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 Physics 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
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- Major Requirements for Bachelor of Arts (67-72 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 Select one of the following: 4 General Biology I (F) Introduction to Organismal Biology or BIOL 1911Honors Introduction to Organismal Biology Select one of the following: 4 General Biology II (S) Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes or BIOL 1912Honors Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology or BIOL 2912Honors Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology Chemistry Select one of the following: 4 Introduction to Chemistry I
and Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory IGeneral Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory IHonors 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 IIGeneral Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory IIHonors 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 STEM Challenge: The World Around Us 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 Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python or CIS 1951Honors Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python or CIS 1057Computer Programming in C Introduction to Web Technology and Programming Programming in Matlab Introduction to Astronomy (F) Coding STEM Lessons 3 Earth & Environmental Science EES 2001 Physical Geology 4 Mathematics MATH 1041 Calculus I 4 or MATH 1941 Honors Calculus I MATH 1042 Calculus II 4 or MATH 1942 Honors Calculus II Physics Select one of the following: 4 Elementary Classical Physics I or PHYS 1961Honors Elementary Classical Physics I General Physics I or PHYS 2921Honors General Physics I Select one of the following: 4 Elementary Classical Physics II or PHYS 1962Honors Elementary Classical Physics II General Physics II or PHYS 2922Honors General Physics II Physics Electives Four Upper-Level (2000+) Physics Electives 4 12-16 Total Credit Hours 67-72 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 cstcmp@temple.edu to have an advisor change the credits to 3.
- 4
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 Arts in Natural Sciences with Concentration in Physics
Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2023-2024 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit 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 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 |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 4 | |
| STEM Challenge: The World Around Us | ||
| STEM Challenge: The World Within | ||
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| 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 or MATH 1942 | Calculus II or Honors Calculus II | 4 |
| ENG 0802 | Analytical Reading and Writing or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL or Honors Writing About Literature | 4 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| 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 or IH 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life | 3 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Elementary Classical Physics II or Honors Elementary Classical Physics I | ||
| 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 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| EES 2001 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| SCTC 3001 | History of Science | 3 |
| Foreign Language 1001 - First Level | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| SCTC 2396 | Writing for Science and Technology | 3 |
| Physics Elective (2000+) 2 | 3-4 | |
| Foreign Language 1002 - Second Level | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 4-3 | |
| Elective | 2 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| SCTC 4396 | Paradigms of Scientific Knowledge: Knowledge Discovery from Scientific Data | 3 |
| 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 | ||
| Introduction to Astronomy (F) | ||
| Coding STEM Lessons | ||
| Physics Elective (2000+) 2 | 4-3 | |
| Upper-level CLA Course (numbered 2000 and above) | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Physics Elective (2000+) 2 | 3-4 | |
| Physics Elective (2000+) 2 | 3-4 | |
| Upper-level CLA Course (numbered 2000 and above) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 2-0 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 123 | |
- 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.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| (F) - Fall only course | ||
| (S) - Spring only course | ||