Bachelor of Science in Medical Biology

Additional Guidelines

BIO 210, BIO 295, BIO 410, and BIO 495 research and internship courses do not meet 200- and 400-level course requirements.

Accelerated 3+4 Option Medical Biology-Medical Sciences Track

For those students interested in attending the University of New England's College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM), an accelerated version of this track offers the opportunity to complete the Medical Biology – Medical Sciences major upon the successful conclusion of three years of undergraduate work and the first year of medical school. Qualified College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) undergraduate students who wish to become a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) may apply for consideration to the 3+4 program concurrently with their undergraduate application. This 3+4 program allows mature, qualified CAS students to complete an undergraduate degree and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree in seven (7) years.

Policies and procedures for this program are as follows:

• Apply for consideration to the 3+4 program concurrently with undergraduate application.
• Qualified applicants, as indicated by the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) Committee on Admissions, will be invited for an on-campus interview.
  • Candidates will be assessed in areas of academic record and scholarship ability, leadership potential, career goals, personal qualities, interpersonal skills, and maturity.
  • Interviews will be conducted in the spring prior to fall matriculation of the first year of undergraduate work, and again at the beginning of the fourth year as part of the normal College of Osteopathic Medicine Committee on Admissions processes.
• Interviewed candidates accepted by the College of Osteopathic Medicine Committee on Admissions will be conditionally accepted contingent upon the requirements as listed below:
  • Complete College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) course requirements for both the Medical Biology – Medical Sciences major (with the exception of the BIO 4xx elective) and the CAS Core Curriculum.
  • Seventy-five percent, or 90 credit hours, of the total required credit hours for a baccalaureate degree completed prior to matriculation in COM.
  • Complete all admission requirements for the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the University of New England.
  • All prerequisite courses completed at UNE by the end of the spring term of the junior year.
    • Students must pass all COM program prerequisite courses with a grade of “B” or better.
    • Students may take up to 16 credits of non-prerequisite courses at another regionally accredited college or university; students are responsible for ensuring approval of course equivalency in advance of taking any courses.
  • Students in the 3+4 Program must maintain an American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS) cumulative grade point average of 3.60 or better for all subjects and a science GPA of 3.60 or better.
  • Successfully complete the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) in the spring of the third year of undergraduate studies at UNE, earning a minimum score of 505.
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of Osteopathic Medicine and show significant exposure to health practices through a minimum of 40 hours of shadowing of clinicians, plus additional volunteer experiences, prior to submission of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS).
  • By the time of application, students must have obtained a letter from the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences verifying good academic and disciplinary standing.
• Students will undergo the regular admissions processes, as described in the UNE COM catalog, and will need to submit a completed AACOMAS application.
  • Application deadline to electronically submit the application to AACOMAS is August 1 prior to the third year of undergraduate studies.
  • All completed and verified AACOMAS applications must be received in the Office of Graduate Admissions no later than September 15.
  • If accepted, two admission deposits are required.
  • Successfully complete a campus interview as a part of the application process for the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program.
  • Provide a satisfactory criminal background check and meet all Program Technical Standards prior to matriculation in the College of Osteopathic Medicine.
• Candidates are strongly advised to seek ongoing advisement and support from the UNE Assistant Director of Pre-Health Advising.
• First-year 3+4 COM students must submit a "Petition to Graduate" form to the Registrar’s Office during the first week of their second semester at COM and will then be awarded a baccalaureate degree upon satisfactory completion of the first year in UNE COM.

Students must fulfill all other CAS and COM requirements and business office obligations to be awarded the undergraduate degree.

ACCELERATED 3+4 MEDICAL BIOLOGY-DENTAL MEDICINE TRACK

For those students interested in attending the University of New England's College of Dental Medicine (CDM), an accelerated version of this track offers the opportunity to complete the Medical Biology – Medical Sciences major upon the successful conclusion of three years of undergraduate work and the first year of dental school. Qualified College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) undergraduate students who wish to become a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) may apply for consideration to the Accelerated 3+4 D.M.D. Track concurrently with their undergraduate application. This 3+4 Track allows mature, qualified CAS students to complete an undergraduate degree and Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in seven years.

Policies and procedures for this program are as follows:

• Apply for consideration to the Accelerated 3+4 D.M.D. Track concurrently with undergraduate application.
• Qualified applicants will be invited for an on-campus interview at the College of Dental Medicine (CDM), which will take place in February or March prior to the first year of undergraduate study.
  • Prior to the interview, candidates will be asked to complete short supplemental essays and submit them to the chair of the CDM Admissions Committee.
  • Candidates will be interviewed by faculty and/or staff from the CDM and will be assessed in areas such as academic strength, leadership potential, career goals, personal qualities, interpersonal skills, and maturity.
• The CDM Admissions Committee will make admissions decisions based on information collected during the application and interview process. Selected students will be conditionally accepted into the D.M.D. program contingent on fulfilling the academic and general/application requirements described below.
  • Complete College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) course requirements for both the Medical Biology – Medical Sciences major (with the exception of the BIO 4xx elective) and the CAS Core Curriculum.
    • The “Biology 200 or higher” elective course requirement must be satisfied by taking Microbiology (BIO 232/232L).
  • Seventy-five percent, or 90 credit hours, of the total, required credit hours for a baccalaureate degree completed prior to matriculation in CDM.
  • Complete all admission requirements for the College of Dental Medicine of the University of New England.
  • All prerequisite courses must be completed at UNE by the end of the spring term of the junior year.
    • Students must pass all CDM program prerequisite courses with a grade of “B-” or better on the first attempt. One prerequisite course may be retaken one time to meet the minimum grade requirement.
    • Complete English Composition (e.g., ENG 110) as a prerequisite and earn a “B-” or better. AP credit or English Composition from a community college will also be acceptable if a “B-” or better is earned.
    • Students may take up to 16 credits of non-prerequisite courses at another regionally accredited college or university; students are responsible for ensuring approval of course equivalency in advance of taking any courses.
  • Students in the Accelerated 3+4 D.M.D. Track must maintain an American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or better for all subjects and a science GPA of 3.3 or better.
  • Complete the US Dental Admissions Test (DAT) by June 30 after the sophomore year of undergraduate studies, with a score of 17 or higher in the Academic Average, Total Science, and PAT sections, in addition to a score of 18 or higher in the Reading Comprehension section.
  • Complete a minimum of 30 hours of dental shadowing/observation. These hours must be reported on the AADSAS application.
  • Obtain one letter of recommendation from a dentist shadowed during undergraduate study (to be submitted with the AADSAS application).
  • Complete a minimum of 30 hours of community service/volunteerism (hours must be distinct from shadowing/observation hours) during undergraduate study at UNE. These hours must be reported on the AADSAS application.
  • Obtain a letter of evaluation from the UNE Assistant Director of Pre-Health Advising (to be submitted with the AADSAS application) verifying good academic and social standing.
• Submit an application for the D.M.D. program through the ADEA Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS).
  • The deadline to submit the application electronically to AADSAS is September 1 the third year of undergraduate study (i.e., one year prior to potential matriculation into the College of Dental Medicine).
  • The Office of Graduate Admissions must receive all completed and verified AADSAS applications no later than October 15.
  • Satisfactory completion of a criminal background check prior to matriculation in the D.M.D. program.
  • Two non-refundable admissions deposits are required at the time of acceptance to secure a seat in the class.
• Candidates are strongly advised to seek ongoing advisement and support from the UNE Assistant Director of Pre-Health Advising.
• First-year 3+4 CDM students must submit a "Petition to Graduate" form to the Registrar’s Office during the first week of their second semester at CDM and will then be awarded a baccalaureate degree upon satisfactory completion of the first year in UNE CDM.

Students must fulfill all other CAS and CDM requirements and business office obligations to be awarded the undergraduate degree.

Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee

The Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee (PHPAC) consists of staff and faculty members of the College of Arts and Sciences. The major function of this committee is to draft letters of evaluation for students applying to health professions programs such as Medical, Dental, and Veterinary schools. Interested students should view our web page for information regarding the protocol for obtaining a PHPAC letter of evaluation.

Graduation Requirements

A minimum grade of C- must be achieved in all science and mathematics courses used toward graduation in any of the programs in the School of Biological Sciences. A 2.00 cumulative average in sciences is a requirement for graduation in any of the programs in the School of Biological Sciences.

Students in this major can participate in the pre-health graduate school preparation tracks.