“The capacity to blunder slightly is the real marvel of DNA. Without this, we would still be anaerobic bacteria and there would be no music.” — Lewis Thomas

Biology Subject Endorsement for Secondary Education Students

Biology majors intending to become secondary level teachers should consult carefully with advisors in both the Biology and Education Departments. The biology course requirements for the degree are the same as those for all biology majors, but particular courses are recommended to meet the requirements of the State Department of Education. In addition, support course requirements are different for secondary education students than for other biology majors.

Requirements

Biology Courses

Introductory Biology courses (8 credit hours)

  • BIO 201 & 2051 - General Biology: Organismal & Population (lecture & laboratory)
  • BIO 202 & 2062 - General Biology: Molecular & Cellular (lecture & laboratory)

1 BIO 201 (lecture) and 205 (laboratory) replace the older course, BIO 212 (lecture + laboratory), which also applies toward the major.
2 BIO 202 (lecture) and 206 (laboratory) replace the older course, BIO 211 (lecture + laboratory), which also applies toward the major.

Upper-division Biology courses (25 credit hours)

A minimum of 25 hours of coursework at the 300-level or greater must be completed, and must include the following:

  • At least seven upper-division lecture courses. These must include:
    • At least four lectures at the 300 and/or 400 level, and
    • At least two lectures at the 500 level.

    All Biology courses of three or more credits, except BIO 297, 397, 493, 495 and 497, are lecture courses.

    Students may apply one course from a select group of offerings by other departments towards this requirement. Please check the list of currently approved courses. Students may petition to have an additional course considered, but such petitions are not routinely granted.

  • At least one course from each of the following three areas. These courses apply towards the seven lecture-course requirement:
    • Molecular/Cellular: BIO 317, 351, 362, 417, 420, 432, 455, 517, 532, 551, 562, 567
    • Organismal: BIO 333, 335, 341, 449, 467, 549, 561, 562, 571
    • Population/Ecology/Evolution: BIO 385, 390, 435, 440, 481, 483, 485, 523, 539, 581
  • At least four laboratory courses. The following courses apply towards this requirment:
    • BIO 333, 335, 341, 351, 385, 401, 420, 435, 440, 467, 481, 561, and 581 are lecture + laboratory courses that also apply towards the lecture requirements.
    • BIO 318, 419, 450, 484, 486, 487, 563, and 572 are laboratory-only courses.

    In addition, one of the following may be used as the equivalent of a laboratory course:

    • BIO 490 may be counted as one laboratory course if taken twice.
    • BIO 497 may be counted as one laboratory course if all of the following conditions are met:
      1. At least six credits of 497 are taken over multiple semesters
      2. The research work is presented by the student at a regional or national scientific meeting (for example, at the Nebraska Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting)
      3. The research work is also presented by the student as a poster at the Department of Biology Research Colloquium, which takes place each April

The course plan listed below meet the general theme of the required areas according to the State Department of Education standards. Other alternatives are available and may be selected under the advisement of the Biology Department.

BIO 201 & BIO 205 General Biology: Organismal & Population 4
BIO 202 & BIO 206 General Biology: Molecular & Cellular 4 credits

BIO 317

BIO 318

Genetics

Genetics Laboratory

4
BIO 333 Vertebrate Comparative Anatomy 4

BIO 449

BIO 450

Animal Physiology

Animal Physiology Laboratory

4

BIO 481

BIO 485

BIO 486

Terrestrial Ecology OR

Marine and Freshwater Ecology and

Freshwater Ecology Laboratory

4
BIO 571 Animal Behavior 3
BIO 5XX

Elective (500-level)

Recommended:

  • BIO 581 Evolution (4)
  • BMS 521 Biochemistry (4)
3-4
BIO 351 Microbiology 4
Total 34 credits

Specified Support Courses

The following support courses are required:

CHM 203 & 204 General Chemistry I Lecture & Lab 4 credits
CHM 205 & 206 General Chemistry II Lecture & Lab 4
An additional year of chemistry:

CHM 315 and

CHM 416

or

CHM 321 & 322 and

CHM 323 & 324

Quantitative Analysis

Instrumental Analysis

 

Organic Chemistry I Lecture & Lab

Organic Chemistry II Lecture & Lab

8
PHY 187 Introduction to Physics 3

ATS/EVS 113 & 114

or

ATS/EVS 443

or

NSC/PHY 107 & 108

Intro. to Atmospheric Sci. Lecture & Lab

 

Environmental Geology

 

Introductory Astronomy Lecture & Lab

4
MTH 245 Calculus I 4
  Total 27 credits

Professional Education Courses

Students take professional education courses totaling 34-36 credit hours.