Degree Programs

Essential Studies

Essential Studies requirements

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will exhibit a strong knowledge base and the skills to be lifelong learners.
   • Students will exhibit a strong foundational knowledge to be able to acquire new information and apply scientific reasoning to critically evaluate information.
   • Students will apply logical reasoning and organizational skills to integrate new information into their functional knowledge base.
   • Students will integrate information from different scales of view and demonstrate understanding of components and emergent properties among different levels of living systems.
2. Students will be prepared for their profession in the science discipline.
   • Students will articulate the interrelatedness of science, technology, and society, and effectively communicate scientific knowledge to a diverse audience.
   • Students will embody the professional characteristics appropriate for their chosen career.
   • Students will effectively utilize scientific inquiry and reasoning to address issues within their profession.

The Degree of Bachelor of Science with a comprehensive major in Biology

A student must complete the core requirements, an option, and the Essential Studies requirements. Students pursuing a comprehensive major in biology should take MATH 138 or 232 as their Essential Studies Math requirement.

 NOTE:  Students may earn only one option within the Biology Major, although they are encouraged to take additional courses to expand their scientific knowledge and abilities. Some courses require successful completion of prerequisite courses prior to enrollment, as articulated in the catalog course descriptions. Successful completion means earning a “C” or better in the prerequisite course(s).

Core Requirements

*Specified in options. Students should look at option requirements and career expectations/graduate program entrance requirements and discuss with faculty advisor whether CHEM 140/140L or CHM 131/131L and CHEM 132/132L is appropriate.

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Human Biology Option

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• Pre-Chiropractic Medicine Option
• Pre-Optometry Option
• Pre-Pharmacy
• Pre-Vet
• General Health Care Option

This degree provides health professionals an opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree. This degree is not intended to replace a bachelor’s degree in a specific health profession; therefore, consultation with the Records Office and the Health Professions Office at Chadron State College regarding the appropriateness of this degree for each student is important.           

To be eligible for this degree, each student must have successfully completed one or more of the following in an appropriately accredited professional program:

1.       A student with eighteen months or more of professional education in a field not listed above may earn this degree by requesting specific permission and approval of the Registrar and the Health Professions Office. Chadron State College will determine the appropriate application of credits for each professional program listed by each applicant.

2.       The professional program(s) attended must require a high school diploma or equivalent as an entrance requirement and have at least 25% of the training program as academic work in the classroom. The remaining 75% can be clinical training. The professional program should also be at the upper division or graduate level, and not concurrently offer a baccalaureate degree. The student is responsible for proving these conditions exist.

3.       To earn this degree the student must complete at least 30 course credits of Chadron State College credit before or after the professional program of studies, the comprehensive major as subsequently described, 40 upper division course credits, 120 college course credits, and the Essential Studies requirements as subsequently listed. Should the professional program component not total 30 course credits the student must earn additional Chadron State College credits at the upper division level to meet the 120 total credit minimum.

Admission requirements to a professional program and thus graduation requirements may change between the date a catalog is published and the date a student may expect to be graduated. Therefore, each student must consult with the Health Professions Office/Advisor and the Records Office at CSC as well as the professional school(s) of their choice at least once each calendar year for the latest requirements.

 Each student must complete the core requirements, one option, and listed additional specified courses.

Core Requirements

(1) Pre-chiropractic medicine, pre-optometry, and pre-pharmacy must take BIOL 340/340L.
(2) General health care, may replace the courses listed with CHEM 140/140L. Discuss this with your academic advisor to determine if the substitution is correct for the professional program you plan to attend.
(3) Pre-chiropractic medicine and pre-pharmacy must replace the courses listed with CHEM 333/333L and CHEM 334/334L. Pre-veterinary medicine students should check with their prospective professional schools, as many schools (i.e. Iowa State University) require CHEM 333/333L and 334/334L in place of CHEM 231/231L.

Pre-Chiropractic

Students must complete the core requirements as well as the courses listed below; and one year of an appropriately accredited professional program in Chiropractic Medicine.

Essential Studies Courses
Outcome 1: FYI 169 Select one 6 course credit or two 3 course credits...6
Outcome 2: ENG 135 Composition I..........................................................3
Outcome 3: CA 125 Fundamentals of Oral Comm.....................................3
Outcome 4: MATH 232 Applied Statistics...................................................3
Outcome 6: Covered in the core
Outcome 7: Select one................................................................................3
Outcome 8: Select one................................................................................3
Outcome 10 or 11: Select one.....................................................................3
Total............................................................................................................24

*Prerequisite courses vary between professional schools; please consult your advisor to determine which courses must be taken to meet the requirements at your chosen professional school.

Minimum course credits through CSC........................................................90
One year of a professional program in Chiropractic Medicine - Upper Division/Graduate Course Credits.......30
Minimum Total..............................................................................................120

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Pre-Optometry

Students must complete the core requirements as well as the courses listed below; and one year of an appropriately accredited professional program in Optometry.

Professional Program Prerequisites*

Essential Studies Courses
Outcome 1: FYI 169 Select one 6 course credit or two 3 course credits...6
Outcome 2: ENG 135 Composition I..........................................................3
Outcome 3: Select one...............................................................................3
Outcome 4: MATH 232 Applied Statistics...................................................3
Outcome 6: Covered in the core
Outcome 7: Select one................................................................................3
Outcome 8: Select one................................................................................3
Outcome 10 or 11: Select one.....................................................................3
Total............................................................................................................24

*Prerequisite courses vary between professional schools; please consult your advisor to determine which courses must be taken to meet the requirements at your chosen professional school.

Minimum course credits through CSC........................................................90
One year of a professional program in Optometry - Upper Division/Graduate Course Credits.......30
Minimum Total............................................................................................................120

Pre-Pharmacy

Students must complete the core requirements as well as the courses listed below; and one year of an appropriately accredited professional Doctor of Pharmacy program.

Professional Program Prerequisites*

Essential Studies Courses
Outcome 1: FYI 169 Select one 6 course credit or two 3 course credits...6
Outcome 2: ENG 135 Composition I..........................................................3
Outcome 3: CA 125 Fundamentals of Oral Comm.....................................3
Outcome 4: MATH 232 Applied Statistics...................................................3
Outcome 6: Covered in the core
Outcome 7: Select one................................................................................3
Outcome 8: Select one................................................................................3
Outcome 10 or 11: Select one.....................................................................3
Total............................................................................................................24

*Prerequisite courses vary between professional schools; please consult your advisor to determine which courses must be taken to meet the requirements at your chosen professional school.

Minimum course credits through CSC........................................................97
One year of a professional program in Pharmacy - Upper Division/Graduate Course Credits.......30
Minimum Total............................................................................................................127

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Pre-Vet

Students interested in earning this degree from Chadron State College must complete the core requirements; the courses listed below and one year of an accredited professional program in veterinary medicine. Students interested in earning this degree should consult with their advisor as soon as possible as prerequisite courses vary widely between professional programs and some graduate programs require a completed bachelor’s degree prior to admission (Biology Comprehensive major and an option recommended).

Professional Program Prerequisites*

Essential Studies Courses
Outcome 1: FYI 169 Select one 6 course credit or two 3 course credits...6
Outcome 2: ENG 135 Composition I..........................................................3
Outcome 3: Select one CA course.............................................................3
Outcome 4: MATH 135 Pre-calculus..........................................................3
Outcome 6: Covered in the core
Outcome 7: Select one................................................................................3
Outcome 8: Select one................................................................................3
Outcome 10 or 11: Select one.....................................................................3
Total............................................................................................................24

*Prerequisite courses vary between professional schools; please consult your advisor to determine which courses must be taken to meet the requirements at your chosen professional school.

Minimum course credits through CSC........................................................90
One year at an accredited Veterinary School.............................................30
Minimum Total............................................................................................................120

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General Health Care Option

The General Health Care Option of the Health Sciences Degree is available only to students pursuing a career choice for which an option is not described. The selected professional program must meet the standards as listed in the beginning information for the Health Sciences Degree. The elective courses for this option will be selected by the student and the student’s advisor at Chadron State College, reviewed by the Health Professions Director and the Department Chair of the Physical and Life Sciences Department, and approved by the Dean of Curriculum, Assessment and Accreditation. The Program courses selected for this option must total 27-30 course credits. The courses selected will typically be in the science and mathematics areas but can be from other disciplines if it best serves the needs of the student. The program form is available from the Health Professions Office. The completed degree plan must be filed with the Records Office, the Health Professions Office, and the student's advisor. 

Essential Studies Courses
Outcome 1: Select one 6 course credit or two 3 course credits.................6
Outcome 2: ENG 135 Composition I..........................................................3
Outcome 3: Select one .............................................................................3
Outcome 4: MATH 232 Applied Statistics...................................................3
Outcome 6: Covered in the core
Outcome 7: Select one................................................................................3
Outcome 8: Select one................................................................................3
Outcome 10 or 11: Select one.....................................................................3
Total............................................................................................................24

*Prerequisite courses vary between professional schools; please consult your advisor to determine which courses must be taken to meet the requirements at your chosen professional school.

Minimum course credits through CSC........................................................90
Minimum course credits from professional program - Upper Division/Graduate Course Credits....30
Minimum Total............................................................................................................120

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• Pre-Medical Laboratory Science
• Pre-Dental Hygiene
• Pre-Mortuary Science
• Pre-Nursing
• Pre-Radiography

A non-degree program in health professions is for pre-professional development in the following areas. A student will receive their degree at the health care institution they are transferring to. Please contact the CSC faculty advisor for each discipline.

Pre-Medical Laboratory Science

For admission into: University of Nebraska Medical Center Medical Laboratory Science Program and the majority of other professional programs.

As the Medical Laboratory Science admission or graduation requirements may change after a student enters the program, it is the responsibility of the student to contact the Pre- Medical Laboratory Science advisor at Chadron State College and the appropriate Medical Laboratory Science program representative at least once each year for the latest program and admission requirements.

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Pre-Dental Hygiene

For admission into: University of Nebraska Medical Center Dental Hygiene Program and most other Dental Hygiene schools.

Please consult with the Dental Hygiene Academic Advisor at Chadron State College for substitutions in this Curriculum.

As the professional school admission or graduation requirements may change after a student enters the program, it is the responsibility of the student to contact their advisor at Chadron State College and the appropriate professional school program representative at least once each year for the latest program and admission requirements.

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Pre-Mortuary Science

For licensure in the State of Nebraska and admission into most schools of Mortuary Science in the United States.

The courses listed above exceed those required for licensure in Nebraska; however, the optional courses are considered beneficial to a person seeking a career as a mortician. A partial listing of the licensure requirements in Nebraska are as follows: 1. Six semester hours of English. 2. Six semester hours of Accounting. 3. Eight Semester Hours of Chemistry. 4. Twelve semester hours of a biological science relating to the human body. 5. Six semester hours of psychology or counseling and 6. A total of 60 semester hours of college credit in addition to a full course of instruction in an accredited school of mortuary science. The student must obtain a complete set of licensure requirements by contacting the Department of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure.

*Students that have not had high school chemistry are required to take Fundamental Chemistry (CHEM 121) before enrolling in College Chemistry I & II (CHEM 131/131L & 132/132L).

The student can make many changes in this curriculum and still meet licensure requirements; however, they must make these changes in consultation with the pre-mortuary science advisor at CSC.

The State of Nebraska and the professional school(s) of interest to the student can change their licensure and admission requirements, respectively, at any time; thus, it is the student's responsibility to obtain the latest licensure and admission requirements for an accredited school of mortuary science at least once each year. The student should also consult with the pre-mortuary science advisor at CSC each year.

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Pre-Nursing

For admission into: University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing and most other Nursing schools

*Students who have not taken High School Chemistry are required to enroll in Fundamental Chemistry (CHEM 121) before enrolling in Survey of Chemistry and Lab or College Chemistry I and Lab. Students who have a good background in Chemistry and Math may enroll in Chem 131 and 131L.

As the professional school admission or graduation requirements may change after a student enters the program, it is the responsibility of the student to contact their advisor at Chadron State College and the appropriate professional school program representative at least once each year for the latest program and admission requirements.

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Pre-Radiography

For admission into: University of Nebraska Medical Center Radiography Program and most other Radiography schools.

*Students who have not had high school chemistry are required to take MATH 121: Fundamental Chemistry prior to enrolling in CHEM 140/140L: General Chemistry.

 

As the professional school admission or graduation requirements may change after a student enters the program, it is the responsibility of the student to contact their advisor at Chadron State College and the appropriate professional school program representative at least once each year for the latest program and admission requirements.

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