Natural Sciences

Students attending Day of Science presentations

Professor teaching class in Natural Science

Natural Science students working with plants

Students working together on group project

Students performing experiments in Chemistry lab

Welcome to Natural Sciences!

The Department of Natural Sciences houses multiple fields of study: astronomy, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, environmental science, microbiology, and physics. Our emphasis on undergraduate research prepares our students for a broad range of careers. Graduates typically enter the work force in the public or private sector or enroll in graduate or professional schools in fields including health care, pharmaceutical research, biomedical research, and environmental science. All majors in the Natural Sciences 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 700 undergraduate majors and 30 graduate students.

The department offers an array of eight majors in the Natural Sciences culminating in Bachelor of Science degrees, and partners with Psychology for a major in Behavioral and Biological Sciences. The department offers minors in all of these programs plus Neuroscience, and two specialized certificates. Two graduate programs offer training in Biological and Biomedical Sciences and Environmental Science, each culminating in a Master of Science degree.

Resources that enrich both research and teaching range from the Environmental Interpretive Center associated with a 120-acre nature preserve to a domed observatory housing 8 and 16-inch reflecting telescopes. The Natural Science Building, completely renovated in 2016, includes teaching labs, more than 30 research labs, and several common equipment rooms which provide everything from lasers to mass spectrophotometers to fluorescent microscopes.

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 - Medicinal 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 offered every odd year. In Summer 2027, the trip will go to Amsterdam in The Netherlands and Berlin in Germany. Please contact Dr. Ulrich Kamp ([email protected]) for more information.
ESCI 377/577 Environmental Field Methods (1 credit) is a field course offered every even year. In Summer 2028, the course will be taught as a study away experience and explore Montana and Wyoming. Please contact Dr. Ulrich Kamp ([email protected]) for more information.
ESCI 478/578 Field Geology (4 credits) is an on-campus course with a field component in Michigan offered in Fall of every even year. Please contact Dr. Sven Morgan ([email protected]) for more information.