Benefits of Applying a Biology Degree to Pre-Med
"Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble." - 2 Peter 1:10 NIV
If you feel called to serve others in the challenging yet rewarding field of healthcare, you may be considering — or currently pursuing — an undergraduate biology degree.
While there are many career options for biology majors, applying your biology degree to the pre-med track is a common next step—and for good reason.
The study of biology at Dallas Baptist University not only equips you academically for medical school, but the degree program also offers opportunities to build professional and personal confidence and competence while fostering spiritual growth.
Whether you feel called to help kids in pediatrics, treat hearts in cardiology, triage severe emergencies, or choose another of the many avenues in the healthcare field, you are serving as Jesus' hands and feet — and the pre-med program at DBU will provide you with the tools you need to move forward in your journey.
Providing an Academic Foundation
An undergraduate biology degree at DBU establishes the firm educational and academic foundation you need to succeed in continuing your medical school education.
Indeed, the study of biology has many pre-med advantages. Course offerings, such as human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, cell biology, immunology, and molecular genetics, are designed to provide pre-professional training for careers in the biological sciences, dentistry, medicine, and other health sciences.
Building Confidence and Competence
As you pursue your biology degree, you'll also be able to take advantage of the pre-med program connections that DBU offers for the MCAT and medical school admissions. From Kaplan test prep courses to medical school tours and other workshops, students receive personalized guidance from a pre-med advisor to help them confidently decide where to go next or what career to pursue once they finish their degree.
Integrating Professional Experience
As a biology major on the pre-med track at DBU, you'll also have the chance to increase real-world experience outside the classroom as you engage with other students on similar career paths.
For example, through DBU's Pre-Med program, students can gain practical experiences in both for-credit and not-for-credit internships, research, and observation at hospitals and clinics throughout the country. These experiential learning opportunities are critical to the development and execution of many of the core values that the American Physical Therapy Association prioritizes, such as accountability, altruism, compassion, excellence, integrity, professional duty, and social responsibility.
Former students have interned with John Hopkins Medical Center, Yale School of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, and others.
You may also want to learn more about the Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta) chapter at DBU, a National Biological Honor Society dedicated to improving the understanding and appreciation of biological science and promoting scientific research.
Fostering Spiritual Growth
A biology degree, in the context of the pre-med programs at DBU, also provides a unique experience for preparing for medical school in a specifically Christian environment. The pre-med programs are designed to train students to serve those in need of specialized care while also growing in their faith.
As students learn about the foundational biological tenets of God's creation and the science behind the functions and composition of human anatomy, they are also learning how to connect their faith to their profession. The academic information is presented in a Christian context to enhance students' ability to become responsible, professional, and caring citizens in society.
DBU offers a variety of robust pre-health programs for students who feel called to a medically oriented field. If you are thinking about using a biology degree in the context of medical school, let us come alongside you to support your path as you continue to determine and pursue God's unique calling within the health field.
At DBU, you can visit with pre-med professors and advisors to determine if medical school is something you are interested in and what specialty might interest you, or if you are being called to another degree, our DBU admissions counselors are always ready to support and equip you to start your college journey.
