of gaining employment with a bachelor's degree or their prospects of acceptance into specialized graduate programs. Separate advisors are available for those students in the fields of botany, zoology, cell biology, evolution and ecology.