Academic Programs Catalog

College of Natural Science

Undergraduate Programs

Graduation Requirements

  1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog.

    Students who are enrolled in majors leading to Bachelor of Science and  Bachelor of Arts degrees in the College of Natural Science may complete an alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that consists of:
    1. One course in  Biological Science, Entomology, Integrative Biology, Microbiology, Physiology, or Plant Biology.
    2. Chemistry 141 or 151 or 181H.
    3. Two credits of laboratory experience in biological or physical science.
      Credits earned in courses in the alternative track may also be counted toward College and major requirements for Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees.
  2. The requirements of the College of Natural Science for the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees that are listed below:
    1. The requirements for either a departmental major or an interdepartmental major of 27 to 79 credits. For specific requirements, see the sections that follow.
    2. A minimum grade–point average of 2.00 in courses in the student's major; i.e., in all courses that are required for the major and that are not counted toward College and University requirements.
    3. A minimum of 30 credits in courses numbered 300 and above.
    4. Only credits in courses graded on the numerical or Pass–No Grade system may be counted toward College and major requirements for Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in the College of Natural Science.  College of Natural Science students may not enroll in courses that are to be counted toward College and major requirements, including courses in other colleges, on a Credit–No Credit basis.
  3. The requirements of the College of Natural Science for either the Bachelor of Science degree or the Bachelor of Arts degree that are listed below:
    1. Requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree:
      1. One semester of calculus.
      2. A second semester of calculus or one semester of statistics and probability.
      3. Two semesters of chemistry including at least one laboratory experience.
      4. Two semesters of physics.
      5. One semester of biological science.
    2. Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree:
      1. One semester of calculus.
      2. A second semester of calculus or one semester of statistics and probability.
      3. One semester each of biological science, chemistry, and physics including at least one laboratory experience.
      4. Six credits in courses in the arts and humanities or the social, behavioral, and economic sciences beyond the credits that are counted toward the University's Integrative Studies requirement.

Many major programs which lead to a Bachelor of Science degree require a proficiency greater than the College established minimum in one, or more, of the following fields:  chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Also, for either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree, when two or more options exist for the fulfillment of any College— established requirement, one of the options may be specified as a major requirement. The specific requirements for each major program are given in the sections that follow.

Chemistry and mathematics requirements should be completed to the fullest extent possible during the freshman and sophomore years. Bachelor of Science candidates with a major in a physical science should complete the physics requirement during the sophomore year. Students with a major in a biological science may postpone completion of the physics requirement until the junior year, but should complete Biological Science 161, 162 by the end of the sophomore year.  The biology courses should be completed during the freshman year because they are prerequisites to most of the courses offered by the departments in the biological sciences.  All students should complete the University's Tier I writing requirement during the freshman year.