Biology, Bachelor of Arts

To obtain a BA 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 25 hours or fewer, in following ways:
    • Test out of at least 3 hours of fundamental academic skills,
    • Take 6 hours of coursework that meets both the 6 hours of diversity requirements and six hours of distribution requirements,
    • Apply up to 5 hours of foreign language coursework toward meeting the 9-hour General Education humanities requirement,
    • Meet the 7-hour University General Education natural sciences distribution requirement through completing major courses.
  • 16 hours foreign language requirement  (Four years of a single language in high school or four college semesters will satisfy this requirement.)
  • 12 hours college breadth requirement
  • 51 hours of major courses
  • Elective hours as required to reach a total of 120 hours

TOTAL HOURS: 120

Requirements

Biology Requirements
BIOL 1450BIOLOGY I5
BIOL 1750BIOLOGY II5
BIOL 2140GENETICS4
BIOL 3340ECOLOGY4
The remaining 18 elective credits in biology should be chosen in consultation with a Biology advisor and must include at least 14 credits from BIOL 3000-4000 level courses, including at least one lab course (in addition to BIOL 3340). Up to three credits of BIOL 4030, up to three credits of either BIOL 4050 or BIOL 4800 and one credit of BIOL 4040 can be included. BIOL 3150 may not be used to satisfy the requirement for 3000-4000 level biology credits. Courses at the 1000-2000 level are restricted to:18
BIOL 2440
THE BIOLOGY OF MICROORGANISMS
BIOL 2740
HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I
BIOL 2840
HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II
Requirements in Chemistry
Select one of the following required chemistry sequences:14-16
Sequence 1:
CHEM 1140
& CHEM 1144
FUNDAMENTALS OF COLLEGE CHEMISTRY
and FUNDAMENTALS OF COLLEGE CHEMISTRY LABORATORY
CHEM 2210
& CHEM 2214
FUNDAMENTALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
and FUNDAMENTALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY
CHEM 3650
& CHEM 3654
FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOCHEMISTRY
and FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY
Sequence 2:
CHEM 1180
& CHEM 1184
GENERAL CHEMISTRY I
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY
CHEM 1190
& CHEM 1194
GENERAL CHEMISTRY II
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY
CHEM 2250
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
CHEM 2260
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
CHEM 2274
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY
Sequence 3:
CHEM 1180
& CHEM 1184
GENERAL CHEMISTRY I
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY
CHEM 1190
& CHEM 1194
GENERAL CHEMISTRY II
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY
CHEM 2210
& CHEM 2214
FUNDAMENTALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
and FUNDAMENTALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY
CHEM 3650
& CHEM 3654
FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOCHEMISTRY
and FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY
Cognate Requirements in Physics
Select one of the following:5-10
Option 1:
PHYS 1050
& PHYS 1054
INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS
and INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS LABORATORY
Option 2:
PHYS 1110
& PHYS 1154
GENERAL PHYSICS I
and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY I
PHYS 1120
& PHYS 1164
GENERAL PHYSICS II
and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY II
Option 3:
PHYS 2110
& PHYS 1154
GENERAL PHYSICS I - CALCULUS LEVEL
and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY I
PHYS 2120
& PHYS 1164
GENERAL PHYSICS-CALCULUS LEVEL
and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY II
Math and Statistics
One approved math or computer science course from the following options: MATH 1220, 1300, 1320, 1330, 1340, 1930, 1940, 1950; CSCI 1200, 1620; CIST 1400; BIOL 4110 3-5
One approved course in statistics from the following options: BIOL 4110, STAT 3000, PSYC 3130, SOC 21303-4
BIOL 4110 may fulfill a math, statistics, or upper-level biology requirement, but may not fulfill more than one of these.
Total Credits61-71
For a BA degree, the College of Arts and Sciences requires completion of a foreign language through the intermediate level.
Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
FallCredits
ENGL 1150 ENGLISH COMPOSITION I (*) 3
CMST 1110
or CMST 2120
 PUBLIC SPEAKING FUNDS
or ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE
 3
MATH 1220
or MATH 1300
 COLLEGE ALGEBRA (**)
or COLLEGE ALGEBRA WITH SUPPORT
 3-4
BIOL 1450 BIOLOGY I (***) 5
*ENGL 1150: requires placement via EPPE, ACT, or AP.
**MATH 1220: requires appropriate placement. Higher levels of Math may substitute. Please see your advisor for options.
***BIOL 1450: counts as a Natural & Physical Science Lecture and Lab course as well as a major requirement.
 Credits14-15
Spring
ENGL 1160 ENGLISH COMPOSITION II (*) 3
PHYS 1050
& PHYS 1054		 INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS
and INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS LABORATORY (**)		 5
BIOL 1750 BIOLOGY II 5
Humanities and Fine Arts 3
*ENGL 1160: requires ENGL 1150 with grade of C- or higher or placement via EPPE or AP.
**There are other options for this major requirement – make sure you talk with an advisor before planning to take this class. Alternatively, students may take PHYS 1110 & PHYS 1154 followed by PHYS 1120 & PHYS 1164. This class also satisfies the 2nd Natural and Physical Science General Education requirement.
 Credits16
Sophomore
Fall
CHEM 1140
& CHEM 1144		 FUNDAMENTALS OF COLLEGE CHEMISTRY
and FUNDAMENTALS OF COLLEGE CHEMISTRY LABORATORY (*)		 5
Foreign Language 1110** 5
Humanities and Fine Arts 3
Social Science with US Diversity 3
*CHEM 1140: Requires MATH 1220 (or MATH 1300) or higher. ACT, SAT, AP or Math Placement Exam scores may substitute for the Math prereq to Chemistry 1140. Concurrent enrollment in CHEM 1144 required. There are other chemistry sequence options to complete this requirement—consult with an advisor before planning to take this class.
**Level 1110 foreign language courses count as a Humanity/Fine Arts course, Global Diversity, and toward the student's BA requirement. If student is fulfilling the BA requirement via alternative methods, then 16 additional credits including a HFA and Global Diversity will need to be factored in to this degree plan.
 Credits16
Spring
CHEM 2210
& CHEM 2214		 FUNDAMENTALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
and FUNDAMENTALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY (*)		 5
BIOL 2140 GENETICS (**) 4
Foreign Language course 1120 5
*CHEM 2210: requires CHEM 1140 & CHEM 1144 or CHEM 1190 & CHEM 1194, either of which must be earned with a C- or better. CHEM 2214 to be taken concurrently. Please refer to your advisor or the catalog for other Chemistry options.
**BIOL 2140: requires BIOL 1450 and 1750, as well as CHEM 1140 or 1180.
 Credits14
Junior
Fall
CHEM 3650
& CHEM 3654		 FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOCHEMISTRY
and FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY (*)		 4
BIOL 3340 ECOLOGY (**) 4
Foreign Language Course 2110 3
Elective(***) 3
*CHEM 3650: requires CHEM 2210 & CHEM 2214 or CHEM 2260 & CHEM 2274, either of which must be earned with a grade of C- or better. CHEM 3654 to be taken concurrently. Please refer to your advisor and the catalog for other Chemistry options.
**BIOL 3340: requires BIOL 1450 and 1750; junior-senior standing or graduate student.
***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.
 Credits14
Spring
Lower or Upper-Level BIOL Elective* 3-4
Upper-Level BIOL Elective no Lab* 3
Statistics Course** 3
Foreign Language 2120 3
Social Science 3
*BIOL Electives- Lower-level options can include only one from: BIOL 2440, BIOL 2740, or BIOL 2840. Upper-level options cannot include BIOL 3150. For upper-level BIOL elective options and restrictions, please refer to the Catalog or curriculum guide from the Biology advisors.
**Approved Statistics Courses: BIOL 4110, STAT 3000, PSYC 3130, SOC 2130. Placement is required.
 Credits15-16
Senior
Fall
Upper-Level BIOL Elective with Lab* 4
Upper-Level BIOL Elective no Lab* 3
Social Science Course** 3
Additional Humanities/Fine Arts Course for A&S or Course towards Minor/2nd Major*** 3
HIST 1000 or Minor/2nd Major Course# 3
*Upper-Level BIOL Electives cannot include BIOL 3150. See Catalog or curriculum guide from Biology advisors for upper-level biology course list and restrictions.
**Social Science course must be in a 2nd discipline
***A&S College Requirement Options. Additional HFA course must be in a 3rd discipline.
#A&S College Requirement Options.
 Credits16
Spring
Upper-Level BIOL Elective no Lab (*) w 3
Upper-Level BIOL Elective no Lab (*) w 3
Additional Social Science Course for A&S or Course towards Minor/2nd Major** 3
HIST 1010 or Minor/2nd Major Course*** 3
Elective (#) 3
*Upper-Level BIOL Electives cannot include BIOL 3150. See Catalog or curriculum guide from Biology advisors for upper-level biology course list and restrictions.
*w Meets Advanced Writing requirement: see curriculum guide from Biology advisors for list of writing-approved courses.
**A&S College Requirement Options. Additional Social Science course must be in a 3rd discipline.
***A&S College Requirement Options.
#Students must have at least 120 total credits with at least 27 upper-level credits throughout their A&S degree. A minimum of 18 upper-level credits is required within their major. Depending on options selected throughout degree, upper-level electives may be needed in order to reach this minimum credit requirement.
 Credits15
 Total Credits120-122

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: The minimum number of hours for a UNO undergraduate degree is 120 credit hours. Please review the requirements for your specific program to determine all requirements for the program. In order to graduate on-time (four years for an undergraduate degree), you need to take 30 hours each year.


Placement Exams: For Math, English, 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


**Transfer credit or placement exam scores may change suggested plan of study