ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY

BIOL 101 | Introductory Botany (4 credit hours)
This course examines the foundation principles of biology with special emphasis on anatomy, morphology, life cycles, reproduction, evolution and diversity of plants and related organisms. Both lecture and laboratory are required for this course.
General Studies Outcome: Methods of Inquiry & Explanatory Schema - Natural Science

BIOL 102 | Introductory Zoology (4 credit hours)
This course examines the foundation principles of biology with special emphasis on anatomy, morphology, life cycles, reproduction, evolution and diversity of animals and related organisms. Both lecture and laboratory are required for this course.
General Studies Outcome: Methods of Inquiry & Explanatory Schema - Natural Science

BIOL 301 |Microbiology (4 credit hours)
An introduction to the biology of prokaryotic, eukaryotic, and viral microbes; the diseases associated with microbes; and basic microbiology lab techniques. Both lecture and laboratory are required for this course.
Prerequisites required: BIOL 101 and BIOL 102, or BIOL 210
General Studies Outcome: Methods of Inquiry & Explanatory Schema - Natural Science

BIOL 311 | Evolution and Systematic Biology (3 credit hours)
Evolution is the core theory of modern biology and all biology depends upon a robust systematic hypothesis of evolutionary relationship among organisms. This course presents the fundamental concepts of the modern Evolutionary Synthesis: adaptation, niche and population variation; microevolution; speciation and species isolation; systematic theory; phenetic and phylogenetic classification; and zoological nomenclature.
Prerequisites required: BIOL 101, BIOL 102
General Studies Outcome: Methods of Inquiry & Explanatory Schema - Natural Science

BIOL 317 | Ecology (4 credit hours)
The interactions among organisms and environment are studied in this course including major foci on ecology of the individual, population ecology, and community ecology. Both lecture and laboratory are required for this course.
Prerequisites required: BIOL 101, BIOL 102
General Studies Outcome: Methods of Inquiry & Explanatory Schema - Natural Science

BIOL 404 | Genetics (3 credit hours)
This course provides an introduction to molecular, cellular, organismal, developmental and population genetics.
Prerequisites required: BIOL 101, BIOL 102
General Studies Outcome: Methods of Inquiry & Explanatory Schema - Natural Science

BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY

BIOL 330 | Cellular Biology (3 credit hours)
Cellular Biology is an interdisciplinary class administered jointly by the Chemistry and Biology departments. The class is intended to provide the students with a detailed look at the organization and the chemistry of living cells. The course will teach students to understand and appreciate cellular structure and function through the understanding of structure in molecular terms and function in terms of chemical reactions and events.
Prerequisites required: CHEM 101, BIOL 102
General Studies Outcome: Methods of Inquiry & Explanatory Schema - Natural Science

CHEM 101 | General Chemistry I (4 credit hours)
An introduction to the fundamentals of chemistry. Such topics as atomic theory, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, solutions, and pH are covered. Both lecture and laboratory are required for this course.
General Studies Outcome: Methods of Inquiry & Explanatory Schema - Natural Science

CHEM 102 | General Chemistry II (4 credit hours)
This course is an application of the fundamentals of chemistry, including states of matter, oxidation-reduction, thermochemistry, chemical equilibrium, kinetics, nuclear chemistry, and descriptive chemistry. Both lecture and laboratory are required for this course.
Prerequisite required: CHEM 101
General Studies Outcome: Methods of Inquiry & Explanatory Schema - Natural Science

FINAL DEFENSE

BIOL 495 | Senior Competency Exam (0 credit hours)
Prerequisites required: Seniors Only

SYSTEMS BIOLOGY

ESCI 230 | Limnology (4 credit hours)
Limnology is the study of the physical and biological properties of inland waters. Students will examine the origins, ecology, and physical properties of inland waters including the effects of climate, land use, and pollution. Students will study the biological and physical properties of local reams and lakes and learn to assess the general health and water quality of inland streams and watersheds. Both lecture and laboratory are required for this course.
General Studies Outcome: Methods of Inquiry & Explanatory Schema - Natural Science

WILDLIFE ECOLOGY

BIOL 355 |Wildlife Techniques (3 credit hours)
This is a laboratory and field-based examination of contemporary techniques for monitoring, sampling, and evaluating the health, size, and persistence of wildlife populations and overall community and ecosystem health.
General Studies Outcome: Methods of Inquiry & Explanatory Schema - Natural Science

BIOL 385 | Disease and Epidemiology (3 credit hours)
This course examines historical and contemporary topics relevant to understanding how disease is manifested at multiple levels of organization (organismal, population, and ecosystem). Case studies from the primary and secondary literature will elucidate topics including (but not limited to): intra-host effects (pathogenesis, resistance, immunity); animal-human interactions (zoonoses; emerging diseases); disease spread and control (epidemiological models, treatment regimens, control measures); environmental science and disease (disease and biodiversity, ecosystem degradation, and in wildlife and agricultural systems); and evolution of host-pathogen relationships. Examples will be drawn from viral, bacterial, protozoological, helminthological, and non-transmissible diseases.
Prerequisites required: BIOL 101, BIOL 102
General Studies Outcome: Methods of Inquiry & Explanatory Schema - Natural Science

INVERTEBRATE BIOLOGY 

Choose one (1) of the following course options

BIOL 365 | Entomology: the Natural History of Great Plains Insects (4 credit hours)
Insects are numerically, taxonomically, and volumetrically the dominant life forms on Earth. This course provides an introduction to insect diversity, evolution, ecology, taxonomy, development, and physiology through a study of the natural history of common Great Plains insects. Both lecture and laboratory are required for this course.
Prerequisite required: BIOL 102
General Studies Outcome: Methods of Inquiry & Explanatory Schema - Natural Science

OR

BIOL 370 | Natural History of Invertebrates (4 credit hours)
This course examines invertebrate community relationships, diversity, and structure. The course stresses field-based observation of community components, natural history, and invertebrate interactions in 4 representative invertebrate communities. Emphasis is placed on representatives in the Great Plains and Nebraska.
Prerequisites required: BIOL 101, BIOL 102
General Studies Outcome: Methods of Inquiry & Explanatory Schema - Natural Science

OR

BIOL 380 | Invertebrate Zoology (4 credit hours)
This course is a comprehensive survey of the structure, classification, ecology and evolutionary relationships of invertebrate animals. Primary focus is placed on the comparative anatomy and evolution of major invertebrate phyla. Both lecture and laboratory are required for this course.
Prerequisites required: BIOL 101, BIOL 102
General Studies Outcome: Methods of Inquiry & Explanatory Schema - Natural Science

OR

BIOL 398 | Human Parasitology (4 credit hours)
The morphology, ecology, epidemiology, and evolution of parasites are studied in this laboratory course. Emphasis is placed on the diagnosis, course of infection, and clinical pathology of important human internal parasites. Both lecture and laboratory are required for this course.
General Studies Outcome: Methods of Inquiry & Explanatory Schema - Natural Science

VERTEBRATE BIOLOGY

BIOL 420 | Comparative Anatomy and Evolution of the Vertebrates (4 credit hours)
The evolutionary rise and diversification of vertebrates is studied through a detailed analysis of comparative anatomical design among major vertebrate taxa in lecture and the use of comparative anatomical dissection technique in laboratory. Both lecture and laboratory are required for this course.
Prerequisites required: BIOL 101, BIOL 102
General Studies Outcome: Methods of Inquiry & Explanatory Schema - Natural Science

BIOL 426 | Vertebrate Diversity (4 credit hours)
This course examines the biodiversity, natural history, physiological, and evolutionary relationships among classes of vertebrate animals. Students will compare and contrast patterns and processes in these groups, with an emphasis on the local and regional fauna. Both lecture and laboratory are required for this course.
Prerequisites required: BIOL 101, BIOL 102
General Studies Outcome: Methods of Inquiry & Explanatory Schema - Natural Science

CAPSTONE/PRACTICUM

Choose one (1) of the following course options

BIOL 414 | Internship in Wildlife Management (1 credit hours)
This program allows wildlife students to gain relevant work experience and establish professional relationships in their field of speciality. Students may enroll for 1-12 hours of graded credit. A minimum of forty hours of work experience will be required for every hour of credit per semester. The student will complete necessary paperwork with employer and Wildlife Internship Coordinator. The student's work will be supervised and evaluated by the Wildlife Internship Coordinator in cooperation with the employer. This is a capstone course for the Wildlife Ecology option and includes a student senior competency defense. Arranged.
General Studies Outcome: Methods of Inquiry & Explanatory Schema - Natural Science

OR

BIOL 490 | Undergraduate Research Thesis (3 credit hours)
Type I and Type II thesis options are available and are completed in close cooperation with a faculty mentor. Type I Option: the student will conceive, design and conduct an independent experimental research project in natural science. The resulting data and conclusions will be reported in the form of a platform presentation to a professional society and/or a technical manuscript submitted for review/publication in a professional scientific journal. Type II Option: the student will conceive, design and conduct an independent review of the technical literature on a specific topic in natural science. The resulting literature review and synthesis will be reported in the form of a platform presentation to a professional society and/or a technical manuscript submitted for review/publication in a professional scientific journal. This is a capstone course for the Biological, Wildlife or Biochemical Science options and includes a student senior competency defense. Arranged.
General Studies Outcome: Methods of Inquiry & Explanatory Schema - Natural Science