As a pre-health sciences major, you’ll be equipped with a broad, interdisciplinary foundation in the sciences. This degree will prepare you for entry into a variety careers whether in the medical or dental fields. The bachelor of science degree offers you greater depth of foundational coursework by offering three distinct emphases and a research capstone. With this degree, you’ll be prepared to pursue graduate studies and take medical entrance exams such as the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
Highlights
- Major adequately prepares you 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
- Research capstone teaches necessary experiential skills
Career opportunities
This major offers many unique opportunities for work within natural sciences. It can be tailored for preparation to enter medical or dental school, offering relevant biology, chemistry, math and physics courses necessary for adequate preparation for entrance exams such as the MCAT.
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.
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 | General Biology: Cells and Physiology | 4 |
CHEM 103 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
MATH 210 | Calculus I | 4 |
PSY 120 | General Psychology | 3 |
SOC 120 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
Required Courses (41 Units)
Code | Title | Units |
---|---|---|
BIOL 121 | General Biology: Diversity and Ecology | 4 |
BIOL 220 | Healthcare in the United States | 2 |
BIOL 332 | Human Physiology | 4 |
BIOL 340 | Microbiology | 4 |
BIOL 370 | Bioethics | 3 |
BIOL 450 | Genetics | 4 |
BIOL 485PRH | Senior Seminar | 2 |
BIOL 496 | Biological Research | 1 - 3 |
CHEM 104 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
CHEM 310 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
PHYS 120 PHYS 130 | General Physics I or University Physics I | 4 4 |
PHYS 121 PHYS 131 | General Physics II or University Physics II | 4 4 |
MATH 205 | Introductory Statistics | 3 |
Emphases
This program requires an emphasis
Program director

Alan Thompson, Ph.D.
Faculty

Karen Cianci, Ph.D.

Michael Kunz, Ph.D.

Krista Edmiston, Ph.D.

Andrew T. Sensenig, Ph.D.