Undergraduate Program

 

                                 


Learn about our curriculum and how you can customize your degree to prepare for your unique career and professional school goals

New students entering the University of Arizona should apply for admission directly to the Office of Admissions and specify their major as "Physiology and Medical Sciences" in the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine – Tucson. Before registering for classes, new students should attend an orientation. To learn more about the Physiology and Medical Sciences program, we invite you to click through the drop down boxes below to explore our course requirements. You can also view and downlaod PDF versions of our curriculum guide and four year plans here. 

Declare the Major

Program Requirements: Physiology and Medical Sciences Curriculum

Prerequisite Courses to Apply to Advanced Standing
  • ENGL 101, First-year Composition OR ENGL 109H First-year Composition (3 credits)
  • ENGL 102, First-year Composition OR ENGL 109H First-year composition (3 credits)
  • Math 122A and Math 122B, OR Math 119A OR Math 125 (3-5 credits)
  • CHEM 151 General Chemistry I OR CHEM 141/143 (4 credits)
  • CHEM 152 General Chemistry II OR CHEM 142/144 (4 credits)
  • PSIO 201 Anatomy & Physiology I (F, S, SSI) (4 credits) (Letter Grade of a C or higher)
  • PSIO 202 Anatomy & Physiology II (F, S, SSII) (4 credits) (Letter Grade of a C or higher)
  • Cumulative GPA: 2.25 or higher
  • Major GPA: 2.0 or higher

 

 

Upon fulfillment of the admission criteria stated above, students must submit a formal advanced standing application. Advanced standing is needed prior to enrolling in Physiology and Medical Sciences upper-division courses(300-400 level). The Application for Advanced Standing is available online.

 

University Requirements, General Education, Math & Science

Additional Math and Second Language Requirements

  • Choose one from either Calculus II (Math 129) or Biostatistics (MATH 263, BIOS 376, OR ECOL 379) (3 credits)​

  • Second Language: Complete one of the following: Second-language courses through second-semester level OR pass a Language Proficiency Exam at second-semester level (0-8 credits)

General Education: One course from below also should be designated as a diversity emphasis course.

  • Tier I Individuals & Societies (150 A/B/C) (3 credits)

  • Tier I Individuals & Societies (150 A/B/C) (3 credits)

  • Tier I Individuals & Societies (160 A/B/C/D) (3 credits)

  • Tier I Individuals & Societies (160 A/B/C/D) (3 credits)

  • Tier II Individuals & Societies (3 credits)

  • Tier II Arts (3 credits)

  • Tier II Humanities (3 credits)

Additional Sciences:

  • CHEM 241A & 243A, Organic Chemistry I Lecture and Lab (4 credits)

  • CHEM 241B & & 243B, Organic Chemistry II Lecture and Lab (4 credits)

  • MCB 181 R & L, Intro Biology I Lecture and Lab (4 credits)

  • ECOL 182 R & L, Intro Biology II Lecture and Lab (4 credits)

  • PHYS 102 & 181 Physics I Lecture and Lab (4 credits)

  • PHYS 103 & 182 Physics II Lecture and Lab (4 credits)

  • BIOC 384 Foundations in Biochemistry OR BIOC 385 Metabolic Biochemistry (4 credits)

All these courses fulfill a prerequisite for many health professional schools.

Students can strategize with their academic advisor to choose general education courses that align with their goals and interests.

Required Upper - Division Physiology Courses

PSIO 303 Integrative Cellular PSIO (Fall only) (3 credits)
PSIO 305 Integrative System PSIO (Spring only) (3 credits)

Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in PSIO 201 and PSIO 202 (Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II) before taking upper-division PSIO courses.

Electives & Emphasis Areas

As a Physiology and Medical Sciences student, you will have the ability to strategically choose your emphasis area and elective courses to personalize your degree. This allows you to develop your unique skills and engage in experiences that match your specific goals. Work with your Physiology advisor to discuss how to choose options within your emphasis and electives that will set you apart when it comes time to apply for your dream job, or graduate and professional school.

Emphasis Options 

  • Physiology Emphasis 
  • Medical Sciences Emphasis
  • Exercise and Extreme Physiology Emphasis
  • Physiological Research and Innovation Emphasis

Visit our Plans and Curriculum page for more details about the exciting courses offered in each of the emphasis areas. 

 

A minimum of 42 upper-division credits (all courses numbered 300-449) is required. Our major coursework could provide 23 of these credits; however, the remaining 19 credits are up to the student through Tier 2 courses, optional minor or general elective courses.