If you are looking for the best university to earn your pre-med degree, consider Florida National University (FNU).
FNU is a regionally accredited university awarding associates, bachelors, and master’s degrees to students who complete the requirements of the degree program they’ve enrolled in. For aspiring college students looking to become a doctor, surgeon, dentist, or work in the pharmaceutical industry, the best degree program to apply to is the Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences (BNS).
Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences Offers You a Choice
Oftentimes, a pre-med degree is pretty specific to the career path a student is pursuing. In most cases, if you plan to be a doctor, dentist, or ophthalmologist, your undergraduate degree needs to be in line with that course of work. While the undergraduate classes will not specifically touch on the actual profession, the coursework, research, clinical experience, and volunteer activities will prepare you for taking some of the advanced courses of that profession.
What to Expect of the BNS Degree Program
The Natural Sciences degree offered at FNU offers you a broader perspective of the medical profession as a pre-med student. With this particular degree program, you’ll learn the general educational requirements of social and behavioral science along with natural science, math, and information technology. Because this is a natural science degree, the core requirements will be fully concentrated on the subjects of chemistry, biology, and physics—math being the primary prerequisite. These will be separated in two blocks of lower and upper level courses. Approximately 26 credit hours will be required for the lower-level courses and 37 for upper-level.
A Quick Overview of the Lower-Level Courses
While an introduction course to General Biology is categorized within the general requirements, the lower level of the core requirements will delve into this course a little deeper with a second level that will also include lab time of one credit hour. Here is where you’ll also take an Introduction to Chemistry course along with 3 credit hours of lab time. You’ll also be required to take the basic Fundamentals of Physics course. With this class, you’ll only need one credit hour of lab work. The most intensive course within this lower-level block is Anatomy and Physiology I & II. Each of these courses is worth 4 credit hours. These classes are considered by some the most challenging within this block, so it’s recommended so take the Biology, Chemistry, and Physics courses first. You can consult with an FNU advisor to discuss the scheduling that best suits you.
A Peek Inside FNU’s Anatomy and Physiology Course
The Anatomy and Physiology course introduces you to the major organs of the human body. At the end of these courses, you’ll be have a basic knowledge of the circulatory, respiratory, urinary, hematologic, immunologic, nervous, gastrointestinal, muscular, skeletal, endocrine, integumentary, lymphatic, reproductive system along with pregnancy and the possible complications that oftentimes come with such a condition.
A Quick Overview of the Lower-Level Courses
The upper-level courses focus more on Organic Chemistry along with General Physics, The Principle of Genetics, Human Embryology, and Molecular and Cell Biology. These courses are going to be more intense as the curriculum will be designed in a structure that is much more advanced assuming that you have already have a good understanding of all of the lower level courses.
The Electives
In addition to the lower and upper-level courses, that Natural Sciences degree requires students to complete 18 elective credits. If you’re looking to become a doctor, we recommend that you enrolling in the Ethics in Health Care and Legal Aspects and Legislation of Health Care courses.
The Importance of Knowing the Administrative Side of Healthcare
Every practicing physician should have a basic understanding of the legal liabilities of practicing medicine. It’s important that you get a general idea of the administrative side of the healthcare industry, especially since you’re working directly with patients. When you’re working in the medical profession, every decision, whether directly or indirectly involving a patient can be a case of life and death. As a result, certain practices and procedures need to be delicately handled.
Knowing the biological basis of Pharmacology is extremely important when writing prescription medicine for patients who oftentimes have a unique reaction to certain medicines. Also, some medications may cancel out one another if taken together, and even worse, could be lethal.
Choose a Concentration in Education
Perhaps you have a love for science in general but have no interest in practicing medicine. FNU offers a structured concentration in Education that will prepare students to become respected healthcare and/or science teachers.
Teaching K-12 science classes usually requires a certificate in most states, but if you’re interested in becoming a college professor, then you will need to consult an FNU advisor about enrolling in a master’s program. For aspiring science teachers, FNU recommends considering our Master of Sciences in Health Services Administration, a 36-credit-hour degree program that provides a more in-depth curriculum of the healthcare administration. This program takes approximately 24 months to complete if taken on a full-time basis.
Florida National University’s Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences provides students with a basic background in all of the subjects pertaining to pre-medicine, pre-pharmacy, and pre-dentistry. This is beneficial for students who know that they want to pursue a degree in the healthcare profession, but not sure exactly what kind of career they want to pursue. The Natural Sciences bachelor’s degree offers pre-med students a general undergraduate degree that will give them the proper education needed to pursue almost any career in the medical field.
FNU’s Financial Aid Department Can Help
Education isn’t cheap, but FNU’s financial aid department is equipped to help you pay for your education. We have a list of scholarship programs that pre-med students will be able to apply for. Our staff will also help you fill out the necessary applications to take out federal student loans. With FNU, you will be able to afford the education you deserve!
Contact an FNU advisor today to start the enrollment process toward your career as a healthcare professional and educator now!
