Biology, Bachelor of Science
To obtain a BS with a major in Biology, a student must fulfill university, college, and departmental requirements.
Biology, Bachelor of Science 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 - 61-68 Hours Required | ||
| **Course will satisfy UNO's General Education requirement | ||
| ^Course requires pre-requisite(s) | ||
| Required Biology Coursework | 21 | |
| BIOLOGY I (** ^) | ||
| BIOLOGY II (^) | ||
| GENETICS (^) | ||
| MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL (^) | ||
| ECOLOGY (^) | ||
| Additional Biology Coursework | 12+ | |
| 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. | ||
| Group I: Structure and Function of Multicellular Systems | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO IMMUNOLOGY (^) | ||
| BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY (^) | ||
| ANIMAL BEHAVIOR (^) | ||
| NEUROETHOLOGY (^) | ||
| HORMONES & BEHAVIOR (^) | ||
| PLANT PHYSIOLOGY (^) | ||
| TOXICOLOGY (^) | ||
| VERTEBRATE ENDOCRINOLOGY (^) | ||
| ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY (^) | ||
| DEVELOPMENTAL GENETICS (^) | ||
| DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY (^) | ||
| GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR (^) | ||
| ADVANCED BOTANY (^) | ||
| Group II: Cellular and Molecular Biology | ||
| BIOLOGY OF PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS | ||
| MOLECULAR GENETICS (^) | ||
| CELLULAR BIOLOGY (^) | ||
| CANCER BIOLOGY (^) | ||
| VIROLOGY and VIROLOGY LABORATORY (^) | ||
| MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY and MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY LAB (^) | ||
| BIOCHEMISTRY I (^ with following lab) | ||
| BIOCHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (^) | ||
| BIOCHEMISTRY II (^ with the following lab) | ||
| BIOCHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (^) | ||
| BEHAVIORAL GENETICS (^) | ||
| GENOME TECHNOLOGY AND ANALYSIS (^) | ||
| COMPARATIVE GENOMICS (^) | ||
| MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR NEUROBIOLOGY (^) | ||
| ADVANCED GENETICS (^) | ||
| Group II: Structure and Function of Multicellular Systems | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO IMMUNOLOGY (^) | ||
| BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF AGING (^) | ||
| BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY (^) | ||
| ANIMAL BEHAVIOR (^ optional following lab) | ||
| ANIMAL BEHAVIOR LABORATORY (^) | ||
| NEUROETHOLOGY (^) | ||
| HORMONES & BEHAVIOR (^) | ||
| PLANT PHYSIOLOGY (^) | ||
| COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY (^) | ||
| TOXICOLOGY (^) | ||
| VERTEBRATE ENDOCRINOLOGY (^) | ||
| ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY (^) | ||
| DEVELOPMENTAL GENETICS (^) | ||
| DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY (^) | ||
| GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR (^) | ||
| ADVANCED BOTANY (^) | ||
| Group II: Biodiversity | ||
| MICROBIAL ECOLOGY (^) | ||
| PALEONTOLOGY (^) | ||
| FLORA OF THE GREAT PLAINS (^) | ||
| FAUNA OF THE GREAT PLAINS (^) | ||
| MEDICINAL USES OF PLANTS (^) | ||
| VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY (^) | ||
| MAMMALOGY (^) | ||
| HERPETOLOGY (^) | ||
| ENTOMOLOGY (^) | ||
| ORNITHOLOGY (^) | ||
| Group II: Ecology Evolution and Conservation Biology | ||
| BIOLOGY OF AFRICA and BIOLOGY OF AFRICA LAB (^) | ||
| BIOGEOGRAPHY (^) | ||
| CONSERVATION BIOLOGY (^) | ||
| FRESHWATER ECOLOGY (^) | ||
| FIRE ECOLOGY (^) | ||
| POPULATION BIOLOGY (^) | ||
| EVOLUTION (^) | ||
| MARINE BIOLOGY and FIELD MARINE BIOLOGY (^) | ||
| WETLAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT (^) | ||
| RESTORATION ECOLOGY (^) | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF SYSTEMATICS (^) | ||
| 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 (** ^) | ||
^ | ||
| 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 two of the following courses in Mathematics or Computer Science | 6 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 hour | ||
Additional Humanities Gen. Ed. from another Discipline - 3 hours | ||
Additional Nat. and Physical Science w/ Lab or without lab - 3-5 hours | ||
| Option 3: CAS comprehensive major (50+ hours) OR any second UNO major (30+ hours) | ||
| Bachelor Science Cognate Requirement | 0-15 | |
| See Advisor | ||
| ELECTIVES | ||
| Elective hours as required to reach a total of 120 hours | ||
Biology, Bachelor of Science Four Year Plan
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ENGL 1150 | ENGLISH COMPOSITION I | 3 |
| MATH 1300 | COLLEGE ALGEBRA WITH SUPPORT (or higher) | 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. | ||
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 1160 | COLLEGE RESEARCH AND INFORMATION LITERACY | 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 | |
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 | 14 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| Chemistry Supporting Course I (see catalog) | 4-5 | |
| Approved Statistics Course (see catalog) | 3 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
| 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 | 16-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| Chemistry Supporting Course II (see catalog) | 4-5 | |
| BIOL 2140 | GENETICS | 4 |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
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 | 14-15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 3020 | MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL | 3 |
| BIOL 3340 | ECOLOGY (#) | 4 |
| Chemistry Supporting Course III ( see catalog)) | 3-5 | |
| General Education Course or 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 | 13-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Chemistry Supporting Course IV (see catalog) or Elective | 3-5 | |
| Group II Course with Lab (see catalog) | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| 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 | 13-15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| Group I Course (see catalog) | 3 | |
| Group II Course with Lab (see catalog) | 4 | |
| Physics Course I + Lab (see catalog) | 5 | |
| Elective if needed to reach 120 | 3 | |
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 | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Group II Course (see catalog) | 3 | |
| Physics Course II + Lab (see catalog) or Elective | 5 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective if needed to reach 120 | 3 | |
| Elective if needed to reach 120 | 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 | 17 | |
| Total Credits | 117-123 | |
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!