Natural Science Program

Purpose Statement

The Department of Natural Science provides:

a career-oriented approach to pre-professional preparation in the health sciences
a liberal arts and sciences approach to environmental health and sustainability
a hands-on approach to education in the laboratory and through student research
preparation to meet the Kansas State Department of Education standards for licensure in biology and chemistry

General Education Student Learning Outcome: Students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of how the natural sciences construct knowledge of the world.

General Education Performance Indicators

Students should be able to:

Summarize the current consensus of the scientific community with regards to the structure and function of some aspect of the physical or biological world.
Illustrate their knowledge of the changing nature of the consensus of the scientific community with regards to the structure and function of some aspect of the physical or biological world, by outlining the historical changes in that consensus.
Report on their experiences with those methods and processes of the natural sciences which they conducted in the laboratory.

Biochemistry Major (Recommended for Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental Students)

Requirements (44 hours)

CH 111 College Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 112  College Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 251  Organic Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 252  Organic Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 201  Quantitative Analysis (4 hours)
BI 364 Cell and Molecular Biology (4 hours)
BI/CH 370 Biochemistry I (4 hours)
BI 111  College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112  College Biology II (4 hours)
BI/CH 310 Statistical Data Analysis (4 hours)

Select one from the following (3-4 hours)

BI 283 Genetics (4 hours)
BI 384 Advanced Genetics (4 hours)
CH 390 Instrumental Analysis (3 hours)

Required Supporting Courses (12 hours)

PH 215 General Physics I (4 hours)
PH 216 General Physics II (4 hours)
*NS 375A Research Methods (1 hour)
NS 375B Junior Seminar (1 hour)
*NS 475A Senior Research Part A (1 hour)
NS 475B Senior Research Part B (1 hour)

Total: 59-60 hours

Biology Major

Requirements (32 hours)

A minimum of 32 semester hours of biological science coursework, including

BI 111  College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112  College Biology II (4 hours)
BI 283  Genetics (4 hours)
BI 310  Statistical Data Analysis (4 hours)

8 credit hours chosen from among the 300 Level BI Courses
8 additional credit hours of biology electives to reach required 32 hours

Required Supporting Courses (28 hours)

CH 111 College Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 112  College Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 251  Organic Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 252  Organic Chemistry II (5 hours)
PH 215 General Physics I (4 hours)
*NS 375A Research Methods (1 hour)
NS 375B  Junior Seminar (1 hour)
*NS 475A Senior Research Part A (1 hour)
NS 475B Senior Research Part B (1 hour)

Total: 60 hours

Biology Major: Pre-Med Track

Requirements (16 hours)

BI 111  College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112  College Biology II (4 hours)
BI 283  Genetics (4 hours)
BI 310  Statistical Data Analysis (4 hours)

Additional Biology courses (8 hours)

BI 334 Immunology (4 hours)
Another 4-hour biology course

300-level Biology courses (8 hours)

BI/CH 370 Biochemistry I (4 hours)
BI 364 Cell and Molecular Biology (4 hours)

Required Supporting Courses (28 hours)

Total: 60 hours

Suggested Course:
PH 216 General Physics II (4 hours)

Biology Major: PA Track

Requirements (16 hours)

BI 111  College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112  College Biology II (4 hours)
BI 283  Genetics (4 hours)
BI 310  Statistical Data Analysis (4 hours)

Additional Biology courses (8 hours)

BI 225 Human Anatomy (4 hours)
BI 315 Human Physiology (4 hours)

300-level Biology courses (8 hours)

BI/CH 370 Biochemistry I (4 hours)
CH 364 Cell and Molecular Biology (4 hours)

Required Supporting Courses (28 hours)

Total: 60 hours

Biology Major: Pre-Vet Track

Requirements (16 hours)

BI 111  College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112  College Biology II (4 hours)
BI 283  Genetics (4 hours)
BI 310  Statistical Data Analysis (4 hours)

Additional Biology courses (9 hours)

BI 234 Microbiology (5 hours)
BI 315 Human Physiology (4 hours)

300-level Biology courses (8 hours)

BI/CH 370 Biochemistry I (4 hours)
BI 364 Cell and Molecular Biology (4 hours)

Required Supporting Courses (28 hours)

Total: 61 hours

Biology Major – Teaching Licensure in Biology (6-12)

Biology Major for Teacher Licensure

A minimum of 32 semester hours, including:

BI 111 College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112 College Biology II (4 hours)
BI 201 Biodiversity (4 hours)
BI 283 Genetics (4 hours)
*NS 375A Research Methods (1 hour)
NS 375B Junior Seminar (1 hour)

12 credit hours chosen from among the remaining BI or NS courses numbered 200 of higher, including at least one organismal course and one population course.

Required Supporting Courses

CH 111 College Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 112  College Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 251  Organic Chemistry I (5 hours)
CI 232  Educational Technology (2 hours)
MA 221 Elementary Applied Statistics (4 hours)
PE 150 Concepts in Holistic Health (3 hours)
PH 215 General Physics I (4 hours)
PY 101  Introduction to Psychology (3 hours)

Students pursuing this major must also meet all professional requirements for teacher licensure in the Curriculum and Instruction Department.

Biology Minor

Requirements

A minimum of 20 semester hours, including

BI 111  College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112  College Biology II (4 hours)
BI 283  Genetics (4 hours)

At least eight hours of additional biology courses, numbered 200 or higher

Required Supporting Courses

CH 111 College Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 251 Organic Chemistry I (5 hours)

Chemistry Major

Requirements

A minimum of 41 or 42 semester hours including

CH 111  Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 112  Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 235 Fundamentals of Toxicology (2 hours)
CH 251  Organic Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 252  Organic Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 201  Quantitative Analysis (4 hours)
CH 390 Instrumental Analysis (4 hours)
CH 385  Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (4 hours)
CH 400 General Physical Chemistry (5 hours) OR CH 370 Biochemistry I (4 hours)
CH 388 Green Chemistry (3 hours)

Required Supporting Courses

PH 205 College Physics I (5 hours)
PH 206 College Physics II (5 hours)
*NS 375A Research Methods (1 hour)
NS 375B Junior Seminar (1 hour)
*NS 475A Senior Research Part A (1 hour)
NS 475B Senior Research Part B (1 hour)
MA 111 Calculus I (4 hours)

Recommended Supporting Courses

BI 111 College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112 College Biology II (4 hours)
MA 112 Calculus II (4 hours)

Chemistry Major – Industry Focus

Requirements

A minimum of 37 semester hours including

G-CH 111 Chemistry I (5 hours)

CH 112 Chemistry II (5 hours)

CH 251 Organic Chemistry I (5 hours)

CH 252 Organic Chemistry II (5 hours)

CH 201 Quantitative Analysis (4 hours)

CH 390 Instrumental Analysis (4 hours)

CH 370 Biochemistry I (4 hours)

CH 388 Green Chemistry (3 hours)

CH 235 Fundamentals of Toxicology (2 hours)

Required Supporting Courses

G-PH 205 College Physics I (5 hour) OR G-PH 115 General Physics (4 hour)

PH 206 College Physics II (5 hour) OR PH216 General Physics II (4 hours)

*NS 375A Research Methods (1 hour)

NS 375B Junior Seminar (1 hour)

*NS 475A Senior Research Part A (1 hour)

NS 475B Senior Research Part B (1 hour)

BI 234 Microbiology (5 hours)

BI 111 College Biology I (4 hours)

Recommended Supporting Courses

BI 112 College Biology II (4 hours)

BI 283 Genetics (4 hours)

MA 111 Calculus I (4 hours)

MA 112 Calculus II (4 hours)

Chemistry Major – Teaching Licensure in Chemistry (6-12)

Chemistry Major for Teacher Licensure

Requirements
A minimum of 37 hours including:

CH 111 Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 112 Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 251 Organic Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 252 Organic Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 201 Quantitative Analysis (4 hours)
CH 390 Instrumental Analysis (4 hours)
CH 370 Biochemistry I (4 hours)
CH 388 Green Chemistry (3 hours)
CH 235 Fundamentals of Toxicology (2 hours)

Required Supporting Courses

PH 205 College Physics I (5 hour) OR G-PH 115 General Physics (4 hour)
PH 206 College Physics II (5 hour) OR PH216 General Physics II (4 hours)
*NS 375A Research Methods (1 hour)
NS 375B Junior Seminar (1 hour)
*NS 475A Senior Research Part A (1 hour)
NS 475B Senior Research Part B (1 hour)
BI 111 College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 234 Microbiology (5 hours)

Suggested Courses

NS 141 Environmental Science (4 hours)
PC 251 Geology (4 hours)
PC 275 Astronomy (4 hours)
CH 252 Organic Chemistry II (5 hours)
MA 111 Calculus I (4 hours)
MA 112 Calculus II (4 hours)
PH 205 College Physics I (replace PH 215) (5 hours)
PH 206 College Physics II (replace PH 216) (5 hours)
*NS 475A Senior Research Part A (1 hour)
NS 475B Senior Research Part B (1 hour)

Students pursuing this major must also meet all professional requirements for teacher licensure in the curriculum and instruction department.

Chemistry Minor

Requirements

A minimum of 24 hours including

Environmental Sustainability Major

Requirements

A minimum of 51 semester hours including:

BI 101 Principles of Biology (4 hours) or BI 111 College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 201  Biodiversity (4 hours)
CH 101 Principles of Chemistry (4 hours) or CH105 GOB Chemistry for Life (4 hours)
NS 141  Environmental Science (4 hours)
PH 215  General Physics I (4 hours)
PC 251  Geology (4 hours)
NS 245 Climatology (4 hours)
BI 310 Statistical Data Analysis (4 hours)
BI 365 Evolution and Ecology (4 hours)
NS 225 Sustainability and Natural Resources (3 hours)
NS 350 Stewardship Seminar 1 per semester (2 hours)
*NS 375A Research Methods (1 hour)
NS 375B Junior Seminar (1 hour)
NS 410 Ethics in Science (4 hours)
*NS 475A Senior Research Part A (1 hour)
NS 475B Senior Research Part B (1 hour)
NS 495 Field Experience (4 hours)

Required Natural Science Electives (3-4 hours)

BI 330 Wildlife Management (3 hours)
CH 235 Fundamentals of Toxicology (2 hours)
BI 235 Bioinformatics (4 hours)
IT 115 Data Analytics (3 hours)
BI 250 Applied Botany (2 hours)
Or Additional courses as approved by the Advisor

Additional Requirements from Humanities and Social Science

Select at least 6 hours from the following:

EC 202 Survey of Economics (3 hours)
PS 130 Principles of Geography (3 hours)
SO 101 Introduction to Sociology (3 hours)

Environmental Science Minor

Requirements

BI 101 Principles of Biology or BI 111 College Biology I or CH 101 Principles of Chemistry (4 hours) or CH105 GOB Chemistry for Life (4 hours)
NS 141  Environmental Science (4 hours)
PC 251  Geology (4 hours)
NS 245  Climatology (4 hours)
NS 495  Field Experience (4 hours)

Environmental Stewardship Minor

Requirements

NS 141 Environmental Science (4 hours)
PC 251  Geology or
PC 245  Climatology (4 hours)
NS 495  Field Experience (4 hours)
NS 350  Stewardship Seminar (2 hours)

Electives from Environmental Sustainability Major additional requirements list (6 hours)