Natural Sciences Department

Shadi Assaf

Department Chair

The mission of the Natural Sciences Department is to help students develop the mindset and skills to investigate the natural world and apply this knowledge to solving everyday problems.

Our Department Core Values:

  • We believe the ability to think critically is an essential skill in any field.                            

  • We believe scientific knowledge can empower students to make sound decisions in their personal and professional lives.    

  • We believe an understanding of the process of science can enable student to make discoveries of their own.      

    

The purpose of the Natural Science courses is to cultivate scientific thinking in ourstudents and enable them to:   
  1. Raise vital scientific questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely.
  2. Gather and assess relevant scientific data and information, using abstract ideas to interpret them effectively.
  3. Come to well-reasoned scientific conclusions and solutions, testing them against relevant criteria and standards.
  4. Think open-mindedly within convergent systems of scientific thought, recognizing and assessing assumptions, implications, and practical consequences.
  5. Communicate effectively with others in proposing solutions to relatively complex scientific problems.

     

Upon completion of Natural Science courses:              
  • Students will be able to read, understand, and critically evaluate scientific information and apply it to their personal and professional lives.  
  • Students will be able to utilize the scientific method and apply scientific principles to solve problems.  
  • Students will be able to understand essential scientific principles.    
  • Students will be able to communicate scientific information in both oral and written formats.  
  • Students will be able to analyze the relationships between science and society, recognizing the role of science in global dynamics.  
  • Students will be able to exhibit proficiency in operating scientific equipment.  
  • Students will be able to identify reliable sources of scientific information.
  

Disciplines within the Natural Sciences Department include:            

  • ​Biology​​ (including Environmental Biology, Microbiology, and Zoology)
  • Chemistry
  • Physical Science​
  • Physics 

    

​For a list of faculty and staff, view the department directory​​​​​​

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