BS Four-Year Degree Plan: Cell and Molecular Biology

The following is a sample schedule for this major – your actual schedule may vary.

Meet with your advisor and review the class schedule before confirming your schedule.

Missouri State is committed to helping you graduate in four years.

Review program requirements

The following degree plan is based on the 2021-22 catalog and Missouri State general education requirements.

First semester (fall)

CoursesHours
GEP 101 First-Year Foundations
or UHC 110 Freshman Honors Seminar 		2
BMS 110 Introduction to Human Biology 3
BMS 111 Introduction to Human Biology Laboratory 1
CHM 160 General Chemistry I 4
CHM 161 General Chemistry I Laboratory 1
ENG 110 Writing I 3
Total hours14

Second semester (spring)

CoursesHours
BMS 231 Human Genetics with Laboratory 4
CHM 170 General Chemistry II 3
CHM 171 General Chemistry II Laboratory 1
COM 115 Fundamentals of Public Speaking 3
MTH 287 Computational Calculus with Analytic Geometry I 3
BMS 300 Service-Learning in Biomedical Sciences 1
Total hours15

Third semester (fall)

CoursesHours
BMS 307 Human Anatomy 4
CHM 342 Organic Chemistry I 3
HST 121 Survey of the History of the United States to 1877
or HST 122 Survey of the History of the United States since 1877 		3
Written Communication & Integrative and Applied Learning (prefer ENG 221, 310, or 321) - General Education 3
Total hours15

Fourth semester (spring)

CoursesHours
CHM 343 Organic Chemistry II 3
BMS 321 Biomolecular Interactions 4
PLS 101 American Democracy and Citizenship 3
BMS 300 Service-Learning in Biomedical Sciences 1
Humanities - General Education 3
Total hours16

Fifth semester (fall)

CoursesHours
BMS 521 Molecular Cell Biology 4
PHY 123 Introduction to Physics I 4
Social and Behavior Sciences (prefer PSY 121) - General Education 3
BMS 308 Human Physiology 4
Total hours15

Sixth semester (spring)

CoursesHours
BMS elective (approved by advisor) 4
BMS elective (approved by advisor) 2
PHY 124 Introduction to Physics II 4
Social and Behavior Sciences (prefer SOC 150, ECO 165, or ECO 155) - General Education 3
The Arts - General Education 3
Total hours16

Seventh semester (fall)

CoursesHours
BMS 525 Molecular Biology 4
BMS 494 Senior Seminar 1
Cultural Competence - General Education 3
Public Issues - General Education 3
BMS elective (approved by advisor) 3
Total hours14

Eighth semester (spring)

CoursesHours
BMS elective (approved by advisor) 3
General elective or course for minor 3
General elective or course for minor 3
General elective or course for minor 3
General elective or course for minor (if needed to reach 120 hours) 3
Total hours15

Tips for success

  • General Education courses should not be selected from the Social and Behavioral Sciences, Public Issues, Natural World, Physical Sciences or categories which are already built into this curriculum. Select General Education courses from Humanities (3), Arts (3), HST 121 or 122 (3), PLS 101 (3), and Cultural Competence (3).
  • Formal admission to this major requires completion of at least 25 hours of course work, including BMS 110, 111, 231, and CHM 160/161, and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
  • Students may choose MTH 287 (3) or 261 (5); PHY 123 (4) or 203 (5); and PHY 124 (4) or 204 (5).
  • CMB advisor-approved electives must total 16 hours for graduation.
  • Each CMB major is required to take a comprehensive examination in Cell and Molecular Biology in BMS 494.
  • A minor is not required. However, students with transfer or dual credit on the transcript may choose minors such as chemistry, Spanish, psychology, etc.
  • Consider online Medical Terminology, LLT 102, for first summer session.
  • Join the Student Society for Cell & Molecular Biology and appropriate pre-professional organizations.
Degree plan last reviewed 03-08-2022.