As a pre-health sciences major, you’ll be equipped with a broad, interdisciplinary foundation in the sciences. This degree will also prepare you for entry into a variety careers whether in the medical or dental fields. This degree allows for greater flexibility in your undergraduate coursework, so you can incorporate a minor, a second major, a study abroad program or additional elective coursework. Tailor your degree to your goals with the relevant biology, chemistry, math and physics courses necessary for preparation for entrance exams such as the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
Highlights
- Tailor courses to serve as preparation for entrance exams such as the MCAT
- Small class sizes allow for personalized instruction and mentoring
- Apply socioeconomic and ethical perspectives in analysis of current issues in health care
Career opportunities
This major offers many unique opportunities for work within natural sciences and entry into medical or dental school. Common career paths include medical and dental careers, as well as a variety of allied health fields: nurse, physician’s assistant, physical therapy, nutrition, medical technology and more.
Transferring to Fresno Pacific
FPU is a partner school with Transferology, a web-based tool that allows you to match the courses you’ve already taken with FPU programs. Visit Transferology.com to create an account and get started.

Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) Information
- 1. Biology (AS-T) to Pre-Health Sciences, B.A.
BA courses fulfilled through ADT:
- All lower-division General Education requirements fulfilled
- BA co-requisites and major courses fulfilled through ADT:
- BIOL 111 General Biology: Cells and Physiology (4)
- BIOL 121 General Biology: Diversity and Ecology (4)
- CHEM 103 General Chemistry I (4)
- CHEM 104 General Chemistry II (4)
- MATH 210 Calculus I (4) [*replaces MATH-140]
- This program is offered as daytime traditional
ADT Guarantee is the completion of BA/BS degree in 68 units.
- 2. Chemistry (AS-T) to Pre-Health Sciences, B.A.
BA courses fulfilled through ADT:
- All lower-division General Education requirements fulfilled
- BA co-requisites and major courses fulfilled through ADT:
- BIOL 111 General Biology: Cells and Physiology (4)
- BIOL 121 General Biology: Diversity and Ecology (4)
- CHEM 103 General Chemistry I (4)
- CHEM 104 General Chemistry II (4)
- MATH 210 Calculus I (4) [*replaces MATH-140]
- PHYS 130 - University Physics I (4)
- PHYS 131 - University Physics II (4)
- This program is offered as daytime traditional
ADT Guarantee is the completion of BA/BS degree in 68 units.
Course listing
In order to obtain a bachelor’s degree from Fresno Pacific University, students must complete at least 120 units. Along with completing all required courses in their selected area of study, general education requirements must be met by all graduates. See the general education summary in the undergraduate academic catalog for more information.
Select programs may not provide enough units for a student to graduate and therefore an emphasis and/or elective courses must be completed alongside the major. Please see below for emphases related to this area of study.
General Education Prerequisites
Code | Title | Units |
---|
BIOL 111 BIOL 231 | General Biology: Cells and Physiology or Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 4 |
CHEM 103 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
MATH 140 | Pre-Calculus | 4 |
Required Courses (Minimum of 48 Units Total, 28 Units Upper-Division)
Code | Title | Units |
---|
BIOL 220 | Healthcare in the United States | 2 |
BIOL 332 | Human Physiology | 4 |
BIOL 370 | Bioethics | 3 |
BIOL 450 | Genetics | 4 |
BIOL 485PRH | Senior Seminar | 2 |
CHEM 104 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
MATH 205 | Introductory Statistics | 3 |
Select from the following in consultation with the program director
Code | Title | Units |
---|
BIOL 121 | General Biology: Diversity and Ecology | 4 |
BIOL 321 | Vertebrate Zoology | 4 |
BIOL 321L | Vertebrate Zoology Lab | 0 |
BIOL 331 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
BIOL 340 | Microbiology | 4 |
BIOL 421 | Biochemistry | 4 |
BIOL 421L | Biochemistry Lab | 0 |
BIOL 441 | Cell and Molecular Biology | 4 |
BIOL 441L | Cell and Molecular Biology Lab | 0 |
BIOL 470 | History and Philosophy of Science | 3 |
BIOL 482 | Practicum in Biology | 1 - 3 |
BIOL 496 | Biological Research | 1 - 3 |
CHEM 310 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
CHEM 311 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
CHEM 312L | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
CHEM 313L | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
CHEM 350 | Analytical Chemistry | 5 |
CHEM 496 | Chemistry Research | 1 - 4 |
KIN 401 | Biomechanics | 4 |
KIN 406 | Physiology of Exercise I | 4 |
MATH 210 | Calculus I | 4 |
PHYS 120 | General Physics I | 4 |
PHYS 121 | General Physics II | 4 |
MATH 206L | Introductory Statistics Lab | 1 |
Program director
Alan Thompson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Biology, Program Director, Pharmaceutical Science, Pre-Health Sciences & Biology B.A.
Faculty
Karen Cianci, Ph.D.
Dean of the School of Natural Sciences
Michael Kunz, Ph.D.
Program Director, Environmental Science & Environmental Studies
Krista Edmiston, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology
Andrew T. Sensenig, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Program Director, Biology B.S.