Natural Sciences BS with Physics Concentration

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 Science in Natural Sciences with a concentration in Physics prepares students for these trans-disciplinary programs.

With careful selection of laboratory-based courses, students are well prepared for entry-level science positions, and a variety of graduate programs both disciplinary and interdisciplinary. In particular, this is an excellent background for students wishing to enter graduate programs in education, forensic science, scientific writing or editing, or related science technology areas. Students may also select many of the courses required for a variety of pre-health and professional school programs.

In the Bachelor of Science degree, there is greater emphasis on depth of science content knowledge and application of knowledge compared with the Bachelor of Arts in Natural Sciences. The BS degree requires additional science coursework and offers more advanced study in natural sciences. This option provides more flexibility for students declaring the BS in Natural Sciences later in their undergraduate course of study as they can apply more disciplinary science courses to meet the additional science requirements of this degree.

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 BS/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-BS

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 BS in Natural Sciences.

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 Science in Natural Sciences.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Bachelor of Science 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:
      SCTC 2396Writing for Science and Technology3
      SCTC 4396Paradigms of Scientific Knowledge: Knowledge Discovery from Scientific Data3
    • 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).
    • 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 Science (80-88 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.
    Biology
    Select one of the following:4
    BIOL 1011
    		General Biology I (F)
    BIOL 1111
    		Introduction to Organismal Biology
    or BIOL 1911
    		 Honors Introduction to Organismal Biology
    Select one of the following:4
    BIOL 1012
    		General Biology II (S)
    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 1013Elements of Data Science for the Physical and Life Sciences3
    SCTC 1501STEM Challenge: The World Around Us4
    SCTC 1502STEM Challenge: The World Within4
    SCTC 2396Writing for Science and Technology3
    SCTC 3001History of Science3
    SCTC 4396Paradigms of Scientific Knowledge: Knowledge Discovery from Scientific Data3
    Computer Programming/Physics
    Select two of the following: 16-8
    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 2
    Earth & Environmental Science
    EES 2001Physical Geology4
    Mathematics
    MATH 1041Calculus I4
    or MATH 1941 Honors Calculus I
    MATH 1042Calculus II4
    or MATH 1942 Honors Calculus II
    Physics
    Select one of the following:4
    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 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
    Science Electives
    Four Upper-Level (2000+) Physics Electives 312-16
    Science Breadth Electives
    Select one of the following:3-4
    ANTH 2705
    		Introduction to Evolutionary Anthropology
    ENST 2001
    		Environment and Society
    MATH 2031
    		Probability and Statistics
    PHIL 2157
    		Environmental Ethics
    SCTC 2100
    		Special Topics in Science and Technology
    SCTC 2101
    		Medical Imaging Physics - Seeing Through Ourselves
    SCTC 2102
    		SERC: Science of Energy Resource Consumption
    Select one of the following:3-4
    Any Upper-Level (2000+) CST Course
    Total Credit Hours80-88
    (F) - Fall only course
    (S) - Spring only course
    1

    Students may not take both CIS 1051 and CIS 1057 as their two CIS electives. They must choose one and then make another choice from the list for their second elective.

    2

    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 cstcmp@temple.edu to have an advisor change the credits to 3.

    3

    MATH 2043 is approved to satisfy one of the four concentration electives. The remaining concentration electives must all be taken from within the Physics department and must satisfy elective criteria of the department. 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 Science in Natural Sciences with Concentration in Physics

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallCredit Hours
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)		  
MATH 1041
or MATH 1941
 Calculus I
or Honors Calculus I
 4
SCTC 1001 CST First Year Seminar 1
SCTC 1013 Elements of Data Science for the Physical and Life Sciences 3
SCTC 1501 STEM Challenge: The World Around Us 4
 Credit Hours16
Spring
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)		  
MATH 1042
or MATH 1942
 Calculus II
or Honors Calculus II
 4
SCTC 1502 STEM Challenge: The World Within 4
ENG 0802
or ENG 0812
or ENG 0902
 Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW]
or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
 4
 Credit Hours16
Year 2
Fall
Select one of the following: 4
PHYS 1061
or PHYS 1961
 Elementary Classical Physics I
or Honors Elementary Classical Physics I
  
PHYS 2021
or PHYS 2921
 General Physics I
or Honors General Physics I
  
Select one of the following: 4
BIOL 1011
 General Biology I (F)  
BIOL 1111
or BIOL 1911
 Introduction to Organismal Biology
or Honors Introduction to Organismal Biology
  
IH 0851
or IH 0951
 Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours14
Spring
Select one of the following: 4
PHYS 1062
or PHYS 1962
 Elementary Classical Physics II
or Honors Elementary Classical Physics II
  
PHYS 2022
or PHYS 2922
 General Physics II
or Honors General Physics II
  
Select one of the following: 4
BIOL 1012
 General Biology II (S)  
BIOL 1112
or BIOL 1912
 Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes
or Honors Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes
  
BIOL 2112
or BIOL 2912
 Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
or Honors Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
  
IH 0852
or IH 0952
 Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Elective 2
 Credit Hours16
Year 3
Fall
EES 2001 Physical Geology 4
SCTC 3001 History of Science 3
Physics Elective (2000+) 1 3-4
GenEd Breadth Course 3-4
Elective 2-0
 Credit Hours15
Spring
Select one of the following: 3-4
CIS 1051
or CIS 1951
or CIS 1057
 Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python
or Honors Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python
or Computer Programming in C
  
CIS 1052
 Introduction to Web Technology and Programming  
CIS 1053
 Programming in Matlab  
SCTC 3312
 Coding STEM Lessons (Must be taken for 3 credits)  
SCTC 2396 Writing for Science and Technology [WI] 3
Physics Elective (2000+) 2 3-4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Elective 3-1
 Credit Hours15
Year 4
Fall
Select one of the following: 3-4
PHYS 1004
 Introduction to Astronomy (F)  
CIS 1051
or CIS 1951
or CIS 1057
 Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python
or Honors Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python
or Computer Programming in C
  
CIS 1052
 Introduction to Web Technology and Programming  
CIS 1053
 Programming in Matlab  
SCTC 3312
 Coding STEM Lessons (Must be taken for 3 credits)  
Physics Elective (2000+) 2 3-4
Science Breadth Elective 2 3-4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Elective 3-0
 Credit Hours15
Spring
SCTC 4396 Paradigms of Scientific Knowledge: Knowledge Discovery from Scientific Data [WI] 3
Physics Elective (2000+) 2 3-4
Science Breadth Elective 2 3-4
Elective 3
Elective 4-2
 Credit Hours16
 Total Credit Hours123
1

MATH 2043 is recommended as it is a prerequisite and / or co-requisite of most Physics Concentration Electives.

2

See Requirements for course options.

(F) - Fall only course
(S) - Spring only course

Accelerated Programs

Students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.

The following accelerated programs may be of interest to students in the Natural Sciences BS:

College of Science and Technology