| |
Mar 29, 2023
|
|
|
|
|
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences B.S.
|
|
TOTAL DEGREE HOURS: 120
The Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences degree serves the academic and career goals of undergraduate students who seek a broad education in the Natural Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Geology). Students select a sequence of upper-level courses based on career goals, choosing three of the five natural science areas. Students interested in secondary education, public health, and other fields may choose this degree.
|
University Admissions
Admission to the University is based on the University’s Undergraduate Admission Requirements that may be found by clicking on the following urls:
For Admission information specific to the College of Arts & Sciences, see the information at College of Arts and Sciences .
State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites
Students desiring to transfer to USF should complete an A.A. degree at a Florida College System institution. If students transfer with fewer than 60 semester hours of acceptable credit, the students must meet the University’s entering freshman requirements including ACT or SAT test scores, GPA, and course requirements. Transfer students are also required to comply with the immunization, foreign language, and continuous enrollment policies of the university.
There are no specified common prerequisites for this major. All Florida College System students are encouraged to complete the Associate degree. Students should consult with an academic advisor in their major degree area at the intended transfer institution.
Required Supporting Courses for the Major
Students are encouraged to complete as many of the following courses as possible, during the program of study at the community college, and when feasible in General Education and State Communication Requirement and State Computation Requirement courses.
Unless stated otherwise, a grade of “C” is the minimum acceptable grade.
Major Core (38-40 Credit Hours)
Tier 1
Two introductory courses in each of the five (5) natural sciences areas: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geology. Choose from the following courses:
Major Electives (24 Credit Hours)
Tier 2
Students are required to complete a minimum total of 24 credit hours. A minimum of 6 credit hours of structured, upper-level (3000-level or higher) courses in three of the five natural sciences areas is required. The remaining six credits of upper-level courses can be taken in any of the three Tier 2 Natural Science areas that the student has selected. All Tier 2 courses in the sciences will be selected by the individual student, but must be chosen from the list of courses approved for department major credit.
GPA Requirements
Major GPA (all USF courses which are applied to major requirements): 2.0
Gen Ed GPA (all USF courses which are applied to gen ed requirements): 2.0
USF GPA: 2.0
Overall GPA: 2.0
Grading Requirement
Students must achieve a C (2.0) or better to meet major course requirements unless specified elsewhere.
Note: Some USF courses have higher grade criteria to meet prerequisite knowledge necessary for progression into higher level courses.
D/F Policy
D/F Policy: The following three departments, the Department of Chemistry, the Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology and the Department of Integrative Biology have instituted a procedure to provide students with the best opportunity to progress toward their degree requirements.
Effective Fall 2018, all students in the below listed programs must successfully complete the below science and math coursework without earning 3 D and/or F grades. Students unable to successfully complete these courses within these prescribed parameters will be required to select a different major and will not be permitted to take any additional courses offered by the below Departments/Divisions. In addition, registration for all courses offered by these departments will be dependent on students meeting the prescribed parameters regardless of their major.
Furthermore, any student who requests a change of major to one offered in the below identified departments will be required to meet these prescribed parameters as well as those criteria outlined in the Degree Progression Policy 10-505. Any continuing student who was previously forced to select a different major based on previous versions of this policy may now be eligible to pursue the majors listed below, but only if they meet both the criteria described here as well as the Degree Progression Policy 10-505 criteria. Students who are able to complete one of the below majors by earning fewer credit hours than required to complete any other major offered at USF may petition to request an exception and should contact the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Advising Office for instructions.
Grade Forgiveness will NOT apply to the mandated requirement of changing majors. Included Departments/Divisions: Division of Health Professions Advising; Department of Chemistry; Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology; and Department of Integrative Biology. Included courses: BCH 3053 ; BSC 2010 ; BSC 2011 ; BSC 2085 ; BSC 2086 ; BSC 2093C ; BSC 2094C ; BSC 2932 ; CHM 2023 ; CHM 2045 ; CHM 2046 ; CHM 2210 ; CHM 2211 ; CHS 2440 ; MAT 1033 ; MAC 1105 ;MAC 1147 ; MAC 2241 ; MAC 2242 ; MAC 2281 , MAC 2282 , MAC 2311 ; MAC 2312 ; MCB 3020 ; PCB 3023 ; PCB 3063 ; PHY 2053 ; PHY 2054 ; PHY 2048 ; PHY 2049 ; PHY 2060 ; PHY 2061 ; STA 2023 .
Residency Requirement
Department Major Academic Residency Requirement - at least 12 credit hours of major-applicable, upper-level natural science courses must be completed at USF.
College Academic Residency Requirement - Interdisciplinary majors do not have an additional college academic resident requirement.
USF Academic Residency Requirement - 30 of the last 60 hours earned must be from USF.
Research Opportunities
Undergraduate students in any degree program are able to participate in undergraduate research. Several options exist to show mentored undergraduate research activity on a student’s official transcript. Those who wish to enroll in an undergraduate research course should consult with their academic advisor to understand how the credit will apply towards the degree requirements. If no credit is needed, students may be eligible to enroll in the 0-credit IDS 4914 course. This course will not impact degree credits or GPA but will show on an official transcript and document the experience. The Office of Undergraduate Research is able to assist with further inquiries.
Accelerated B.S. in Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences and M.A.T. in Science Education
This program intends for students to complete a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences (College of Arts and Sciences) and M.A.T. in Science Education (College of Education) over the span of five years. Students completing this program will be eligible for high school and/or middle school science teacher certification. Completion of this program requires students to complete 12 credit hours toward the M.A.T. in Science Education during their senior year in the Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences major.
For more information, see the Graduate Catalog for Accelerated Majors.
4 Year Plan of Study - Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences B.S.
NOTES:
Potential Entry Level Job Titles: - Natural Scientist
- Science Teacher
Potential Entry Level Salary Range: $30,000 - $50,000 Semester 1 (Fall)
Total Credit Hours: 13-14
Semester 2 (Spring)
Total Credit Hours: 14
Semester 3 (Summer)
Total Credit Hours: 6
Semester 4 (Fall)
Total Credit Hours: 13-14
Semester 5 (Spring)
Total Credit Hours: 14
Semester 6 (Summer)
- Upper-Level Elective Credit(s): 3
Total Credit Hours: 3
Semester 7 (Fall)
Total Credit Hours: 16
Semester 8 (Spring)
Total Credit Hours: 14
Semester 10 (Fall)
- Major Elective Credit(s): 3
- Major Elective Credit(s): 3
- Major Elective Credit(s): 3
- Upper-Level Elective Credit(s): 3
- General Elective Credit(s): 3
Total Credit Hours: 15
Semester 11 (Spring)
- Major Elective Credit(s): 3
- Major Elective Credit(s): 3
- General Elective Credit(s): 3
- Apply for Graduation
- General Elective Credit(s): 3
Total Credit Hours: 12
2 Year Plan of Study - Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences B.S.
NOTES:
Semester 1 (Fall)
Total Credit Hours: 14
Semester 2 (Spring)
Total Credit Hours: 14
Semester 3 (Summer)
- Major Elective Course - Area One Credit(s): 3
Total Credit Hours: 3
Semester 4 (Fall)
- Major Elective Course - Area Two Credit(s): 3
- Major Elective Course - Area Three Credit(s): 3
- Major Elective Course Credit(s): 3
- Upper Level General Elective Credit(s): 3
- Upper Level General Elective Credit(s): 3
Total Credit Hours: 15
Semester 5 (Spring)
- Major Elective Course - Area Two Credit(s): 3
- Major Elective Course - Area Three Credit(s): 3
- Major Elective Course Credit(s): 3
- Upper Level General Elective Credit(s): 3
- General Elective Credit(s): 2
- Apply for Graduation
Total Credit Hours: 14
|
|
|