Clinical Surgical Sciences
General Surgery Track
A 120 SCH undergraduate pathway for students preparing for advanced study and careers in surgical sciences.
Program Overview
Build a Surgical Foundation
The Bachelor of Science in Clinical Surgical Sciences, General Surgery Track, is a 120 SCH program comprising 42 SCH of Texas Core Curriculum and 78 SCH in the major and surgical concentration. It provides an undergraduate foundation in the sciences, clinical reasoning, and surgical systems for students planning further professional or graduate education.
Pre-surgical pathway
This is an undergraduate academic pathway, not a medical residency or independent clinical practice credential.
Focused preparation
Coursework emphasizes the scientific and clinical foundations relevant to surgical care, perioperative systems, and advanced study.
Pathway Distinction
Surgery Begins With Preparation
The General Surgery Track is designed for students interested in the academic preparation that precedes surgical professional education. It is distinct from Internal Medicine and General Medicine pathways in its focus on surgical sciences and perioperative care.
Internal Medicine centers on the prevention, diagnosis, and non-surgical management of complex adult conditions. General Medicine and primary care emphasize broad, longitudinal, first-contact care across common health needs. In contrast, the General Surgery Track concentrates on the scientific, clinical, and systems knowledge that supports future surgical training.
An undergraduate foundation for students pursuing the next stage of surgical education.
Program Focus
Graduates should work with academic advising to select the professional or graduate pathway that aligns with their goals and applicable admission requirements.
Curriculum
4-Year Course Plan (120 Credit Hours)
Lower-division and pre-clinical coursework for the General Surgery track.
Year 1 Fall · 15 SCH
ENGL 1301 Composition I (Core Communication) · 3 SCH
MATH 2413 Calculus I (Core Mathematics) · 4 SCH
BIOL 1306 / 1106 General Biology I & Lab (Core Life Sciences) · 4 SCH
CHEM 1311 / 1111 General Chemistry I & Lab (Major Requirement) · 4 SCH
Year 1 Spring · 16 SCH
ENGL 1302 Composition II (Core Communication) · 3 SCH
BIOL 1307 / 1107 General Biology II & Lab (Core Life Sciences) · 4 SCH
CHEM 1312 / 1112 General Chemistry II & Lab (Major Requirement) · 4 SCH
HIST 1301 United States History I (Core History) · 3 SCH
UNIV 1101 Surgical Sciences First-Year Seminar · 1 SCH
Year 2 Fall · 16 SCH
CHEM 2323 / 2123 Organic Chemistry I & Lab · 4 SCH
PHYS 1401 College Physics I (Alg-Based) · 4 SCH
GOVT 2305 Federal Government (Core Government) · 3 SCH
PSYC 2301 General Psychology (Core Social/Behavioral) · 3 SCH
SURG 2201 Fundamentals of Surgical Terminology & Asepsis · 2 SCH
Year 2 Spring · 15 SCH
CHEM 2325 / 2125 Organic Chemistry II & Lab · 4 SCH
PHYS 1402 College Physics II · 4 SCH
GOVT 2306 Texas Government (Core Government) · 3 SCH
HIST 1302 United States History II (Core History) · 3 SCH
PHIL 2306 Surgical Ethics & Informed Consent (Core Humanities) · 1 SCH (or 3 SCH depending on elective distribution)
Year 3 Fall · 15 SCH
BIOL 3410 Advanced Surgical Cadaveric Gross Anatomy I · 4 SCH
SURG 3310 Principles of Abdominal & Gastrointestinal Surgery · 3 SCH
SURG 3320 Surgical Pathophysiology & Wound Healing Mechanics · 3 SCH
MATH 3339 Biostatistics & Surgical Outcomes Research · 3 SCH
HUMA 1301 Creative Arts Core · 3 SCH
Year 3 Spring · 15 SCH
BIOL 3411 Advanced Surgical Cadaveric Gross Anatomy II · 4 SCH
SURG 3330 Surgical Oncology & Tissue Biopsy Mechanics · 3 SCH
SURG 3340 Perioperative Patient Care & Anesthesia Principles · 3 SCH
BIOC 4301 General Biochemistry · 3 SCH
SURG 3205 Aseptic Technique & Suturing Practicum Lab · 2 SCH
Year 4 Fall · 14 SCH
SURG 4310 Acute Care & Emergency Trauma Surgery · 3 SCH
SURG 4320 Minimally Invasive, Laparoscopic, & Robotic Surgery · 3 SCH
SURG 4330 Vascular & Endovascular Surgical Principles · 3 SCH
SURG 4250 Operating Room Simulations & Instrumentation · 2 SCH
BIOL 4310 Surgical Immunology & Transplant Pathology · 3 SCH
Year 4 Spring · 14 SCH
SURG 4401 Operating Room Inpatient Surgical Practicum / Clinical Rotation · 4 SCH
SURG 4340 Endocrine & Hernia Surgical Management · 3 SCH
SURG 4350 Postoperative Complications & Critical Surgical Care · 3 SCH
SURG 4490 Senior Capstone: Complex Surgical Case Analysis & Morbidity/Mortality (M&M) Review · 4 SCH
Comparison Across Tracks
| Comparison | General Medicine (GMED) | Internal Medicine (INTM) | General Surgery (SURG) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course ID & Focus | GMED 3310 Community & Primary Care Medicine | INTM 3310 Adult Cardiovascular Systems & ECG Interpretation | SURG 3310 Principles of Abdominal & Gastrointestinal Surgery |
| Core Clinical Skill | Preventive screening, outpatient diagnosis, and wellness | Complex pharmacological diagnostic reasoning & multi-organ management | Operative intervention, tissue resections/repairs, and perioperative care |
| Primary Setting | Outpatient clinics & community health centers | Hospital inpatient wards, subspecialty clinics, and ICUs | Operating rooms, surgical suites, and trauma bays |
| Lab Emphasis | Physical examination & minor office procedures | Diagnostic lab evaluation, ECG, and fluid balance | Cadaveric gross dissection, suturing, and laparoscopic simulation |
Next Step
Plan Your Surgical Path
Connect with USJ Admissions to begin your application and discuss your academic goals.