Academic Catalog 2024-2025

Slippery Rock University

Biology, Bachelor of Science (BS) - Concentration in Pre-Health Professions / Pre-Physician Assistant (SRU) (Traditional)

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • Competence in Laboratory and Research Skills: To conduct, assess, and communicate research investigations using established scientific practices. (SRU UG 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 10)
  • Core Concepts for Biological Literacy:  (SRU UG 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9)
    • Knowledge/Content
      • Evolution
      • Structure and function across all levels of biological organization
      • Diversity and interactions of life
      • Information flow, exchange and storage in biological systems
    • Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
      • Connect information from cognate science courses and liberal arts courses to biological concepts
      • Apply scientific information to current and future societal problems
  • Participation in Diverse, Enriching Scientific Activities:   Apply technical and professional skills in hands-on laboratory, clinical or field experiences.  (SRU UG 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9)
  • Professional Attitude: Graduates demonstrate professional attitude, behavior, and ability to interact with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.  (SRU UG 1, 5, 7, 8, 9)

What are your options?

Pre-Physician Assistant SRU 3+2: Earn a Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies in five years rather than six. In the first three years, you complete your major courses and prerequisites for the SRU PA program. At the end of your second year, you apply for admission into the SRU PA program. If accepted, your first year in the SRU PA program meets the remaining requirements for your undergraduate degree. If not accepted, you continue to complete your undergraduate degree and can reapply to the program. The accelerated option is for incoming freshmen only.

Pre-Physician Assistant (SRU Traditional): Complete the requirements for your major and the prerequisites for the SRU PA program and apply to the SRU PA program in your senior year.

Related Links

Biology - Pre-Health Professions/Pre-Physician Assistant, BS Program Page

Professional Licensure/Certification Page

Curriculum Guide

GPA Requirement

Major GPA: 2.0 or higher
Overall GPA: 2.0 or higher
Core GPA: 2.0 or higher

Summary*

Rock Studies 2 Requirements45
Other Basic Requirements0-3
Major Requirements59-60
Natural Science and Math College-Wide Requirements12
Electives15-16

* All undergraduate degree programs require a minimum of 120 credits.  Some courses meet multiple requirements, but are only counted once toward the 120 credit total required to graduate.

Rock Studies 2 Requirements

The Rock
SUBJ 139University Seminar 13
ENGL 102Critical Writing3
ENGL 104Critical Reading3
MATH 125Precalculus4
or MATH 225 Calculus I
Select one of the following:3
Civil Discourse: Theory & Practice
Ethics and Civil Discourse
Civil Discourse and Democracy
Subtotal16
Integrated Inquiry
Creative and Aesthetic Inquiry
Select 3 Credits3
Humanities Inquiry
Select 3 Credits3
Social Science Inquiry
Select 3 Credits3
Natural Sciences Inquiry
CHEM 107General Chemistry I3
CHEM 111General Chemistry I Lab1
Physical Sciences Inquiry
PHYS 201Elements of Physics I with Lab4
or PHYS 216 University Physics 1 with Lab
Subtotal17
Thematic Thread
Select 12 Credits 212
Total Hours45
1

Course offered in multiple subjects; cannot take course in first major subject

2

One course from each category; six credits must be 300-level or above; no more than 4 credits from one subject area; specific courses required in first major, regardless of prefix of course, cannot be used to satisfy thread requirements; any course with same prefix as first major cannot be used to satisfy thread requirements, even if it is not a course in the first major.

Basic Math Requirement

Check with your adviser or a current degree audit report to see if you have been exempted from this course. The credit earned in this course will not be counted toward the 120 credit hour minimum needed to earn a degree.

Complete one of the following:0-3
Meet required minimum SAT or ACT math score OR
Beginning Algebra
Total Hours0-3

DIVERSITY,  EQUITY,  AND INCLUSION REQUIREMENT

Students must take and pass a course with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) designation prior to graduation.  Students can meet this requirement by taking any DEI - designated course in any program at any time during their undergraduate career. 

Major Requirements

  • 30 major credits must be taken at SRU or PASSHE
  • 30 major credits must be taken at the 300 level or above
  • Students desiring a Biology Major must maintain at least a 2.000 average in Biology.
  • Students must earn a "C" or better in both Biology I with Lab (BIOL 113) and Biology II with Lab (BIOL 114) before proceeding to their next biology course.
  • Students must earn a "C" or better in both Genetics with Lab (BIOL 250) and Biometry with Lab (BIOL 325) prior to graduating.
Biology Core Requirements
BIOL 113Biology I: Foundations of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity with Lab 14
BIOL 114Biology II: Foundations of Molecules, Genes and Cells with Lab 14
BIOL 250Genetics with Lab 14
BIOL 325Biostatistics and Experimental Design with Lab 13
Subtotal15
Required Upper-Level Biology
BIOL 209Human Anatomy and Physiology I 14
BIOL 305Wetlands and Aquatic Plants/Lab 13
or BIOL 306 Freshwater Biomonitoring/Lab
or BIOL 350 Evolution
or BIOL 401 Ecology with Lab
BIOL 309Human Anatomy and Physiology II 14
BIOL 330Microbiology/Lab 13
BIOL 335Cell Biology 13
or BIOL 370 Molecular Biology
Subtotal: 17
Additional Upper-Level Biology Electives
Select 6 credits which can come from courses not chosen above, or any 300/400 level course listed below. Additional electives may be selected from the Marine Science offerings listed below. PLE courses are only offered during the summer months through our affiliation with Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology.6
Subtotal: 6
Related Sciences – Chemistry
CHEM 108General Chemistry II 23
CHEM 112General Chemistry II Lab 21
CHEM 201Organic Chemistry I 23
CHEM 211Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 21
Subtotal8
Related Sciences – Advanced Science Electives
Select one of the following options:3-4
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 1
Select one of the following options:3
Biochemistry I 1
Subtotal6-7
Related Sciences – Physics
PHYS 202Elements of Physics II/ Lab 24
or PHYS 217 University Physics 2 with Lab
Independent Study Option
Select one of the following options:3
Independent Study Option
Independent Study 1
Non-Independent Study Option
Select 3 creditswhich can come from courses not chosen above, or any course listed below.
Total Hours59-60
1

Course counts for 50% of Major requirements and Major GPA

2

Course counts for 50% of Major requirements but not for Major GPA

4

It is recommended students take PSYC 105 and Medical Terminology in their thread courses.  

*

Some courses may require pre-requisites. Please see course descriptions to determine if there are any pre-requisites for that specific course.

Natural Science and Math College-Wide Requirements

CHEM 107General Chemistry I3
CHEM 111General Chemistry I Lab1
MATH 125Precalculus4
or MATH 225 Calculus I
PHYS 201Elements of Physics I with Lab4
or PHYS 216 University Physics 1 with Lab

Additional Physician Assistant Prerequisite Courses

EXSC 250Medical Terminology 43
or HCAM 250 Medical Terminology for Healthcare Administrators
PSYC 105Introduction to Psychology 43

Additional Upper-Level Biology Electives

BIOL 301Forest Ecology 13
BIOL 302Ecology of Amphibians & Reptiles/Lab 13
BIOL 303Behavioral Ecology/Lab 13
BIOL 305Wetlands and Aquatic Plants/Lab 13
BIOL 306Freshwater Biomonitoring/Lab 13
BIOL 307Vertebrate Ecology/Lab 13
BIOL 308Aquatic Ecosystem Management / Lab 13
BIOL 310Plant Diversity with Lab 13
BIOL 311Entomology/Lab 13
BIOL 312Zoology with Lab3
BIOL 313Herpetology/Lab 13
BIOL 314Parasitology with Lab 13
BIOL 316Immunology with Lab 13
BIOL 317Ecology and Fungi 13
BIOL 320Ornithology/Lab 13
BIOL 321Wildlife Management/Lab 13
BIOL 322Conservation Biology/Lab 13
BIOL 323Stream Ecology/Lab 13
BIOL 326Field Methods in Biogeography/Lab 13
BIOL 327Limnology/Lab 13
BIOL 331Mammology/Lab 13
BIOL 340Vertebrate Anatomy with Lab 13
BIOL 343Embryology with Lab 13
BIOL 350Evolution 13
BIOL 356Field Ecology / Lab 13
BIOL 357Environmental Microbiology with Lab 14
BIOL 360Field Botany 13
BIOL 361Flora of Western Pennsylvania 13
BIOL 371Vertebrate Field Zoology 13
BIOL 373Ichthyology/Lab 13
BIOL 375Ecology of Fish / Lab 13
BIOL 380Endocrinology 13
BIOL 402Biogeography/Lab 13
BIOL 405Animal Physiological Ecology with Lab 14
BIOL 409Pathophysiology 13
BIOL 410Animal Physiology with Lab 13
BIOL 412Population Biology 13
BIOL 430Pathogenic Microbiology 13
BIOL 435Cellular and Molecular Analysis Laboratory 13
BIOL 340Vertebrate Anatomy with Lab 13
BIOL 450Biology Internship 13
BIOL 470Histology with Lab 13
BIOL 380Endocrinology 13
BIOL 409Pathophysiology 13
BIOL 410Animal Physiology with Lab 13
BIOL 435Cellular and Molecular Analysis Laboratory 13
BIOL 498Selected Topics 13
MARS 221Marine Invertebrates 13
MARS 241Marine Biology 13
MARS 250Wetland Ecology 13
MARS 260Marine Ecology 13
MARS 270Coastal Vegetation 13
MARS 298Selected Topics 13
MARS 300Behavior of Marine Organisms 13
MARS 310The Mammals of Coastal Ecosystems 13
MARS 320Marine Microbiology 13
MARS 330Tropical Invertebrates 13
MARS 342Marine Botany 13
MARS 343Marine Ichthyology 13
MARS 344Anatomy of Marine Chordates 13
MARS 345Ornithology 13
MARS 350Physiology of Marine Invertebrates 13
MARS 398Selected Topics 13
MARS 420Marine Micropaleontology 13
MARS 431Ecology of Marine Plankton 13
MARS 441Biology of Molluscs 13
MARS 490Independent Study 13
MARS 491Coral Reef Ecology 13
MARS 492Marine Mammals 13
MARS 498Selected Topics 13
MARS 500Problems in Marine Science 13
1

Course counts for 50% of Major requirements and Major GPA

Co-Curricular and Experiential Learning

Students are encouraged to explore additional curricular and co-curricular opportunities. There is a strong correlation between long-term student success and participation in the following types of programs and activities:

  1. Volunteering
  2. Job Shadowing

Physician Assistant Studies (Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies)
Prerequisite Admission Requirements

For Application Requirements

Please refer to Slippery Rock University’s Physician Assistant Studies (Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies) website for requirements: http://www.sru.edu/pa

Rock Studies 2

Prerequisite Courses - SRU Physician Assistant
BIOL 114Biology II: Foundations of Molecules, Genes and Cells with Lab4
BIOL 209Human Anatomy and Physiology I4
BIOL 309Human Anatomy and Physiology II4
BIOL 250Genetics with Lab4
BIOL 210Medical Microbiology with Lab3
or BIOL 330 Microbiology/Lab
CHEM 107
CHEM 111
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Lab
4
CHEM 108
CHEM 112
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Lab
4
CHEM 201Organic Chemistry I3
EXSC 250Medical Terminology3
or HCAM 250 Medical Terminology for Healthcare Administrators
PSYC 105Introduction to Psychology3
Inferential Statistics Course 3
Biostatistics and Experimental Design with Lab
Elementary Statistics I
Total Hours39

Important Curriculum Guide Notes

This Curriculum Guide is provided to help SRU students and prospective students better understand their intended major curriculum. Enrolled SRU students should note that the My Rock Audit may place already-earned and/or in progress courses in different, yet valid, curriculum categories. Enrolled SRU students should use the My Rock Audit Report and materials and information provided by their faculty advisers to ensure accurate progress towards degree completion. The information on this guide is current as of the date listed. Students are responsible for curriculum requirements at the time of enrollment at the University.

PASSHE - Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Institutions

BIOLOGY – PRE-HEALTH PROFESSIONS – BS (6108)
PRE-PA Traditional
Effective Fall 2023
Revised 05.15.2023
UCC 11.29.2022