Pre-Professional Programs
The Department of Biology offers a variety of programs that enable the student to obtain pre-professional training prior to entering a professional school. Where possible the course work taken at the University has been approved by the universities at Fargo and Grand Forks as equivalent to their pre-professional programs.
Pre-Chiropractic
Advisor: Dr. Zeni Shabani
Listed below are the Minot State University courses that satisfy the 60 cr requirement of all accredited colleges of chiropractic in the United States.
Select one of the following: 4
BIOL 142 General Microbiology BIOL 115 Human Structure & Function BIOL 220 Anatomy And Physiology I
BIOL 150 Introduction To Cellular Biology 4
HMS 208 Medical Terminology 2
CHEM 121 General Chemistry I (& CHEM 121L) 5
CHEM 122 General Chemistry II (& CHEM 122L) 5
CHEM 341 & CHEM 342
Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry II
10
PHYS 203 & PHYS 204
Introduction to Physics I and Introduction to Physics II
8
ENGL 110 & ENGL 120
College Composition I and College Composition II
6
PSY 111 Introduction to Psychology 3
HUM 251 Humanities 3
HUM 252 Humanities 3
HUM 253 Humanities 3
SOC 110 Introduction to Sociology 3
Total Hours 59
Pre-Dental Hygiene
Advisor: Dr. Paul Lepp
The only dental hygiene program in North Dakota is offered at the ND State College of Science at Wahpeton. Dental hygiene is a two-year program with limited admissions. Admission is typically highly competitive. For consideration the applicant must have at least one semester of chemistry and one of anatomy in college and a GPA of at least 2.5. Students interested in admission to the program at NDSCS may take the following courses at Minot State:
Required for admission to the program:
ENGL 110 College Composition I 3
BIOL 220 Anatomy And Physiology I 4
CHEM 115 Introductory Chemistry (& CHEM 115L) 4
Also recommended:
BIOL 221 Anatomy And Physiology II 4
A second semester of chemistry covering principles of organic chemistry and biochemistry is desirable and can be fulfilled with the following courses:
CHEM 240 Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry CHEM 481 Biochemistry I
MATH 210 Elementary Statistics 4
Optional:
BIOL 142 General Microbiology General Education courses:
ENGL 120 College Composition II 3
PSY 111 Introduction to Psychology 3
SOC 110 Introduction to Sociology 3
and any humanities elective
Total Hours 31
Pre-Dentistry
Advisor: Dr. Paul Lepp
It is suggested that students interested in applying to dental school pursue a degree in one of the sciences and take specific courses to meet admission requirements for dental school. Students planning to seek tuition support from the state of North Dakota should notify both the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education Office and their advisor. Although specific requirements may vary, the following list of Minot State courses, based on the University of Minnesota, is typical:
Required:
CHEM 121 General Chemistry I (& CHEM 121L) 5
CHEM 122 General Chemistry II (& CHEM 122L) 5
CHEM 341 & CHEM 342
Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry II
10
BIOL 150 & BIOL 151
Introduction To Cellular Biology and Introduction to Zoology
8
PHYS 203 & PHYS 204
Introduction to Physics I and Introduction to Physics II
8
MATH 103 College Algebra 4
ENGL 110 & ENGL 120
College Composition I and College Composition II
6
COMM 110 Fundamentals of Public Speaking 3
PSY 111 Introduction to Psychology 3
Suggested electives: Art CHEM 481 Biochemistry I BIOL 470 Histology BIOL 220 & BIOL 221
Anatomy And Physiology I and Anatomy And Physiology II BIOL 142 General Microbiology
Total Hours 52
Pre-Mortuary Science
Advisor: Dr. Paul Lepp
Students interested in mortuary science may take one or two years of courses prior to enrolling in a professional program. There are a variety of programs around the United States, some two-years, some four-years. The students should have some idea of which professional program they wish to enter so a specific set of Minot State University courses may be selected that best fits their needs. The pre-mortuary science curriculum at Minot State University is patterned after the program at Mount Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon. Mount Hood Community College suggests 30 semester hours of credit with the following courses:
ENGL 110 College Composition I 3
ENGL 120 College Composition II 3
COMM 110 Fundamentals of Public Speaking 3
Science from Biology and Chemistry 9
PSY 111 Introduction to Psychology 3
PSY 261 Psychology of Adjustment 3
PSY 423 Introduction to Counseling 3
Accounting and Business Ed 12
Health and Physical Education 5
For licensure in North Dakota, the North Dakota Century Code requires:
Social Science 15
Natural Science 18
Total Hours 89
Pre-Occupational Therapy
Advisor: Dr. Zeni Shabani
Listed below are the suggested courses that may satisfy the pre-occupational therapy curriculum for UND.
BIOL 150 Introduction To Cellular Biology 4
BIOL 208 Medical Terminology. This course is requested by the occupational therapy program. Students may take it via correspondence from UND Continuing Education. (1-800-342-8238)
BIOL 220 & BIOL 221
Anatomy And Physiology I and Anatomy And Physiology II
8
CHEM 115 Introductory Chemistry (& CHEM 115L) 4
COMM 110 Fundamentals of Public Speaking 3
ENGL 110 & ENGL 120
College Composition I and College Composition II
6
PSY 111 Introduction to Psychology 3
PSY 252 & PSY 352
Child Psychology
and Adolescent Psychology
6
PSY 241 Introduction to Statistics 4
PSY 270 Abnormal Psychology 3
SOC 110 Introduction to Sociology 3
Humanities: 9 credits from three different areas 9
Total Hours 53
Pre-Physical Therapy
Advisor: Dr. Christopher Keller
Physical Therapy has become a 6-7 year curriculum that results in award of a DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) in most programs in the United States, including the University of North Dakota. Our pre-physical therapy program has been developed to articulate with the UND program. Students typically complete a degree at Minot State University, and make application in the Fall Semester of their final year.
In addition to the pre-physical therapy coursework, students must volunteer and/or intern with a physical therapy department. Admission to PT programs is highly competitive. In 2011, the UND program received over 200 applications for 52 student positions. Only students with a minimum 3.60 grade point average were considered for interviews. The UND program may soon require that applicants take the GRE as part of the admissions process. Specific questions about the UND program can be submitted to Dr. Renee Mabey ([email protected], 701-777-2831).
Listed below are the Minot State University courses that satisfy the pre-physical therapy curriculum at UND:
BIOL 150 & BIOL 151
Introduction To Cellular Biology and Introduction to Zoology
8
BIOL 220 & BIOL 221
Anatomy And Physiology I and Anatomy And Physiology II
8
CHEM 121 & CHEM 122
General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II
10
COMM 110 Fundamentals of Public Speaking 3
ENGL 110 & ENGL 120
College Composition I and College Composition II
6
PHYS 203 & PHYS 204
Introduction to Physics I and Introduction to Physics II
8
PSY 111 Introduction to Psychology 3
PSY 255 Child & Adolescent Psychology 3
PSY 270 Abnormal Psychology 3
Fine Arts and Humanities: 9 credits from at least two different departments 9
Total Hours 64
Pre-Physician Assistant
Advisor: Dr. Heidi Super
A physician assistant (PA) is licensed to practice medicine as a part of a team with a physician. The PA conducts physical exams, diagnoses and treats medical conditions, orders and interprets tests, writes prescriptions, counsels on preventative healthcare, and assists in surgery. The pre-physician assistant coursework is designed to fulfill the requirements that allow admission to the Master of Physician Assistant Studies at the University of North Dakota (UND). Admission to the UND PA program requires a baccalaureate degree (e.g. BA Biology) as well as 500 hours (1000 preferred) of direct patient care experience, showing a commitment to a career in medicine. Examples of patient care experiences are: Certified medical assistant, emergency medical technician, phlebotomist etc.
The following lists the prerequisite coursework for admission to the UND PA program. This prerequisite coursework can be completed while earning a BA Biology degree at Minot State University.
Required Coursework:
BIOL 220 Anatomy And Physiology I 4
BIOL 221 Anatomy And Physiology II 4
BIOL 142 General Microbiology 4
HMS 208 Medical Terminology 2
HMS 215 Principles of Pharmacology 3
Statistics - Pick one of the following courses: 4
BIOL 240 Biometry
MATH 210 Elementary Statistics PSY 241 Introduction to Statistics
Take both organic chemistry courses OR take organic chemistry I and biochemistry: 8-10 CHEM 341 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 342 Organic Chemistry II CHEM 481 Biochemistry I Recommended Coursework:
ENGL 120 College Composition II 3
BIOL 215 Genetics 4
Total Hours 36-38
Pre-Wildlife Studies
Advisor: Dr. Christopher Keller
The pre-wildlife studies program is designed to satisfy the basic requirements recommended by most universities offering degree programs in fields such as ecology, wildlife management, and fisheries management. The course requirements also fulfill the requirements for the first two years in biology. The program is sufficiently broad to enable the student to transfer at the end of two years to a college or university offering specialized curricula in various fields of wildlife studies.
The biology courses which a pre-wildlife student would typically take are:
Two semesters of Introductory Biology:
BIOL 150 Introduction To Cellular Biology 4
BIOL 151 Introduction to Zoology 4
BIOL 154 Introduction To Botany 4
BIOL 340 Systematic Zoology 4
BIOL 347 General Ecology 4
BIOL 448 Systematic Botany 4
In addition to biology, the other recommended science courses are:
CHEM 121 General Chemistry I (& CHEM 121L) 5
CHEM 122 General Chemistry II (& CHEM 122L) 5
PHYS 204 Introduction to Physics II 4
