Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Degree

The Pre-Medical track at HSU will prepare you to matriculate into medical school to earn a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. As a physician, you may:

• Diagnose and treat illness, disease, and/or injury
• Prescribe medication
• Create treatment plans
• Perform routine physicals

An MD or DO degree requires 4 years of education. Additional training in the form of residencies and/or fellowships allow you to specialize in fields including obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, general surgery, cardiology, etc.

Pre-Medical is considered a track in Biology (or Biochemistry and Molecular Biology), it is not a major. Pre-Medical students are required to take specific courses to prepare for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and apply to medical school. You can choose to major in any field and you can apply to medical school as long as you complete the prerequisites. As a Biology major, all of the following courses that are required by most medical schools and schools of osteopathic medicine can be taken as a part of the B.S. or B.A. in Biology with a minor in Biochemistry degree plan.

There are 10 medical schools in Texas. For specific requirements for each Texas program, you may visit the Texas Medical and Dental School Application System website.

For specific admission information on non-Texas Medical programs please visit the American Association of Medical Colleges website.

For specific admission information on non-Texas Osteopathic programs, please visit the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine website.

Websites to apply to medical school:

• Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service
• The American Medical College Application Service
• American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service

JAMP

HSU also offers pre-medical students who display a financial need based on your FAFSA information, the Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP). The Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) is a special program created by the Texas Legislature to support and encourage highly qualified, economically disadvantaged Texas resident students pursuing a medical education.

Funded through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, JAMP is a unique partnership between all nine Texas medical schools and sixty-seven public and private four-year undergraduate institutions.

Since 2003, JAMP has been helping Texas students achieve their dreams with guaranteed admission to one of the state’s nine medical schools, financial, and academic support to help them get there, and access to resources that allow them to excel.

JAMP provides:

• Support through undergraduate scholarships and summer stipends
• Placement into JAMP Summer Internship Experiences
• Hands-on experience through clinical enrichment opportunities
• Comprehensive, multi-phase MCAT preparation program
• Personal and professional development through dedicated mentoring
• Guaranteed admission to a participating Texas medical school if all criteria are met
• Scholarships to attend medical school

For more information, please feel free to visit their website.

The Pre-Pharmacy track at HSU will prepare you to matriculate into a pharmacy school to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. Careers in pharmacy cover a variety of different options and specialties. Some career options are listed below:

• Community Practice
  • Independent or Chain Pharmacy
  • Community Health Center Pharmacy
  • Veterinary Pharmacy
  • Compounding Pharmacy
• Pharmaceutical Research & Development
• Hospital or Nuclear Pharmacy
• Pharmaceutical Education
• Long-term and Home Health Care Pharmacy

You can learn more about different pharmacy careers at Pharmacy Is Right For Me.

Pre-Pharmacy is considered a track in Biology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, or Chemistry; it is not a major. Pre-Pharmacy students are required to take specific courses to prepare for the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) and to apply to pharmacy school. You can choose to major in any field and you can apply to pharmacy school as long as you have completed the prerequisites. Pre-pharmacy track students at HSU generally follow one of the following plans:

• B.S. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (required major for Texas Tech School of Pharmacy articulation agreement—see below)
• B.S. in Biology with a minor in Biochemistry or Chemistry
• B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in Biology

Following one of the plans listed above ensures that the prerequisite courses required by most pharmacy schools can be taken as part of the B.S. degree plan. You can learn more about pharmacy program prerequisite courses at Pharmacy Is Right For Me.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy (TTUHSC-SOP) 3+4 Dual Degree Information

• Students successfully completing the degree program will graduate with a B.S. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from HSU and either a Pharm.D. or Pharm.D./MBA from TTUHSC-SOP
• Students from HSU who meet the requirements and deadlines of this agreement will be awarded early admission at TTUHSC-SOP
• Students take their first three years of coursework at HSU, with their remaining four years at TTUHSC-SOP
• Students entering the Pharm.D. program under this agreement will have their PCAT waived
• Program acceptance criteria:
  • Texas resident
  • Minimum Math ACT score of 25 or SAT score of 550 and competency in trigonometry
  • Acceptable pre-entry interview
  • Pass a criminal background check
  • GPA of 3.6 during the first semester of enrollment at HSU
  • Maintain overall GPA of 3.7 at HSU
• For more information contact Dr. Jemima Ingle. Students must begin this program as a freshman. 

To matriculate into pharmacy school you must score competitively on the Pharmacy College Admission Test. The test has five major sections:

• Writing (Conventions of Language and Problem Solving)
• Biological Processes (General Biology, Microbiology, and Human Anatomy & Physiology)
• Chemical Processes (General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Basic Biochemistry)
• Critical Reading (Comprehension, Analysis, and Evaluation)
• Quantitative Reasoning (Basic Math, Algebra, Probability & Statistics, Precalculus, and Calculus)

Your performance on the PCAT is reported as your percentile rank which indicates your performance relative to the current PCAT norm group. Most Texas pharmacy schools prefer a PCAT score >50, but a competitive score for Texas pharmacy schools is >70. You can find more information about the PCAT, including a yearly PCAT guide, on the PCAT webpage.

In addition to the prerequisite courses and competitive PCAT score, successful applicants should gain experience by shadowing pharmacists or volunteering at a health center or hospital.  Additionally, it is recommended that pre-pharmacy students work in a pharmacy as clerks or pharmacy technicians.

Approximately 90% of all pharmacy degree programs in the U.S. participate in the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS) for admission.  You should visit the PharmCAS website to learn more about the admissions process and requirements.

Dr. Andrea Jensen advises Biology majors who are planning to apply to pharmacy school.

Dr. Jemima Ingle advises Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Chemistry majors who are planning to apply to pharmacy school.