Academic Programs Catalog

College of Natural Science

Undergraduate Program

The Bachelor of Science degree program in Physiology is intended primarily for students who wish to pursue careers in medicine or other health-related fields, research, and industry, for which a thorough knowledge of physiology is necessary. The physiology major is particularly suitable for students in the life sciences who plan advanced study at the graduate or professional level. It combines comprehensive study of physiology, including molecular, cellular, and organ systems physiology with courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Students may complete the requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree in Physiology either within the College of Natural Science or as a Lyman Briggs College coordinate major. Students are encouraged to complete their preparatory biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics courses early during their collegiate study in order to meet prerequisites for the required upper division courses in the major.

Physiology

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Physiology

  1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Physiology.

    The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Physiology major is met by completing Physiology 460.  That course is referenced in item 3. b. below.

    Students who are enrolled in the College of Natural Science may complete the alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that is described in item 1. under the heading Graduation Requirements in the College statement.  Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be used to satisfy the alternative track.
  2. The requirements of the College of Natural Science for the Bachelor of Science degree.

    The completion of the Biological Science, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics courses referenced in requirement 3. below satisfies the requirements referenced under the heading Graduation Requirements in the College statement.  The credits earned in other courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward other College requirements as appropriate.
  3. The following requirements for the major:
    a. The following courses outside the Department of Physiology (62 to 71 credits):
    (1) One course from each of the following groups of courses (6 to 8 credits):
    (a) MTH 124 Survey of Calculus I 3
    MTH 132 Calculus I 3
    MTH 152H Honors Calculus I 3
    LB 118 Calculus I 4
    (b) MTH 126 Survey of Calculus II 3
    MTH 133 Calculus II 4
    MTH 153H Honors Calculus II 4
    LB 119 Calculus II 4
    STT 200 Statistical Methods 3
    STT 201 Statistical Methods 4
    STT 231 Statistics for Scientists 3
    STT 421 Statistics I 3
    STT 464 Statistics for Biologists 3
    (2) One of the following groups of courses (7 or 8 credits):
    (a) CEM 141 General Chemistry 4
    CEM 142 General and Inorganic Chemistry 3
    (b) CEM 151 General and Descriptive Chemistry 4
    CEM 152 Principles of Chemistry 3
    (c) CEM 181H Honors Chemistry I 4
    CEM 182H Honors Chemistry II 4
    (d) LB 171 Principles of Chemistry I 4
    LB 172 Principles of Chemistry II 3
    (3) One of the following groups of courses (2 credits):
    (a) CEM 161 Chemistry Laboratory I 1
    CEM 162 Chemistry Laboratory II 1
    (b) LB 171L Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I 1
    LB 172L Principles of Chemistry II – Reactivity Laboratory 1
    (c) CEM 185H Honors Chemistry Laboratory I 2
    (4) One of the following groups of courses (9 to 10 credits):
    (a) BS 161 Cell and Molecular Biology 3
    BS 162 Organismal and Population Biology 3
    BS 171 Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory 2
    BS 172 Organismal and Population Biology Laboratory 2
    (b) LB 144 Biology I: Organismal Biology 4
    LB 145 Biology II: Cellular and Molecular Biology 5
    (c) BS 181H Honors Cell and Molecular Biology 3
    BS 182H Honors Organismal and Population Biology 3
    BS 191H Honors Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory 2
    BS 192H Honors Organismal and Population Biology Laboratory 2
    (5) All of the following courses (8 credits):
    CEM 251 Organic Chemistry I 3
    CEM 252 Organic Chemistry II 3
    CEM 255 Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2
    (6) One of the following groups of courses (8 or 10 credits):
    (a) PHY 231 Introductory Physics I 3
    PHY 232 Introductory Physics II 3
    PHY 251 Introductory Physics Laboratory I 1
    PHY 252 Introductory Physics Laboratory II 1
    (b) PHY 183 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I 4
    PHY 184 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II 4
    PHY 191 Physics Laboratory for Scientists I 1
    PHY 192 Physics Laboratory for Scientists II 1
    (c) LB 273 Physics I 4
    LB 274 Physics II 4
    (7) One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
    ANTR 350 Human Gross Anatomy for Pre-Health Professionals 3
    IBIO 320 Developmental Biology 4
    IBIO 328 Comparative Anatomy and Biology of Vertebrates 4
    (8) One of the following courses or groups of courses (4 to 6 credits):
    (a) BMB 401 Comprehensive Biochemistry 4
    (b) BMB 461 Advanced Biochemistry I 3
    BMB 462 Advanced Biochemistry II 3
    (9) One of the following courses (3 credits):
    CEM 383 Introductory Physical Chemistry I 3
    PSL 425 Physiological Biophysics 3
    (10) Twelve credits in nonscience courses beyond the credits that are counted toward University requirements.
    b. All of the following courses in the Department of Physiology (16 credits):
    PSL 101 Frontiers in Physiology 1
    PSL 431 Human Physiology I 4
    PSL 432 Human Physiology II 4
    PSL 450 Physiology in Health and Disease 3
    PSL 460 Topics in Physiology (W) 2
    PSL 475L Capstone Laboratory in Physiology  2
    The completion of Physiology 450 and 475L satisfies the department's capstone course requirement.