Natural Sciences, B.S.
The major in natural sciences prepares students for employment as teachers and/or scientists in industrial laboratories and for further study in the sciences. Students take courses in biology, chemistry, physics, earth science and mathematics. The laboratory work will build skills for planning and carrying out laboratory experiments in science and provide students with an intellectual foundation that will help them understand recent advances in science and technology.
Although any student may choose natural sciences as a major, the program is ideally suited for students interested in pursuing a career as an Early Childhood Education (P-3), Elementary Education (K-6), or English as a Second Language (ESL) science teacher. Empowered by knowledge from mathematics and all the branches of the natural sciences, students can serve their community as successful science teachers and be able to be leaders for science education in their schools.
Transfer Regulations
Students must complete a minimum of 24 credits in the natural sciences program at Georgian Court, including SC405 Earth Science.
To earn this degree, you must successfully complete at least 120 credits, including your General Education requirements and the major requirements below.
Major Sequence
A minimum of 38 credits in the natural sciences, plus courses in related areas, is required for the B.S. in Natural Sciences degree. The required science courses are:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Courses | ||
| BI109 | Environmental Biology | 4 |
| BI111 | Life: Human Biology | 4 |
| CH113 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CH151 | Chemistry for the Health Sciences | 4 |
| or CH114 | General Chemistry II | |
| PH111 | Physics in Everyday Life I | 4 |
| or PH115 | College Physics I | |
| PH112 | Physics in Everyday Life II | 4 |
| or PH116 | College Physics II | |
| CH211 | Chemistry of the Elements | 3 |
| SC405 | Earth Science | 4 |
| Group I | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Biological Interactions: Ecology | ||
| Ecology & Health | ||
| Botany | ||
| Invertebrate Zoology | ||
| Group II | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Astronomy & Cosmology | ||
| Physics of Meteorology | ||
| Coastal Geomorphology | ||
| Oceanography | ||
| Related Courses | ||
| Group III | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Statistical Thinking | ||
| Experimental Design & Statistics | ||
| Probability & Statistics I | ||
| Group IV 1 | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6-8 | |
| College Algebra | ||
| Precalculus | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| Calculus II | ||
| Foundations Of Computer Science | ||
| Computer Programming I | ||
| Linear Algebra | ||
| Discrete Mathematics | ||
| Total Credits | 47-50 | |
| 1 | The first math course to be taken from group IV will be determined by the student’s score on the mathematics placement test. The choice of the other math course from group IV should be made based on the recommendation of the academic advisor. |
A student must earn a GPA of 2.5 or better after completing 24 of the required credits to continue the program.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| GEN101 | Pathway to the Bridge 1 | 2 |
| EN111 or EN221 |
Academic Writing and Research I 1 or Honors Argument: Rhetoric & Research |
3 |
| BI111 | Life: Human Biology 1,2 | 4 |
| Mod. Lang. or V&P Arts 1 | 3 | |
| PH111 | Physics in Everyday Life I 2 | 4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEN199 | WI:Discovering Self in the Universe 1 | 3 |
| BI109 | Environmental Biology 2 | 4 |
| Mod. Lang. or V&P Arts 1 | 3 | |
| PH112 | Physics in Everyday Life II 2 | 4 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Literature 1 | 3 | |
| Social Science 1 or History 1 | 3 | |
| Math 1 from Group IV 1,2 | 3 | |
| CH111 | The World of Chemistry 2 | 4 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PL245 | Philosophical Inquiry (or Religious Studies) 1 | 3 |
| Social Science 1 or History 1 | 3 | |
| Math 2 from Group IV 2 | 3-4 | |
| CH112 | Chemistry in Your Life 2 | 4 |
| Credits | 13-14 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PL245 | Philosophical Inquiry (or Religious Studies) 1 | 3 |
| Social Science 2 1 | 3 | |
| Math from Group III 2 | 3 | |
| CH211 | Chemistry of the Elements 2 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
Ethics |
||
| Shaping Lives: Women & Gender | ||
| WI:Visioning a Future | ||
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
Ethics |
||
| Shaping Lives: Women & Gender | ||
| WI:Visioning a Future | ||
| Science from Group II 2 | 4 | |
| SC405 | Earth Science 2 | 4 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
Ethics |
||
| Shaping Lives: Women & Gender | ||
| WI:Visioning a Future | ||
| Science from Group I 2 | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 119-120 | |
| 1 | General Education |
| 2 | Major |
Science Group I
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BI305 | Biological Interactions: Ecology | 4 |
| BI324 | Botany | 4 |
| BI325 | Invertebrate Zoology | 4 |
Science Group II
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PH334 | Astronomy & Cosmology | 4 |
| PH337 | Physics of Meteorology | 4 |
| SC393 | Coastal Geomorphology | 4 |
| SC433 | Oceanography | 4 |
Math Group III
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MA103 | Introduction to Statistical Thinking | 3 |
| BI203 | Experimental Design & Statistics | 3 |
| MA331 | Probability & Statistics I | 3 |
Math Group IV
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MA109 | College Algebra | 3 |
| MA110 | Precalculus | 3 |
| MA115 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MA116 | Calculus II | 4 |
| CS111 | Foundations Of Computer Science | 3 |
| CS123 | Computer Programming I | 4 |
| MA209 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MA210 | Discrete Mathematics | 3 |