Skip to main content
University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
    • Admitted Students
    • Current Students
    • Families of Current Students
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Alumni
    • Email
    • Blackboard
    • Campus Connection
    • Employee Self-Service
    • Hawk Central
    • Degree Map
    • Zoom
  • Directory
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Student Life
  • Research
  • Athletics
  • Majors & Programs
  • About
University of North Dakota
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Student Life
  • Research
  • Athletics
  • Majors & Programs
  • About
  • Request Info
  • Visit
  • Apply
  • Request Info
  • Visit
  • Apply
  • Home
  • Program Finder
  • Biology: Professional Health Sciences Emphasis (B.S.)
  • Requirements
Skip Section Navigation
  • Biology: Professional Health Sciences Emphasis (B.S.)
  • Requirements
  • Tuition & Aid
  • How to Apply
  •  

Biology Professional Health Sciences Requirements

Graduate with a Biology: Professional Health Sciences degree.

This major is designed for students interested in medical professions (medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, podiatry and veterinary), or allied medical professions (physician assistant, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or medical research). Health sciences students should consult with their Biology advisor and the Health Sciences advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences to develop an appropriate course of study.

Required 120 credits (36 of which must be numbered 300 or above, and 30 of which must be from UND), including:

I. Essential Studies requirements (see University ES listing, minimum 39 total credits). The following course must be taken as part of the Essential Studies requirement:

Course List
CodeTitleCredits
COMM 110Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
Total Credits3

II. 39 major hours including:

A. Core requirements (18 credit hours), all courses below:

Course List
CodeTitleCredits
BIOL 120Orientation to the Biology Major1
BIOL 150

& BIOL 151
General Biology I

and General Biology II *
6
BIOL 150L

& BIOL 151L
General Biology I Laboratory

and General Biology II Laboratory
2
BIOL 315Genetics3
BIOL 341Cell Biology3
BIOL 480Senior Capstone Seminar **3
Total Credits18
*

Students who take BIOL 111 Concepts of Biology and BIOL 111L Concepts of Biology Laboratory and earn a grade of "B" or higher in both of those courses prior to becoming a Biology major may complete the General Biology sequence by taking  BIOL 150 General Biology I  and BIOL 150L General Biology I Laboratory.

**

Three credits for an accepted BIOL 489 Senior Honors Thesis can be substituted for the BIOL 480 Senior Capstone Seminar with prior approval of the thesis topic by the Chair of Biology.

We strongly advise mastery of materials in all core courses except BIOL 480 Senior Capstone Seminar prior to enrolling in other 300 or 400 level Biology courses.

At least 15 of the total 39 credits required for the BS degree must be taken in the UND Biology department, exclusive of the credits earned in other departments and institutions.

B. Advanced requirements (minimum 21 credit hours of upper level Biology courses):*

Course List
CodeTitleCredits
1. Must include a minimum of 9 credits from the following health-related courses below:*
BIOL 364
Parasitology
BIOL 364L
Parasitology Laboratory
BIOL 369
Histology
BIOL 369L
Histology Lab
BIOL 378
Developmental Biology
BIOL 380
Disease Biology
BIOL 390
Endocrinology
BIOL 415
Genomics
BIOL 418
Systems Biology
BIOL 420
Neuroscience
BIOL 442
Physiology of Organs and Systems
BIOL 442L
Physiology of Organs and Systems Laboratory
BIMD 220

& 220L
Human Anatomy Physiology I

and Human Anatomy Physiology I Lab **
or BIMD 221

& 221L
Human Anatomy Physiology II

and Human Anatomy Physiology II Lab
BIMD 302
General Microbiology Lecture
BIMD 302L
General Microbiology Laboratory
BIMD 328
Introduction to Immunology
2.Additional 12 credits of upper level Biology electives. All 300 or 400 level Biology courses will count toward the elective credit hours needed. Certain science courses in other departments may also qualify as electives (see examples below). Only one 200 level course will count towards Biology elective credits.
3. Laboratory Requirement. At least four upper-division Biology courses with laboratories must be included. The following labs or courses satisfy this requirement:
BIOL 312L
Evolution Laboratory
BIOL 332L
Gen Ecology Lab
BIOL 336
Systematic Botany
BIOL 341L
Cell Biol Lab
BIOL 363
Entomology
BIOL 364L
Parasitology Laboratory
BIOL 369L
Histology Lab
BIOL 376L
Animal Biology Laboratory
BIOL 410
Molecular Biology Techniques
BIOL 415
Genomics
BIOL 416
Ecological Genomics
BIOL 418
Systems Biology
BIOL 425
Ichthyology
BIOL 427
Ornithology
BIOL 428
Mammalogy
BIOL 431
Wildlife Management
BIOL 433
Aquatic Ecology
BIOL 438
Fisheries Management
BIOL 442L
Physiology of Organs and Systems Laboratory
BIMD 302L
General Microbiology Laboratory
  • Up to three of the following courses from UND departments outside Biology can be applied toward the 39 credits required for a BS in Biology degree (lecture + lab = 1 course). Other courses will be considered on a case by case basis. To have a course considered, the student should provide a syllabus to the Department Chair.
  • Course List
    CodeTitleCredits
    BIMD 220

    & 220L
    Human Anatomy Physiology I

    and Human Anatomy Physiology I Lab **
    4
    or BIMD 221

    & 221L
    Human Anatomy Physiology II

    and Human Anatomy Physiology II Lab
    BIMD 302

    & 302L
    General Microbiology Lecture

    and General Microbiology Laboratory
    4
    BIMD 328Introduction to Immunology3
    BIMD 401Advanced Biochemistry3
    *

    No more than 10 combined credit hours from BIOL 491 Seminar; BIOL 492 Research; BIOL 493 Instructional Experience in Biology; BIOL 494 Directed Studies; BIOL 497 Internship; and BIOL 489 Senior Honors Thesis, will count towards this 39 credit major, and no more than 4 credit hours from any single one of those courses.

    **

    Either BIMD 220/220L or BIMD 221/221L will count as an elective, but not both courses.

  • BMB 301 Biochemistry will not be allowed to fulfill elective requirements.
  • BIMD 202 Introduction to Medical Microbiology Lecture/BIMD 202L Introduction to Medical Microbiology Laboratory will only be allowed with special permission of the Biology department.

III. Cognate requirements in other departments (29-32 credit hours):

Course List
CodeTitleCredits
Mathematics*
MATH 146Applied Calculus I **3-4
or MATH 165 Calculus I
Chemistry
General Chemistry
CHEM 121

& 121L

& CHEM 122

& CHEM 122L
General Chemistry I

and General Chemistry I Laboratory

and General Chemistry II

and General Chemistry II Laboratory
OR
CHEM 221

& 221L

& CHEM 254

& CHEM 254L
Fundamentals of Chemistry - Concepts

and Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory

and Inorganic Chemistry I

and Inorganic Chemistry I Laboratory ***
Organic Chemistry
CHEM 340

& 340L

& BIMD 301
Survey of Organic Chemistry

and Survey of Organic Chemistry Laboratory

and Biochemistry
OR
CHEM 341

& 341L

& BIMD 301
Organic Chemistry I

and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory

and Biochemistry
OR
CHEM 341

& 341L

& CHEM 342

& CHEM 342L
Organic Chemistry I

and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory

and Organic Chemistry II

and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory ****
Physical Sciences
PHYS 161

& PHYS 162
Introductory College Physics I

and Introductory College Physics II (OR)
OR
PHYS 211

& PHYS 212
College Physics I

and College Physics II (OR)
OR
PHYS 251

& PHYS 252
University Physics I

and University Physics II
Statistical Methods and Data Interpretation
Select one of the following:3
BIOL 470
Biostatistics #
PSYC 241
Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
SOC 326
Sociological Statistics
MATH 321
Applied Statistical Methods
*

Students with a particular aptitude for mathematics should consider taking both MATH 165 Calculus I and MATH 166 Calculus II and should consult with their adviser regarding this potential option.

**

Prerequisites for either course are the responsibility of the student.

***

The chemistry sequence CHEM 221, CHEM 221L, CHEM 254, and CHEM 254L is intended for students with a strong background and interest in chemistry and presumes some exposure to calculus.

****

The sequence of CHEM 341 Organic Chemistry I and CHEM 342 Organic Chemistry II AND BIMD 301 Biochemistry is highly recommended for pre-medicine students because some medical schools require or prefer this combination.

#

Students may take BIOL 470 and have those credits count toward biology electives AND satisfy the statistics requirement.

The requirements on this page are pulled from UND’s academic catalog and may not reflect future terms. Updates are published annually in April.

General Education Courses

Essential Studies (ES) is UND’s program in general education. Along with your required major courses, it helps form the core of your UND undergraduate education. Your ES courses focus on essential skills employers require including communication, critical thinking and problem solving.

Request Information

We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.

By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies, Privacy Information.

Ready to Enroll?

  • Request Information
  • Schedule a Visit
  • Apply Now
  • UND.info@UND.edu
  • 701.777.3000
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • X
  • Contact UND
  • Campus Map
  • Events Calendar
  • Community & Belonging
  • Explore Programs
  • Employment
  • Make a Gift
  • Campus Safety (SafeUND)
University of North Dakota

© 2025 University of North Dakota - Grand Forks, ND - Member of ND University System

  • Accessibility & Website Feedback
  • Terms of Use & Privacy
  • Notice of Nondiscrimination
  • Student Disclosure Information
  • Title IX
©