---

Why major in Natural Science?

Is the BS in Natural Science degree for you?

• Do you know you want to major in science, but can't decide in which field to major?

Begin your university career with the BS in Natural Science program, and then you can switch to another program as your interests become clear. This major is designed to facilitate easy transfer to degree programs in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Science Education. Students in the BS in Natural Science program are asked to reassess their major each year. See notes to the four-year plan below for details.
• Students contemplating a B.S. in Natural Science with an emphasis in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics are encouraged to consider majoring in those areas, since as a whole the B.S. Natural Science degree does not provide the same depth and specialization as the other science degrees.
• The Natural Science Freshman colloquium will introduce you to a variety of careers in the natural sciences. Most people change jobs during their lives, and you may find that your interests will be redefined as you encounter unknown possibilities in the world of science during your OBU experience. The BS in Natural Science program keeps your options open and may be an ideal way to start out.
 
• Do you want a nontraditional or interdisciplinary program of study in natural science?

The B.S. in Natural Science is appropriate for students with a clear professional focus that does not coincide with typical areas of study in science. It is designed as preparation for graduate programs in areas such as those listed above.

 

• I want to go to medical school. Must I major in Biology?

Most pre-med students will choose to major in Biology. However, some pre-med students may elect the BS in Natural Sciences program. It contains the coursework necessary to prepare for the MCAT while providing flexibility to broaden your experiences (as encouraged by many medical school admissions committees).

 

• I'm not sure what I want to do, but I doubt that graduate school is for me. Should I major in Natural Science?
• Consider switching your major to Science Education, since the Science Education degree offers the possibility of immediate employment without graduate school. In addition, the science education program offers experiences in pedagogy and teaching that contribute much of value to a variety of professions other than classroom teaching (e.g., directing a planetarium or working in a science museum). By following the four-year plan given below, a student may painlessly switch to Science Education after completing the Sophomore year.
• The B.S. in Natural Science degree requires more credit hours in natural science than a science education degree. It is designed for students who desire a comprehensive grounding in the natural sciences but are disinclined to a future career as a science educator.

---

Required courses in the Natural Sciences Division

• MATH 201: Calculus I, 3 hours
• US 110: General Chemistry I, 4 hours
• US 111: General Chemistry II, 4 hours
• While only two of the following are required by the OBU Unified Studies program, most health-field graduate programs require all three of the following courses:
• US 122 Psychology, 3 hours
• US 123 Sociology, 3 hours
• US 121 American Government, 3 hours
• Select any one:
• MATH above MATH 116 other than MATH 201 (e.g., MATH 202 Calculus 2 or MATH 117 College Trigonometry), 3 hours
• CIS 200 Pascal Programming
• CIS 205 Fortran Programming
• CIS 270 C++ Programming

1. The 4-year plan given below designates 14 open hours for electives in science or nonscience areas. Additional elective coursework may be added to any semester, J-term, or summer as desired (particularly if you are working toward an 18-hour minor).
2. In addition, the 4-year plan given below includes the following 12 hours of optional courses which are suggested electives for most Natural Science majors:
• US 113 Intro to Computing, 3 hours (see note on Computer Literacy below).
• US 123 Sociology, 3 hours.
• GNSC 312 and 313, History of Science 1 and 2, 2 hours each. Both are included; only one is required.
• BIOL 235 and BIOL 236, Human Anatomy and Physiology, 4 hours each. Both are included; only one is required.

Freshman Year

Freshman year notes

1. Freshman and Sophomore Math Placement
1. MATH 116, College Algebra. Requires ACT of 19 or above, with at least 1.5 years of high school algebra and a C or better in the most recent high school math course.
• If necessary, begin your university math sequence with College Algebra instead of College Trigonometry (as shown above). Then take College Trigonometry in the spring semester along with Calculus I, and defer US 104 or US 113 until a later year.
2. MATH 117, College Trigonometry. Requires MATH 116 or an extensive math background in high school.
3. MATH 201, Calculus I. Requires ACT of 20 or above with an A in high school Algebra II and competence in high school trigonometry.
4. How much Calculus will I need?
• Only one semester of calculus, MATH 201, is required for a BS in Natural Science. However, before enrolling for the Sophomore year, reassess whether you might transfer to a Science Education, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics degree:
• SCIENCE EDUCATION:

Just like the BS in Natural Science, only MATH 201 is required for a BSE in Science Education. Students in these majors may take the algebra-based physics.
• BIOLOGY:

MATH 201 and 202 are required for a BS in Biology. To keep your options open take Calc 1 and Calc 2 during the Freshman and Sophomore years.
• CHEMISTRY:

MATH 201 and 202 are required for a BS in Chemistry. MATH 203 and 204, though not listed as requirements in the academic catalog, are prerequisites for the required calculus-based Physical Chemistry courses taken in the Senior year. To keep your options open take Calc 1 and Calc 2 during the Freshman and Sophomore years.
• PHYSICS:

Four semesters of calculus are required for a BS in Physics (MATH 201, 202, 203, and 204). The first two semesters should be completed before enrolling for the Sophomore year. Physics majors take Calc 1 and 2 before the Sophomore year, in order to take Calc 3 and 4 along with the calc-based General Physics 251-252 during their Sophomore year.
 
2. Honors enrollment, freshman year
1. Do not enroll in US 104 Analytical Thinking; take US 107 Introduction to Philosophy instead.
2. Do not enroll in US 115 English Composition; take US 117, Honors English instead.
3. Enroll in ORNT 107A, Honors Orientation, 0 hrs.
4. Honors students will eventually take US 308 Biblical Ethics, so may choose either US 101 (Old Testament) or 102 (New Testament) as the other religion requirement.
5. Questions? Email the OBU Honors Program Director, Dr. Doug Watson.
 
3. What's the most important thing for me to do the first year?

Concentrate on General Chemistry! Chemistry is the central science, and is the foundation (and prerequisite) for every other science course. No one can learn too much chemistry!

 

4. Natural Sciences Colloquium

This (proposed) 2-semester sequence is composed of professional development and technological training seminars.
• Professional Development seminars include guest speakers from a variety of scientific fields. They will broaden your understanding of scientific careers and help you clarify your own professional interests and goals.
• Technological Training seminars enable each student to create a "web portfolio" to document professional experiences and competencies gained throughout the degree program.
 
5. Watch those prerequisites!

Since many courses are not offered every semester, failing to take a course (e.g., General Chemistry) in proper sequence may delay progress for a full year if that course is a prerequisite for other courses. Get your own copy of the OBU Academic Catalog, read the course descriptions for your entire program, then keep it handy and refer to it often.
• Before taking a course at another institution, obtain a Transfer Credit Approval form from your advisor, and get it approved by the dean, to make sure the course will substitute for the OBU requirement.
 
6. Computer Literacy. Students may fulfill the computer literacy requirements by any one of the following:
1. US 180 Microcomputer Literacy, 1 hr
2. US 113 Introduction to Computing, 3 hrs
3. Passing an exam at the Counseling and Testing office of the Geiger Center. (Then make sure that an extra Math course has been taken to fulfill degree core hours requirements.)
4. Transfering credit from an equivalent course at another institution.
5. The Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics offers computer training seminars on a regular basis which may be required in some courses. See our Vision for Academic Use of the Web.
 

Sophomore Year

Sophomore year notes

1. Do you have enough Calculus? Review the Math placement notes above under the Freshman year.

 

2. Pick a minor?

When enrolling for the Sophomore or Junior year, consider adopting a minor and plan your course of electives accordingly. Minors require 18 hours. There are already 12-14 hours of electives built-in to this degree plan. Remaining hours may be taken during J-terms, summers, or as overloads.

 

3. Interested in a Physics major?

If you want to switch to the BS in Physics you must decide to do so before enrolling for the Sophomore year.
• Physics majors take four semesters of Calculus during the Freshman and Sophomore years.
• Physics majors take Calc III and IV along with General Physics 251 and 252 in their Sophomore year.
 

Year	Fall	Spring
Sophomore	PHYS 251 Calc III	PHYS 252 Calc IV
Junior	PHYS 302 Thermodynamics PHYS 305 Optics	PHYS 301 Classical Mechanics
Senior	PHYS 315 Modern I PHYS 401 Adv. Lab I PHYS 433 Electricity and Magnetism I	PHYS 402 Adv. Lab II PHYS 434 Electricity and Magnetism II

 
4. Interested in a Chemistry major?

If you want the option of switching to the BS in Chemistry plan ahead while enrolling for the Sophomore year.

Year	Fall	Spring
Sophomore	Organic I Calc I	Organic II Calc II
Junior	Physics 251 Calc III Quantitative Chemistry	Physics 252 Calc IV Biochemistry
Senior	Physical Chemistry I	Physical Chemistry II Environmental Chemistry

 
5. Interested in a Biology major?

If you want the option of switching to the BS in Biology follow this schedule:
 

Year	Fall	Spring
Sophomore	Botany	Zoology
Junior	Environmental Biology	Molecular and Cellular, and Microbiology
Senior	Genetics	Developmental Biology

 
 
6. Biology sequence:

When enrolling for your Sophomore year it's a good time to plan your biology electives and decide when to take them:
 
• Suggested sequence for a "typical" Natural Science student:

Year	Fall	Spring
Sophomore	Botany	Human Anatomy
Junior	Human Physiology	Zoology
Senior	Environmental Biology OR Quantitative Chemistry	Molecular and Cellular and/or Biochemistry

 
 
7. Interested in a Science Education major?
As with the BS in Biology, Botany is required for a Science Education major. The best time to take it is the Fall semester of the Sophomore year. (Otherwise take a degree core class such as General Psychology, as shown above in the 4-year plan.)
• Human Physiology is ordinarily taken after Human Anatomy, but may be taken first or by itself.
• Only one of the two is required for a degree in Natural Science or Science Education.
• Neither Human Anatomy nor Human Physiology is required for a degree in Biology.
• Zoology must be taken before Environmental Biology.
 
8. Interested in a Pre-professional program?
Many professional schools accept transfer students after the junior year. The sequence of courses given below reflects our understanding of their requirements for these end-of-year junior transfers. However, to make sure, check the school of your choice before planning your course of study.
• Pre-Pharmacy students would select at least Zoology, Microbiology, and Human Physiology as Biology electives.

Year	Fall	Spring
Sophomore	Psychology	Microbiology
Junior	Human Physiology	Zoology
Senior	Environmental Biology OR Quantitative Chemistry	Molecular and Cellular and/or Biochemistry

 
• Pre-Occupational Therapy students majoring in Natural Science would select at least Zoology, Human Anatomy and Human Physiology as Biology electives. Consider a minor in psychology. Note the three psychology courses usually required by Occupational Therapy graduate programs:

Year	Fall	Spring
Sophomore	Psychology	Human Anatomy
Junior	Human Physiology and PSY 206 Developmental Psychology I	Zoology and PSY 208 Developmental Psychology II and PSY 420 Personality
Senior	Environmental Biology OR Quantitative Chemistry	Molecular and Cellular and/or Biochemistry

 
• Pre-Optometry students majoring in Natural Science would select at least Zoology, Microbiology, a general Biology course, and Biochemistry. Most optometry programs now require completion of a Bachelors degree.

Year	Fall	Spring
Sophomore	Psychology	Microbiology
Junior	MATH 200 Statistics Botany or General Biology	Zoology
Senior	Environmental Biology OR Quantitative Chemistry	Biochemistry

• Pre-Physical Therapy students majoring in Natural Science would select at least Zoology, Microbiology and Human Physiology as Biology electives.

Year	Fall	Spring
Sophomore	Psychology	Microbiology
Junior	Human Physiology	Zoology
Senior	Environmental Biology OR Quantitative Chemistry	Molecular and Cellular and/or Biochemistry

 

Junior Year

Junior year notes

1. College Physics (241 and 242) is algebra-based and 4 credit hours. General Physics (251 and 252) is Calculus-based and 5 credit hours. Either is acceptable for the BS in Natural Science and the BSE in Science Education; only the calculus-based physics is acceptable for a BS in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics and for those students preparing for the MCAT and a career in medicine.

 

2. Last chance to switch majors! After enrolling for the Junior year students are committed to the BS in Natural Sciences major, as hereafter it will be next to impossible to switch to another science or science ed major and still complete the program in four years.

 

1. Chemistry/Biology? Before enrolling in your junior year, reassess whether you want to switch to a BS in Chemistry or Biology if you have planned accordingly.

 

2. Want to keep open the option of switching to a degree in Science Education?
• Take Molecular and Cellular Biology or CHEM 305 Biochemistry in the Junior year instead of the Senior year. Science Education students will student teach in their last semester, so to graduate in four years they must take M&C or Biochem in their Junior year. Other students will ordinarily take one of the two in the Senior year.
• In addition, Science Ed majors should take EDUC 201 Foundations in Education as early as possible (e.g., fall of the junior year) in order to begin the process of being admitted into the Teacher Education program. See the Science Education website for details and sample four-year plans.
 
3. Foreign Language.
• Take the foreign language sequence earlier than the senior year if you like (possibly during the summer before or after your Junior year).
• You can fit a year of foreign language into the Junior year if you take Environmental Biology and Molecular and Cellular Biology during your senior year, but this rules out switching to Biology or Science Education.
• Greek and Latin do not fulfill the foreign language requirement. Enroll in a modern Foreign Language course as follows:

Semesters in High School  grades 10-12	OBU Requirement
0-3	I and II
4 or more	Semesters III and IV of the same language, or I and II of a different language

 
 

Senior Year

Senior year notes

1. Molecular and Cellular Biology or CHEM 305 Biochemistry.
• Since these two courses cover many of the same topics with complementary perspectives, the best option is to take them in tandem if you can make time for both in the spring semester of your junior or senior year.
• Science Education students must take one of the two in their Junior year (unless they elect to do their student teaching semester in the fall of a fifth year). Other students will ordinarily take one of the two in the Senior year.

---

Related Web pages

• Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
• OBU Planetarium
• Basic Celestial Phenomena
• Constellations Index
• Cosmology and Cultures
• Science and Mathematics Education
• Unified Studies Natural Science
• Mabee Learning Center
• Oklahoma Baptist University

Our web pages are never finished, but always under construction! The formatting of our web pages may be unintelligible if you are not using Netscape 2.0+. If you find a link that does not work, please tell us which link does not work--and which page you are on.

Contact Kerry Magruder by Email with general inquiries or suggestions. Thank you.