Why Study Natural Sciences at New College?
If you have a broad-based interest in the sciences, including biology, chemistry, physics, math, bioinformatics, scientific history and more, then our Natural Sciences AOC is for you. The freedom to pursue your own special interests and goals, the opportunity to take a more interdisciplinary approach to the sciences, and the ability work alongside a broad sampling of our highly-acclaimed faculty are three reasons why students choose our Natural Sciences AOC.
Natural Sciences area of concentration
The Natural Sciences faculty have agreed that a student who earns “Natural Sciences” as an Area of Concentration should have a diverse enough background to be reasonably called a natural scientist and, at the same time, should have attained some level of mastery in one of the following disciplines: biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics or physics.
More than any of the more specialized programs we offer in the sciences, our Natural Sciences AOC allows you the flexibility to work with your faculty advisor in designing a course of study that matches your specific interests and goals. You won’t explore areas as deeply as you would in say, Chemistry, but you will enjoy unparalleled breadth, which is one of the reasons this program is so popular with pre-med and pre-dentistry students, as well as with students interested in environmental law and other professional areas where a broad-based familiarity and understanding of the sciences is needed.
An additional benefit to our Natural Sciences AOC is that it allows students to take classes with our expert faculty from a wide variety of disciplines. For example, one of our physics professors was recently awarded a $1.7 million grant from the United States government to fund her research on nanoparticles, while a professor in physical chemistry received a large grant from the U.S. Navy for his research on microwave spectroscopy. A biology professor received funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) as part of a research team exploring gene networks and endosperm development in maize, and a professor in biochemistry received NSF funding for her research on animal development and gene expression. As a major in Natural Sciences, you have an opportunity to take classes, as available, with each of these faculty members, as well as others who are widely published and regarded in their fields.
In addition to medicine, dentistry and law, popular career paths chosen by our students who pursue a Natural Sciences AOC are lab work, quality control, and environmental and conservation work.
• View Natural Sciences Academic Learning Compact
• View Natural Sciences courses offered in last 5 years
The goals of an Area of Concentration in Natural Sciences are normally achieved by meeting the following requirements:
- Satisfactory completion of at least 6 introductory courses distributed among at least three Natural Sciences disciplines (chosen from biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics or physics). This usually involves the successful completion of the introductory sequence (2 semester courses) in each of three discipline.
- A minimum of an additional two semester courses beyond the introductory sequence in one discipline. The faculty will entertain requests for exceptions to these specific requirements as long as work of sufficient breadth and depth has been done in the division.
- At least one Independent Study Project in the Natural Sciences.
- A senior thesis in some area of the natural sciences is sponsored by a faculty member of the Natural Sciences Division.
Faculty
As a student in Natural Sciences at New College, you have access to faculty members who cover the gambit from our language and literature programs, including biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics and physics.
Recent Theses
- A Language Independent Text Editor
- Ribulose-1,5-Biphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase
- Hermit Crab Attraction to Gastropod Predation Sites
- Simulated Annealing from Random Graphs
- Informal Math Education: Using Origami to Teach Elementary School Students Math Concepts
- Food is the Best Medicine: Enhancing Post-Surgery Recovery with Diet
- Sensitivity Analysis of Biochemical Networks: Computer Algebra Application to the Escherichia Coli Trypyophan Operon
Careers of Natural Sciences Graduates
Healthcare technology entrepreneur, CEO
Avocare
Research entomologist
University of Florida
Attorney
Miami, Florida
Fisheries biologist
National Marine Fishery Service, Miami, Florida.
Vascular surgeon
Samson Showalter Lepore Surgeons, Sarasota, Florida.
SAMPLE PATHWAYS to complete AOC Requirements
These pathways show how you could complete the AOC requirements within four years at New College or within two years after earning an associate’s degree. Please consult with your academic adviser to determine the most appropriate courses for your area of concentration.
