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NWU Home   ›   Academics   ›   Academic Departments   ›   Biology Department   ›   Majors and Minors

Majors and Minors

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science

Two degrees are offered in biology (B.S. and B.A.). The B.S. is more stringent in biology and supporting field requirements than the B.A. Both degrees prepare students for a variety of health career fields (including chiropractic medicine, dentistry, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, and veterinary medicine) as well as non-health careers and graduate studies in ecology, animal behavior, evoluntionary biology, immunology, reproductive biology, parasitology, botany, plant pathology, genetics, systematics, conservation biology, physiology, molecular biology, and biotechnology.

Majors

  • Biology (B.A.)
  • Biology (B.S.)
  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (B.S.)

Minors

  • Biology

Preprofessional Preparation

Students interested in medicine, dentistry, osteopathic medicine, veterinary medicine, and allied health professions should consult with the department chair for preprofessional requirements and a suggested program of study. Preprofessional programs are available in optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, podiatry, and physician assistant. Students can also gain preparation for numerous graduate school programs in ecology, animal behavior, evolutionary biology, immunology, microbiology, reproductive biology, parasitology, botany, plant pathology, genetics, systematics, conservation biology, physiology, molecular biology, and biotechnology. Students who wish to meet Nebraska certification regulations for secondary teaching of biology should consult the current handbook of the education department.

Majors


Biology major (B.A., 30 hrs.)
Courses 16 hrs.
Bio 050 General Biology of Plants 4 hrs.
Bio 060 General Biology of Animals 4 hrs.
Bio 160 Cell Biology 4 hrs.
Bio 170 Genetics 4 hrs.
Electives 12 hrs.
Bio electives
Two lab courses drawn from at least two areas (A, B, C); additional hours from any areas (A, B, C, D, E).
12 hrs.
Senior Comprehensive 2 hrs.
Bio 298 Senior Thesis or
Bio 299 Senior Research
2 hrs.

Bio 008, Bio 009, and Bio 010 may not be taken by biology majors to fulfill biology degree requirements.

An approved supporting area of 20 hours is also required, normally composed of courses from the Natural Sciences Division.

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Biology major (B.S., 34 hrs.)
Courses  
Bio 050 General Biology of Plants 4 hrs.
Bio 060 General Biology of Animals 4 hrs.
Bio 160 Cell Biology 4 hrs.
Bio 170 Genetics 4 hrs.
Electives 16 hrs.
One course in each of areas A, B, and C. Three lab courses drawn from at least two areas (A, B, C); additional hours from any areas (A, B, C, D, E). 16 hrs.
Senior Comprehensive  
Bio 298 Senior Thesis or Bio 299 Senior Research 2 hrs.

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Biology Electives
Area A. Molecular and Cellular Biology  
Bio 219 Histology 4 hrs.
Bio 269 Microbiology 4 hrs.
Bio 275 Immunology 3 hrs.
Bio 276 Immunology Lab 1 hrs.
Bio 281 Biochemistry (or Chem 255) 3 hrs.
Bio 281 Biochemistry w/282 (or Chem 255 w/258) 4 hrs.
Bio 283 Molecular Biology 4 hrs.
Area B. Organismal Biology  
Bio 212 Behavioral Neuroscience 3 hrs.
Bio 212 Behavioral Neuroscience and
Bio 213 Behavioral Neuroscience Lab
4 hrs.
Bio 222 Parasitology 4 hrs.
Bio 225 Plant Form and Function 4 hrs.
Bio 244 Developmental Biology 4 hrs.
Bio 246 Human and Comparative Anatomy 4 hrs.
Bio 262 Human and Comparative Physiology 4 hrs.
Bio 270 Pathophysiology 3 hrs.
Area C. Ecological, Evolutionary, and Taxonomic Biology  
Bio 216 Medical Botany 3 hrs.
Bio 216 Medical Botany and
Bio 217 Medical Botany Lab
4 hrs.
Bio 218 Plant Taxonomy 4 hrs.
Bio 221 Ecology 4 hrs.
Bio 250 Conservation Biology 4 hrs.
Bio 261 Evolution 3 hrs.
Bio 264 Animal Behavior 3 hrs.
Bio 264 Animal Behavior w/ 265 4 hrs.
Area D. Global Experience in Biology  
Bio 251 Tropical Biology of Costa Rica 3 hrs.
Bio 252 Tropical Biology of Belize 3 hrs.
Bio 253 Principles of Marine Biology 1 hrs.
Bio 254 Applied Marine Biology 3 hrs.
Area E. Additional Courses  
Bio 190 Selected Topics 1–4 hrs.
Bio 200 Biomedical Ethics 2 hrs.
Bio 290 Selected Topics 1–4 hrs.
Bio 291 Directed Readings 1 hrs.
Bio 295 Independent Study 1–2 hrs.

Bio 008, Bio 009, and Bio 010 may not be taken by biology majors to fulfill biology degree requirements.

An approved supporting area of 28 hours in the Natural Sciences Division is also required. This will include Chem 051/051L, 120/120L, 121/121L, 122/122L; Phys 101 or Phys 111, Phys 102 or Phys 112; and Math 105, Math 065 or Math 60. Competency in a modern language other than English is strongly encouraged.

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Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major
(B.S., 62 hrs)
Courses  
Bio 050 General Biology of Plants 4 hrs.
Bio 160 Cell Biology 4 hrs.
Bio 170 Genetics 4 hrs.
Bio 283 Molecular Biology 4 hrs.
Chem 051 Chem Principles and
Chem 051L Chem Principles Lab
4 hrs.
Chem 120 Organic Chem I and
Chem 120L Organic Chem I Lab
4 hrs.
Chem 121 Organic Chem II and
Chem 121L Organic Chem II Lab
4 hrs.
Chem 122 Analytical &Inorganic Chem and
Chem 122L Analytical & Inorganic Chem Lab
4 hrs.
Chem 221 Physical Chem I and
Chem 221L Physical Chem I Lab
4 hrs.
Chem 242 Instrumental Methods of Analysis 4 hrs.
Bio 281 Biochemistry or
Chem 255 Biochemistry
3 hrs.
Bio 282 or Chem 258 Biochemisty Lab/Methods 1 hr.
Chem 256 Advanced Biochemistry 3 hrs.
Chem 293 Chem Seminar 1 hr.
Phys 101 Prin of Physics I or
Phys 111 General Physics I
4 hrs.
Phys 102 Prin of Physics II or
Phys 112 General Physics II
4 hrs.
Math 105 Calculus I 5 hrs.
Senior Comprehensive  
Bio 299 Senior Research or
Chem 295 Independent Study
1 hr.

Math 106 is strongly recommended.

Minor


Biology minor (19 hrs.)
Courses  
Bio 050 General Biology of Plants 4 hrs.
Bio 060 General Biology of Animals 4 hrs.
Bio 160 Cell Biology 4 hrs.
Bio 170 Genetics 4 hrs.
Biology electives (upper level) 3 hrs.

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Biology Department

  • Majors and Minors
  • Courses
  • Academic Advising
  • Study Abroad Trips
  • Pollen Count
  • Student Awards
  • Facilities
  • Faculty and Staff

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Lincoln, NE 68504-2794
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info@nebrwesleyan.edu
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    Nebraska Wesleyan University provides equal educational opportunities to all qualified persons in all areas of university operation, including education and decisions regarding faculty appointment, promotion or tenure, without regard to race, religion, age, sex, creed, color, disability, marital status, national or ethnic origin or sexual orientation.