The Major
The Science major is intended for students with a general intellectual interest in natural sciences who do not wish to specialize or to go on to graduate work in a specific area of science. It can provide a valuable broad science background to an administrative position in science-related industries, or to a career as a science writer or illustrator. It is especially appropriate for students who intend to teach general science at the middle school level, or for those who want to pair a degree in Science with a program in Education to teach at the elementary school level. The Science major is not designed for students who wish to do graduate work in a specific area of science (for which a traditional departmental major would be appropriate), but is a very good choice as a second major or a second degree, or as preparation for teaching certification, graduate school, or professional school. Each student is advised by the Science major adviser in the student’s concentration area (usually the department’s chief undergraduate adviser). The Science major adviser in the concentration area will be responsible for academic advising, approval of the program, and certification of completion of graduation requirements within the guidelines established by the Science major coordinating committee. This committee consists of the chief undergraduate advisers of the departments in the College of Natural Sciences, a representative of the Pre-Medical committee, and the College of Natural Sciences Associate Dean for Undergraduate Advising (College of Natural Sciences Advising Center, 220 Morrill II). Requirements A. Foundation Requirement (9 courses): General Chemistry: One of the following two-course sequences: Earth/Planetary Science: One of the following courses: Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science: One of the following two-course sequences: Physics: Two-course introductory physics sequence with accompanying laboratories chosen from: B. Concentration Requirement C. Upper-Division Requirement D. Additional Courses Notes and Restrictions 2. No course taken to satisfy the requirements of the major may be taken on a Pass/Fail basis. Colloquia and seminars that are offered as mandatory Pass/Fail may not be applied to the requirements of the major. 3. Individual departments may have minimum acceptable grades and/or averages for the concentration. Science majors must maintain at least a C average in the courses used to satisfy major requirements. 4. Although the Science major might usefully be part of a double major degree, the second major must be outside the College of Natural Sciences. |
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