Natural Sciences Competency
Courses in the natural sciences engage students with subjects that aim to answer fundamental questions about the structure and function of the complex systems that constitute the physical universe. Students learn to seek knowledge for its own sake as well as for its application, and to understand the relation of technological progress to advances made in the natural sciences. Courses in the natural sciences further students understanding of the scientific method. This prepares them for further study in technology or basic science. Students learn the connection between successful interdisciplinary scholarship and the knowledge provided by the natural sciences. Courses in the natural sciences initiate the development of the knowledge and skills students need to become broadly informed, to participate in interdisciplinary scholarship, and to be successful in their professional specialization.
The following program learning outcomes define the natural sciences competency. Students who have completed the general education natural sciences requirements can:
- Apply discipline-specific knowledge to explain natural phenomena and scientific problems.
- Use discipline-specific methods to test a hypothesis by collecting, analyzing and interpreting data and communicate the results.
- Describe the scope and limits of science and how scientific inquiry is based on investigation of evidence from the natural world.
- Describe how scientific data and advances in science relate to societal issues.