Science, Health Science Concentration, Pre-Physical Therapy Curriculum, B.S.

Department of Chemistry
615-898-5265
Preston MacDougall, program coordinator
Preston.MacDougall@mtsu.edu

The major in Science has two concentrations-General Science and Health Science. A minimum of 9 semester hours of upper-division courses in either concentration of the Science major must be taken at MTSU. The Science major requires only one minor which must include at least 3 semester hours at the upper-division level taken at MTSU.

The Health Science concentration is for students who expect to enter a professional school after completing an appropriate pre-professional curriculum. There are three groups of programs. One group leads to an MTSU degree through completion of three years of the program at MTSU, acceptance into a professional school, and successful completion of one year. These programs are referred to as three-and-one programs and result in a bachelor’s degree in science from MTSU with a health science concentration. Some programs listed under health science are designed for transfer only and do not lead to a degree from MTSU while other programs require completion of a baccalaureate degree prior to entrance.

Admission to the MTSU pre-professional program does not assure admission to a professional program. In the beginning of the third year, the student should make application to the program of choice, following the procedures of the particular program. Selection for admission is competitive and is made by the admissions committee of the respective program according to its selection standards.

The limits on class size in most of the professional programs may prevent acceptance of some qualified applicants. In the event a first application is unsuccessful, the program may be easily changed to a Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Biology major leading to a B.S. degree, and then application may be made a second time.

Students should note the following:
Chemistry-Students with a weak background or no high school chemistry should enroll in CHEM 1010 /CHEM 1011 before taking CHEM 1110 /CHEM 1111 .
Irregularities-Advanced placement, remedial courses, failure of required courses, or summer school may cause some students to deviate from the sequence in the recommended curriculum. Regular consultation with the advisor is most important.
Advisors-Advisors to these programs are assigned in the Clara W. Todd Pre-professional Health Science Advising Center located in KUC 316. The advisor will provide a curriculum sheet as a guide for the program. Guidance is provided on the recommended courses and procedures to be followed in leading to applications to a professional program. A pre-professional evaluation committee aids the students in providing recommendations requested by the professional programs.
Degree from MTSU-Students who plan to obtain degrees from MTSU must file the Intent to Graduate Form.

Curriculum: Science, Health Science, Pre-Physical Therapy

The following curriculum is proposed for students planning to make application to a physical therapy program. Students are encouraged to complete a baccalaureate degree of choice prior to entering a physical therapy (PT) school. Consult your advisor. Since different schools have different prerequisites, curriculum guide sheets for this and other PT schools in Tennessee should be obtained from the coordinator of pre-professional advising. At that time, a pre-physical therapy advisor is assigned. Frequent contact with the advisor is essential to being properly prepared for application to the professional schools. Volunteer work in physical therapy is required.

Curricular listings include General Education requirements in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories.

Freshman

BIOL 1110 - General Biology 4 credit hours (Nat Sci) AND
BIOL 1111 - General Biology Lab 0 credit hours (Nat Sci)
BIOL 1120 - General Biology 4 credit hours AND
BIOL 1121 - General Biology Lab 0 credit hours
CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I 4 credit hours (Nat Sci) AND
CHEM 1111 - General Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours (Nat Sci)
CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry II 4 credit hours AND
CHEM 1121 - General Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
ENGL 1020 - Research and Argumentative Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
ENGL 1010 - Expository Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
MATH 1730 - Pre-Calculus 4 credit hours (Math)
Courses from major*

Sophomore

BIOL 2010 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4 credit hours AND
BIOL 2011 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab 0 credit hours
BIOL 2020 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4 credit hours AND
BIOL 2021 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab 0 credit hours
PHYS 2010 - Non-Calculus-Based Physics I 0 credit hours AND
PHYS 2011 - Physics Problems Laboratory I 4 credit hours
PHYS 2020 - Non-Calculus-Based Physics II 0 credit hours AND
PHYS 2021 - Physics Problems Laboratory II 4 credit hours
PSY 1410 - General Psychology 3 credit hours (Soc/Beh Sci)
PSY 2300 - Developmental Psychology 3 credit hours
Courses from major*

NOTE:

Other prerequisite courses: PSY 3020 (3 hrs.) or MATH 1530 (3 hrs), CSCI 1150 (3 hrs.) or INFS 2200 (3 hrs.), HIST 2010 , HIST 2020 (6 hrs.), and COMM 2200 (3 hrs.)

*Student must obtain an advisor for the physical therapy program who helps select a major in addition to meeting prerequisites for physical therapy requirements. The advisor will assist in selecting elective courses.