Dec 03, 2024  
College Catalog 2024 - 2025 
  
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College Catalog 2024 - 2025

Biological Sciences: Medical Professions Option, A.S.

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This option provides students with the technical coursework and laboratory experiences that enable them to successfully transfer and pursue a career in the medical professions including medical, veterinary, and pharmacy, physical therapy and physician’s assistant programs.  Students should tailor this option by choosing electives based on the requirements of the programs to which they plan to apply.  BHCC has articulation agreements with UMass Boston, UMass Amherst and UMass Lowell, enabling Medical Professions graduates to enroll in any one of these universities as juniors, without losing credits.

* Milestone Courses should be taken in the order shown. This will help you stay on track and graduate on time.

Semester 1

Total Credits: 15

Semester 1 Advising Note

  • General Education Requirements Quantitative Problem Solving and Scientific Reasoning satisfied by program.
  • This option has three tracks: 1. Pre-pharmacy school; 2. Pre-physician’s assistant or physical therapy school; 3. Pre-medical or Pre-veterinary school. Course selection will vary based on a student’s intended career. Students should learn about the course requirements of specific programs as they choose their electives. Please see each semester’s advising notes for correct course registration.
  • Students need to complete three General Education courses during semesters 1 and 2. Students do not need to complete General Education courses in any particular order.
  • MAT-197  requires a C+ or higher to enroll in CHM-201 .
  • If a student is not eligible to take (MAT-281 ) Calculus I, they should take (MAT-197 ) Precalculus in order to take (CHM-201 ) General Chemistry I/Lab in their second semester.

Semester 2

Total Credits: 17

Semester 2 Advising Note

  • Cell Biology/Lab (BIO-207 ), Genetics/Lab (BIO-208 ), Organic Chemistry I/ Lab (CHM-251 ), Organic Chemistry II/Lab (CHM-252 ) and Interpretation and Presentation of Scientific Research (SCI-221 ) are not always offered during the summer semester. All other required science and math courses are offered during the summer.
  • Meet with an advisor to begin career planning activities.
  • Begin exploring transfer options: attend a transfer workshop and the College transfer fair

Semester 3

Total Credits: 15

Semester 3 Advising Note

  • Veterinary and pharmacy schools: Most require calculus and calculus-based Physics I &II (PHY-251  and PHY-252 ).
  • Medical, physician’s assistant, physical therapy schools: Most do not require calculus or calculus-based physics and students can instead take General Physics (PHY-201  and PHY-202 ). However, Physics I &II (PHY-251  and PHY-252 ) courses will strengthen your application.
  • Electives should be decided based on the medical profession chosen by the student. Students should research specific programs and their course requirements.
  • Veterinary and medical schools elective options: Organic Chemistry II (CHM-252 ), Genetics (BIO-208 ), Statistics (MAT-181 ), *Students may choose to take Microbiology (BIO-205 ).
  • Pharmacy programs elective options: Organic Chemistry II (CHM-252 ), Microbiology (BIO-205 ), Anatomy & Physiology I (BIO-203 ), *Students may also choose: Public Speaking and Professional Communication (COM-171 ), Statistics (MAT-181 ), and/or Anatomy & Physiology II (BIO-204 ).
  • Physician’s Assistant or Physical Therapy programs elective options: Anatomy & Physiology I and II (BIO-203  and BIO-204 ), Statistics (MAT-181 ),* Students may choose to take Medical Terminology (NHP-180 ) and/or Microbiology (BIO-205 ).
  • Continue preparations for transfer: write essays for transfer institution, collect letters of recommendation, apply for transfer.
  • Complete a pre-graduation check with an advisor in LifeMap

Semester 4

Total Credits: 13-15

Semester 4 Advising Note

  • Veterinary and medical schools elective options: Organic Chemistry II (CHM-252 ), Genetics (BIO-208 ), Statistics (MAT-181 ), *Students may choose to take Microbiology (BIO-205 ).
  • Pharmacy programs elective options: Organic Chemistry II (CHM-252 ), Microbiology (BIO-205 ), Anatomy & Physiology I (BIO-203 ), *Students may also choose: Public Speaking and Professional Communication (COM-171 ), Statistics (MAT-181 ), and/or Anatomy & Physiology II (BIO-204 ).
  • Physician’s Assistant or Physical Therapy programs elective options: Anatomy & Physiology I and II (BIO-203  and BIO-204 ), Statistics (MAT-181 ),* Students may choose to take Medical Terminology (NHP-180 ) and/or Microbiology (BIO-205 ).
  • Apply for graduation.

Upon Completion of This Concentration Graduates Will Be Able To:

  • Use currently accepted biological, chemical and physical concepts to investigate problems and ideas presented in advanced study related to health and medicine.
  • Use biological concepts to evaluate their own science related concerns such as personal health or health careers.
  • Use laboratory technology, equipment and techniques to investigate scientific problems critically and safely using proper scientific methods.
  • Use molecular and cellular laboratory techniques that are commonly used in Biotechnology and Medicine.
  • Explain the major concepts of cell structure, function and cellular processes that are key to life.

Career Outlook

This option will allow students to transfer to four-year colleges and universities to seek a bachelor’s degree to pursue a career in the health professions. Students should enroll in this option if they plan to transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue admission to programs in medical, veterinary, pharmacy, physician’s assistant or physical therapy professions.

Explore Career Options 

Transfer Options

Transfer Advising Guides 

MassTransfer A2B Link

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst

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