Wildlife Ecology
Course Descriptions:
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