About the B.S. in Ecology: Pre-Health Pathway
Modern medicine increasingly views patients as part of an ecosystem. This ecosystem might be viewed at the level of a single individual- a patient with numerous micro-organisms on his skin, in his gut or other organ system. Or the ecosystem might comprise the patient and the environment in which the person lives, including disease vectors (such as mosquitoes) or the presence of chemical contaminants. The Pre-Health emphasis of a B.S. in Ecology degree gives students that are seeking to enter the medical, dental or veterinary professions an enriched and broad perspective on health issues.
For professional health programs, admission requirements include the following courses that meet either UGA Core requirements or Ecology B.S. degree requirements.
- BIOL 1107/1107L; 1108/1108L Principles of Biology I & II (UGA core)
- CHEM 1211/1211L; 1212/1212L General Chemistry I & II (UGA core)
- CHEM 2211/2211L Organic Chemistry I (UGA core)
- CHEM 2212/2212L Organic Chemistry II (UGA core)
- PHYS 1111/1111L Introductory Physics-Mechanics (UGA core)
- PHYS 1112/1112L Introductory Physics-Electricity (Ecology major elective)
Other courses recommended for admission to medical, veterinary or dental schools such as Biochemistry (BCMB 3100) and Genetics (GENE 3200/3200D) fulfill Ecology B.S. degree requirements.
Research
Ecology students are encouraged to participate in research projects in the School of Ecology. The Odum School faculty has a nationally recognized strength in disease ecology and this type of experience distinguishes applicants to professional programs.