Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Chairman: Peter E. Busher

The Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics includes a laboratory based, core program in the natural sciences during the sophomore year that fulfills the natural science requirements for non-science majors for the bachelor’s degree in all university programs. Students needing to fulfill a mathematics requirement for their major may take one or more of the mathematics courses offered by the division during their freshman or sophomore year. The mathematics courses are in the areas of applied mathematics, statistics and calculus. The Division also offers students the opportunity to complete the natural science core courses during the summer between their freshman and sophomore years by participating in the CGS Natural Science London Summer Program. The summer program is competitive and standard international program requirements apply.

Natural Sciences:

The one-year core program in the natural sciences takes students beyond the normal “facts” of science common to most general education or even specialized courses and allows them to both study science and to act as scientists. The two core courses engage students in both the process and practice of science and provide a framework allowing them to better understand the natural world. Science, as a human activity, is a search for explanations of natural phenomena using naturalistic philosophy. Our program encourages students to further their understanding of the process of science and to become active participants in investigating and developing scientific explanations for our world.

Our courses emphasize the unifying concepts that undergird the structure of science and the evidence on which scientific views are based. Studying and understanding the implications of these concepts provide the foundation necessary to make informed decisions about the complex problems in our modernized, global world. Covering the unifying concepts allows students to approach the study of science with a sophisticated knowledge of its nature and methods and the kinds of problems it can address.

Our approach to the natural sciences is integrative among the scientific disciplines since modern societal and scientific challenges require knowledge of the interrelationships among scientific disciplines. This approach is vital for students, regardless of whether they plan to continue to study specific scientific disciplines or major in non-scientific disciplines. Our modern world is a scientific world and it is critical that every educated citizen have integrative scientific knowledge.

Objectives:

The courses offered by the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics develop critical and analytical thinking through the study of scientists, their approach to scientific questions, their methodology and their findings. The courses also illustrate the relationship between scientific study and the other academic disciplines covered in the College of General Studies core curriculum. Critical and analytical thinking builds mature judgment and a real sense of social and scientific responsibility allowing students to understand and accept their place in society as participating citizens.

The natural science courses function as a two-course continuum. The concepts and data students study in the first course form the foundation for understanding the second course. Ideas are connected not just class-to-class, but semester-to-semester providing a comprehensive understanding of our natural world and the role humans play in the natural world. Each course meets four hours per week and includes lectures, laboratories and discussions. For most students, this program represents the only formal study of the natural sciences they will undertake at the university level. The program is an integrative exploration of the natural sciences, which is enhanced by the courses being taken consecutively within the sophomore year. Students completing the program will understand the major concepts of science and the integration of science in society.

The natural science courses encourage students to realize that science is progressive, with no absolute truths and that it is a process in constant search of further understanding about the natural world. The courses introduce students to the idea that science is not an independent human venture but one integral to society. Through the courses, students come to appreciate that modern scientific inquiry is very much directed by the needs of society rather than divorced from societal input. Students also become aware that scientific methodology, while providing a mechanism for solving problems, also imposes limitations on the types of problems that science can address.

The natural science courses focus on instilling an appreciation and an understanding in students that humans are part of an intricately interwoven ecological system. Students come to view themselves as biological organisms that play a key role in ecological activities within our biosphere; this is especially important in light of the fact that many of the problems currently facing our society have a scientific basis. These problems require sound scientific understanding, critical analysis, and responsible solutions. Through our courses, students become well prepared to discuss, analyze, and propose solutions to the many serious scientific problems facing our species and all other species on our planet.

The two-course sequence of natural science courses provides the sound foundation that is necessary for a scientifically literate citizen in the twenty-first century.

CGS NS201 Natural Science I: The Origin, Evolution, and Diversity of Life: An Integrative View:

How did life on Earth originate? What is the scientific explanation for the diversity of life on Earth? Beginning with an introduction to how scientists characterize life this course uses a thorough examination the Darwinian evolutionary paradigm, including modern enhancements, to investigate these questions. Employing an evolutionary framework, alternative theories of the origin of life are considered with an emphasis on the modern chemical evolution model. Chemical evolution, which culminated in the origin of cells, includes a detailed study of the structure and function of biological molecules. This study enhances the understanding of the cell as the basic structural and functional unit of life. The functional morphology, biochemistry and evolution of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and the evolution of the major biochemical pathways and their implications for extant life forms is stressed. Evolutionary theory and modern molecular biology are key components to understanding how life originated and evolved on Earth. They also provide the primary scientific tools required to explore both scientific and sociological concerns that arise from our understanding of the origin, evolution and diversity of life including that of our own species. (4 credits, fall semester)

CGS NS202 Natural Science II: Human and Global Ecology:

What is the fate of the biosphere and our species? Can humans reconcile economic and technological growth with ecological sustainability? Building on the concepts and information from the first semester this course examines the impact of one species, Homo sapiens, on the ecosystems of the biosphere seeking answers to these broad questions. This includes an investigation of the physical forces that shape global climates and ultimately constrain life on Earth. An examination of the interrelationships between the abiotic and biotic components in ecosystems leads to an investigation of the forces that influence biological diversity. The integrative study of population biology culminates in an investigation of the population dynamics of our own species and the implications the exponential growth of the human population may have on global resources and the biosphere. The foundation in general ecology and human population dynamics allows a serious consideration of the technological impact of humans on the delicately balanced ecosystems of Earth. The interrelationship between science and society that has been explored in this course and throughout the year leads to the Capstone Project, which concludes the sophomore year. (4 credits, spring semester)

Laboratory: A weekly laboratory exercise is scheduled for each natural science course. The laboratories are generally two hours long although some may require off-campus field excursions requiring more time. The laboratory sessions focus on the general themes presented in each course. The laboratories are designed to encourage students to take a proactive approach to their learning and are student inquiry based. Each successive laboratory experience provides the students with more responsibility for the design of experimental procedures and encourages them to not just learn about science, but also to practice science.

Mathematics:

The mathematics program in the division offers students the opportunity to fulfill the mathematics requirements of their majors while at the College of General Studies. This allows students access to the same high quality, effective, student-oriented teaching found in the CGS core program while fulfilling their university mathematics requirements. Due to the diversity of the mathematical backgrounds of students and varied major program requirements the courses are taught alongside, but are not part of, the core curriculum at CGS. However, since the faculty members teaching the mathematics courses have taught in the core program, are members of the college faculty, and know the core curriculum they are able to offer some integration with the CGS core courses. The courses fulfill all or part of the mathematics requirements in many major programs in Arts and Sciences, Management and Hospitality Administration, as well as other university programs. The courses are directly equivalent to mathematics courses offered in the mathematics department at CAS as well as in other universities.

CGS MA120 Applied Mathematics:

For students with a limited calculus background continuing into management, or for any student needing a mathematics course to fulfill the CAS mathematics requirement. The course also fulfills the applied mathematics requirement for SHA. This course covers linear equations, systems of linear equations, matrix algebra, exponential functions and logarithms, elements of differential calculus, optimization, and probability. This course has applications in economics, finance, and management. (4 credits)

CGS MA115 Statistics:

For students needing an general statistics course for their major. It fulfills the mathematics requirement for CAS and the statistics requirement for SHA. The course covers the general concepts of tests and hypotheses, numerical and graphical summaries of univariate and bivariate data. Students work with problems involving basic probability, random variables, binomial distribution, normal distribution. One-sample statistical inference for normal means and binomial probabilities are examined. Applications in the natural sciences and social sciences. (4 credits)

CGS MA121 Calculus:

For students continuing to management or needing an introductory calculus course for their major. Fulfills the CAS mathematics requirement. This course covers differentiation and integration of functions of one variable and emphasizes application over mathematical generality. Applications in the natural sciences, social sciences and management. (4 credits)