Natural Science Component
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Natural Sciences Component
Assumptions
- Every institution of higher education will adopt a core curriculum. . .
- . . . a core curriculum should contain courses that establish multiple perspectives on the individual and the world in which he or she lives. . .
Definition
The objective of the study of a natural sciences component of a core curriculum is to enable the student to understand, construct and evaluate relationships in the natural sciences, and to enable the student to understand the bases for building and testing theories.
Exemplary Educational Objectives
The way in which colleges and universities achieve these outcomes will thus vary in accordance with the particular circumstances of the institutions. The outcomes for student learning provide both guidelines for instruction and also a profile of the student. . . . The student will be able to:
- understand and apply method and appropriate technology to the study of natural sciences;
- recognize scientific and quantitative methods and the difference between these approaches and other methods of inquiry and to communicate finds, analyses and interpretation both orally and in writing;
- identify and recognize the differences among competing scientific theories;
- demonstrate knowledge of the major issues and problems facing modern science, including issues that touch upon ethics, values, and public policies;
- demonstrate knowledge of the interdependence of science and technology and their influence on, and contribution to, modern culture.
Texas State University-San Marcos Natural Science Component
Definition
The Natural Science component encompasses that growing body of knowledge by which humans attempt to understand natural phenomena of the universe. These sciences constitute the knowledge base for a number of applied disciplines within the modern university, including engineering,industrial arts, physical education, the health sciences and nutrition.
Defining Characteristics
The courses that satisfy the Natural Science Component present the basic information for the discipline. In addition, these courses also present the scientific approach to the world: how does a scientist view nature, test observations, and create new knowledge? The questions that should be addressed include:
- What is the basic information that one should know for this area of science?
- What are the techniques for using the equipment characteristic of this area of science?
- What laws of nature support this science?
- How does one approach nature from an objective (impersonal) point of view?
- What are the significant features of a given observation?
- What is the significance of a given pattern?
- How does one use the Scientific Method to create new knowledge?
- How do laboratory experiments illustrate natural phenomena in a structured way?
- What constitutes valid science?
Requirements
All students will complete two Natural Science component courses from the approved list of courses. One of the two courses must be a laboratory course. If the two courses are from different sciences, both courses must include a laboratory.
Courses in the Natural Science Component(*course includes laboratory)
Course number Course Title Prerequisites
*ANTH 2414 Physical Anthropology None
BIO 1320 Modern Biology I (nonmajors) None
*BIO 1421 Modern Biology II (nonmajors) None
*BIO 1430 Functional Biology (majors) None
*BIO 1431 Organismal Biology (majors) None
CHEM 1310 Intro Chem for Non-science Majors None
*CHEM 1430 Chemistry for Non-science Majors CHEM 1310 or 1341
CHEM 1341/*1141 General Chemistry I MATH 1315 or ACT/SAT
CHEM 1342/*1142 General Chemistry II CHEM 1341 & 1141
*GEOL 1410 Physical Geology None
*GEOL 1420 Historical Geology GEOL 1410
PHYS *1110/1310/1320 Elementary Physics None
PHYS *1140/1340/1350 Astronomy None
*PHYS 1410 General Physics I MATH 1315
*PHYS 1420 General Physics II PHYS1410
*PHYS 1430 Mechanics and Heat coreq: MATH 2471
*PHYS 2425 Electricity and Magnetism PHYS1430; coreq: MATH 2472
Objectives
The student should be able to:
- answer objective questions on basic facts and theory from the given area of science.
- use properly the equipment from the given area of science.
- perceive natural phenomena objectively.
- structure powers of observation in a given situation.
- recognize examples of patterns they have studied.
- use the Scientific Method to uncover knowledge.
- formulate specific tasks as part of an organized approach to accomplishing a complex goal.
- recognize the occurrence of scientific phenomena in the world around them.
- determine if, in a given situation involving the using of the Scientific Method, the use is valid.
Assessment
In evaluating students’ success in meeting the objectives of the Natural Science Component, and in assessing the overall effectiveness of courses that satisfy this component, faculty use some or all of the following measures:
- Objective quizzes and tests that determine whether students have mastered the cognitive skills in the course.
To help determine instructor, course and program effectiveness :
- Faculty surveys, including peer review of syllabi and tests.
- End-of-course student evaluation.