Nebraska Wesleyan University
Biology Department
Majors
- Biology (BS and BA)
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (in conjunction with the Chemistry Department)
- Biopsychology (in conjunction with the Psychology Department)
Minors
- Biology
Pre-Professional Programs
- Clinical Perfusion Education
- Dentistry
- Medicine
- Optometry
- Pharmacy
- Physical Therapy
- Physician Assistant
- Veterinary Medicine
Opportunities
Student research
Wesleyan not only supports undergraduate research in biology. We require it.
- Work in a laboratory or field setting with a seasoned Ph.D
- Write a scientific paper on your research
- Give a presentation at a scientific meeting
International field study courses
- Tropical Biology of Costa Rica
Costa Rica - Applied Marine Biology
Island of Roatan, Honduras - Tropical Biology of Belize
Belize
Grants
- Only program in Nebraska to receive Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) grants totaling over $3 million
- Only program in Nebraska with $1.2 million endowment from the Kresge Foundation
- Only Nebraska private college with $1.4 million 8-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (BRIN)
Careers and Outcomes
- Non-health-related fields:
- ecology
- animal behavior
- evolutionary biology
- immunology
- reproductive biology
- parasitology
- botany
- plant pathology
- genetics
- systematics
- conservation biology
- physiology
- molecular biology
- biotechnology
- Health fields:
- Chiropractic medicine
- Clinical perfusion
- Dentistry
- Medicine
- Optometry
- Osteopathic medicine
- Pharmacy
- Physician assistant
- Physical therapy
- Podiatric medicine
- Veterinary medicine
- Research
- Higher education
A Wesleyan degree in biology opens doors.
- Biology majors average 75% acceptance into pre-professional schools.
- Our alumni work around the world at places like:
- Peace Corps in Africa
- Creighton Medical School
- Dole Pineapple in Kekaha, Hawaii
Department-related Activities
- Biological honorary, Beta Beta Beta
Fast Facts
- Carolyn keeps a "never-ending" candy bowl in the main biology office
- We have two human cadavers for our anatomy classes
- Students and faculty roast each other at a year-end BioFollies event
Sample First-year Class Schedule
Biology Major (B.A.)
| Fall Semester | ||
| BIO 50: Biology of Plants or BIO 60: Biology of Animals |
4 | hrs |
| CHEM 51: Chemical Principles | 3 | hrs |
| CHEM 51L: Chemical Principles Lab | 1 | hrs |
| IDS 1: Liberal Arts Seminar | 3 | hrs |
| COMM 1: Fundamentals of Speech | 3 | hrs |
| 14 | hrs | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIO 50: Biology of Plants or BIO 60: Biology of Animals |
4 | hrs |
| CHEM 120: Organic Chemistry I | 3 | hrs |
| CHEM 120L: Organic Chemistry Lab | 1 | hrs |
| MATH 60 : Calculus for Management, Biological, and Social Sciences or Math 65 Calculus for Biologists or MATH 105: Calculus I |
4-5 | hrs |
| ENG 1: English Language and Writing | 3 | hrs |
| 15-16 | hrs |
Biology Major (B.S.)
| Fall Semester | ||
| BIO 50: Biology of Plants or BIO 60: Biology of Animals |
4 | hrs |
| CHEM 51: Chemical Principles | 3 | hrs |
| CHEM 51L: Chemical Principles Lab | 1 | hrs |
| IDS 1: Liberal Arts Seminar | 3 | hrs |
| ENG 1: English Language and Writing | 3 | hrs |
| 14 | hrs | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIO 50: Biology of Plants or BIO 60: Biology of Animals |
4 | hrs |
| CHEM 120: Organic Chemistry I | 3 | hrs |
| CHEM 120L: Organic Chemistry Lab | 1 | hrs |
| COMM 1: Fundamentals of Speech | 3 | hrs |
| General Education or Supporting Requirements |
3-4 | hrs |
| 14-15 | hrs |
* The above schedules are samples. There are other ways to attain the same objectives. For more information regarding coursework and requirements, contact the department or refer to the course catalog.
Contacts
Biology Department Chair
Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Angela McKinney-Williams
402.465.2259
800.541.3818 ext. 2259
amckinne@nebrwesleyan.edu