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
    General Biology I (F)
    Introduction to Organismal Biology
    Honors Introduction to Organismal Biology
    Select one of the following:4
    General Biology II (S)
    Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes
    Honors Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes
    Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
    Honors Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
    Chemistry
    Select one of the following:4
    Introduction to Chemistry I
    and Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory I
    General Chemistry I
    and General Chemistry Laboratory I
    Honors General Chemical Science I
    and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory I (F)
    Select one of the following:4
    Introduction to Chemistry II
    and Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory II
    General Chemistry II
    and General Chemistry Laboratory II
    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
    Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python
    Honors Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python
    Computer Programming in C
    Introduction to Web Technology and Programming
    Programming in Matlab
    Introduction to Astronomy (F)
    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
    Elementary Classical Physics I
    Honors Elementary Classical Physics I
    General Physics I
    Honors General Physics I
    Select one of the following:4
    Elementary Classical Physics II
    Honors Elementary Classical Physics II
    General Physics II
    Honors General Physics II
    Science Electives
    Four Upper-Level (2000+) Physics Electives 312-16
    Science Breadth Electives
    Select one of the following:3-4
    Introduction to Evolutionary Anthropology
    Environment and Society
    Probability and Statistics
    Environmental Ethics
    Special Topics in Science and Technology
    Medical Imaging Physics - Seeing Through Ourselves
    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
Introduction to Chemistry I
and Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory I
 
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I
 
Honors General Chemical Science I
and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory I (F)
 
MATH 1041
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
Introduction to Chemistry II
and Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory II
 
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
 
Honors General Chemical Science II
and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory II (S)
 
MATH 1042
Calculus II
or Honors Calculus II
4
SCTC 1502 STEM Challenge: The World Within 4
ENG 0802
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
Elementary Classical Physics I
or Honors Elementary Classical Physics I
 
General Physics I
or Honors General Physics I
 
Select one of the following: 4
General Biology I (F)  
Introduction to Organismal Biology
or Honors Introduction to Organismal Biology
 
IH 0851
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
Elementary Classical Physics II
or Honors Elementary Classical Physics II
 
General Physics II
or Honors General Physics II
 
Select one of the following: 4
General Biology II (S)  
Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes
or Honors Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes
 
Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
or Honors Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
 
IH 0852
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
Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python
or Honors Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python
or Computer Programming in C
 
Introduction to Web Technology and Programming  
Programming in Matlab  
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
Introduction to Astronomy (F)  
Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python
or Honors Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python
or Computer Programming in C
 
Introduction to Web Technology and Programming  
Programming in Matlab  
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