Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences (STEM)

at EDUCO - University of Nebraska - Lincoln USA

The School of Biological Sciences offers educational opportunities in various areas of biology leading toward either the bachelor of science or the bachelor of arts degree. Our research and teaching cover all levels of biological organization—from molecules to ecosystems—with a focus on integrating across levels. Study in the biological sciences prepares students for a variety of careers, including medicine, allied health, government, industry, education, and research.

A major in meteorology-climatology opens the door to your future career in the exciting and ever-changing world of weather and climate. This major is comprehensive, but flexible so that you can pursue you own interests within the broad field of atmospheric sciences, while meeting the federal government requirements for employment as a meteorologist.

You will build a solid foundation in meteorology-climatology with core courses that combine basic atmospheric science with training in mathematics, computer science and physics. You will apply this knowledge as you learn analytical problem-solving and forecasting techniques, methods for atmospheric measurements and how the atmosphere interacts with other components of the earth system.

The plant biology major is designed to provide a flexible entry for undergraduate students that have an interest in the plant sciences. Once enrolled in the program, students will take a core of classes that will allow them to continue in the plant biology major or would also allow them to easily transfer to other Life Sciences programs. Students will have the opportunity to interact with the faculty of the Center for Plant Science Innovation as well as other departments and schools for advising and research opportunities.

The goal of the plant biology program is to offer a field of study to students who are interested and talented in the basic sciences and mathematics and who:

• May never have considered applying this knowledge to plants.
• Have always dreamed of this field of study.
• Have always had an interest in plants but are uncertain that this field of study is right for them.

Studying plant biology will allow students to explore and understand plants at molecular, cellular, physiological, organismal, population, and community levels and by taking ecological, evolutionary, agricultural, and horticultural perspectives. This is accomplished through required courses in different scientific fields (e.g., biology, biochemistry, chemistry, agronomy, horticulture) and through different options in the major (ecology and management option and biotechnology option).

The global studies major at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln prepares students for a changing and complex world by increasing their knowledge of global issues and developing their skills in critical thinking, communication, and logical analysis. The interdisciplinary program is designed to help students understand the growing connectedness and diversity of interactions at the global level. Global studies provides students with a range of classroom, community, and co-curricular activities both domestically and internationally. It is built on the framework of:

• Being a dynamic and well-integrated interdisciplinary academic program for student learning opportunities and an active partner in the College’s internationalizing the curriculum strategic plan;
• Providing students a variety of well-vetted academic and international/experiential learning opportunities that will enhance their depth of global understanding;
• Collaborating with other internationally-focused programs at UNL to promote interest in and understanding of global events and structures; and
• Developing strong, mutually-beneficial partnerships with relevant community groups and individuals.

The bachelor of science in communication sciences and disorders provides the pre-professional courses required for graduate study in either speech-language pathology or audiology. The entry level for practice as a speech-language pathologist requires a masters degree in speech-language pathology. A doctorate of audiology (AuD) is required to practice audiology. Upon completion of the advanced degree in either field and the licensure/certification requirements, a person may work in a variety of settings, including schools or other education agencies, medical clinics or other medical/nursing facilities, health agencies, or private practice.

An actuary is a mathematically-oriented business person who will most likely be a manager or supervisor at some point in his/her career. Thus, a course of study culminating in a bachelor of science degree in business administration with a major in actuarial science is an excellent educational background for prospective actuaries.

The actuarial science program is designed to prepare students for the current industry demands. Because the demands change on a regular basis, oftentimes the number of hours, the sequencing of courses, and the specific requirements change for this major. Students should continue to consult with the department for the appropriate selection and listing of course requirements.

The actuarial science program is proud to have been named one of the first Centers of Actuarial Excellence by the Society of Actuaries.

What you will learn
The work of an actuary typically involves analyzing the various contingencies (birth, death, marriage, retirement, sickness, and losses due to accidents or negligence), which face society, and their impact on the many types of financial security arrangements, both public and private. A creative aspect of actuarial work lies in the forecasting of events. Actuaries are frequently called upon to make decisions that affect the fiscal soundness of financial security programs well into the future. Quality actuaries are in high demand resulting in a high job placement rate and high starting salaries.

Geography is a comprehensive discipline that, via spatial patterns analysis, reveals the intricate attributes and connectivity of human cultures and the natural environment. As such, geography is critical to understanding the complexities of global change. Students may specialize in one of many areas, including climate and weather, cultural/human geography, geographic information systems, historical geography of the Great Plains, natural resources, physical geography, pre-community and regional planning, regional studies, or remote sensing.

An education in geography prepares students for careers in government agencies as well as those involved with foreign service, land management, tourism, health care delivery systems, environmental assessment, transportation development, land use planning, air traffic control, and GIS and cartographic analysis, and in a wide variety of businesses, particularly those concerned with environmental mapping, geographic information systems, and planning. A geography major also prepares students for graduate-level degrees in geography, law (especially environmental law), international business, urban and regional planning, and teaching at all levels.

A major in sociology within the College of Arts and Sciences provides students with vital intellectual and occupational skills. This includes analytical thinking; creative problem solving; effective written and oral communication; collecting, analyzing and interpreting data; and gaining expertise regarding the impact of social and cultural dynamics on individual and societal trends. Students may pursue broad training in sociology, or they may pursue a specific Focus Area, such as Crime/Deviance, Family, Health, Social Inequality, or Social Research. We also encourage students strongly to seize the opportunities provided for internships and a variety of research experiences, which play a key role in helping students define their career trajectory and build a resumé.

Our majors pursue careers in a variety of fields that reflect their substantive expertise, such as:

• Social-Justice Related Activism
• Law and Criminal Justice
• Education and Social/Human Services
• Research—especially public health and medicine, public opinion research, market research/marketing, as well as occupations requiring data collection, analysis, and project direction skills (e.g., nursing, policy work, journalism, engineering, computational sciences)
• Public Service/Government and Administration
• Private-sector for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations
• Management and Human Resources

We also encourage students to combine their interest in sociology with one of the many interdisciplinary programs/certificates offered in the College of Arts and Sciences and beyond. This includes but is not limited to Conflict Resolution, Environmental Studies, Ethnic Studies, Global Studies, Human Rights, Humanities and Medicine, Public Policy, Women’s and Gender Studies, plus the Center for Great Plains Studies and the Center for Civic Engagement.

The journalism major is built on a solid base of instruction in reporting and writing, copy editing, visual communication and multimedia journalism. The major also has broadened its curriculum in response to advancing technology and new electronic and mobile media. Elective choices include courses in magazine writing, depth reporting, feature writing, sports writing, business writing, photography, design, data visualization, Web design, videography and advanced editing.

Many of the journalism faculty members have extensive industry experience at a wide variety of media organizations such as The Miami Herald, ProPublica, The Detroit News, Business Week, Omaha World-Herald, Seward County Independent, Lincoln Journal-Star and The New York Times. The faculty continues to be connected to the industry, and its members are actively involved in professional media organizations. Students, likewise, are encouraged to further their professional goals through participation in student organizations such as the Alpha Epsilon Rho national broadcasting society, the Society of Professional Journalists, Northwest Broadcast News Association, Radio, Television News Directors Association, the Radio Television Digital News Association and the American Copy Editors Society.

A national leader in collegiate athletics, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln attracts many students who have a strong interest in sports. The sports media and communication major provides students a unique opportunity to fulfill their aspirations of pursuing a career in sports without being a competitive athlete. Students start by creating a strong foundation of sports knowledge and skills from a variety of perspectives, including journalism, broadcasting, advertising, public relations, and marketing. Students then have the ability to add depth in their upper-level electives.

The college has offered sports courses for decades, including courses in sports broadcasting, sports writing, and sports media relations and promotion, and it has produced highly successful alumni working in sports for major media organizations across the United States. Faculty have built relationships with sports media organizations that provide special learning opportunities for students, such as ESPN, FOX Sports University, BigTen Network, Special Olympics, as well as local stations and agencies.

The sports media and communication major offers a plethora of employment opportunities for students, including jobs in sports journalism, sports announcing, sports information, sports marketing, sports event planning, sports community relations, graphic and Web design in sports, multimedia storytelling in sports, and sports media entrepreneurship.