Program Overview

University Programs

The university offers various programs, including majors, minors, and degrees. The following sections provide an overview of the available programs.

Majors

• Biology (B.A.)
• Biology (B.S.)

Departments/Programs

• Biology

Course Descriptions

BIO 3640 Animal Behavior

The study of animal behavior from both the ethological and behavioral ecological perspectives. Broad topic areas include behavioral mechanisms, genetics of behavior, behavioral evolution, and behavioral adaptation. Concurrent enrollment in BIO 3650 Laboratory in Animal Behavior is encouraged. Three lectures per week. Prerequisite(s): BIO 1400FYW Introduction to Biological Inquiry, BIO 2200 Genetics and Cell Biology, and BIO 2300 Ecology and Evolution and a minimum of sophomore standing.
(Normally offered alternate fall semesters.)

BIO 3650 Laboratory in Animal Behavior

An introduction to hands-on behavioral experiments and the methodology for studying animal behavior in the field and in the laboratory. One 3-hour lab per week. Corequisite(s): BIO 3640 Animal Behavior.
(Normally offered alternate fall semesters.)

BIO 1400FYW Introduction to Biological Inquiry

This course is designed for biology majors and replaces traditional introductory biology courses. The overarching goal is to introduce students to collegiate biology by teaching them how to carry out scientific research. Across all sections of this course, students will pose scientific questions, design and critique experiments, run those experiments, evaluate experimental outcomes, and communicate those outcomes. Within this framework of investigative inquiry, students will learn introductory content that will not only be meaningful for the current course, but will allow for a smoother transition to their sophomore year. Content areas include ecology, genetics, evolution, biodiversity, reproduction, development, and cellular/molecular mechanisms. Course fluidly transitions between lecture and lab with an equivalency to 3 lecture hours and 3 laboratory hours per week. No P/F. Pre or corequisite(s): CHEM 1110 Chemical Principles I ; or prerequisite of CHEM 1100 Prep Chemistry.
(Multiple sections normally offered each semester.)

BIO 2200 Genetics and Cell Biology

This course emphasizes molecular mechanisms associated with intracellular structures, metabolism, genetic information transfer, heredity, and evolution in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Three lectures per week with one three-hour lab per week. Prerequisite(s): BIO 1400FYW Introduction to Biological Inquiry, CHEM 1110 Chemical Principles I , CHEM 2100 Organic Chemistry I .
(Normally offered each semester.)

BIO 2300 Ecology and Evolution

An introduction to the interaction of life with the environment at the molecular, organismal through ecosystem levels, highlighting the major factors influencing evolutionary change. Topics include genetic and phenotypic variation, natural selection, adaptation, speciation, symbiosis and populations dynamics especially in light of human interference, and ecosystem structure and function. Where possible, principles of evolution and ecology will be integrated. Three lectures per week. One 3-hour lab per week, including field, laboratory and greenhouse work. Prerequisite(s): BIO 1400FYW Introduction to Biological Inquiry, CHEM 1110 Chemical Principles I and CHEM 2100 Organic Chemistry I .
(Normally offered each semester.)

Archway Curriculum

• First-Year Curriculum: First-Year Writing
• Foundational Literacies: Scientific Investigations: Natural Science Laboratory
• Integrative Core: Humans in the Natural Environment Thread

Academic Policies and Procedures

The online version of the Nebraska Wesleyan University catalog supersedes any printed catalog or PDF version as the official catalog of NWU. NWU reserves the right to make changes in the regulations and offerings announced in this official online version, as circumstances require. It is expected that the only changes will be the correction of errors and the inclusion of new courses and programs approved during the academic year.