How to Apply to Life Sciences and Medicine-Related Majors at the University of Missouri: Admission to the University First, Nursing Through Pre-Nursing, BA and BS Biological Sciences With a Medical Science and Human Biology Emphasis, for Domestic and International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

At the University of Missouri (Mizzou, in Columbia), life-science and health-related undergraduate majors are spread over several units: the College of Arts and Science (Biological Sciences, Neuroscience), the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (Biochemistry), the College of Health Sciences (Public Health, Health Sciences, Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences and more) and the Sinclair School of Nursing. This guide follows Mizzou’s website and is organised for U.S. domestic applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. There is no pre-medicine major in the United States, so the pre-med section reports only what Mizzou’s MedOpp Advising Office states.

1. Which related undergraduate majors exist

• Biological Sciences (College of Arts and Science): a BA and a BS, plus a BS emphasis in Medical Science and Human Biology. The catalog says the BS requires more credit hours in biology, chemistry, physics and math than the BA; the BA is more flexible for dual degrees or minors; both can prepare for graduate or professional school. The BS currently lets students complete a foreign-language sequence or substitute one of two tracks. The Medical Science and Human Biology emphasis adds coursework to help students on post-baccalaureate examinations and in entering professional programs including pre-med, veterinary medicine and health sciences.
• Neuroscience (BS, College of Arts and Science): the catalog says the program covers cellular and molecular neuroscience, systems neuroscience and behavioral science, preparing graduates for medicine, allied health, research, pharmaceuticals and education.
• Biochemistry (BS, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; the department also belongs to the School of Medicine): the catalog describes rigorous basic-science coursework ending in a two-course capstone, with independent research encouraged, preparing students for graduate or professional school or careers in biochemistry, biotechnology and the biological, chemical or medical sciences.
• College of Health Sciences: undergraduate majors are Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences (emphases include Medical Laboratory Science, Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine, Radiography and Respiratory Therapy), Criminal & Justice Studies, Health Sciences, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Public Health, Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Sports Science and Social Work. Public Health is a Bachelor of Health Science (BHS) with an emphasis in Pre-Professional Studies also listed.
• Nursing (BSN): the Sinclair School of Nursing offers a Traditional BSN (for first-time and transfer students) and a 17-month Accelerated BSN option.
• STEM designation: not stated on the pages we read.
• Combined programs such as BS/MD: the MedOpp medicine page lists “MD-DO/PhD and Other Joint Programs” as an expandable section that we did not see expanded; whether they take international students is not published on the pages we read.

2. Admission and entering a major

• Freshman admission: Mizzou says freshman admission does not guarantee admission to professional or upper-division programs; many majors have competitive or selective admission after the freshman year, and programs with separate admission criteria currently include journalism, engineering, business and others.
• Arts and Science majors: the catalog pages we read state no extra GPA threshold or enrollment cap for Biological Sciences or Neuroscience; ask the department. They do require C- or higher in major courses, a cumulative GPA of 2.0, no S/U grading in the major, and at least 12 hours of biology in residence at MU.
• Nursing (limited capacity): the catalog says new freshmen and transfers are admitted as Pre-Nursing majors, complete their first 60 credit hours of prerequisite and general education courses, and apply for the clinical major during their last semester of that coursework; admission is competitive and space-available, with two cycles per year. Clinical criteria include a minimum pre-nursing GPA of 3.25; five of six science courses (CHEM 1100, MICROB 2800, PTH_AS 2201 and 2203 anatomy lecture and lab, MPP 3202 physiology, NURSE 3200 pathophysiology), with at most one in progress; a C or higher in the science courses, NURSE 2200 and NURSE 3200; a C- or higher in ENGLSH 1000, MATH 1050 or 1100, STAT 1200 and writing-intensive courses; a resume, and a video interview for those who meet the minimums. Nursing Scholars who keep their eligibility and complete the prerequisites are guaranteed admission to the clinical major.
• College of Health Sciences: the catalog says Criminal & Justice Studies, Health Sciences, Public Health, Sports Science and Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences do not require an application; programs such as Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences have program-specific applications with varying deadlines; students declaring “Pre-Health” or “Undeclared” must meet the minimum GPA of the program they are interested in, and all undergraduates must declare a major after 60 credit hours.
• Exploring: transfer students with 60 or fewer credits who meet university admission but not their program’s requirements are admitted as Exploring students in the MU Discovery Center.

3. Prerequisites and credit

• High school core courses (freshmen): 17 courses — English 4 (two focused on composition or writing), mathematics 4 (Algebra I or higher; statistics counts), science 3 (one a laboratory course; earth science, biology, chemistry or physics), social studies 3, foreign language 2 (same language) and fine arts 1. Applicants missing one or two core courses may still be considered. For degrees in the College of Arts & Science, four units of one language can exempt the university’s language requirement.
• First two years in the BS: the biology core includes BIO_SC 1500 (Introduction to Biological Systems with Laboratory, 5 credits; MATH 1100 or a sufficient ALEKS score recommended) or the 1010+1020 alternatives, BIO_SC 1550 (Introduction to Life Science Research), 2200 General Genetics (4), 2300 Introduction to Cell Biology (4), an evolution course, a biological diversity course and a capstone. Related sciences: CHEM 1400/1401 and 1410/1411 (general chemistry with labs), CHEM 2100 and 2110 organic chemistry and 2130 organic lab, physics (PHYSCS 1210+1220 or 2750+2760), calculus (MATH 1400 or 1500) and statistics (STAT 1200 or 2500). The BS needs at least 33 credits of biology, at least 16 at the 3000 level or above, including a 3000/4000-level lab, a 4000-level course and a writing-intensive course.
• BA: at least 29 credits of biology (16 at 3000 level or above); related sciences are general chemistry CHEM 1400/1401 and 1410/1411, organic chemistry CHEM 2100+2110 or the survey course CHEM 2030, one physical-science course (PHYSCS 1210 or 2750, geology or astronomy courses), and one mathematical-sciences course (MATH 1400, 1500, STAT 1200, 2500 or INFOTC 1040).
• Medical Science and Human Biology emphasis: beyond the BS core, it requires BIO_SC 3700 Human Physiology (5), microbiology (BIO_SC 3750 or MICROB 3200) and BIOCHM 4270 Biochemistry.
• Neuroscience BS: MATH 1100 or 1160 and statistics; core NEUROSCI 1000, 1010, 3010, 3020, 3030 and 3040, BIO_SC 2200 and 2300, CHEM 1400/1401 and 1410/1411, two physics semesters, PSYCH 2110 and 2220, plus 9 credits of electives (at least 6 at 3000 level or higher).
• AP (Mizzou’s table): Biology 3 earns Biology 1030 (5 credits) and 4 earns BIO_SC 1500 (5); Chemistry 3 earns CHEM 1400 and 1401 (4) and 4 earns CHEM 1400, 1401, 1410 and 1411 (8); Calculus AB 3 earns MATH 1160 and 1500 (10) and BC 3 earns MATH 1160, 1500 and 1700 (15). AP credit cannot be earned more than once for the same Mizzou course.
• IB (Mizzou’s table): Biology SL or HL 4 earns BIO_SC 1030 (5) and 5 earns BIO_SC 1500 (5); Chemistry SL 4 earns CHEM 1100 (3); Chemistry HL 4 earns CHEM 1100 (3) and 6 earns CHEM 1400, 1401, 1410 and 1411 (8). A-Level results of C or higher also earn credit.
• Pre-health caution: MedOpp says not every health professional school accepts AP/IB credit; some want additional coursework in that subject.

4. Pre-med and the health professions

• No pre-med major: the MedOpp FAQ says “there is no single pre-med major at Mizzou”; choose the major that fits your interests, and work with your major advisor and MedOpp to keep on track with prerequisites.
• What MedOpp offers: pre-professional advising for pre-medical (allopathic and osteopathic), pre-dental, pre-optometry, pre-podiatry, pre-physician assistant, pre-physical therapy and pre-occupational therapy students — one-on-one advising, introductory workshops, an Application Support Program (ASP), a weekly newsletter, a Canvas site, and a committee interview and committee letter for medical and dental applicants who take part in ASP.
• Common medicine prerequisites (MedOpp): one year (8 credit hours) each of general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics and biological sciences with labs, and one year (6 credit hours) of English — many schools accept Mizzou’s English 1000 plus a writing-intensive course; medical schools require the MCAT, and additional coursework is recommended to cover MCAT concepts. The page says the list is not necessarily comprehensive; consult each school’s website.
• Study abroad: MedOpp recommends not taking pre-health coursework abroad.
• International students: the MedOpp pages we read have no section for international students applying to U.S. medical schools; to meet MedOpp, contact the admissions office. This guide does not cover applying to medical school itself.

5. Deadlines, materials and fees

• Freshman timeline: applications open August 1; decisions are released starting October 1 on a rolling basis; December 1 is the priority deadline for admission and for general, competitive and departmental scholarships; the FAFSA priority deadline is February 1; the application deadline is July 1; National Decision Day is May 1. Mizzou does not use Early Action or Early Decision. The admission-requirements page explicitly says Fall 2027. The Honors College application opens September 15 and closes February 1, and does not require prior admission to Mizzou.
• Platforms: the Mizzou Application or the Common Application, with no preference.
• Materials: the online application and fee ($55 on the test-optional page; fee waivers available through the counselor); an official high school transcript sent by your school; ACT/SAT scores if you take the score route; for the test-optional route, a resume or activity list and a short essay.
• Two ways to be reviewed: Option 1 — complete the 17 core courses and meet the minimum test score (an ACT of 24+ or SAT of 1160+ with a 2.0 core GPA suffices; lower scores need a higher core GPA or class standing, for example ACT 21/SAT 1060–1090 with a 3.05 core GPA at schools that do not report class rank, or the top 38% of the class at schools that do). Option 2 — a test-optional holistic committee review with the short essay. Once you apply with scores and receive a decision you cannot switch to test-optional; test-optional applicants may still submit scores later. Scores are superscored; SAT code 6875, ACT code 2382.
• Recommendations and interviews: not required on the pages we read; not described.

6. U.S. domestic applicants

• Cost (2026–27, full-time): tuition is determined by major, in three tiers. Missouri residents: tuition and fees $16,162–$20,290 a year plus housing and dining $15,780, for estimated billed costs of $31,942–$36,070; non-residents: tuition and fees $39,324–$43,452, for $55,104–$59,232. Books, residence-hall fees and personal expenses are not included. Which tier applies to Biological Sciences, nursing and the other majors is not stated on the pages we read.
• Residency: Mizzou says many out-of-state students become Missouri residents to receive in-state tuition, and staff help with the process.
• Scholarships and aid: applying by December 1 gives priority scholarship consideration; merit scholarships are awarded through July and scores can be submitted from the June and July test dates; the FAFSA opens October 1 with a February 1 priority deadline.
• In-state preference or guaranteed admission: not described on the pages we read.

7. International applicants

• Process and fee: apply online and pay the $65 application fee by credit card or U.S. bank account. The how-to-apply page says “there are no application deadlines” and recommends applying 6–12 months before the term; decisions start October 1 and may arrive two weeks after materials are complete. The international FAQ, however, says the fall application deadline is July 1, with scholarship deadlines of December 1 (competitive and departmental) and March 1 (International Admissions scholarships). Both statements appear on Mizzou pages; contact international admissions (inter@missouri.edu).
• Academic requirements: 13 units of core coursework (mathematics 4, science 3, social studies 3, languages 2, fine arts 1 — this list does not include English, while the freshman page’s list of 17 does include 4 units of it) with core grades meeting one of: GPA 2.5 on a U.S. 4.0 scale; 3.5 on a 5.0 scale; an average of 80 on a 100-point scale; 8 on a 10-point scale; or IGCSE C or higher in five subjects plus three A-level certificates at C or higher. Other grading systems are converted to a 4.0 scale by AACRAO International Education Services.
• English: show it with the Duolingo English Test, TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency or PTE Academic; or an IGCSE English First Language grade of B or higher; or IB English A: Language & Literature 5 or higher. TOEFL Essentials and IELTS Online are not accepted. Minimums vary by college: Arts and Science, Agriculture and Health Sciences need Duolingo 110 (sections 100), TOEFL iBT 4.5 (sections 4.0) on the scale after January 21, 2026 or 79 (sections 17) before it, and IELTS 6.5 (sections 6.0). Nursing is higher: Duolingo 115 (100, with 115 on Production/Speaking), TOEFL 4.5 (5.0 speaking) on the new scale or 84 (26 speaking) on the old one, and IELTS 7.0 (6.5; the page’s footnote asks for 8 on speaking and 6.5 on other bands). Applicants educated in the listed English-speaking countries may not need an English test (China is not listed). The College of Education, School of Journalism and School of Nursing require English scores no older than two years.
• Testing: SAT/ACT are not required for international admission but are preferred for international freshman scholarships, which are holistic; students admitted by March 1 are automatically considered.
• Proof of funds and visa: after admission you must prove you can cover the estimated expenses for a full year — from yourself, a family member or friend (with an Affidavit of Support), a government sponsor or scholarships — and provide a copy of your passport; immigration documents cannot be issued without proof.
• Cost (2026–27, international): tuition and fees $39,688–$43,816 a year; books $918; housing and food $12,734; personal expenses $3,466; medical insurance $2,818. Mizzou also notes the Stamps Scholars program, a full scholarship open to international and U.S. students that is highly competitive.
• International students in nursing: English requirements are higher (see above); whether international students can enter the clinical major and any clinical-placement restrictions are not described on the pages we read; ask the Sinclair School of Nursing.

8. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the admissions pages we read do not mention the Gaokao and have no China-specific page; whether it may be submitted as supplementary information is not published — contact international admissions.
• Transcripts: submit transcripts from every high school (grades 9–12 or equivalent); non-English records need the original plus an English translation; a transcript uploaded by the student is considered unofficial, while one sent directly to inter@missouri.edu by a school official is official; an official final transcript is required after admission. The pages do not name a credential-evaluation agency for Chinese diplomas; other grading systems are converted by AACRAO.
• English: China is not on the English-speaking list, so submit one of the English tests in Section 7.
• International curricula: AP, IB and A-Level credit are in Section 3; the ACT Global Assessment Certificate has its own admission route, not covered here.
• Funds and scholarships: as in Section 7.

9. Transfer students

• Eligibility: a 2.5 GPA on college-level credits and either a C- or better in a transferable math course (intermediate algebra or higher, or statistics) or in English composition 1 or higher. With fewer than 24 college-level credits you must also meet the freshman requirements (scores or test-optional review). Students from accredited U.S. two-year colleges with a 2.0 GPA and an associate of arts degree or the Missouri CORE 42 are treated as having completed general education and enter with junior standing.
• Dates: the dates page shows Spring 2027 transfer applications opening May 1, 2026 and Fall 2027 transfer applications opening August 1, 2026, with a February 1, 2027 deadline for fall scholarships and the FAFSA priority date. The transfer page says the application deadline depends on the term and refers to the dates page; rolling admission can give a decision two weeks after materials are complete.
• Materials: online application and fee, transcripts from all colleges attended (including those taken in high school), and a high school transcript if you have fewer than 24 college-level credits.
• International transfers: Mizzou has a separate international transfer page that we did not read; the international FAQ says English can be shown with 24 or more transferable credits from an accredited U.S. two- or four-year institution.
• Entering these majors: Mizzou says admission to the university does not guarantee admission to a degree program unless the student completed a signed articulation agreement; students with 60 or fewer credits who meet general admission but not program requirements enter as Exploring students. Nursing transfers also start in pre-nursing and apply for the clinical major. Special prerequisites for transfers into biological sciences are not stated on the pages we read; the site also has a major-specific transfer guide.
• Credit: Mizzou’s transfer course equivalency site shows which courses transfer; Transferology can estimate for schools not listed.

Checklist

U.S. domestic applicants:

• Apply from August 1, by December 1 for scholarship priority and by July 1 at the latest for fall; official transcript plus ACT/SAT, or the test-optional resume and short essay
• Complete the 17 core courses (including 3 sciences with one lab and 4 maths); for nursing, start as pre-nursing and aim for a GPA of at least 3.25

International applicants (including China):

• Pay the $65 fee, send transcripts for every high school with English translations, and submit an English test (higher for nursing); the pages disagree on whether there is a deadline, so contact international admissions
• After admission, submit proof of funds and your passport; apply and be admitted by March 1 for automatic scholarship review; ask admissions how the Gaokao may be used

Transfer students:

• College GPA 2.5 or higher and a transferable math or English composition course at C- or better; nursing goes through pre-nursing

Sources: University of Missouri, Freshman admission requirements; Freshman: how to apply; Test-optional admission; College credits; Dates and deadlines; International admission requirements; International: how to apply; English language requirements; International course equivalency and credits; International FAQ; Transfer admission requirements; Transfer: how to apply; Costs; Catalog: Biological Sciences; Catalog: BS Biological Sciences; Catalog: BA Biological Sciences; Catalog: Medical Science and Human Biology emphasis; Catalog: BS Neuroscience; Catalog: Biochemistry; Catalog: Sinclair School of Nursing; Catalog: College of Health Sciences; Catalog: BHS Public Health; MedOpp Advising Office; MedOpp: prospective students; MedOpp: medicine; MedOpp: FAQs. The dates page names Spring 2027 and Fall 2027 for transfers and the freshman requirements page names Fall 2027; for the other dates that show no year, check Mizzou’s website to confirm they are for fall 2027 entry.