Biology, Bachelor of Science
To obtain a BS with a major in Biology, a student must fulfill university, college, and departmental requirements. Minimum hour requirements follow:
- 46 hours of University General Education courses—most commonly, Biology majors do not complete 46 hours of coursework exclusively to meet University General Education requirements, but may reduce this number, possibly to 30 hours or fewer, in following ways:
- Test out of at least 3 hours of fundamental academic skills,
- Complete 6 hours of coursework satisfying both the 6 hours of diversity requirements and 6 hours of distribution requirements,
- Meet the 7-hour University General Education natural sciences distribution requirement through completing major courses.
- 12 hours college breadth requirement
- 51 hours of major courses
- Elective hours as required to total 120 hours
TOTAL HOURS: 120
Requirements
A total of at least 36 Biology credits is required. At least 18 of those 36 credits must come from upper-division biology courses (3000-4000 level).
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses in Biology Core | ||
BIOL 1450 | BIOLOGY I | 5 |
BIOL 1750 | BIOLOGY II | 5 |
BIOL 2140 | GENETICS | 4 |
BIOL 3020 | MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL | 3 |
BIOL 3340 | ECOLOGY | 4 |
Advanced Themes in Biology | ||
Select one course from Group I and at least three courses from Group II (see below) to obtain at least 12 credits of advanced study beyond the Biology Core. Two advanced courses must have approved laboratories. | 12 | |
Cognate Requirements in Chemistry | ||
Select one of the following required chemistry sequences: | 14-16 | |
Sequence 1: | ||
FUNDAMENTALS OF COLLEGE CHEMISTRY and FUNDAMENTALS OF COLLEGE CHEMISTRY LABORATORY | ||
FUNDAMENTALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY and FUNDAMENTALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY | ||
FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOCHEMISTRY and FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY | ||
Sequence 2: | ||
GENERAL CHEMISTRY I and GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY | ||
GENERAL CHEMISTRY II and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY | ||
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I | ||
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II | ||
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY | ||
Sequence 3: | ||
GENERAL CHEMISTRY I and GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY | ||
GENERAL CHEMISTRY II and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY | ||
FUNDAMENTALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY and FUNDAMENTALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY | ||
FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOCHEMISTRY and FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY | ||
Cognate Requirements in Physics | ||
Select one of the following required physics sequences: | 5-10 | |
Sequence 1: | ||
INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS and INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS LABORATORY | ||
Sequence 2: | ||
GENERAL PHYSICS I and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY I | ||
GENERAL PHYSICS II and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY II | ||
Sequence 3: | ||
GENERAL PHYSICS I - CALCULUS LEVEL and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY I | ||
GENERAL PHYSICS-CALCULUS LEVEL and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY II | ||
Math and Statistics | ||
Two approved courses in math or computer science from the list of options: | 6 | |
MATH 1220, MATH 1300 or MATH 1320, 1330, 1340, 1930, 1940, 1950; CSCI 1200, 1620; CIST 1400; BIOL 4110. | ||
BIOL 4110 may fulfill a math, statistics, or upper-level biology requirement, but may not fulfill more than one of these. | ||
One approved course in statistics from the following options: BIOL 4110, STAT 3000, PSYC 3130, SOC 2130 | 3 | |
Total Credits | 61-68 |
Group I
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Structure and Function of Multicellular Systems | ||
BIOL 3240 | INTRODUCTION TO IMMUNOLOGY | 3 |
BIOL 4260 | BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY | 3 |
BIOL/PSYC 4270 | ANIMAL BEHAVIOR | 3 |
BIOL/NEUR 4290 | NEUROETHOLOGY | 3 |
BIOL/PSYC 4320 | HORMONES & BEHAVIOR | 3 |
BIOL 4440 | PLANT PHYSIOLOGY | 4 |
BIOL 4710 | TOXICOLOGY | 3 |
BIOL 4730 | VERTEBRATE ENDOCRINOLOGY | 4 |
BIOL 4740 | ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY | 3 |
BIOL 4830 | DEVELOPMENTAL GENETICS | 2 |
BIOL 4850 | DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY | 3 |
BIOL/NEUR 4890 | GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR | 3 |
BIOL 4970 | ADVANCED BOTANY | 4 |
Group II
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Cellular and Molecular Biology | ||
BIOL 3830 | BIOLOGY OF PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS | 3 |
BIOL 4130 | MOLECULAR GENETICS | 4 |
BIOL 4140 | CELLULAR BIOLOGY | 4 |
BIOL 4150 | CANCER BIOLOGY | 3 |
BIOL 4450 | VIROLOGY | 3 |
BIOL 4454 | VIROLOGY LABORATORY | 1 |
BIOL 4640 | MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY | 3 |
BIOL 4644 | MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY LAB | 1 |
BIOL/CHEM 4650 | BIOCHEMISTRY I | 3 |
BIOL/CHEM 4654 | BIOCHEMISTRY I LABORATORY | 1 |
BIOL/CHEM 4660 | BIOCHEMISTRY II | 3 |
BIOL/CHEM 4664 | BIOCHEMISTRY II LABORATORY | 1 |
BIOL/NEUR 4810 | BEHAVIORAL GENETICS | 4 |
BIOL 4760 | GENOME TECHNOLOGY AND ANALYSIS | 3 |
BIOL 4860 | COMPARATIVE GENOMICS | 3 |
BIOL/NEUR 4870 | MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR NEUROBIOLOGY | 3 |
BIOL 4960 | ADVANCED GENETICS | 3 |
Structure and Function of Multicellular Systems | ||
BIOL 3240 | INTRODUCTION TO IMMUNOLOGY | 3 |
BIOL 4260 | BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY | 3 |
BIOL/PSYC 4270 | ANIMAL BEHAVIOR | 3 |
BIOL/NEUR 4290 | NEUROETHOLOGY | 3 |
BIOL/PSYC 4280 | ANIMAL BEHAVIOR LABORATORY | 3 |
BIOL/PSYC 4320 | HORMONES & BEHAVIOR | 3 |
BIOL 4440 | PLANT PHYSIOLOGY | 4 |
BIOL 4460 | COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY | 4 |
BIOL 4710 | TOXICOLOGY | 3 |
BIOL 4730 | VERTEBRATE ENDOCRINOLOGY | 4 |
BIOL 4740 | ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY | 3 |
BIOL 4830 | DEVELOPMENTAL GENETICS | 2 |
BIOL 4850 | DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY | 3 |
BIOL/NEUR 4890 | GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR | 3 |
BIOL 4970 | ADVANCED BOTANY | 4 |
Biodiversity | ||
BIOL/GEOL 3100 | INVERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY | 3 |
BIOL/GEOL 3104 | INVERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY LABORATORY | 1 |
BIOL 3530 | FLORA OF THE GREAT PLAINS | 4 |
BIOL 3730 | FAUNA OF THE GREAT PLAINS | 3 |
BIOL 4490 | MEDICINAL USES OF PLANTS | 3 |
BIOL 4780 | VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY | 4 |
BIOL 4790 | MAMMALOGY | 4 |
BIOL 4840 | HERPETOLOGY | 4 |
BIOL 4940 | ENTOMOLOGY | 4 |
BIOL 4980 | ORNITHOLOGY | 4 |
Ecology Evolution and Conservation Biology | ||
BIOL 3680 | BIOLOGY OF AFRICA | 3 |
BIOL 3690 | BIOLOGY OF AFRICA LAB | 1 |
BIOL/GEOL/GEOG 4100 | BIOGEOGRAPHY | 3 |
BIOL 4120 | CONSERVATION BIOLOGY | 3 |
BIOL 4180 | FRESHWATER ECOLOGY | 4 |
BIOL 4210 | FIRE ECOLOGY | 3 |
BIOL 4220 | POPULATION BIOLOGY | 4 |
BIOL 4230 | EVOLUTION | 3 |
BIOL 4240 | MARINE BIOLOGY | 3 |
BIOL 4250 | FIELD MARINE BIOLOGY | 1 |
BIOL/ENVN 4410 | WETLAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT | 3 |
BIOL 4420 | RESTORATION ECOLOGY | 3 |
BIOL 4540 | PRINCIPLES OF SYSTEMATICS | 3 |
Freshman | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
ENGL 1150 | ENGLISH COMPOSITION I (*) | 3 |
MATH 1300 | COLLEGE ALGEBRA WITH SUPPORT (or higher**) | 4 |
BIOL 1450 | BIOLOGY I (***) | 5 |
Humanities & Fine Arts | 3 | |
*ENGL 1150: requires placement via EPPE, ACT, or AP. | ||
**Students may take higher levels of Math, which will require placement. Consult your advisor for the best option. | ||
***BIOL 1450: counts as a Natural & Physical Science Lecture and Lab course as well as a major requirement. | ||
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
ENGL 1160 | ENGLISH COMPOSITION II (*) | 3 |
CMST 1110 or CMST 2120 | PUBLIC SPEAKING FUNDS or ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE | 3 |
BIOL 1750 | BIOLOGY II | 5 |
Second Math course (3 credits); Consult your advisor for the best options.** | 3 | |
**Second Math course (3 credits); Consult your advisor for options. | ||
Credits | 14 | |
Sophomore | ||
Fall | ||
Chemistry Supporting Course I (*) | 4-5 | |
Approved Statistics Course (**) | 3 | |
Humanities/Fine Arts | 3 | |
Humanities/Fine Arts (***) | 3 | |
Social Science + US Diversity Course | 3 | |
*Please see the catalog for the most up-to-date chemistry prerequisite information. | ||
**Approved Statistics Courses: BIOL 4110, STAT 3000, PSYC 3130, SOC 2130. Requires placement. A minimum of 27 upper-level credits is required in the overall degree, with at least 18 upper-level credits within the major. Depending on options selected throughout degree, upper-level electives may be needed in order to reach this minimum credit requirement. | ||
***HFA must be in a second discipline. | ||
Credits | 16-17 | |
Spring | ||
Chemistry Supporting Course I (*) | 4-5 | |
BIOL 2140 | GENETICS (**) | 4 |
Social Science | 3 | |
HIST 1000 or Minor/2nd Major Course (***) | 3 | |
***A&S College Requirement Options. | ||
Credits | 14-15 | |
Junior | ||
Fall | ||
Chemistry Supporting Course III (*) | 3-5 | |
BIOL 3020 | MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL (**) | 3 |
Social Science Course (***) | 3 | |
BIOL 3340 | ECOLOGY (#) | 4 |
***SS course must be in a 2nd discipline. | ||
Credits | 13-15 | |
Spring | ||
Chemistry Supporting Course IV (*) or Elective | 3-5 | |
Group II Course with Lab (**) | 4 | |
Additional Social Science for A&S or course towards Minor/2nd Major (***) | 3 | |
HIST 1010 or Minor/2nd Major Course (#) | 3 | |
**See Catalog or curriculum guide from Biology advisors for Group II course list. | ||
***A&S College Requirement Options. Additional SS must be in a 3rd discipline. | ||
#A&S College Requirement Options. | ||
Credits | 13-15 | |
Senior | ||
Fall | ||
Group I Course (*) w | 3 | |
Group II Course with Lab (*) w | 4 | |
Physics Course I + Lab (**) | 5 | |
Elective if needed to reach 120 | 3 | |
*See Catalog or curriculum guide from Biology advisor for Group I and Group II course list. | ||
w: Meets Advanced Writing requirment: see curriculum guide from Biology advisor for list of writing-approved courses | ||
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
Group II Course (*) | 3 | |
Physics Course II + Lab (**) or Elective | 0-5 | |
Additional Humanities/Fine Arts for A&S or course towards Minor/2nd Major (***) | 3 | |
Elective if needed to reach 120 (#) | 3 | |
Elective if needed to reach 120 (#) | 3 | |
*See Catalog or curriculum guide from Biology advisors for Group II course list. | ||
***A&S College Requirement Options. Additional HFA Must be in a 3rd discipline. | ||
#A minimum of 27 upper-level credits is required in the overall degree, with at least 18 upper-level credits within the major. Depending on options selected throughout degree, upper-level electives may be needed in order to reach this minimum credit requirement. | ||
Credits | 12-17 | |
Total Credits | 112-123 |
This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult an advisor in your major program for further guidance.
This plan is not a contract and curriculum is subject to change.
Additional Information About this Plan:
University Degree Requirements: An undergraduate degree from UNO requires a minimum 120 credit hours, and completion of 30 credit hours per year, on average, is needed to finish in four years. Please review the requirements specific to your program.
Placement Exams: For Math, English, and Foreign Language, a placement exam may be required. More information on these exams can be found at https://www.unomaha.edu/enrollment-management/testing-center/placement-exams/information.php
Please note: **Transfer credit or placement exam scores may change suggested plan of study
GPA Requirements: 2.0