At which campus can I study this program?
Program Description
This interdepartmental minor in Natural Science is designed for nonscience students who wish to gain a better appreciation for science and the scientific method. The courses required in the minor include 3 to 4 credits of general education science designed for nonscience students, 3 to 4 credits of mathematical science, 8 to 9 credits of life or physical science, including some laboratory work, and 6 credits of 400-level science courses. Certain combinations of courses are disallowed (as listed in the curriculum description), and higher-level courses are generally accepted as substitutes for lower-level courses if both are offered by the same department. Any substitutes for laboratory courses must also be laboratory courses. Advising for students in this minor will be available through the Eberly College of Science Academic Advising Center and approval of curriculum exceptions will be through the faculty committee and professor in charge of the program.
What is Natural Science?
Science is a way of knowing. The Natural Science minor is designed for students in non-science majors to explore their curiosity and passion about the natural world. From introductory level to upper division immersion, you can delve into science topics and the scientific method. Students in majors of the Eberly College of Science are ineligible for this broad, interdepartmental minor.
You Might Like This Program If...
You are inherently curious about the natural sciences, mathematics and/ or statistics and their applications in everyday life.
Program Requirements
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Requirements for the Minor | 20-23 |
Requirements for the Minor
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| SC 400 | Consequences of Science | 1 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 3-4 credits of the following: | 3-4 | |
Astronomical Universe  | ||
| Elementary Astronomy and Elementary Astronomy Laboratory | ||
| Structure and Function of Organisms 1 | ||
| Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution 1 | ||
| Environmental Science | ||
| Human Body: Form and Function | ||
| The Science of Sickness | ||
| Molecular Science 2 | ||
| Molecular Science With Laboratory 2 | ||
| Elementary Microbiology and Elementary Microbiology Laboratory 4 | ||
| The Science of Physics 3 | ||
| Select 3-4 credits of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Introduction to Programming | ||
| Introduction to Programming Techniques | ||
| Programming for Engineers with C++ | ||
or CMPSC 202 | ||
| Introduction to Spreadsheets and Databases | ||
| Techniques of Calculus I | ||
| Calculus With Analytic Geometry I | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Biostatistics | ||
| Select 8-9 credits of the following: | 8-9 | |
| Introductory Biology I and Introductory Biology II 1 | ||
| Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity 1 | ||
| Chemical Principles I and Experimental Chemistry I 2 | ||
| Chemical Principles II and Experimental Chemistry II 2 | ||
| Introductory Microbiology and Introductory Microbiology Laboratory 4 | ||
| Introductory Physics I 3 | ||
| Introductory Physics II 3 | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 0-2 credits of 496 (independent studies) courses from the Eberly College of Science course offerings | 0-2 | |
| Select 3-5 credits of 400-level courses (other than independent studies) from the Eberly College of Science course offerings | 3-5 | |
- 1
A student may not use credit for BISC 1 or BISC 2 along with credit for BIOL 11 and BIOL 12, or BIOL 110.
- 2
A student may not use credit for CHEM 1 or CHEM 3 along with credit for CHEM 110 and CHEM 111 or CHEM 112 and CHEM 113.
- 3
A student may not use credit for PHYS 1 along with credit for PHYS 250 or PHYS 251.
- 4
A student may not use credit for MICRB 106 and MICRB 107 along with credit for MICRB 201 and MICRB 202.
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
University Park
Beth Johnson
Director, Science Major
225B Ritenour Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-3889
bai107@psu.edu
Berks
Ike Shibley
Program Coordinator, Associate Professor
Luerssen 101G
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6185
BKNatureScience@psu.edu
Contact
University Park
SCIENCE MAJOR PROGRAM OFFICE
225B Ritenour Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-3889
bai107@psu.edu
Berks
DIVISION OF SCIENCE
Luerssen Science Building
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6185
BKNatureScience@psu.edu