The Natural World
Elizabeth T. Brown, The Natural World Coordinator
Scientific investigations into the natural world use analytical methods to evaluate evidence, build and test models based on that evidence, and develop theories. Quantitative reasoning, broadly construed, is humanity's most powerful language for prediction and analysis of physical and human phenomena. Courses in The Natural World provide students with the opportunity to develop methodological awareness and problem-solving skills in the sciences and quantitative disciplines at the college level. Students will be introduced to the scientific method along with a substantial body of scientific facts, concepts, models and theories. They will also gain experience in using quantitative methods to obtain knowledge about the natural, mathematical, and social worlds. This area is cross-disciplinary, thereby demonstrating boundaries and connections among mathematics, statistics, the sciences and other aspects of culture.
The General Education program recommends that students begin The Natural World during their first year and complete it by the end of their sophomore year if possible. Individual courses satisfy requirements in a number of major and professional programs. Students are encouraged to select appropriate courses in The Natural World on the basis of their backgrounds, interests and educational objectives.
The Natural World Learning Outcomes
After completing courses in The Natural World students will be able to meet the following objectives:
- Describe the methods of inquiry that lead to mathematical truth and scientific knowledge and be able to distinguish science from pseudoscience.
- Use theories and models as unifying principles that help us understand natural phenomena and make predictions.
- Recognize the interdependence of applied research, basic research and technology, and how they affect society.
- Identify the interdependence of natural systems with the social, economic and ethical aspects of global and local issues.
- Use graphical, symbolic and numerical methods to analyze, organize and interpret natural phenomena.
- Discriminate between association and causation and identify the types of evidence used to establish causation.
- Formulate hypotheses, identify relevant variables and design experiments to test hypotheses.
- Evaluate the credibility, use and misuse of scientific and mathematical information in scientific developments and public-policy issues.
The Natural World Requirements
The Natural World consists of 10 credits distributed across four program requirements representing four different aspects of scientific knowledge: Quantitative Reasoning, Physical Principles, Natural Systems and Lab Experience. Students will choose one course to satisfy each of these four requirements. Quantitative Reasoning consists of mathematics or statistics courses. Physical Principles and Natural Systems consist of science courses. The requirements may be completed in any order, except in the case of courses denoted by an asterisk (*), which have a mathematics and/or science prerequisite or corequisite. In addition, students are required to have at least one lab experience. Certain courses are designed for future teachers, and enrollment in these courses may be limited to Education majors; these courses are indicated with a double asterisk (**).
Quantitative Reasoning [C3QR]
Students build mathematical models of systems and learn to understand, interpret and analyze data that is numerical in nature.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ISAT 151 | Topics in Applied Calculus in ISAT [C3QR] | 4 |
| ISAT 251 | Topics in Applied Statistics in ISAT [C3QR] | 3 |
| MATH 103 | The Nature of Mathematics [C3QR] | 3 |
| MATH 105 | Statistical Literacy [C3QR] | 3 |
| MATH 110 | Mathematics for Elementary and Middle School Teachers I [C3QR] (Students who have taken MATH 107 prior to Fall 2021 may count that course in place of MATH 110 towards General Education) | 4 |
| MATH 205 | Applied Calculus [C3QR] | 3 |
| MATH 220 | Elementary Statistics [C3QR] | 3 |
| MATH 229 | Introduction to Applied Statistics Using R [C3QR] | 3 |
| MATH 231 | Calculus with Functions I [C3QR] | 3 |
| MATH 233 | Calculus with Modeling I [C3QR] | 3 |
| MATH 235 | Calculus I [C3QR] | 4 |
Physical Principles [C3PP]
Each of the courses satisfying the Physical Principles requirement investigates underlying principles of nature. These principles are applied to build models, often quantitative in nature, that explore and explain a variety of natural phenomena.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ASTR 120 | The Solar System [C3PP] | 3 |
| ASTR 121 | Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology [C3PP] | 3 |
| CHEM 120 | Concepts of Chemistry [C3PP] | 3 |
| CHEM 131 | General Chemistry I [C3PP] *,1 | 3 |
| ENVT 101 | Perspectives in Environmental Science [C3PP] | 3 |
| ISAT 100 | Environmental and Energy Sustainability [C3PP] | 3 |
| ISAT 112 | Environmental Issues in Science and Technology (2,3) [C3PP] (includes lab)) | 4 |
| ISCI 101 | Physics, Chemistry and the Human Experience [C3PP] | 3 |
| ISCI 172 | Physical Science for Teachers [C3PP] ** | 3 |
| PHYS 121 | The Physical Nature of Light and Sound (3, 1) [C3PP] (includes lab)) | 4 |
| PHYS 125 | Physics with Biological Applications [C3PP] | 3 |
| PHYS 140 | College Physics I [C3PP] 2 | 3 |
| PHYS 215 | Energy and the Environment [C3PP] | 3 |
| PHYS 240 | University Physics I [C3PP] | 3 |
Natural Systems [C3NS]
Each of the courses satisfying the Natural Systems requirement explores the behavior of earth and life systems. Students will investigate interactions within these systems, between the systems and their environment, and with society.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 196 | Biological Anthropology [C3NS] | 3 |
| BIO 103 | Contemporary Biology [C3NS] | 3 |
| BIO 140 | Foundations of Biology I [C3NS] | 3 |
| BIO 270 | Human Physiology [C3NS] | 3 |
| GEOL 102 | Environment: Earth [C3NS] | 3 |
| GEOL 110 | Physical Geology [C3NS] *,1 | 3 |
| GEOL 115 | Earth Systems and Climate Change [C3NS] | 3 |
| GEOL 210 | Applied Physical Geology [C3NS] * | 3 |
| GEOL 211 | Introduction to Oceanography [C3NS] | 3 |
| ISAT 113 | Biotechnology Issues in Science and Technology [C3NS] *,2 | 3 |
| ISCI 171 | Earth and Planetary Science for Teachers [C3NS] ** | 3 |
| PSYC 122 | The Science of Vision and Audition [C3NS] | 3 |
Lab Experience [C3L]
Each of the courses satisfying the Lab Experience emphasizes the observational and experimental nature of science. Through hands-on experiential learning, students will make observations and use them to test predictions and hypotheses.
Students must take Physical Principles or Natural Systems course with a lab included, or:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 196L | Scientific Perspectives in Biological Anthropology [C3L] *,1 | 1 |
| BIO 140L | Foundations of Biology I Laboratory [C3L] *,2 | 1 |
| BIO 270L | Human Physiology Laboratory [C3L] *,3 | 1 |
| CHEM 131L | General Chemistry Laboratory [C3L] *,4 | 1 |
| GEOL 110L | Physical Geology Laboratory [C3L] *,5 | 1 |
| GEOL 115L | Earth Systems and Climate Change Lab [C3L] *,6 | 1 |
| ISAT 113L | Biotechnology Issues in Science and Technology Laboratory [C3L] *,7 | 1 |
| ISCI 104 | Scientific Perspectives [C3L] | 1 |
| ISCI 173 | Life and Environmental Science for Teachers [C3L] ** | 3 |
| PHYS 125L | Physics with Biological Applications Laboratory [C3L] *,8 | 1 |
| PHYS 140L | General Physics Laboratory I [C3L] *,9 | 1 |
| PHYS 240L | University Physics Laboratory I [C3L] *,10 | 1 |
- 1
ANTH 196 required prerequisite or corequisite
- 2
BIO 140 required prerequisite or corequisite
- 3
BIO 270 required prerequisite or corequisite
- 4
CHEM 131 required corequisite
- 5
GEOL 110 required corequisite
- 6
GEOL 115 required prerequisite or corequisite
- 7
ISAT 113 required corequisite
- 8
PHYS 125 required corequisite
- 9
PHYS 140 required corequisite
- 10
PHYS 240 required prerequisite or corequisite