Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Academic Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

General Science, B.A.


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General Science

   An Interdepartmental Major Program

Chair:

Josh Sandquist (Biology)

Faculty:

Charlotte Christensen (Physics)
T. Andrew Mobley (Chemistry)
Samuel A. Rebelsky (Computer Science)
Nancy Rempel-Clower (Psychology)
Josh Sandquist (Biology)
Royce Wolf (Mathematics)

The major in General Science has been designed to accommodate students who wish to pursue a combination of courses in several sciences. Students take six courses including work in at least three of five sciences (biology, chemistry, computer science, physics, and psychology) and a year’s work in mathematics. Additional study beyond the introductory level in one of these fields is also required.

General Science may serve those who plan to teach science in secondary school, but students are strongly encouraged to contact the College’s education department to verify current licensure requirements. It may also lead to graduate work in such interdisciplinary fields as biophysics and psychobiology, or a career in environmental science, medicine, law, or engineering. A member of the department in which the student expects to take at least four courses will serve as the student’s adviser.

The General Science major may not be combined with a second major in a Division of Science department, and credits for independent study (297 and 397) may not be used to fulfill major requirements.

Major Requirements: A minimum of 48 credits, including:


Core Requirements: 32 credits


  1. 24 credits from courses in the following departments creditable toward those majors with no more than eight credits in any of the disciplines.

2. Eight credits from courses in mathematics creditable toward the mathematics major, including 4 credits from MAT 133  or STA 209 . No AP credit may be used to satisfy this requirement.

 

Area of Concentration Requirements: 12 credits


1. Biology Concentration: (12 credits)  BIO 251 , BIO 252 , and four additional credits from Biology courses numbered 300 or above.

2. Chemistry Concentration: (12 credits) courses in chemistry numbered 200 and above, at least four credits of which must be numbered 300 or above.

3. Computer Science Concentration: (12 credits) courses in computer science numbered 200 or above, at least four credits of which must be numbered 300 or above. 

4. Mathematics Concentration: (12 credits) courses in mathematics numbered 200 or above, at least four credits of which must be numbered 300 or above. 

5. Physics Concentration: (12 credits)  PHY 234 , PHY 335 , and four additional credits from courses numbered 200 and above.

6. Psychology Concentration: (12 credits) two courses (8 credits) from any 200-level Psychology course, excluding PSY 225 ,  PSY 297, and PSY 299; and one (4 credit) 300 or 400-level Psychology course, excluding PSY 495 

Additional Requirements: 4 credits


200-level or above course in the departments of the Division of Science 4 credits

Or

Mentored scientific research project (299, 399, or 499) may be used to count for these 4 credits. However, research credits cannot be used to satisfy the “Area of Concentration Requirements” listed above.

Honors


To be considered for honors in general science, graduating seniors, in addition to meeting the College’s general requirements for honors, must take at least two four-credit courses at the 300 level or above in their departments of concentration and must complete a scientific research project and publicly present the results on campus.

Note:


For the General Science Teaching Certificate, it is required that one full year of coursework (eight credits) be completed in biology, in chemistry, and in physics (requirement A) and that the 12 additional credits (requirement C) be selected from courses in biology, chemistry, or physics.