Cedar Crest College

General Science – Major

For information, contact Mr. Brian Exton.

This major is designed to allow science-oriented students to gain a broadly-based science background for use with a variety of associated vocations, including teaching, business, writing, communications and the legal professions. Defined programs are the General Science Major with Secondary Teacher Certification (co-major with Education), and General Science without teacher certification. The secondary education program permits teaching general or physical science in grades 7-12. Teacher certification candidates must have at least a 3.000 cumulative grade-point average to be admitted to the student-teaching term, as well as a 3.000 cumulative grade-point average in the major.

Requirements for the General Science Major with
Secondary Education Co-major

BIO 121 Principles of Biology I 4 credits

BIO 122 Principles of Biology II 4 credits

BIO 235 Ecology, Evolution, and Genetics 4 credits

CHE 111 Chemical Principles 4 credits

CHE 112 Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis 4 credits

PHY 101 Introductory College Physics I 4 credits

PHY 102 Introductory College Physics II 4 credits

Plus 1 or 2 credits of Hawk Mountain course offerings (see listing under Biology).

Plus choose three from the following courses:

GSC 101 Physical Geology 4 credits

GSC 103 Astronomy 4 credits

GSC 104 Historical Geology 3 credits

GSC 105 Energy Resources 3 credits

GSC 106 Weather and Climate 4 credits

GSC 110 Geology of the National Parks 3 credits

Plus choose one from the following courses:

BIO 207 Botany 4 credits

BIO 221 Marine Biology 4 credits

BIO 227 Microbiology 4 credits

CHE 203 Survey of Organic Chemistry 4 credits

CHE 205 Organic Chemistry I 4 credits

Plus 6 credits in mathematics from the following courses:

MAT 102 College Mathematics 3 credits

MAT 110 Probability and Statistics 3 credits

MAT 140 Precalculus 3 credits

(or any higher level mathematics course)

Plus one course in computer science (CIS 101 or EDU 306 or equivalent)

In addition, the student must meet all course requirements established by the education department for the secondary education co-major. The student must also maintain a complete portfolio of all laboratory experiments encountered throughout the science program courses. This portfolio must be submitted for examination at the end of each year.

The capstone experience requirement is satisfied during the student teaching semester, EDU 373 and 374.

Requirements for the General Science Major Without Teacher Certification

An overall grade-point average of at least 2.000 in the science and cognate courses is required for the general science major without teacher certification and at least 24 of the credits in science courses must be completed on the Cedar Crest campus. Students majoring in general science without teacher certification are urged to pursue a co-major or minor in a peripheral field that will utilize the science background provided by this program.