Tips for How a Mathematics or Computer Science Major Should Select Approved Natural Sciences for the NSM

Natural Sciences Requirement

One of the most oft-asked questions from a Math or Computer Science major is: Which courses can I take for the Natural Sciences requirement? This question is complicated by the fact that there are over 100 total Natural Sciences courses that can actually apply to the requirement! So, to assist, here is a handy guideline for selection: 1. Process of Elimination a. Students should eliminate the following courses from their selection: i. Biology 1110, 1120, 1134, 1144, 1153, 1309, 1310, 1320, 1334, 1344, 1353 ii. Chemistry 1101, 1102, 1117, 1301, 1302, 1372 iii. Physics 1100, 1305, 1306, 2340, 5311, 5312, 5397 iv. Nutrition 2332 (or any other NUTR courses) v. Pharmacy 2362 (or any other PHAR courses) 2. Select one of the Approved science disciplines (brief description below) a. Biology/Biochemistry the study of life and living organisms. Biology covers cells, organisms, ecology (study of ecosystems and environment), and evolution. Biochemistry is the study of chemical processes in living organisms. b. Chemistry the study of chemicals. Chemistry covers atoms, reactions, states of matter, and other interactions between chemicals. c. Geology the study of the earth. Geology covers the earths processes and formation of the earths surface (rocks, minerals, layers, etc.) d. Physics the study of the natural world. Physics covers forces, motion, matter, electricity and optics. 3. Plan out completion (for B.S. majors) a. One of the above sciences should interest you a bit more than the other. For that favorite science, plan to take a total of 8 hours: 1st lecture, 1st laboratory, 2nd lecture, 2nd laboratory. Example: GEOL 1330, 1130, 1376, 1176. By doing this, you will satisfy the two laboratories in the same discipline requirement. NOTE: University Physics lectures have an associated recitation lab as part of the lecture in PHYS 1321 and 1322. This recitation is not a laboratory in the sense of the requirement. The laboratories for University Physics are: 1121 and 1122 i. Computer Science Science Option majors must take PHYS 1321 and 1322. Such majors can plan to take 1121 and 1122 to complete two labs in the same discipline. b. Once you have completed 8 total hours of one particular science, you will then select the remaining 6 hours. For these 6 hours, you would only need the lecture designation, but be careful: Chemistry is one such science where the laboratory must be completed to receive credit for the lecture (see Course descriptions in the catalog). c. Your total should be 14 hours: 4 lectures (3-hr course), and 2 laboratories (1-hr course). The two laboratories must correspond to two lectures (as mentioned above). d. You are allowed to split the remaining 2 lectures (6 hours). So, here are some examples of completion: i. BIOL 1361, 1161, 1362, 1162, GEOL 1330, GEOL 1350 ii. PHYS 1321, 1121, 1322, 1122, BIOL 1361, GEOL 1330 iii. CHEM 1331, 1111, 1332, 1112, BIOL 1361, PHYS 1301 iv. GEOL 1330, 1130, 1376, 1176, PHYS 1321, CHEM 1331, 1111 v. GEOL 1330, 1130, 1376, 1176, 1302, 1350 vi. PHYS 1301, 1101, 1302, 1102, CHEM 1331, 1111, 1332, 1112