Biophysics, B.S./B.A.

The Biophysics program (56 hours) focuses on the intersection of physics with the life sciences. It is ideal for students wishing a career in biophysics, or to attend graduate or professional programs in related areas such as medical physics, medical school, dental school, biophysics, and graduate work in biomedical type areas. The program includes the following career tracks:

1. The Biophysics track includes courses in biophysics and is geared towards preparing students for attending graduate school in biophysics or in related industry.

2. The Pre-Health track is designed to prepare students for admission to medical or other pre-health program. It includes most of the typical courses required for admission to medical or other graduate programs in the health sciences. Although the courses in this major were chosen to meet the most common prerequisites of medical or other health professional schools, each school may have additional (or less) requirements. Please consult with your pre-health advisor and the individual schools for which you expect to apply.

Either track would be appropriate for any physics student interested in any career requiring a significant amount of biology and chemistry courses. All tracks involve multiple courses from other areas designed to give our students a solid foundations for them to pursue their goals. Students should choose between the B.S. and B.A. degrees based on which BELL Core curriculum they wish to follow.

BELL Core Requirements: 53 Hours (minimum)

Although the courses in this major were chosen to meet the most common prerequisites of medical or other health professional schools, each school may have additonal (or less) requirements. Please consult with your academic, pre-medical advisor and the individual schools for which you expect to apply. This will help determine which BELL Core courses you should take as well as which options within the major would be best.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) / Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Technical Requirements

Technical Requirements are courses identified by the program as required courses and will count in the BELL Core or as General Electives.

PHY 1110 Precalculus-Based Physics I 3 Hours and
PHY 1115 Precalculus-based Physics I Laboratory 1 Hours
or
PHY 1140 Introduction to Physics 3 Hours and
PHY 1145 Introduction to Physics Laboratory 1 Hours
or
PHY 1610 Calculus-Based Physics I 4 Hours
CEM 1510 General Chemistry I 3 Hours and
CEM 1515 General Chemistry I Lab 1 Hours
MTH 1210 Calculus I 4 Hours
MTH 1220 Calculus II 4 Hours

Major Tool Courses: 4 Hours

CEM 1520 General Chemistry II 3 Hours and
CEM 1525 General Chemistry II Lab 1 Hours

Major Requirements: 56-57 Hours

PHY 1050 Freshman Physics Seminar 1 Hours

Career Tracks: 12-13 Hours

Biophysics Track:

Choose two from the below options:

PHY 2295 Biomechanics 3 Hours
PHY 2240 Introductory Medical Physics 4 Hours
PHY 3295 Biophysics 3 Hours
and

Choose 6 hours of electives from the approved list below not used to satisfy the above.

Pre-health Track:

CEM 3400 Fundamentals of Biochemistry 3 Hours
or
CEM 3510 Biochemistry I 4 Hours
and

Choose 8-9 hours of electives from the approved list below not used to satisfy the above.

Approved Biophysics Electives

PSY 1100 General Psychology 3 Hours
CEM 3400 Fundamentals of Biochemistry 3 Hours
CEM 3510 Biochemistry I 4 Hours
CEM 3600 Biophysical Chemistry 4 Hours
CEM 3610 Physical Chemistry I 4 Hours
PHY 2250 Electronics and Circuit Theory 4 Hours
PHY 2295 Biomechanics 3 Hours
PHY 2240 Introductory Medical Physics 4 Hours
PHY 3130 Optics 3 Hours
PHY 3230 Thermal Physics 3 Hours
PHY 4220 Quantum Mechanics II 3 Hours
BIO 2110 Medical Terminology 1 Hours
BIO 2230 Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4 Hours
BIO 2240 Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4 Hours
BIO 2330 Genetics 4 Hours
BIO 3140 Immunology 3 Hours
BIO 3160 General Physiology 4 Hours
MTH 1151 Elementary Statistics for the Sciences 3 Hours
MTH 1160 Data Analysis Lab for the Sciences 1 Hours
MTH 2210 Calculus III 4 Hours
MTH 2240 Differential Equations 3 Hours

General Electives: 18-19 Hours (minimum)

Total Required for the Program: 128 Hours

Minor is not required for Biophysics major.

Biophysics, B.S./B.A.

BELL Core Requirements: 53 Hours (minimum)

Technical Requirements

Major Tool Courses: 4 Hours

Major Requirements: 56-57 Hours

Introductory Physics Options: 4 Hours

Physics Core: 14 Hours

Physics Research Sequence: 6 Hours