Natural Science Program

 ~ Natural Science is an interdisciplinary major combining mathematics with the biological and physical sciences. It is designed to offer maximum flexibility and scope for individual's interest within the sciences, while also providing opportunities to investigate other disciplines.

 ~ Each student, in consultation with an advisor, will design his/her course schedule by selecting a series of courses to provide preparation for individual goals and interests. Students majoring in Natural Science are required to take:

• General Biology (BI 3-4)
• General Chemistry (CH 11-12)
• General Physics (PS 27-28)

 ~ In addition, the student is required to complete successfully five additional courses from among those offered by the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, or Physics. Students planning to attend a graduate or professional school should include organic chemistry among their courses of study.

 ~ Since scientific research is an important aspect of an education in science, Natural Science majors are strongly recommended to replace one of the five required courses with one of the following: 1) participation in Independent Research (BI 21-22) under the direction of a Biology faculty member, 2) participation in the Washington Internship Program (BI 50), 3) the development, with direction from the Departmental Chair, of an individual internship program (BI 51 and/or 52), or 4) participation in Research and Seminar I and II (CH 50-51).

 ~ Secondary education Biology and Natural Science students in the Teacher Education Program must plan with the Biology Department's liaison (Prof. Dan Lavoie) with the Education Department to complete the science courses recommended for teacher certification by the New Hampshire Department of Education. In addition to General Biology (BI 03-04), General Chemistry (CH 27-28), and General Physics (PS 27-28), a selection of ten courses from among the following is recommended to ensure a broad background in the sciences:

• Mathematics (MA 7-8) and/or Biostatistics (BI 45)
• Chemistry (CH 27-28)
• Biochemistry (BI 07, 36, and/or 41)
• Cell Biology (BI 23 and/or 33)
• Genetics (BI 27 and/or 30)
• Microbiology (BI 17 and/or 35)
• Botany (BI 29)
• Zoology (BI 15-16, 24, 31-32, 34, 37, 38, and/or 47)
• Evolution (BI 25)
• Ecology (BI 05, 19, 20, and/or 28)
• Research (BI 21-22, 50, and/or 51-52)

 ~ Students must also complete all course requirements by the end of the seventh semester in order to student teach during the eighth semester.