Should I take Intro Bio before Anatomy?

IndyElmer · May 24, 2012

I had a classmate in my anatomy class (and the next term in physio) who was an English major with no science background. She found the material from the first week (that included a lot of fast-skimming of basic bio material) to be more stressful than other weeks because it was covered very quickly and it wasn't familiar. The instructor assumed that everyone already knew the main organelles in a cell and what they do, skimming over them (and some other bio basics) VERY briefly, but still including them on the first exam. She had to spend extra time READING those chapters to put the super-quick coverage into some context (basically teaching it to herself). Our physio class was similar with about 4 chapters of biology and biochemistry before we got into the physiology part, but by then we were studying together and I have BS & MS degrees in biology, so it was easier for her in that she didn't have to do all that reading because she could just ask me to clarify for her.

I suspect that even if she hadn't spent the time to teach herself that material, she could have gotten a B on the first exam and then A's on the rest of the exams.

Based on your description, it sounds like you would benefit from taking the biology course first, particularly since you don't feel that you are good at self-teaching/learning. (Imagine if you have to drop anatomy this fall because you realize you did need the bio course. That would mean bio in the winter and then anatomy in either summer or a whole year later in fall 2013 rather than just delayed by one term.) In the last couple days, there was another discussion about science courses on All Nurses that was started by someone who had to drop A&P because her professor did the "speed biology" intro. Perhaps she could give you some insight about her experience.

Alternately, you could make plans to pay a biology tutor for those first couple weeks. (My school had free biology tutors for most biology classes, including anatomy and physiology, though there were limitations on how much time / type of tutoring so I would still recommended finding and paying a tutor for the first couple weeks.)

amiablepau · May 24, 2012

My school does offer free tutoring in maths and sciences, so I'd be able to get a tutor. You have a good point about the whole getting delayed a whole term if I don't get Anatomy right away and have to drop it. I'm just really confused about what I should do. I mean, I am okay at bio. That was my major in the Philippines. And I got a C in it because I wasn't really focused. I slept most of the time. LOL. I was a really bad student. But now, I am 100% focused. I've been going to a community college for the past year and I have 4.O so far. Plus I do remember a lot about the biology lecture and lab that I took before. I actually have my notes with me. LOL. ANyway, thanks a bunch for your advice. I really appreciate it.

IndyElmer · May 24, 2012

Now you sound more positive/optimistic about your ability to deal with the intro bio part of anatomy. Perhaps since it sounds like you remember quite a bit of your bio AND you have access to a tutor, you could go ahead with anatomy. Just plan to make immediate use of the tutors if you find yourself at all confused/concerned. Better to risk looking _____ (fill in the blank with whatever term applies - foolish, stupid, etc. -- those things we all think when we're trying to decide if she should speak up to ask a question) by asking questions about "easy" material than end up falling behind. Any delay in seeking assistance could be the difference between completing anatomy with a good grade this fall or an entire year later!

CDEWannaBe · May 24, 2012

You can do Anatomy without any prereqs. It's just memorizing the bones, muscles, tissue types, organs, and systems of the human body.

Definitely take Biology before Physiology. You need to understand cellular respiration before you hit Physiology. I also thought it was good to take Chemistry before Physiology. Made physio a lot easier.

2BRN123 · May 24, 2012

You can do Anatomy without any prereqs. It's just memorizing the bones, muscles, tissue types, organs, and systems of the human body.
Definitely take Biology before Physiology. You need to understand cellular respiration before you hit Physiology. I also thought it was good to take Chemistry before Physiology. Made physio a lot easier.

This isn't necessarily true. Every college structures their A&P courses differently which is why most programs require that you take I and II at the same institution. My A&P I class had SO much physiology it was insane. Lecture was the cytology, histology and physiology of the Integumentary, Skeletal, Nervous and Muscular systems. Lab consisted of identification. Then again Intro to Bio is a pre-requisite at our school.

I'd be better safe than sorry and just take the Intro to Bio first. It certainly won't hurt you to do so. At least consider taking Intro to Bio concurrently with A&P I, so if Anatomy is too to much and you have to drop it, the entire semester wont be a wash.

IndyElmer · May 24, 2012

Neither biology nor chemistry were required for anatomy or for physiology at one university that I attended for pre-reqs. Students who didn't take either course seemed to do OK, particularly once we were past the first week or two in each class. (At the university where I'll be earning my BSN, anatomy required one semester of intro bio as a pre-req and physiology required biochemistry as a pre-req.)

Of the two, I probably used more of my biology knowledge than my chemistry knowledge. In fact, the amount of chemistry that is covered in a biology class is probably all the (bio)chemistry that I used. I think it really depends on the particular student and the particular course/school (and the resources available to students at that school) whether or not it's necessary to take biology and/or chemistry before the taking anatomy and/or physiology.