Natural Science Electives Policy

Which courses count as Natural Science Electives?

Every student who joins the computer science major in September 2005 or later must pass four credits of approved natural science courses.  There are two ways to do so:

1. two approved 3-credit natural science courses
2. one approved 4-credit natural science course and an additional general elective
   • this is typically a 3-credit course with an accompanying 1-credit lab
   • if you select this option, the additional 2 credits must be made up by other courses or you may take a free elective for the additional credit

• Biological Sciences
• Chemistry
• Environmental, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences
• Physics and Applied Physics

The courses in these departments that fulfill the natural science elective requirement are those courses that are classified as required or elective courses for the majors in those departments.  In general, courses that satisfy GenEd technical elective requirements for non-science majors do not satisfy the natural science elective requirement, but some do.  See the specific course recommendations below.

In Biological Sciences, all courses that begin with 81 can be used to fulfill this requirement.  In addition, 83.101 and 83.102, Life Sciences I and II, can be used to satisfy this requirement.  The corresponding labs are 83.103 and 83.104, respectively.  The labs are optional, but you cannot take the labs without the lectures.  Also note that Life Sciences I and II do not have to be taken in sequence, so you may take 83.102 without having taken 83.101.

In Chemistry, the following courses are recommended for satisfying this requirement.

• 84.121 Chemistry I (3 credits) with 84.123 co-requisite lab - Fall offering
• 84.122 Chemistry II (3 credits) with 84.123 co-requisite lab - Spring offering

In Environmental, Earth, and Planetary Sciences, the following courses are recommended for satisfying this requirement.

• 87.201 Earth & Environmental Systems I (with 87.203 lab) - Fall offering
• 87.202 Earth & Environmental Systems II (with 87.204 lab) - Spring offering
• 89.314 Hydrogeology - Spring offering

In Physics, all courses except the following will satisfy the natural science requirement.

• 95.121 and 96.121 Exploring the Universe (lecture and lab) - designed for non-science majors
• 99.101 and 99.102 Radiation and Life (lecture and lab) - designed for non-science majors