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 total of 60 science or mathematics credits must be completed, primarily from departments in the College of Natural Sciences. The 60 credits must be distributed as follows:

A. Foundation Requirement (9 courses):
Plant and Animal Biology: One of the following two-course sequences:
BIOLOGY 100 and 101 Introductory Biology I and II
BIOLOGY 102 and 103 Introductory Biology for Science Majors and Plant Biology

General Chemistry: One of the following two-course sequences:
CHEM 111 and 112 General Chemistry for Science and Engineering Majors
CHEM 121 and 122 General Chemistry for Chemistry Majors

Earth/Planetary Science: One of the following courses:
ASTRON 101 The Solar System
ASTRON 223 Planetary Science
GEO-SCI 101 The Earth
GEO-SCI 103 Introductory Oceanography

Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science: One of the following two-course sequences:
MATH 127 and 128 Calculus I and II for the Life and Social Sciences
MATH 131 and 132 Calculus I and II for Science and Engineering
CMPSCI 121 Introduction to Problem Solving and CMPSCI 187 Programming with Data Structures
Statistics sequence approved by the Mathematics Department

Physics: Two-course introductory physics sequence with accompanying laboratories chosen from:
PHYSICS 131/133 and 132/134 Introductory Physics I and II/Laboratory I and II
PHYSICS 151/153 and 152/154 General Physics I and II/Laboratory I and II
PHYSICS 181/183 and 182/184 Physics I and II/Laboratory I and II.

B. Concentration Requirement
Each student selects a concentration area from among the programs offered in the College, which becomes part of the major designation. The permitted concentrations (and major designations) are: Astronomy (SCIAST), Biochemistry (SCIBCH), Biology (SCIBIO), Chemistry (SCICHM), Computer Science (SCICS), Geology (SCIGEO), Mathematics (SCIMTH), and Physics (SCIPHY). The concentration consists of at least 15 credits in courses numbered 200 and above. These should include the Junior Year Writing course for that area, and at least three other upper-division courses (courses numbered 300 and above). Some programs specify that particular courses must be taken, so it is important that each student consult with the departmental Science major adviser when planning the concentration.

C. Upper-Division Requirement
If the courses taken to meet the Concentration Requirement do not include at least 15 credits of courses numbered 300 or above, additional upper-division credits must be taken to reach at least 15 credits.

D. Additional Courses
If courses taken to meet all above requirements do not amount to 60 credits, the remaining credits must be from courses numbered 200 or above in the College of Natural Sciences and may not include courses specifically intended for non-science majors.

Notes and Restrictions
1. The 60 required credits may include a maximum of six credits in courses numbered 200 and above from science-related fields in other schools or colleges on campus (Humanities and Fine Arts, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Education, Engineering, Management, Nursing, and Public Health and Health Sciences). The acceptable courses must be approved by the Science major coordinating committee. Some less obvious examples of such courses are HISTORY 432 and 433 U.S. Science and Technology I and II; PHIL 310 Intermediate Logic; PHIL 513 and 514 Mathematical Logic I and II.

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.