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).

Required Courses in Biology Core
BIOL 1450BIOLOGY I5
BIOL 1750BIOLOGY II5
BIOL 2140GENETICS4
BIOL 3020MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL3
BIOL 3340ECOLOGY4
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 21303
Total Credits61-68

Group I

Structure and Function of Multicellular Systems
BIOL 3240INTRODUCTION TO IMMUNOLOGY3
BIOL 4260BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY3
BIOL/PSYC 4270ANIMAL BEHAVIOR3
BIOL/NEUR 4290NEUROETHOLOGY3
BIOL/PSYC 4320HORMONES & BEHAVIOR3
BIOL 4440PLANT PHYSIOLOGY4
BIOL 4710TOXICOLOGY3
BIOL 4730VERTEBRATE ENDOCRINOLOGY4
BIOL 4740ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY3
BIOL 4830DEVELOPMENTAL GENETICS2
BIOL 4850DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY3
BIOL/NEUR 4890GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR3
BIOL 4970ADVANCED BOTANY4

Group II

Cellular and Molecular Biology
BIOL 3830BIOLOGY OF PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS3
BIOL 4130MOLECULAR GENETICS4
BIOL 4140CELLULAR BIOLOGY4
BIOL 4150CANCER BIOLOGY3
BIOL 4450VIROLOGY3
BIOL 4454VIROLOGY LABORATORY1
BIOL 4640MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY3
BIOL 4644MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY LAB1
BIOL/CHEM 4650BIOCHEMISTRY I3
BIOL/CHEM 4654BIOCHEMISTRY I LABORATORY1
BIOL/CHEM 4660BIOCHEMISTRY II3
BIOL/CHEM 4664BIOCHEMISTRY II LABORATORY1
BIOL/NEUR 4810BEHAVIORAL GENETICS4
BIOL 4760GENOME TECHNOLOGY AND ANALYSIS3
BIOL 4860COMPARATIVE GENOMICS3
BIOL/NEUR 4870MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR NEUROBIOLOGY3
BIOL 4960ADVANCED GENETICS3
Structure and Function of Multicellular Systems
BIOL 3240INTRODUCTION TO IMMUNOLOGY3
BIOL 4260BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY3
BIOL/PSYC 4270ANIMAL BEHAVIOR3
BIOL/NEUR 4290NEUROETHOLOGY3
BIOL/PSYC 4280ANIMAL BEHAVIOR LABORATORY3
BIOL/PSYC 4320HORMONES & BEHAVIOR3
BIOL 4440PLANT PHYSIOLOGY4
BIOL 4460COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY4
BIOL 4710TOXICOLOGY3
BIOL 4730VERTEBRATE ENDOCRINOLOGY4
BIOL 4740ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY3
BIOL 4830DEVELOPMENTAL GENETICS2
BIOL 4850DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY3
BIOL/NEUR 4890GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR3
BIOL 4970ADVANCED BOTANY4
Biodiversity
BIOL/GEOL 3100INVERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY3
BIOL/GEOL 3104INVERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY LABORATORY1
BIOL 3530FLORA OF THE GREAT PLAINS4
BIOL 3730FAUNA OF THE GREAT PLAINS3
BIOL 4490MEDICINAL USES OF PLANTS3
BIOL 4780VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY4
BIOL 4790MAMMALOGY4
BIOL 4840HERPETOLOGY4
BIOL 4940ENTOMOLOGY4
BIOL 4980ORNITHOLOGY4
Ecology Evolution and Conservation Biology
BIOL 3680BIOLOGY OF AFRICA3
BIOL 3690BIOLOGY OF AFRICA LAB1
BIOL/GEOL/GEOG 4100BIOGEOGRAPHY3
BIOL 4120CONSERVATION BIOLOGY3
BIOL 4180FRESHWATER ECOLOGY4
BIOL 4210FIRE ECOLOGY3
BIOL 4220POPULATION BIOLOGY4
BIOL 4230EVOLUTION3
BIOL 4240MARINE BIOLOGY3
BIOL 4250FIELD MARINE BIOLOGY1
BIOL/ENVN 4410WETLAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT3
BIOL 4420RESTORATION ECOLOGY3
BIOL 4540PRINCIPLES OF SYSTEMATICS3
Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
FallCredits
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.
 Credits15
Spring
ENGL 1160 ENGLISH COMPOSITION II (*) 3
CMST 1110
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
*ENGL 1160: requires ENGL 1150 with grade of C- or higher or placement via EPPE or AP.
**Second Math course (3 credits); Consult your advisor for options.
 Credits14
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
*Chemistry Supporting Course options - Sequence I: CHEM 1140 & CHEM 1144. Sequence II and III: CHEM 1180 & CHEM 1184. Either option satisfies the 2nd Natural & Physical Science requirement for the University.
*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.
 Credits16-17
Spring
Chemistry Supporting Course I (*) 4-5
BIOL 2140 GENETICS (**) 4
Social Science 3
HIST 1000 or Minor/2nd Major Course (***) 3
*Chemistry Supporting Course options – Sequence I: CHEM 2210 & CHEM 2214. Sequence II and III: CHEM 1190 & CHEM 1194.
**BIOL 2140: requires BIOL 1450 and 1750, as well as CHEM 1140 or 1180.
***A&S College Requirement Options.
 Credits14-15
Junior
Fall
Chemistry Supporting Course III (*) 3-5
BIOL 3020 MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL (**) 3
Social Science Course (***) 3
BIOL 3340 ECOLOGY (#) 4
*Chemistry Supporting Course options – Sequence I and III: CHEM 3650 & CHEM 3654. Sequence II: CHEM 2250.
**BIOL 3020: requires BIOL 2140 and CHEM 1180 or 1190.
***SS course must be in a 2nd discipline.
# BIOL 3340: requires BIOL 1450 and 1750; junior-senior standing or graduate student.
 Credits13-15
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
*Chemistry Supporting Course options – Sequence I: No Course. Sequence II: CHEM 2260 & CHEM 2274. Sequence III: CHEM 3650 & CHEM 3654.
**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.
 Credits13-15
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
**Physics Course options – Sequence I: PHYS 1050 & PHYS 1054. Sequence II: PHYS 1110 & PHYS 1154.
 Credits15
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.
**Physics Course options – Sequence I: No course. Sequence II: PHYS 1120 and 1164.
***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.
 Credits12-17
 Total Credits112-123

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