BIOLOGY MAJOR
Introduction
The Department of Biology currently offers an undergraduate major and a minor in biology. The broadly-based requirements of the major are designed to prepare students for:
(1) advanced studies in biology, biomedical sciences, environmental biology, ecology and applied ecology;
(2) professional training in medicine, dentistry, optometry, chiropractic, pharmacy, veterinary medicine and other health professions;
(3) teaching of biology in secondary schools; or
(4) career opportunities in research, biomedical sciences, agriculture, industry, government, and academic institutions.
Students interested in completing a major or minor in biology are strongly urged to declare the major early and seek advisement from a departmental advisor. It is particularly important that students be aware that if they complete the major in Biology, they are exempted from having to take any courses in the Natural Sciences distribution area of the General Education Program.
NOTE that before enrolling in any Biology courses that count toward the major or the minor, all students must have earned the following minimum scores on placement tests (or must have successfully completed equivalent coursework): a score of 6 on the reading placement test, a score of 7 on the writing placement test and a score of 30 on the math placement test.
Students should be aware that a maximum of 18 credit hours of biology courses can be accepted toward the Biology Major in transfer credits, and a maximum of 18 credit hours of biology transfer credits can be accepted toward the
Biology Minor.
Completion of the Major in Biology for the Bachelor of Science Degree will meet the state-mandated Biology requirements for secondary teacher certification in Biology.
Students who major in Biology and Secondary Education should consult with an advisor in both Biology and in the College of Education.
Contact Information
Major Requirements
Required Biology Courses:
- Essential Skills for Biologists (Should be taken in conjunction with General Biology I)
- General Biology I
- General Biology II
- Cell Biology
- General Genetics
- General Ecology
Five elective courses must also be taken. Four of
these must be Biology courses, one of which must
focus on plants and one must focus on animals. The
fifth course may be in Biology, or can be a course
from another department, as long as it has been
approved by the Biology Department to count as an
elective. Students should check with the Biology
Department Office or their advisor for a list of approved
courses.
One capstone course must also be taken after a student
has made substantial progress toward completing the
major requirements. The capstone requirement can be
satisfied by taking BIO-390 (Biology Senior Seminar) OR
BIO-391 (Internship in Biology) OR BIO-392 and 393
(Independent Research), OR BI0-394 (Seminar in Teaching
of Biology ). Students should check the catalog or their
advisor to determine the pre-requisites for each of these
options.
- Required Cognate Courses:
- General Chemistry I & II
- Organic Chemistry I
- Calculus I
- College or University Physics I & II (University Physics is Highly Recommended)
- Physics Lab I & II
Additional courses may be recommended by the student's
advisor in relation to the student's goals. Please see your academic advisor before registering for courses.
Minor Requirements
Required Courses:
- Essential Skills for Biologist (Should be taken in conjunction with General Biology I)
- General Biology I
- General Biology II
- Three Biology electives, at least two must have lab components
Additional Requirements
1. General Education Program: All undergraduate students must
complete the General Education Program requirements consisting of 39
semester hours in the following distribution areas:
- Behavioral/Social Sciences (12 hours)
- Natural Sciences (9 hours)
- Mathematics (3 hours; grade of "C" or higher at college level)
- Humanities (9 hours)
- Fine Arts (6 hours)
2. University Requirements: - English Composition I (grade of "C" or higher);
- Constitution (includes Illinois State Constitution);
- Improving Human Relations (consult the schedule of classes or catalog for listing of courses);
- English Competency Examination.
3. Residency: The last 30 consecutive credit
hours must be taken at Northeastern, unless permission is received from
the Office of Enrollment Services.
4. Upper Division: Students must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours at the 300 level and -18 semester hours at the 200 or 300 level.
5. Grade Point Average:
To be eligible to graduate, a student must have a minimum cumulative
2.0 GPA (overall "C" average). Some academic programs and departments
have other specific grade requirements. Check with your academic
advisor.
Other
Although not
required by the Major in Biology, students are encouraged to take English
Composition I ENGL-101) and English Composition II (ENGL-102) as early as
possible in their academic careers, as successful completion of these courses
will help students with the writing components in many of the courses offered by
the Department of Biology. Likewise, completing calculus I early on will help students with the quantitative aspects of many Biology
courses, as well as satisfy the pre-requisite requirement for the Physics
courses that are required by the major.
CHEMISTRY MAJOR
Introduction
Studying chemistry is a way to meet the opportunities and challenges of our modern technological age. Chemists use everything from test tubes to state-of-the-art instruments to answer nature's basic questions about the composition of matter, and to discover ways to improve upon nature such as developing new products, discovery of new drugs, monitoring and protecting the environment, and the like.
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About
We prepare our students for a broad range of careers. Our graduates go on to Ph.D. granting institutions in chemistry, Iaw schools, medical schools, dental schools, pharmacy schools, careers in forensics, jobs in research and development, and analytical services. More industrial chemists are employed in the Chicagoland area than almost anywhere else in the country.
Major Requirements
A basic core of 35 chemistry credit hours consists of:
- General Chemistry I and II
- Quantitative Analysis
- Organic Chemistry I and II
- One of the Instrumental Analysis courses, Spectroscopy or Quantitative Methods
- Physical Chemistry I and II
- Chemistry Capstone Seminar
Plus two electives from the following list:
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Industrial Chemistry
- Chemical Aspects of Environmental Chemistry
- Industrial Aspects of Environmental Chemistry
- Instrumental Analysis: Spectroscopy
- Instrumental Analysis: Quantitative Methods
- Identification of Organic Compounds
- Advanced Organic Chemistry: Polyfunctional Compounds
- Advanced Organic Chemistry: Bio-Organic Compounds
- Organic Synthesis
Chemical Kinetics
Supporting Courses:
- Calculus I and II
- Physics Lab I and II
- College Physics I or University Physics I
- College Physics II or University Physics II
Students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in all courses counted toward the major, the minor, cognate, and professional sequences. No "P" grades will count toward a major, minor, or approved area of study. All grade point average requirements must be met for the successful completion of a program of study.
Courses necessary for ACS standards for Professional Training are in bold. Students must take core courses and Physical Chemistry I and II must be taken during the junior year and physics during the sophomore year. An additional two 300-level electives are also necessary. (For more information on ACS see the statement under the heading of Other.)
Please see your academic advisor before registering for courses.Minor Requirements
The following courses are necessary for a minor in Chemistry:
- General Chemistry I and II
- Quantitative Analysis
- Organic Chemistry I and II
Additional Requirements
1. General Education Program: All undergraduate students must complete the General Education Program requirements consisting of 39 semester hours in the following distribution areas:
- Behavioral/Social Sciences (12 hours)
- Natural Sciences (9 hours)
- Mathematics (3 hours; grade of "C" or higher at college level)
- Humanities (9 hours)
- Fine Arts (6 hours)
2. University Requirements: - English Composition I (grade of "C" or higher);
- Constitution (includes Illinois State Constitution);
- lmproving Human Relations (consult the schedule of classes or catalog for listing of courses);
- English Competency Examination.
3. Residency: The last 30 consecutive credit hours must be taken at Northeastern, unless permission is received from the Office of Enrollment Services.
4. Upper Division: Students must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours at the 300 level and -18 semester hours at the 200 or 300 level.
5. Grade Point Average: To be eligible to graduate, a student must have a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA (overall "C" average). Some academic programs and departments have other specific grade requirements. Check with your academic advisor.
Other
In 1985, Northeastern Illinois University was added to the American Chemical Society's Approved List of baccalaureate chemistry programs in colleges and universities. This means the curriculum meets nationally recognized standards for the professional training of chemists. Students completing this track will take 10-12 additional hours and will earn an American Chemical Society certificate. A bachelor's degree in chemistry is excellent preparation for a wide variety of careers in industry and national laboratories, health and medical sciences, and the rapidly growing fields of environmental science and biotechnology. It will provide an excellent background toward advanced degrees and to those seeking teaching positions as well.
COMPUTER SCIENCE MAJOR
Introduction
The goal of the Department of Computer Science is to provide individuals
with a broad-based theoretical and practical understanding of Computer
Science. Students who complete the program are prepared to pursue
graduate study or to assume positions which include software
engineering, technical programming, and the application of computers and
related technologies to problems in industry such as computer security,
network design and management, and Web design.
The curriculum offered by the Department of Computer Science is designed to serve these purposes:
- To offer an undergraduate major program in computer science for individuals who wish to pursue a career in this field;
- To prepare students for graduate work in computer science;
- To offer a minor in computer science for those who feel the need for a less extensive concentration in computing;
- To serve students in other academic disciplines by offering
instruction in computer applications that are useful in these
disciplines.
Contact Information
About
The Department offers an undergraduate major with four choices of
concentration. In each concentration, students are guided through a
carefully selected sequence of courses designed to provide a thorough
grounding in practical aspects of the field. Students will also acquire
sufficient theoretical background to enable them to keep up with the
rapid changes in computer technology and methodology. Students should
consult a Department advisor to determine which concentration and
electives to choose.
Major Requirements
Required Core Courses:
- Programming I
- Discrete Structures
- Programming II
- Computer Organization with Assembly Language Programming
- Data Structures
- Operating Systems
- Fundamentals of Software Engineering
- Introduction to the Design of Algorithms
Required Courses for Computer Science Concentration:
- Programming Languages
- Computer Architecture
- Theory of Computation
- Computer Networks
- Two computer science 300-level electives (most be approved by academic advisor)
Required Courses for Technical Programming Concentration
- Systems Programming
- Event-Driven Programming
- Object Oriented Programming
- Open Source Systems
- Two computer science 300-level electives (most be approved by academic advisor)
Required Courses for Computer Security Concentration:
- Cyberlaw
- Network Security
- Cryptography
- Cybersecurity
- Two computer science 300-level electives (most be approved by academic advisor)
Required Courses for Information Technology Concentration:
- Client-side Web Development
- Data Base Managment
- Object Oriented Programming
- Server Side Web Development
- Computer Networks
- One computer science 300-level elective (most be approved by academic advisor)
Please see your academic advisor before registering for courses.Minor Requirements
A student may complete a minor in computer science by selecting at least 6 courses from those offered by the Department of Computer Science. A recommended minor would include at least 2 courses at the 300-level. Transfer students must complete a minimum of 3 courses toward a minor at Northeastern Illinois University.
Additional Requirements
1. General Education Program: All undergraduate students must
complete the General Education Program requirements consisting of 39
semester hours in the following distribution areas:
- Behavioral/Social Sciences (12 hours)
- Natural Sciences (9 hours)
- Mathematics (3 hours; grade of "C" or higher at college level)
- Humanities (9 hours)
- Fine Arts (6 hours)
2. University Requirements: - English Composition I (grade of "C" or higher);
- Constitution (includes Illinois State Constitution);
- lmproving Human Relations (consult the schedule of classes or catalog for listing of courses);
- English Competency Examination.
3. Residency: The last 30 consecutive credit
hours must be taken at Northeastern, unless permission is received from
the Office of Enrollment Services.
4. Upper Division: Students must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours at the 300 level and -18 semester hours at the 200 or 300 level.
To be eligible to graduate, a student must have a minimum cumulative
2.0 GPA (overall "C" average). Some academic programs and departments
have other specific grade requirements. Check with your academic
advisor.
Other
Students who complete the program are prepared to assume positions which include applications programmer, systems programmer, system analyst, and software engineer. In addition, students who complete the undergraduate degree are prepared to enter a graduate program in computer science.
EARTH SCIENCE
Introduction
The Earth Science major uses an integrated approach to the study of the problems of the earth environment through a synthesis of geology, hydrology, and oceanography. We emphasize experimental studies, field work, and applications.
Contact Information
Major Requirements
Required Core Courses:
- Atmosphere and Oceans
- Physical Geology
- Rocks and Minerals
- Mineralogy
- Principles of Sedimentation
- Geological Structures and Map Interpretation
- Field Geology
- Two courses from elective courses in Earth Science
Required Cognate Courses:
- General Chemistry I
- Calculus I
- College or University Physics I
- Physics Lab I
One of the following:
Two of the following:
- General Biology I
- General Biology II
- General Chemistry II
- Quantitative Analysis
- Organic Chemistry I
- College or University Physics II w/ Physics Lab II
- Physics III
Please see your academic advisor before registering for courses.Minor Requirements
Required Courses:
- Atmosphere and Oceans
- Physical Geology
- Rocks and Minerals
- Historical Geology
- One elective Earth Science course at the 300-level
Additional Requirements
1. General Education Program: All undergraduate students must
complete the General Education Program requirements consisting of 39
semester hours in the following distribution areas:
- Behavioral/Social Sciences (12 hours)
- Natural Sciences (9 hours)
- Mathematics (3 hours; grade of "C" or higher at college level)
- Humanities (9 hours)
Fine Arts (6 hours)
2. University Requirements: - English Composition I (grade of "C" or higher);
- Constitution (includes Illinois State Constitution);
- Improving Human Relations (consult the schedule of classes or catalog for listing of courses);
- English Competency Examination.
3. Residency:
The last 30 consecutive credit hours must be taken at Northeastern,
unless permission is received from the Office of Enrollment Services.
4. Upper Division: Students must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours at the 300 level and -18 semester hours at the 200 or 300 level.
5. Grade Point Average:
To be eligible to graduate, a student must have a minimum cumulative
2.0 GPA (overall "C" average). Some academic programs and departments
have other specific grade requirements. Check with your academic
advisor.
Other
Internship opportunities are available for advanced undergraduate students. An independent study option exists for undergraduates who wish to complete individualized research under the direction of a faculty member.
MATHEMATICS MAJOR: APPLIED MATHEMATICS TRACK
Introduction
The undergraduate programs in Mathematics at Northeastern Illinois University lead to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and have been designed to provide the student with options suitable for various career plans.
Because of recent advances in technologies, there are many new applications of mathematics and consequently many career opportunities in these areas.
Our programs are designed to prepare a mathematics major for jobs currently offered by industrial, business, government and educational institutions. The choice of choosing the applied mathematics program should reflect the student's academic interests as well as career plans.
Contact Information
About
This
program
is designed to provide a thorough training in applied mathematics,
including Statistics, Operations Research, and/or Scientific Computing.
This major has the potential for careers in scientific, business,
industrial and/or
actuarial areas, in positions like statisticians, software engineers,
programmers or consultants. This program also prepares majors for
further
graduate study at Northeastern or elsewhere.
Major Requirements
Required Core Courses:
- Calculus I, II, and III
- Linear Algebra I
- Discrete Mathematics
- Computing for Mathematicians
- Mathematical Statistics I and II
- Advanced Calculus: Single Variable or Multi-variable
Four elective courses from the list below:
- Ordinary Differential Equations I
- Ordinary Differential Equations II
- Partial Differential Equations
- Numerical Analysis I
- Linear Programming and Extensions
- Probability Models for Operations Research
- Numerical Analysis II
- Complex Variables
- Linear Algebra II
- Statistics Computer Packages
- Advanced Calculus: Single Variable (if not taken for core requirements)
- Advanced Calculus: Multi-variable (if not taken for core requirements)
Please see your academic advisor before registering for courses.Minor Requirements
Required Courses
- Calculus I, II, and III
- Linear Algebra I
Two elective courses from the list below:
- Ordinary Differential Equations I
- Ordinary Differential Equations II
- Partial Differential Equations
- Numerical Analysis I
- Probability and Statistics
- Linear Programming and Extensions
- Mathematical Statistics I
- Mathematical Statistics II
- Computing for Mathematicians
- Advanced Calculus: Single Variable
- Advanced Calculus: Multi-variable
- Linear Algebra II
- Statistics Computer Packages
Additional Requirements
1. General Education Program: All undergraduate students must complete the General Education Program requirements consisting of 39 semester hours in the following distribution areas:
- Behavioral/Social Sciences (12 hours)
- Natural Sciences (9 hours)
- Mathematics (3 hours; grade of "C" or higher at college level)
- Humanities (9 hours)
Fine Arts (6 hours)
2. University Requirements: - English Composition I (grade of "C" or higher);
- Constitution (includes Illinois State Constitution);
- Improving Human Relations (consult the schedule of classes or catalog for listing of courses);
- English Competency Examination.
3. Residency: The last 30 consecutive credit hours must be taken at Northeastern, unless permission is received from the Office of Enrollment Services.
4. Upper Division: Students must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours at the 300 level and -18 semester hours at the 200 or 300 level.
5. Grade Point Average: To be eligible to graduate, a student must have a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA (overall "C" average). Some academic programs and departments have other specific grade requirements. Check with your academic advisor.
Other
The Mathematics Department has institutional memberships in the American Mathematical Society, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, and the Association for Women in Mathematics. The Math Club has been organized which is open to all students with an interest in mathematics. Also, there is a weekly seminar series in the mathematical sciences during the semester, sponsored by the Computational Dynamics in Physics and Populations Research Community, the Society of Physics Student and The NEIU Math Club.
MATHEMATICS MAJOR: TEACHING OF SECONDARY MATHEMATICS TRACK
Introduction
The undergraduate programs in Mathematics at Northeastern Illinois University lead to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and have been designed to provide the student with options suitable for various career plans.
Because of recent advances in technologies, there are many new applications of mathematics and consequently many career opportunities in these areas. Our programs are designed to prepare a mathematics major for jobs currently offered by industrial, business, government and educational institutions. The choice of choosing teaching of secondary mathematics as the program should reflect the student's academic interests well as career plans.
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About
This program is designed to provide future teachers with a strong
background in the concepts and the applications that underlie the
mathematics taught at the high school level. The course of study is in
keeping with the recommendations of the Committee on the Undergraduate
Program in Mathematics (CUPM) and the National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics (NCTM). This major prepares a student for high school
teaching as well as for further graduate studies at Northeastern or
elsewhere.
Requirements: Students in this program are required to
follow the professional sequence in Secondary Education from the
Department of Curriculum and Instruction. This requires 28 hours of
coursework in the College of Education. Contact Mr. Michael Bochnewych,
SCED Advisor, and Classroom Building 3034, phone (773) 442-5387. Also
see:
http://www.neiu.edu/~teacheduMajor Requirements
Required Core Courses:
- Calculus I, II, and III
- Linear Algebra I
- Discrete Mathematics
- Probability and Statistics
- Computing for Mathematicians
- Foundations of Geometry
- History of Mathematics
- Foundations of Algebra I
- Advanced Calculus: Single Variable
One elective course from the following list:
- Number Theory
- Foundation of Algebra II
- Theory of Equations
One elective course from the following list:
- Ordinary Differential Equations I
- Introduction to Numerical Analysis
- Linear Programming and Extensions
- Mathematical Statistics
Please see your academic advisor before registering for courses.Minor Requirements
Required Core Courses:
- Calculus I and II
- Linear Algebra I
- Discrete Mathematics
- Probability and Statistics
Two elective courses from the following list:
- Foundations of Geometry
- History of Mathematics
- Number Theory
- Foundations of Algebra
- Theory of Equations
Students in the Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education Program who select this minor must complete a minimum of 9 hours at the 300-level to meet graduation and certification requirements.Additional Requirements
1. General Education Program: All undergraduate students must complete the General Education Program requirements consisting of 39 semester hours in the following distribution areas:
- Behavioral/Social Sciences (12 hours)
- Natural Sciences (9 hours)
- Mathematics (3 hours; grade of "C" or higher at college level)
- Humanities (9 hours)
Fine Arts (6 hours)
2. University Requirements: - English Composition I (grade of "C" or higher);
- Constitution (includes Illinois State Constitution);
- Improving Human Relations (consult the schedule of classes or catalog for listing of courses);
- English Competency Examination.
3. Residency: The last 30 consecutive credit hours must be taken at Northeastern, unless permission is received from the Office of Enrollment Services.
4. Upper Division: Students must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours at the 300 level and -18 semester hours at the 200 or 300 level.
5. Grade Point Average: To be eligible to graduate, a student must have a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA (overall "C" average). Some academic programs and departments have other specific grade requirements. Check with your academic advisor.
Other
The Mathematics Department has institutional memberships in the American Mathematical Society, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, and the Association for Women in Mathematics. The Math Club has been organized which is open to all students with an interest in mathematics. Also, there is a weekly seminar series in the mathematical sciences during the semester, sponsored by the Computational Dynamics in Physics and Populations Research Community, the Society of Physics Student and The NEIU Math Club.
PHYSICS MAJOR
Introduction
The Bachelor of Science degree program allows students to pursue careers in teaching, research, and development, or to go on for further graduate study. All instruction is provided by full-time faculty in small classes, affording many opportunities for close personal contact between students and instructors. All advanced undergraduate courses are given in the evening, allowing students to complete studies on either a full part-time basis. Faculty members are actively engaged in research projects which offer exciting opportunities for student participation. Also, faculty members offer assistance to students pursuing projects on their own.
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About
Our development provides excellent resources for both theoretical and experimental undergraduate study and research. Students have access to a wide range of computers and computations resources including a BEOWULF parallel supercomputer. Out experimental facilities include laboratories for optics, electronics, material science, and condensed matter physics.
Northeastern's physics program offers its students a wide variety of
opportunities for study and research. This has enabled our graduates to
pursue successful careers in teaching, research, and development as
well as further graduate study. Our recent graduates have gone on to
study at prestigious Ph.D. granting institutions, to law school. and to
other professional schools. Our graduates work at technological
companies in the Chicago area, national laboratories, and many high
school districts.
Major Requirements
Required Core Courses:
- Physics Lab I and II
- University Physics I and II
- Physics III
- Introductory Mathematical Physics
- Intermediate Physics Lab
Four electives from the following list:
- Fortran and Numerical Analysis for Scientist
- Mechanics I
- Electricity & Magnetism I
- Modern Physics I
- Any 300-level Physics Elective
Two courses from the following list:
- Optics
- Electronics
- Microprocessor Electronics
- Transducer and Special Purpose Electronics
- Instrumental Electronics
Required Supporting Courses:
- General Chemistry I and II
- Calculus I, II, and III
- Ordinary Differential Equations I
Please see your academic advisor before registering for courses.Minor Requirements
The following are the requirements for a minor in physics:
- College Physics or University Physics I
- College Physics or University Physics II
- Physics III
- Three 300-level courses
- Calculus I, II, and III
Additional Requirements
1. General Education Program: All undergraduate students must complete the General
Education Program requirements consisting of 39 semester hours in the following
distribution areas:
- Behavioral/Social Sciences (12 hours)
- Natural Sciences (9 hours)
- Mathematics (3 hours; grade of "C" or
higher at college level)
- Humanities (9 hours)
- Fine Arts (6 hours)
2. University Requirements:
- English Composition I (grade of
"C" or higher);
- Constitution (includes Illinois
State Constitution);
- Improving Human Relations
(consult the schedule of classes or catalog for listing of courses);
- English Competency
Examination.
3. Residency: The last 30 consecutive credit hours must be taken at
Northeastern, unless permission is received from the Office of Enrollment
Services.
4. Upper Division: Students must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours at the
300 level and -18 semester hours at the 200 or 300-level.
5. Grade Point Average: To be eligible to graduate, a student must have a minimum
cumulative 2.0 GPA (overall "C" average). Some academic programs and
departments have other specific grade requirements. Check with your academic
advisor.
Other
The Physics Program sponsors chapters of the Society of Physics Students and Sigma Pi Sigma, the Physics Honor Society.
