Premedicine and Biological/Medical Physics

Modern medicine makes use of an increasing array of technologies based on the application of principles of physics. Notable are those involving therapeutic radiology, lasers and medical imaging (such as MRI -- Magnetic Resonance Imaging, ultrasound, and PET -- Positron Emissions Topography scans). A solid background in physics is increasingly valuable for medical doctors who use these modern techniques.

The Department offers both BA and BS degrees with a Certificate in Biological/Medical Physics. The more challenging BS option is designed for students interested in research in an M.D./Ph.D. program. The premedicine option includes courses needed to satisfy entrance requirements to medical school. In some cases, it is also possible to satisfy the requirements of a simultaneous minor in biology


Cluster Requirements. Students can elect to satisfy their Humanites and Social Science Cluster requirements in any way they chose. However,

  1. It is recommended (but not required)  that undergraduates satisfy their social science 3-course cluster requirement in the area of Psychology. For example, S1CSP008 (Personality Psychology), as medical professionals need to communicate effectively with patients and family members  (This cluster is satisfied by  the following courses:  Psychology CSP161,  Motivation and Emotion CSP262, and Gender Difference in Communication CSP192Q .)
  2. It is recommended (but not required)  that undergraduates in the program satisfy their humanities 3-course cluster requirement in  the area of verbal and written communication.  For example  H1ENG016 (Media, Culture and Communication) would be good because  medical professionals  must  communicate effectively with  with patients and family members ,  as well as write a variety of reports.  (This cluster is satisfied by the following courses: Media Communication  ENG118, Debate ENG135 , and Public Speaking  ENG134).
  3. In the sample program below (if the above two cluster are chosen) these courses are designated as:   

Several examples of possible schedules for programs in premedicine with a Bachelors (BA or BS)  degree in Physics (with a Minor in Biology) and a Certificate in Medical or Biological Physics, are given below.

A typical program of study with a BA in Physics and a minor in Biology:

First Year
Fall Spring
CHM131 (or CHM151 ) Chemical Concepts I with Lab
CHM132 (or CHM152 ) Chemical Concepts II with Lab
MTH161    or MTH171 - Calculus I
MTH162 or MTH172 -- Calculus II
PHY 141 -- Honors Mechanics 1, OR

Primary Writing
Primary Writing, OR

PHY 121 -- Mechanics 1
BIO 110  2


PHY 143 -- Honors Modern Physics  OR

BIO 111 2 + BIO 111L (Lab)  Biology II
Second Year
Fall Spring
CHM203/207 + Organic Chemistry 1 + Lab CHM204/208   Organic Chemistry 2 + Lab
MTH164 -- Multidimensional Calculus 
MTH165 -- Linear Algebra & Diff. Eqs
PHY 142 (or 122)  -- Electromagnetism PHY 237 -- Quantum Mech. of Physical Systems OR

 PHY 123 -- Modern Physics 3
Elective: e.g. Cluster Course No. 2 BIO 111 2 BIO 111L (Lab) Biology II OR

 Cluster course 4 
Third Year
Fall Spring
PHY 235 -- Classical Mechanics PHY 227 -- Thermo. & Stat. Mech
BIO 115 -- Genetics  (with Lab BIO 115L) Elective PHY 246 -- Quantum Theory OR  PHY 218 -- Electromagnetism II,     OR

PHY 237 -- Quantum Mech. of Physical Systems 3
MTH 281 -- Fourier Series MTH 282 -- Intro. Complex Variables
Elective: e.g. Cluster Course No. 1 Elective:  e.g.  Cluster Course No. 5
Fourth Year
Fall Spring
PHY 217 -- Electromagnetism I Cluster course 4  OR

Elective  e.g. PHY 246 -- Quantum Theory or  PHY 218 -- Electromagnetism II,
PHY 243W -- Advanced Laboratory Biological Physics Elective  e.g. PHY421/301/RAD501 Seminar in the Physics of Medical Imaging (Foster, 2 credit) (second half of Spring semester until mid May) ,
or PHY 393W -- Biological Physics Senior Thesis 6 or other approved  for  Certificate in Bio/Med Physics
BIO 201 -- Human Anatomy (with Lab) BIO 204 Human Physiology (4 credit. with Lab)
Elective: e.g.  Cluster course No. 3 Elective: e.g.  Cluster Course No. 6

A typical program of study with a BS in Physics and a minor in Biology (in Preparation for MD/PhD):

First Year
Fall Spring
CHM131 or ( CHM151 ) Chemical Concepts I with Lab
CHM132  or ( CHM152 ) Chemical Concepts II with Lab
MTH161    or MTH171 - Calculus I
MTH162 or MTH172 -- Calculus II
PHY 141 -- Honors Mechanics 1, OR

Primary Writing
Primary Writing OR

PHY 121 -- Mechanics 1
BIO 110  2


PHY 143 -- Honors Modern Physics, OR

BIO 111 2 + BIO 111L (Lab) Biology II
Second Year
Fall Spring
CHM203/207 Organic Chemistry 1 + Lab  CHM204/208 Organic Chemistry 2 + Lab   
MTH164 -- Multidimensional Calculus 
MTH165 -- Linear Algebra & Diff. Eqs
PHY 142 (or 122)  -- Electromagnetism


PHY 237 -- Quantum Mech. of Physical Systems, OR

PHY 123 -- Modern Physics 3
Elective: e.g. Cluster Course No. 2 BIO 111 2 BIO 111L (Lab) Biology II  OR

Cluster Course 4
Third Year
Fall Spring
PHY 235 -- Classical Mechanics PHY 227 -- Thermo. & Stat. Mech
BIO 115 -- Genetics  (with Lab BIO 115L) PHY 246 -- Quantum Theory  OR

PHY 237 -- Quantum Mech. of Physical Systems
MTH 281 -- Fourier Series MTH 282 -- Intro. Complex Variables
Elective: e.g. Cluster Course No. 1 Elective:  e.g.  Cluster Course No. 5
Fourth Year
Fall Spring
PHY 217 -- Electromagnetism I PHY 218 -- Electromagnetism II
PHY 243W -- Advanced Laboratory or
PHY445/245W
Biological Physics Elective  e.g. PHY421/301/RAD501 Seminar in the Physics of Medical Imaging (Foster, 2 credit) (noon-1 , second half of Spring semester till Mid May) ,
or PHY 393W -- Biological Physics Senior Thesis 5 or other approved  for  Certificate in Bio/Med Physics
 BIO 201 -- Human Anatomy (with Lab) Cluster Course 4 or PHY 246 -- Quantum Theory
Elective: e.g.  Cluster course No. 3 Elective: e.g.  Cluster Course No. 6

BIO 204 Human Physiology (4 credit. with Lab)
needs to be taken as oveload sometimes if one wants a minor in Biology also.

1Students who have had an introduction to differential and integral calculus in high school are encouraged to take PHY 141 in the Fall instead of PHY 121 in the Spring.

2Students with a grade of 4 or 5 in AP biology can place out of BIO 110/111. Note that students who do not wish to minor in biology, and who want more flexibility in their program, can satisfy medical school biology requirements (2 semesters of biology with lab) by taking introductory BIO 110/111 and laboratory.

3Students who have taken PHY 143 in their freshman year should take PHY 237 in their sophomore year and PHY 246 in their junior year. Students who did not take PHY 143 in their freshman year should take PHY 123 in their sophomore year, PHY 237 in their junior year and PHY 246 in their senior year.

4PHY 143 is open to freshmen only, except by permission of the instructor.

5One of these is required to complete a certificate in Biological/Medical Physics, or IND 425 (BPH 525), or some other biophysics course can be taken instead.

The BA and BS programs shown above were designed to cover the following typical requirements for premedical students: two english courses, two biology courses with laboratories, and four chemistry courses including organic chemistry and two years of laboratories. The reequirements of one semester of mathematics and two semesters of physics with laboratories are met automatically. The humanities/social science medical school requirements are satisfied by the cluster sequences. BIO 110/111 with laboratory can be used to satisfy minimal medical school requirements in biology for non-biology majors. BIO 203 (Mammalian Anatomy) (Fall/Summer) and BIO 204 (Mammalian Physiology) (Spring/Summer) can also be used to satisfy medical school requirements for a laboratory course in biology.

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University of Rochester
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