Overview

The Natural Sciences program provides students more breadth than traditional science programs.

Natural Sciences students must select one of the following concentrations:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Physics

Many exciting areas of scientific inquiry, such as the neurosciences, environmental sciences, and biophysical sciences, require general science backgrounds that encompass multiple science disciplines. The Bachelor of Arts in Natural Sciences with a concentration in Biology helps students to explore both domestic and international culture through the foreign language and upper-level liberal arts course requirements.

Students planning graduate study or technical careers in one of these interdisciplinary areas, as well as students preparing for careers in health sciences, legal professions, science education, science-related business, or social service might be well served by the BA in Natural Sciences. This program of study can prepare students for graduate study in a traditional science discipline, and many Natural Sciences graduates have found employment in technical fields.

Students in this program can apply to our Professional Science Master's (PSM) programs in Bioinnovation, Biotechnology and Scientific Writing. Students interested in these PSM programs can apply for admission to the +1 BA/PSM accelerated options for completion of these degrees. PSM programs provide specific curricula and training for workforce entry or re-entry.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: ST-NATS-BA

Distinction in Major

To graduate with distinction in this major, a student must satisfy the following criteria:

• achieve a minimum 3.33 GPA in major or
• achieve a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and successfully complete six credits of internship coursework (SCTC 1385, SCTC 2385, or SCTC 3185) with approval by the program director.

Accelerated Programs

Accelerated programs provide a pathway for students to pursue both an undergraduate degree and an advanced degree in a shorter amount of time. Below is a list of available accelerated programs for students in the BA in Natural Sciences.

• BA or BS in Natural Sciences / PSM in Scientific Writing
• BA or BS in Natural Sciences / PSM in Bioinnovation
• BA or BS in Natural Sciences / PSM in Biotechnology
• BA in Natural Sciences / MEd in Middle Grades Education with a Concentration in Science
• BA in Natural Sciences / MEd in Middle Grades Education with a Concentration in Science and Language Arts

Undergraduate Contact Information

Susan Varnum, Program Director and Professor of Chemistry
Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs and Science Education​
College of Science and Technology​
Gladfelter Hall, Room 629
215-204-4073
susan.varnum@temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Natural Sciences.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2023-2024. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2023 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Bachelor of Arts Requirements

Summary of Requirements for the Degree

1. University Requirements (123 total s.h.)
   • Students must complete all University requirements including those listed below.
   • All undergraduate students must complete at least two writing-intensive courses for a total of at least six credits at Temple as part of their major. The specific writing-intensive course options for this major are:

     Course List

     Code	Title	Credit Hours
     SCTC 2396	Writing for Science and Technology	3
     SCTC 4396	Paradigms of Scientific Knowledge: Knowledge Discovery from Scientific Data	3

   • Students must complete the General Education (GenEd) requirements.
     • See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for the GenEd curriculum.
     • Students who complete CST majors receive a waiver for 2 Science & Technology (GS) and 1 Quantitative Literacy (GQ) GenEd courses.
   • Students must satisfy general Temple University residency requirements.
2. College Requirements
   • A minimum of 90 total credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), and/or the College of Engineering (ENG).
     • A minimum of 45 of these credits must be upper-level (courses numbered 2000 and above).
     • A minimum of 6 of these credits must be upper-level (courses numbered 2000 and above) CLA credits.
   • Successful completion or waiver from the second level of a foreign language.
   • Complete a one-credit first-year or transfer seminar.
     • SCTC 1001 CST First Year Seminar for every entering first-year CST student.
     • SCTC 2001 CST Transfer Seminar for every entering transfer CST student.
3. Major Requirements for Bachelor of Arts (63-72 s.h.)
   At least 7 courses required for the major must be completed at Temple. At least 2 courses in the chosen concentration must be completed at Temple.

   Course List

   Code	Title	Credit Hours
   Biology
   BIOL 1111	Introduction to Organismal Biology	4
   or BIOL 1911	Honors Introduction to Organismal Biology
   Select one of the following:		4
   BIOL 1112	Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes
   or BIOL 1912	Honors Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes
   BIOL 2112	Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
   or BIOL 2912	Honors Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
   Chemistry
   Select one of the following:		4
   CHEM 1021 & CHEM 1023	Introduction to Chemistry I and Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory I
   CHEM 1031 & CHEM 1033	General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I
   CHEM 1951 & CHEM 1953	Honors General Chemical Science I and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory I (F)
   Select one of the following:		4
   CHEM 1022 & CHEM 1024	Introduction to Chemistry II and Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory II
   CHEM 1032 & CHEM 1034	General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II
   CHEM 1952 & CHEM 1954	Honors General Chemical Science II and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory II (S)
   College of Science & Technology
   SCTC 1013	Elements of Data Science for the Physical and Life Sciences	3
   Select one of the following: 1		4
   SCTC 1501	STEM Challenge: The World Around Us
   SCTC 1502	STEM Challenge: The World Within
   SCTC 2396	Writing for Science and Technology	3
   SCTC 3001	History of Science	3
   SCTC 4396	Paradigms of Scientific Knowledge: Knowledge Discovery from Scientific Data	3
   Computer Programming/Physics
   Select one of the following: 2		3-4
   CIS 1051	Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python
   or CIS 1951	Honors Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python
   or CIS 1057	Computer Programming in C
   CIS 1052	Introduction to Web Technology and Programming
   CIS 1053	Programming in Matlab
   PHYS 1004	Introduction to Astronomy (F)
   SCTC 3312	Coding STEM Lessons 3
   Earth & Environmental Science
   EES 2001	Physical Geology	4
   Mathematics
   Select one of the following:		4-8
   MATH 1031	Differential and Integral Calculus
   MATH 1041 & MATH 1044	Calculus I and Introduction to Probability and Statistics for the Life Sciences 4
   MATH 1041 & MATH 1042	Calculus I and Calculus II 4
   MATH 1941 & MATH 1942	Honors Calculus I and Honors Calculus II 4
   Physics
   Select one of the following:		4
   PHYS 1021	Introduction to General Physics I
   PHYS 1061	Elementary Classical Physics I
   or PHYS 1961	Honors Elementary Classical Physics I
   PHYS 2021	General Physics I
   or PHYS 2921	Honors General Physics I
   Select one of the following:		4
   PHYS 1022	Introduction to General Physics II
   PHYS 1062	Elementary Classical Physics II
   or PHYS 1962	Honors Elementary Classical Physics II
   PHYS 2022	General Physics II
   or PHYS 2922	Honors General Physics II
   Biology Electives
   Four Upper-level (numbered 2200 and above) Biology Electives 5		12-16
   Total Credit Hours		63-72

   Course List

   Code	Title	Credit Hours
   (F) - Fall only course
   (S) - Spring only course

   ¹

   It is recommended that SCTC 1501 or SCTC 1502 be completed before SCTC 4396.

   ²

   It is recommended that students take CIS 1051 (or CIS 1951) as Python is the language of choice for most science programming needs.

   ³

   SCTC 3312 is a variable credit course and must be taken for 3 credits in order to meet the requirement for this program. Since the default credits are set to 1, students must contact CSTbce@temple.edu to have an advisor change the credits to 3.

   ⁴

   These courses are not required if MATH 1031 is completed.

   ⁵

   The four electives (numbered 2200 and above) must all be taken from within the Biology department and must satisfy elective criteria of the department. Note the Exception: Natural Science majors in the Biology concentration are permitted to take BIOL 2001 Clinical Microbiology as an elective. In the circumstance where a laboratory course is the complement of a lecture course, both must be completed to fulfill the requirement for ONE science elective.

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Arts in Natural Sciences with Concentration in Biology

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2023-2024 Academic Year

¹

It is recommended that SCTC 1501 or SCTC 1502 be completed before SCTC 4396.

²

These courses are not required if MATH 1031 is completed.

³

The four electives (numbered 2200 and above) must all be taken from within the Biology department and must satisfy elective criteria of the department. Note the Exception: Natural Science majors in the Biology concentration are permitted to take BIOL 2001 Clinical Microbiology as an elective. In the circumstance where a laboratory course is the complement of a lecture course, both must be completed to fulfill the requirement for ONE science elective.

⁴

It is recommended that students take CIS 1051 (or CIS 1951) as Python is the language of choice for most science programming needs.

⁵

SCTC 3312 is a variable credit course and must be taken for 3 credits in order to meet the requirement for this program. Since the default credits are set to 1, students must contact CSTbce@temple.edu to have an advisor change the credits to 3.