Biology, Bachelor of Arts
To obtain a BA with a major in Biology, a student must fulfill university, college, and departmental requirements.
Biology, Bachelor of Arts Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS - 34 Hours Required | ||
| Minimum of "C-" required | ||
| Fundamental Skills | 15 | |
Writing – 6 hrs. | ||
| ENGLISH COMPOSITION I | ||
| COLLEGE RESEARCH AND INFORMATION LITERACY | ||
Oral Communication – 3 hrs. | ||
| PUBLIC SPEAKING FUNDS | ||
or CMST 2120 | ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE | |
Quantitative Literacy – 3 hrs. | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL THINKING | ||
or MATH 1130 | QUANTITATIVE LITERACY | |
or MATH 1140 | QUANTITATIVE REASONING FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS | |
or MATH 1300 | COLLEGE ALGEBRA WITH SUPPORT | |
Data Literacy – 3 hrs. | ||
Select one from the following: | ||
| DATA LITERACY AND VISUALIZATION | ||
| ELEMENTARY STATISTICS | ||
Until Fall 2028, students can satisfy this requirement with an approved data literacy course, or any approved natural or social science general education course. | ||
| Breadth of Knowledge | 13 | |
Social Science – 3 hrs. | ||
Humanities – 3 hrs. | ||
Natural & Physical Science (must complete a lab) – 4 hrs. | ||
Arts – 3 hrs. | ||
| Individual and Social Responsibility | 6 | |
Cultural Knowledge – 3 hrs. | ||
Civic Knowledge and Engagement – 3 hrs. | ||
| Major Requirements - 61-71 Hours Required | ||
| **Course will satisfy UNO's General Education requirement | ||
| ^Course requires pre-requisite(s) | ||
| Required Biology Coursework: | 18 | |
| BIOLOGY I (**) | ||
| BIOLOGY II (^) | ||
| GENETICS (^) | ||
| ECOLOGY (^) | ||
| Additional Biology Coursework - 18 Hours Required | 18 | |
| The remaining 18 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 BIOL 2440, BIOL 2740, and BIOL 2840. | ||
| Required Chemistry Coursework | 14-16 | |
| Select one of the following sequences in Chemistry | ||
| 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 (^) | ||
| Required Physics Coursework | 5-10 | |
| Select one of the following Sequences in Physics: | ||
| Sequence 1 | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS and INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS LABORATORY (** ^) | ||
| Sequence 2 | ||
| PHYSICS FOR LIFE SCIENCE I and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY I (** ^) | ||
| PHYSICS FOR LIFE SCIENCE II and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY II (^) | ||
| Sequence 3 | ||
| GENERAL PHYSICS I - CALCULUS LEVEL and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY I (** ^) | ||
| GENERAL PHYSICS II-CALCULUS LEVEL and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY II (^) | ||
| Select one of the following courses in Mathematics or Computer Science | 3-5 | |
| COLLEGE ALGEBRA WITH SUPPORT (**) | ||
| COLLEGE ALGEBRA (^) | ||
| TRIGONOMETRY (^) | ||
| ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY FOR CALCULUS (^) | ||
| CALCULUS FOR THE MANAGERIAL, LIFE, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES (^) | ||
| CALCULUS FOR BIOMEDICINE (^) | ||
| CALCULUS I (^) | ||
| COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES (** ^) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE II (^) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE I (^) | ||
| Select one of the following courses in Statistics | 3-4 | |
| STATISTICS FOR LIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (^) | ||
| STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (^) | ||
| SOCIAL STATISTICS (^) | ||
| STATISTICAL METHODS I (^) | ||
| College Breadth (choose one option) | 15-30+ | |
| Option 1: Complete any UNO minor or undergraduate certificate - 15+ Hours | ||
| Option 2: Additional General Education Requirements - 18+ Hours | ||
Additional quantitative literacy - 3 hours | ||
Additional Social Science Gen. Ed. from another Discipline - 3 hours | ||
Additional Humanities Gen. Ed. from another Discipline - 3 hours | ||
Additional Nat. and Physical Science w/ or without Lab - 3-5 hours | ||
| Option 3: CAS comprehensive major (50+ hours) OR any second UNO major (30+ hours) | ||
| Bachelor Arts Language Requirements | 16 | |
| FREN, GERM, Or SPAN, 1110, 1120, 2110, 2120 | ||
| Electives | ||
| Elective hours as required to reach a total of 120 hours | ||
Biology, Bachelor of Arts Four Year Plan
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ENGL 1150 | ENGLISH COMPOSITION I | 3 |
| CMST 1110 or CMST 2120 | PUBLIC SPEAKING FUNDS or ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE | 3 |
| MATH 1120 | INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL THINKING or QUANTITATIVE LITERACY or QUANTITATIVE REASONING FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS or COLLEGE ALGEBRA WITH SUPPORT | 3-4 |
| BIOL 1450 | BIOLOGY I (***) | 5 |
Attend Durango Days; other campus events. Set up a Handshake account and take the Pathway U career assessment. Attend the Student Involvement & Volunteer Fair to explore student organizations. Make advising appointment for spring: Sept-Oct. Work with your advisor to develop your Pathway in Stellic. | ||
| Credits | 14-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 1160 | COLLEGE RESEARCH AND INFORMATION LITERACY | 3 |
| PHYS 1050 & PHYS 1054 | INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS and INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS LABORATORY (*) | 5 |
| BIOL 1750 | BIOLOGY II | 5 |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
*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. | ||
Attend campus events such as major exploration week to get an idea of interests and career paths. Schedule a resume review with UNO Career Services. Visit faculty office hours and ask about undergraduate research opportunities. Make advising appointment for summer and fall: February – March. | ||
| Credits | 16 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 1140 & CHEM 1144 | FUNDAMENTALS OF COLLEGE CHEMISTRY and FUNDAMENTALS OF COLLEGE CHEMISTRY LABORATORY (*) | 5 |
| World Language 1110 | 5 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
Attend the Career & Internship Fair to start networking with employers. Look for volunteer, research, or part-time work to gain experience. Join a student organization or club related to your field or interests. Make advising appointment for spring: Sept. - Oct. | ||
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 2210 & CHEM 2214 | FUNDAMENTALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY and FUNDAMENTALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY (*) | 5 |
| BIOL 2140 | GENETICS | 4 |
| World Language course 1120 | 5 | |
Attend a career fair for informational and networking purposes. Update your resume and LinkedIn profile with new experiences. Investigate and apply for summer internships, research, or study abroad programs. Make advising appointment for summer and fall: February – March. | ||
| Credits | 14 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 3650 & CHEM 3654 | FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOCHEMISTRY and FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY (*) | 4 |
| BIOL 3340 | ECOLOGY | 4 |
| World Language Course 2110 | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
Apply for a paid internship or research assistantship. Attend a mock interview workshop or use online interview tools with Career Services. Start researching and visiting graduate programs or professional schools. Visit Career Center, continue updating resume. Make advising appointment for spring: Sept-Oct. | ||
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| Lower or Upper-Level BIOL Course | 3-4 | |
| Upper-Level BIOL Course no Lab* | 3 | |
| Approved Statistics Course (see catalog) | 3 | |
| World Language 2120 | 3 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
Request letters of recommendation from faculty for jobs or grad school. Attend the All-Majors Career Fair with a plan to network. Meet with your advisor or submit for a graduation check-in to review remaining degree requirements. Make advising appointment for summer and fall: February – March. | ||
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| Upper-Level BIOL Course with Lab* | 4 | |
| Upper-Level BIOL Course no Lab* | 3 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
*Upper-Level BIOL Courses cannot include BIOL 3150. See Catalog or curriculum guide from Biology advisors for upper-level biology course list and restrictions. | ||
Check in with Career Center for networking tips. Finalize graduate school applications or job search strategy. Attend a career fair and start applying for full-time jobs. Prepare for interviews and salary negotiations with Career Services. Make advising appointment for spring: Sept. - Oct. | ||
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Upper-Level BIOL Course no Lab * | 3 | |
| Upper-Level BIOL Course no Lab * | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
*Upper-Level BIOL Courses cannot include BIOL 3150. See Catalog or curriculum guide from Biology advisors for upper-level biology course list and restrictions. | ||
Request letters of recommendation from faculty for jobs or grad school. Attend the All-Majors Career Fair with a plan to network. Meet with your advisor or submit for a graduation check-in to review remaining degree requirements. Make advising appointment for summer and fall: February – March. | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120-122 | |
College Breadth: Students should plan on using at least 15 hours of "Electives" to fulfill Option 1, 2, or 3, of the College of Arts and Sciences' breadth requirement.
Upper Level Credits: Students need 27 upper level credits throughout the degree with at least 18 upper level credits within the major. Electives may need to be selected at the 3000-4000 level to reach these minimums.
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, World 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.
GPA Requirements: 2.0
Note: This plan provides a general guide, but your specific courses, experiences, and career goals may differ. Work with your academic advisor to ensure you’re meeting degree requirements and consult with career advisors to explore internships, research opportunities, and post-graduation plans. Regular check-ins will help you stay on track and make the most of your time at UNO!