BS Four-Year Degree Plan: Cell and Molecular Biology Option
This is a sample schedule – 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.
The following degree plan, last reviewed 06/05/2024, is based on the 2023-24 catalog and Missouri State general education requirements.
First semester (fall)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| LLT 102 Scientific and Medical Terminology | 2 |
| Total hours | 16 |
Second semester (spring)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| BMS 231 Human Genetics with Laboratory | 4 |
| MTH 136 Precalculus 1 or MTH 137 Precalculus 2 or MTH 138 Pre-Calculus Mathematics or MTH 261 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I or MTH 287 Computational Calculus with Analytic Geometry I |
3-5 |
| CHM 170 General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHM 171 General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| COM 115 Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| Total hours | 14 |
Third semester (fall)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| CHM 342 Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| DTN 240 Introduction to Nutrition | 3 |
| BMS elective (300 level or above) | 4 |
| Social and Behavior Sciences - General Education | 3 |
| Humanities - General Education | 3 |
| Total hours | 16 |
Fourth semester (spring)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| CHM 343 Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHM 345 Microscale Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| BMS elective (300 level or above) | 3 |
| The Arts - General Education | 3 |
| Social and Behavior Sciences - General Education | 3 |
| Total hours | 14 |
Fifth semester (fall)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| PHY 123 Introduction to Physics I | 4 |
| Writing II elective (ENG 321 preferred) | 3 |
| BMS 321 Biomolecular Interactions | 4 |
| BMS Capstone (300 level or above) | 1 |
| IPE 381 Statistics for the Health Professions or PSY 200 Psychological Statistical Methods or SOC 220 Statistics for Social Research |
3 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Sixth semester (spring)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| PHY 124 Introduction to Physics II | 4 |
| BMS 521 Molecular Cell Biology | 4 |
| PLS 101 American Democracy and Citizenship | 3 |
| Public Issues - General Education | 3 |
| BMS Capstone (300 level or above) | 1 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Seventh semester (fall)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| BMS 525 Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BMS 494 Senior Seminar | 1 |
| BMS elective (300 level or above) | 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 |
| General elective or minor | 3 |
| General elective or minor | 3 |
| Total hours | 17 |
Eighth semester (spring)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| BMS elective (300 level or above) | 3 |
| BMS elective (300 level or above) | 3 |
| Cultural Competence - General Education | 3 |
| BMS elective (300 level or above) | 3 |
| General elective or minor | 3 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Tips for success
- 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.
- A minor is not required. However, students with transfer or dual credit on the transcript may choose minors such as chemistry, Spanish, psychology, etc.
- Learn more about General Education courses and requirements.
- The cell and molecular biology option requires 19 hours of electives from BMS, at
least 13 of these must carry a BMS course code.
- Browse available BMS courses.
- Review the admission and program requirements for full details on completing your degree.
- Join the student society for biomedical sciences and appropriate pre-professional organizations.