Natural Sciences Area Major Requirements
(Also see Requirements of a Bachelor's Degree.)
The Natural Sciences Area major allows students to combine appropriate upper-level courses in two different areas of natural science. Students may bridge biology and chemistry, chemistry and physics, or some other combination as long as the curriculum forms a coherent whole. The major prepares students for careers in medicine, dentistry, or veterinary science, if the introductory courses chosen by the student include those prescribed for admission to these professional schools.
Students selecting the Natural Sciences Area major also go on to graduate study in natural science, though they may have to take some remedial work in graduate school, if their undergraduate program does not include courses usually required by a traditional major in a particular subject.
The requirements of the natural sciences area major are:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Science and Math Core Courses | ||
| AS.110.106 | Calculus I (Biology and Social Sciences) | 4 |
| or AS.110.108 | Calculus I (Physical Sciences & Engineering) | |
| AS.110.107 | Calculus II (For Biological and Social Science) | 4 |
| or AS.110.109 | Calculus II (For Physical Sciences and Engineering) | |
| or AS.110.113 | Honors Single Variable Calculus | |
| AS.030.101 & AS.030.105 | Introductory Chemistry I and Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I | 4 |
| AS.030.102 & AS.030.106 | Introductory Chemistry II and Introductory Chemistry Laboratory II | 4 |
| or AS.030.103 | Applied Chemical Equilibrium and Reactivity w/lab | |
| AS.171.101 | General Physics: Physical Science Major I | 4 |
| or AS.171.103 | General Physics I for Biological Science Majors | |
| or AS.171.107 | General Physics for Physical Sciences Majors (AL) | |
| AS.171.102 | General Physics: Physical Science Major II | 4 |
| or AS.171.104 | General Physics/Biology Majors II | |
| or AS.171.108 | General Physics for Physical Science Majors (AL) | |
| AS.173.111 | General Physics Laboratory I | 1 |
| AS.173.112 | General Physics Laboratory II | 1 |
| Science Electives | ||
| Natural science or quantitative credits at any level 1 | 20 | |
| At least five courses of upper level natural science electives at the 300- or 400-level in at most 2 departments 2 | 15 | |
| Humanities and Social Science Electives 3 | ||
| Humanities or social science credits at any level 4 | 12 | |
| At least four courses of humanities or social science electives at the 300- or 400-level in at most 2 departments | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 85 | |
- 1
While students typically take these credits at the 100- or 200-level, 300- or 400-level N or Q credits not used to fulfill the upper level science elective credits may be used.
- 2
Laboratory, research, internship, and independent study courses may not be used. Permission to count courses from more than two departments is often granted if the material involved constitutes a coherent program (for example, biochemistry courses from Biology, Biophysics and Chemistry). No more than two (2) courses and no more than six (6) credits may be taken in appropriate areas of engineering, mathematics, applied math and statistics, or (N)-coded psychology.
- 3
At least 9 credits must be in the humanities and at least 9 credits must be in the social sciences.
- 4
While students typically take these credits at the 100- or 200-level, 300- or 400-level H or S credits not used to the fulfill the upper level humanities or social science electives may be used.
Minimum GPA Standards
Students must maintain an overall grade point average of 2.0 in their major. Satisfactory/unsatisfactory graded courses may not count towards major requirements.
Double Major Restrictions
Students majoring in another natural sciences major may not double major with the Natural Sciences Area Major.