Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources Biochemistry (CASNR)

Description

The Department of Biochemistry offers studies leading to either a bachelor of science (BS) or to a combined bachelors and masters degree (BS and MS) in biochemistry. There are three options available for the undergraduate program: Biochemical Analysis, Cellular Biochemistry, and Computational and Systems Biochemistry. The training offered through these options is suitable for a professional career in biochemistry, which may lead to employment in various industries involved in the manufacture or processing of chemicals, foods, feeds, and pharmaceuticals or federal agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Public Health Service, and Environmental Protection Agency. All options are suitable as preparation for graduate studies leading to academic careers in biochemistry and professional careers in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and health-related fields. The Computational and Systems Biochemistry Option aims at preparing students to address questions using quantitative and multidisciplinary approaches in fields such as health, agriculture, and biotechnology. The Department is accredited by the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), meaning seniors who sit for the ASBMB Exam are recognized as earning a certified degree if they receive a qualifying score.

The combined bachelors and masters degree in biochemistry is specially tailored for highly-motivated undergraduate students with superior ability who seek additional training to further their career goals. Students can pursue a non-thesis or thesis-based option. This research thesis-based program is designed to provide opportunities for students to carry out and interpret contemporary research.

Graduate Work. Advanced degrees of master of science and doctor of philosophy are available. For details, consult the Graduate Studies Catalog.

Laboratory Fee and Deposit. Students who enroll in laboratory courses in the Department of Biochemistry may be required to pay a small non-refundable cash fee to defray the cost of materials consumed in the course and a deposit to cover the cost of replacing or repairing equipment the student may damage in the laboratory.
 

College Requirements

College Admission

Requirements for admission into the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) are consistent with general University admission requirements (one unit equals one high school year): 4 units of English, 4 units of mathematics, 3 units of natural sciences, 3 units of social sciences, and 2 units of world language. Students must also meet performance requirements: a 3.0 cumulative high school grade point average OR an ACT composite of 20 or higher, writing portion not required OR a score of 1040 or higher on the SAT Critical Reading and Math sections OR rank in the top one-half of graduating class; transfer students must have a 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) cumulative grade point average and 2.0 on the most recent term of attendance.

Admission Deficiencies/Removal of Deficiencies

Students who are admitted to CASNR with core course deficiencies must remove these deficiencies within the first 30 credit hours at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, or within the first calendar year at Nebraska, whichever takes longer. College-level coursework taken to remove deficiencies may be used to meet degree requirements in CASNR.

Deficiencies in the required entrance subjects can be removed by the completion of specified courses in the University or by correspondence.

The Office of Admissions, Alexander Building (south entrance), City Campus, provides information to new students on how deficiencies can be removed.

College Degree Requirements

Curriculum Requirements

The curriculum requirements of the College consist of three areas: ACE (Achievement-Centered Education), College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Core, and Degree Program requirements and electives. All three areas of the College Curriculum Requirements are incorporated within the description of the Major/Degree Program sections of the catalog. The individual major/degree program listings of classes ensure that a student will meet the minimum curriculum requirements of the College.

World Languages/Language Requirement

Two units of a world language are required. This requirement is usually met with two years of high school language.

Experiential Learning

All undergraduates in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources must take an Experiential Learning (EL) designated course. This may include 0-credit courses designed to document co-curricular activities recognized as Experiential Learning.

Minimum Hours Required for Graduation

The College grants the bachelors degree in programs associated with agricultural sciences, natural resources, and related programs. Students working toward a degree must earn at least 120 semester hours of credit. A minimum cumulative grade point average of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) must be maintained throughout the course of studies and is required for graduation. Some degree programs have a higher cumulative grade point average required for graduation. Please check the degree program on its graduation cumulative grade point average.

Grade Rules

Removal of C-, D, and F Grades

Only the most recent letter grade received in a given course will be used in computing a student’s cumulative grade point average if the student has completed the course more than once and previously received a grade or grades below C in that course.

The previous grade (or grades) will not be used in the computation of the cumulative grade point average, but it will remain a part of the academic record and will appear on any transcript.

A student can remove from their cumulative average a course grade of C-, D+, D, D-, or F if the student repeats the same course at the University of Nebraska and receives a grade other than P (pass), I (incomplete), N (no pass), W (withdrew), or NR (no report). If a course is no longer being offered, it is not eligible for the revised grade point average computation process.

For complete procedures and regulations, see the Office of the University Registrar website at http://www.unl.edu/regrec/course-repeats.

Pass/No Pass

Students in CASNR may take any course offered on a Pass/No Pass basis within the 24-hour limitation established by the Faculty Senate. However, a department may specify that the Pass/No Pass status of its courses be limited to non-majors or may choose to offer some courses for letter grades only.

GPA Requirements

A minimum cumulative grade point average of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) must be maintained throughout the course of studies and is required for graduation. Some degree programs have a higher cumulative grade point average required for graduation. Please check the degree program on its graduation cumulative grade point average.

Transfer Credit Rules

To be considered for admission a transfer student, Nebraska resident or nonresident, must have an accumulated average of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) and a minimum C average in the last semester of attendance at another college. Transfer students who have completed less than 12 credit hours of college study must submit either ACT or SAT scores.

Ordinarily, credits earned at an accredited college are accepted by the University. The College, however, will evaluate all hours submitted on an application for transfer and reserves the right to accept or reject any of them. Sixty (60) is the maximum number of hours the University will accept on transfer from a two-year college. Ninety (90) is the maximum number of hours the University will accept from a four-year college. Transfer credit in the degree program must be approved by the degree program advisor on a Request for Substitution Form to meet specific course requirements, group requirements, or course level requirements in the major. At least 9 hours in the major field, including the capstone course, must be completed at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln regardless of the number of hours transferred.

The College will accept no more than 10 semester hours of C-, D+, D, and D- grades from other schools. The C-, D+, D, and D- grades can only be applied to free electives. This policy does not apply to the transfer of grades from UNO or UNK to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Joint Academic Transfer Programs

The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources has agreements with many institutions to support joint academic programs. The transfer programs include dual degree programs and cooperative degree programs. Dual degree programs offer students the opportunity to receive a degree from a participating institution and also to complete the requirements for a bachelor of science degree in CASNR. Cooperative programs result in a single degree from either the University of Nebraska–Lincoln or the cooperating institution.

Dual Degree Programs

A to B Programs

The A to B Program, a joint academic program offered by the CASNR and participating community colleges, allows students to complete the first two years of a degree program at the participating community college and continue their education and study in a degree program leading toward a bachelor of science degree.

The A to B Program provides a basic knowledge plus specialized coursework. Students transfer into CASNR with junior standing.

Depending on the community college, students enrolled in the A to B Program may complete the requirements for an associate of science at the community college, transfer to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and work toward a bachelor of science degree.
 

Participating community colleges include:

• Central Community College
• Metropolitan Community College
• Mid-Plains Community College
• Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
• Nebraska Indian Community College
• Northeast Community College
• Southeast Community College
• Western Nebraska Community College

3+2 Programs

Two specialized degree programs in animal science and veterinary science are offered jointly with an accredited college or school of veterinary medicine. These two programs permit CASNR animal science or veterinary science students to receive a bachelor of science degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with a degree in animal science or veterinary science after successfully completing two years of the professional curriculum in veterinary medicine at an accredited veterinary school. Students who successfully complete the 3+2 Program, must provide transcripts and complete the Application for Degree form via MyRED. Students without MyRED access may apply for graduation in person at Husker Hub in the Canfield Administration Building, or by mail. Students should discuss these degree programs with their academic advisor.

Cooperative Degree Programs

Academic credit from the University and a cooperating institution are applied towards a four-year degree from either the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (University degree-granting program) or the cooperating institution (non-University degree-granting program). All have approved programs of study.

UNL Degree-Granting Programs

A University of Nebraska–Lincoln degree-granting program is designed to provide students the opportunity to complete a two-year program of study at one of the four-year institutions listed below, transfer to CASNR, and complete the requirements for a bachelor of science degree.
 

Chadron State College. Chadron State College offers a 2+2 program leading to a grassland ecology and management degree program and a transfer program leading to a bachelor of science in agricultural education in the teaching option.

Wayne State College. Wayne State College offers a 3+1 program leading to a bachelor of science in plant biology in the ecology and management option and a 3+1 program leading to a bachelor of science in Applied Science.

University of Nebraska at Kearney. Transfer programs are available for students pursuing degree programs leading to a bachelor of science degree.

University of Nebraska at Omaha. Transfer programs are available for students pursuing degree programs leading to a bachelor of science degree.

Non University of Nebraska–Lincoln Degree-Granting Programs

CASNR cooperates with other institutions to provide coursework that is applied towards a degree at the cooperating institution. Pre-professional programs offered by CASNR allow students to complete the first two or three years of a degree program at the University prior to transferring and completing a degree at the cooperating institution.
 

Chadron State College–Range Science. The 3+1 Program in range science allows Chadron State College students to pursue a range science degree through Chadron State College. Students complete three years of coursework at Chadron State College and one year of specialized range science coursework (32 credit hours) at CASNR.

Dordt College (Iowa)–Agricultural Education: Teaching Option. This program allows students to pursue an Agricultural Education Teaching Option degree leading toward a bachelor of science in agricultural education. Students at Dordt College will complete 90 credit hours in the Agricultural Education: Teaching Option Transfer Program.

Residency

Students must complete at least 30 of the total hours for their degree using University of Nebraska–Lincoln credits. At least 18 of the 30 credit hours must be in courses offered through CASNR¹ (>299) including the appropriate ACE 10 degree requirement or an approved ACE 10 substitution offered through another Nebraska college and excluding independent study regardless of the number of hours transferred. Credit earned during education abroad may be used toward the residency requirement if students register through the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and participate in prior-approved education abroad programs. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln open enrollment and summer independent study courses count toward residence.

¹

Includes courses taught by CASNR faculty through interdisciplinary prefixes (e.g., LIFE, MBIO, ENVR, SCIL, EAEP, HRTM, ENSC) and CASNR crosslisted courses taught by non-CASNR faculty.

Online and Distance Education

There are many opportunities to earn college credit online through the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Some of these credits may be applicable not only as elective credits but also toward the fulfillment of the College’s education requirements. Credits earned online may count toward residency. However, certain offerings may not be counted toward scholarship requirements or academic recognition criteria.

For further information, contact:

Office of Online and Distance Education
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
305 Brace Labs
Lincoln, NE 68588-0109
402-472-4681
http://online.unl.edu/

Independent Study Rules

Students wishing to take part in independent studies must obtain permission; complete and sign a contract form; and furnish copies of the contract to the instructor, advisor, departmental office, and the Dean’s Office. The contract should be completed before registration. Forms are available in 103 Agricultural Hall or online at the CASNR website.

Independent study projects include research, literature review or extension of coursework under the supervision and evaluation of a departmental faculty member.

Students may only count 12 hours of independent study toward their degrees and no more than 6 hours can be counted during their last 36 hours earned, excluding senior thesis, internships, and courses taught under an independent study number.

Other College Degree Requirements

Capstone Course Requirement

A capstone course is required for each CASNR degree program. A capstone course is defined as a course in which students are required to integrate diverse bodies of knowledge to solve a problem or formulate a policy of societal importance.

ACE Requirements

All students must fulfill the Achievement Centered Education (ACE) requirements. Information about the ACE program may be viewed at ace.unl.edu.

The minimum requirements of CASNR reflect the common core of courses that apply to students pursuing degrees in the college. Students should work with an advisor to satisfy ACE outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 10 with the college requirements.

Catalog Rule

Students must fulfill the requirements stated in the catalog for the academic year in which they are first admitted to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln or when they were first admitted to a Joint Academic Transfer Program. Students transferring from a community college, but without admission to a Joint Academic Transfer Program, may be eligible to fulfill the requirements as stated in the catalog for an academic year in which they were enrolled at the community college prior to attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This decision should be made in consultation with academic advisors, provided the student a) was enrolled in a community college during the catalog year they are utilizing, b) maintained continuous enrollment at the previous institution for 1 academic year or more, and c) continued enrollment at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln within 1 calendar year from their last term at the previous institution. In consultation with advisors, a student may choose to follow a subsequent catalog for any academic year in which they are admitted to and enrolled as a degree-seeking student at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Students must complete all degree requirements from a single catalog year. The catalog which a student follows for degree requirements may not be more than 10 years old at the time of graduation.

Major Requirements

Biochemistry Core Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Biochemistry Core
BIOC 101	Foundational Concepts & Career Opportunities in Biochemistry	1
BIOC 205	Scientific Analysis and Technical Writing	2
BIOC 431 / BIOS 431 / CHEM 431	Biochemistry I: Structure and Metabolism	3
BIOC 432 / BIOS 432 / CHEM 432	Biochemistry II: Metabolism and Biological Information	3
BIOC 433 / BIOS 433 / CHEM 433	Biochemistry Laboratory	2
BIOC 435	Advanced Topics in Biochemistry (ACE 10)	3
Credit Hours Subtotal:		14
College Integrative Course and (ACE 8)
SCIL 101	Science and Decision-Making for a Complex World	3
Credit Hours Subtotal:		3
Written Communication (ACE 1)
Select one of the following:		3
ENGL 150	Writing and Inquiry
ENGL 151	Writing for Change
ENGL 254	Writing and Communities
JGEN 120	Basic Business Communication
JGEN 200	Technical Communication I
JGEN 300	Technical Communication II
Credit Hours Subtotal:		3
Communication and Interpersonal Skills (ACE 2)
Select one of the following:		3
ALEC 102	Interpersonal Skills for Leadership
COMM 101	Communication in the 21st Century
COMM 209	Public Speaking
COMM 210	Communicating in Small Groups
COMM 215	Visual Communication
COMM 283	Interpersonal Communication
COMM 286	Business and Professional Communication
JGEN 300	Technical Communication II
MRKT 257	Sales Communication
NRES 301	Environmental Communication Skills
TMFD 121	Visual Communication with Animation
Credit Hours Subtotal:		3
Mathematics and Statistics (ACE 3)
MATH 106	Calculus I	5
MATH 107	Calculus II	4
Credit Hours Subtotal:		9
Natural Sciences (ACE 4)
LIFE 120 & LIFE 120L	Fundamentals of Biology I and Fundamentals of Biology I laboratory (ACE 4)	4
LIFE 121 & LIFE 121L	Fundamentals of Biology II and Fundamentals of Biology II Laboratory	4
BIOS 206	General Genetics	4
Credit Hours Subtotal:		12
Economics, Humanities, and Social Sciences
ACE 6 Select one of the following:		3
AECN 141	Introduction to the Economics of Agriculture	3
ECON 200	Economic Essentials and Issues	3
ECON 211	Principles of Macroeconomics	3
ECON 212	Principles of Microeconomics	3
Select one course each from ACE outcomes 5, 7, 8 and 9		12
Credit Hours Subtotal:		27
Total Credit Hours		71

Biochemical Analysis Option

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Biochemical Analysis Option Courses
BIOS 312	Microbiology	3
BIOS 314	Microbiology Laboratory	1
Select one sequence from the following:		7-8
CHEM 109A & CHEM 109L	General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory
or CHEM 113A & CHEM 113L	Fundamental Chemistry I and Fundamental Chemistry I Laboratory
CHEM 110A & CHEM 110L	General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory
or CHEM 114	Fundamental Chemistry II
CHEM 221A & CHEM 221L	Elementary Quantitative Analysis and Elementary Quantitative Analysis Laboratory	5
CHEM 261 & CHEM 263	Mechanistic Organic Chemistry I and Mechanistic Organic Chemistry I Laboratory	5
CHEM 262 & CHEM 264	Mechanistic Organic Chemistry II and Mechanistic Organic Chemistry II Laboratory	5
PHYS 211 & PHYS 221	General Physics I and General Physics Laboratory I 2	5
PHYS 212 & PHYS 222	General Physics II and General Physics Laboratory II	5
Select one of the following:		3-4
BIOC 440	Structural Biology and Biophysical Chemistry
CHEM 471	Physical Chemistry
CHEM 481	Physical Chemistry I
Credit Hours Subtotal:		40-41
Electives
Select 21-22 hours of electives		21-22
Credit Hours Subtotal:		21
Total Credit Hours		61-62

Cellular Biochemistry Option

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Cellular Biochemistry Option Courses
BIOS 312	Microbiology	3
BIOS 314	Microbiology Laboratory	1
BIOC 440	Structural Biology and Biophysical Chemistry	3
Select one sequence from the following:		7-8
CHEM 109A & CHEM 109L	General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory
or CHEM 113A & CHEM 113L	Fundamental Chemistry I and Fundamental Chemistry I Laboratory
CHEM 110A & CHEM 110L	General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory
or CHEM 114	Fundamental Chemistry II
Select one sequence from the following:		4-5
CHEM 251 & CHEM 253	Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
CHEM 261 & CHEM 263	Mechanistic Organic Chemistry I and Mechanistic Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
Select one sequence from the following:		4-5
CHEM 252 & CHEM 254	Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
CHEM 262 & CHEM 264	Mechanistic Organic Chemistry II and Mechanistic Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
Select one sequence from the following:		10
PHYS 141 & PHYS 142	Physics for Life Sciences I and Physics for Life Sciences II
PHYS 211 & PHYS 212 & PHYS 221 & PHYS 222	General Physics I and General Physics II and General Physics Laboratory I and General Physics Laboratory II
Select one from the following:		2-4
BIOS 205	Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory
BIOS 213 & BIOS 213L	Human Physiology and Human Physiology Laboratory
BIOS 427	Practical Bioinformatics Laboratory
BIOS 478	Plant Anatomy
PLAS 325	Introductory Plant Physiology
PLAS 429	Plant Biotechnology Applications
Select one from the following:		3
BIOS 302	Cell Biology
BIOS 402	Cancer Biology
BIOC 434	Plant Biochemistry
BIOS 442	Endocrinology
BIOS 443	Immunology
Credit Hours Subtotal:		40
Electives
Select 21-22 hours of electives		21-22
Credit Hours Subtotal:		21
Total Credit Hours		61

Computational and Systems Biochemistry Option

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Computational and Systems Biochemistry Option Courses
Select one sequence from the following: 1		7-8
CHEM 109A & CHEM 109L	General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory
or CHEM 113A & CHEM 113L	Fundamental Chemistry I and Fundamental Chemistry I Laboratory
CHEM 110A & CHEM 110L	General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory
or CHEM 114	Fundamental Chemistry II
Select one sequence from the following:		4-5
CHEM 251 & CHEM 253	Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
CHEM 261 & CHEM 263	Mechanistic Organic Chemistry I and Mechanistic Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
Select one sequence from the following:		4-5
CHEM 252 & CHEM 254	Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
CHEM 262 & CHEM 264	Mechanistic Organic Chemistry II and Mechanistic Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
Select one sequence from the following:		10
PHYS 141 & PHYS 142	Physics for Life Sciences I and Physics for Life Sciences II
PHYS 211 & PHYS 212 & PHYS 221 & PHYS 222	General Physics I and General Physics II and General Physics Laboratory I and General Physics Laboratory II 2
Credit Hours Subtotal:		26
Computer Science & Systems Biochemistry Requirements
BIOC 437 / BIOS 437	Research Techniques in Biochemistry	4
BIOS 337	Applications of Bioinformatics	4
CSCE 155T	Computer Science I: Informatics Focus	3
CSCE 311	Data Structures and Algorithms for Informatics	3
CSCE 361	Software Engineering	3
CSCE 413	Database Systems	3
STAT 380	Statistics and Applications	3
Credit Hours Subtotal:		23
Computational Internship - needs 2 terms
BIOC 95	Biochemistry Internship	0
Credit Hours Subtotal:		0
Computational Biology Bioinformatic Electives
Select 12 hours from the following:		12
ASCI 432	Genome Analysis
BIOS 213	Human Physiology
BIOS 213L	Human Physiology Laboratory
BIOS 426	Systems Biology
BIOS 427	Practical Bioinformatics Laboratory
BIOS 429	Phylogenetic Biology
BIOS 456 / NRES 456	Mathematical Models in Biology
BIOS 477	Bioinformatics and Molecular Evolution
CSCE 423	Design and Analysis of Algorithms
CSCE 458	Molecular and Nanoscale Communication
CSCE 459	Genetically Engineered Systems
CSCE 471	Computational Methods in Bioinformatics
CSCE 492	Special Topics in Computer Science
ECEN 453	Computational and Systems Biology
MATH 439	Mathematical Biology
Credit Hours Subtotal:		12
Total Credit Hours		61

¹

AP and IB Credit. Students who earned AP or IB credit for general chemistry in high school are still required to complete a general chemistry sequence at an accredited post-secondary institution. These students are encouraged, but not required, to take CHEM 113A/CHEM 113L and CHEM 114 rather than CHEM 109A/CHEM 109L and CHEM 110A/CHEM 110L. High school dual enrollment credit is not including in this policy.

²

PHYS 211: Students are expected to have one year of High School Physics. Those who do not, are recommended to take PHYS 151 before PHYS 211.

Additional Major Requirements

Grade Rules

C- and D Grades

No C- or D grades can be applied toward the biochemistry minor or biochemistry degree requirements in any of the courses listed under the following sections of Specific Major Requirements: Biochemistry Core, Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, and Major Options.

Pass/No Pass

Students in biochemistry must take the courses listed under Specific Major Requirements as graded only. Pass/No Pass is not allowed in: Biochemistry Core, Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, and Major Options

Requirements for Minor Offered By Department

Select a minimum of eighteen (18) credit hours of graded coursework to include the following courses:
 

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
BIOC 431 / BIOS 431 / CHEM 431	Biochemistry I: Structure and Metabolism	3
BIOC 432 / BIOS 432 / CHEM 432	Biochemistry II: Metabolism and Biological Information	3
BIOS 206	General Genetics	4
or PLAS 215	Genetics
BIOS 312	Microbiology	3
BIOS 314	Microbiology Laboratory	1
CHEM 252	Organic Chemistry II	3
or CHEM 262	Mechanistic Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 254	Organic Chemistry II Laboratory	1-2
or CHEM 264	Mechanistic Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
Total Credit Hours		18

Grade Rules

C- and D Grades

A grade of C or above is required for all courses in the major or minor.

Pass/No Pass

Courses taken Pass/No Pass will not count toward the major or minor.

PLEASE NOTE
This document represents a sample 4-year plan for degree completion with this major. Actual course selection and sequence may vary and should be discussed individually with your college or department academic advisor. Advisors also can help you plan other experiences to enrich your undergraduate education such as internships, education abroad, undergraduate research, learning communities, and service learning and community-based learning.

Biochemistry - Biochemical Analysis