UMW programs like pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, pre-veterinary medicine, pre-physical therapy, and other allied health programs are not UMW majors. Rather, they are career tracks that fall under the UMW Pre-Health Program. If you are headed on one of these career tracks, you still need to choose a major. The Biology Major is the near-perfect major for pre-health students, and we have constructed our major with pre-health students in mind. Below is a sample pathway through the Biology major for pre-health students. It shows that by the end of your 3rd year, you can have most Biology major requirements completed and ALL pre-health requirements completed, including those for premed, pre-dent, pre-verterinary medicine, and all other allied health career tracks. It should be noted that this is only a sample pathway. The course requirements vary among the many different pre-health career tracks, and every pre-health student should consult with Professor Stephen Gallik, the UMW Pre-Health Advisor, for information about the course requirements for any one specific pre-health program. The pathway shown below is flexible to a degree and can be modified in certain ways to meet the specific needs of the student.
Required and highly recommended pre-health courses are in bold face.
First Year:
- Fall Semester:
- Biol 121 (Biol Concepts) – or – Biology 125 (Phage Hunters I)
- Chem 111 (Gen Chem I)
- Any college-level math, Psychology, Sociology or English composition course
- FSEM
- Spring Semester:
- Biol 132 (Org Func & Div) – or – Biology 126 (Phage Hunters II)
- Chem 112 (Gen Chem I)
- Whichever is remaining of any college-level math, Psychology, or Sociology course
- A second English composition course (or WI course) or or a general education course
Second Year
- Fall Semester:
- Biol 340 (Cell Biology)
- Biol 260 (Research Process)(Satisfies Stats requirement)
- Chem 211 (Organic Chem I), if required by your specific pre-health program
- Whichever is remaining of any college-level math, Psychology, or Sociology course or gen ed course
- Spring Semester:
- Biol 341 (General Genetics)
- Biol 210 (Ecology & Evolution)
- Chem 212 (Organic Chem II), if required by your specific pre-health program
- Whichever is remaining of any college-level math, Psychology, or Sociology course or gen ed course
Third Year:
- Fall Semester:
- Physics 101 or 105, if required by your specific pre-health program
- Chem 317 (Biochem I), if required by your specific pre-health program
- A Biology Major elective or general education course
- A general education course
- Spring Semester:
- Physics 102 or 106, if required by your specific pre-health program
- Biol 371 (Microbiology)
- A Biology Major elective
- A general education course
For detailed information about the specific course requirements for your preferred pre-health career track, or if you have any questions about this sample pathway, email the UMW Pre-Health Advisor, Professor Stephen Gallik.