Natural Sciences

Professor teaching class in Natural Science

Students with M backbacks standing in circle with younger students in Honduras

Students working together on group project

Students performing experiments in Chemistry lab

University officials at ribbon cutting ceremony

Welcome to Natural Sciences!

The Department of Natural Sciences houses multiple fields of study: astronomy, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, environmental science and studies, microbiology, and physics. Our emphasis on undergraduate research prepares our students for a broad range of careers. Graduates may enter the work force or go on to graduate or professional school in fields such as health, pharmacy, forensic science, environmental science, or science education. Students in Biology, Chemistry, Earth & Environmental Sciences, or Physics can expect a rigorous curriculum that will provide lecture, laboratory, field, and study abroad experiences. Our department consists of approximately 40 full-time faculty, 40 LEO I/II lecturers, 11 staff, as well as around 1,000 undergraduate majors and 70 graduate students.

Please join us for our Natural Sciences Colloquium, every Friday 3-4 pm in Room 1010 of the Science Learning and Research Center (SLRC). Check out the speaker schedule.

We offer degrees in several undergraduate majors and minors, and applied certificates. We also offer an interdisciplinary graduate program in Environmental Science.

Dr. Anne Danielson-Francois - Spider Facts

We have several research and teaching facilities that support our students in their learning and research activities:

Our Annual Natural Sciences Awards and Research Poster Showcase is held each April. On April 19, 2024, our students presented their research findings for the 32^nd year! Explore the abstracts of the research posters for this event and join us in April 2025!

Explore our students' research through photos, videos, and abstracts from the CASL Undergraduate Research and Practice-Based Learning Showcase and the Meeting of Minds Undergraduate Conference.

Student sharing is research to another student in front research poster.

Student sharing research in front of her poster.

Student sharing research in front of his poster.

Environmental Internship Program

Learn about our Environmental Internship Program and read about our students' experiences.

Studying while Traveling

We offer several study abroad and field trip opportunities:

BCHM 133 Biochemistry - Medical and Aromatic Plants in Culture and Practice (3 credits) is a study abroad course to Padua, Italy.
ESCI 410/510 Future Cities Live (1-4 credits) is a study abroad course to selected cities globally. In Summer 2025, Amsterdam in The Netherlands and Berlin in Germany will be explored.
ESCI 377/577 Environmental Field Methods (1 credit) is a summer field course in the SE-Michigan region.
ESCI 478/598 Field Geology (4 credits) is a field trip to Great Smoky Mountains NP or other national natural treasures.

On September 14, 2018, the Professor Angela J. Allen Scholarship Fund was announced. This scholarship was established in honor of Angela J. Allen, a lecturer at UM-Dearborn for 22 years. A generous gift from Earnest Sanders, Jr. and family and friends of Angela J. Allen will provide the foundation of the scholarship fund.

The purpose of the scholarship is to provide support for tuition and books to UM-Dearborn students with financial need who have:

passed organic chemistry (CHEM 225, 226 or 227) with a grade of B or higher during the preceding academic year and are members of Sigma Gamma Rho or Mu Phi Beta

passed organic chemistry during the preceding academic year with a grade of B or higher and are members of the Black Student Union and are active in at least one of the following UM-Dearborn student organizations or programs: Women in Leadership and Learning, another UM-Dearborn sorority, the Association for Women in Science, the Center for Social Justice and Inclusion's Women at UM-Dearborn team (Women's Resource Center), SOAR, or the American Association of University Women.

Announcement of Professor Angela J. Allen Scholarship Fund

Announcement of Professor Angela J. Allen Scholarship Fund reception

If you would like to make a contribution toward this scholarship fund, please visit the Professor Angela J Allen Scholarship online giving link. Gifts can also be made via payroll deduction through Wolverine Access. (Click on Employee Self Service, Payroll and Compensation, and Voluntary Deductions. Search for Angela's scholarship code, 700738, and enter a one-time or monthly payroll deduction and enter the start and end dates for the payroll deduction.)