Department of Natural Sciences

• Faculty
• Field Description
• The Major in Biological Sciences
  • Program Learning Goals
  • Major Course Requirements
• Arts and Sciences Ad Hoc Major in Natural Science Areas
• The Minors
• Natural Sciences Laboratory Equipment
• Courses
  • Courses in Biology (BIO)
  • Courses in Chemistry (CHM)
  • Courses in Environmental Science (ENV)
  • Courses in Physics (PHY)
• Department of Natural Sciences Web Site

Field Description

The Department of Natural Sciences is an integrated department offering a wide selection of courses in biology, chemistry, environmental studies, and physics. The mission of the department is threefold: (1) to engage all students in the scientific enterprise through hands-on learning, enabling them to become scientifically literate citizens who are able to make informed decisions about public policy issues; (2) to prepare students for admission to and success in graduate and professional schools and for entry into the scientific workforce; and (3) to provide research opportunities for Baruch College students.

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The Majors

Biological Sciences
Arts And Sciences Ad Hoc Major in Natural Science Areas

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Biological Sciences

Whether you’re a new student interested in the sciences, or a returning student planning a career change, the Department of Natural Sciences at Baruch’s Weissman School of Arts and Sciences offers you flexible programs that can be tailored to suit your interests and to help you achieve your career goals. The Biological Sciences Major offers a rich variety of courses in biology, chemistry, and environmental studies. Students, in consultation with a faculty advisor, may design programs that prepare them for careers or advanced studies in many science and health-related fields.

In small classes, students receive personal attention from faculty, who are recognized experts in their fields. Advanced students can participate in faculty research projects on campus or at institutions where Baruch professors have collaborative arrangements. These research activities not only provide a unique learning experience, but students can earn academic credit as independent study and honors courses. One semester (4 credits) of independent study or honors research may be included in the major elective courses for students planning on professional education in health care fields. Two semesters (8 credits) may be approved by the department for students planning on graduate education toward careers in research.

Interested students should contact the Department of Natural Sciences at 646 660-6250.

Program Learning Goals

Upon completion of a major in Biology, students will be able to:

1. Design and carry out a laboratory and/or field experiment or theoretical project.
2. Analyze data and explain appropriateness of the analytical method to the particular study;
3. Read and critically evaluate primary literature.
4. Give an oral presentation.
5. Write a report based on an experiment or theoretical project, following the standard composition guidelines for scientific articles.
6. State fundamental scientific theories and explain the observations and experimental evidence on which they are based.
7. Explain the inter-relationships within and among organisms in the context of basic chemical and physical laws.
8. Describe the ethical implications of biological research for test organisms, the environment, and society in general.
9. Develop the skills and experience required to pursue a career that includes graduate programs in health care or biological research.

Major Course Requirements

Base Curriculum Courses

Arts And Sciences Ad Hoc Major in Natural Science Areas

When a student's educational objectives cannot be fully attained solely by study within an existing department, program, or school, he or she is given the option of devising an ad hoc pattern of courses in an area of concentration of his or her own choosing. A student may embark upon an ad hoc major following preparation and acceptance of a proposal outlining the area of study, the desired outcomes, and the educational values of the program. The program must be approved by the Office of the Associate Dean, Weissman School of Arts and Sciences.

The Department of Natural Sciences offers a pre-professional specialization that enables students to include chemistry and physics courses as part of an arts and sciences ad hoc major. Students prepare for entry into professional schools of medicine, dentistry, and other health care fields; graduate study in biological sciences; and teaching of biology, chemistry, and general sciences. Students combine basic courses in chemistry and physics with advanced electives.

The department also offers a specialization in environmental studies as part of an arts and sciences ad hoc major. This major includes a variety of courses in the sciences and additional courses from the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences, the Zicklin School of Business, and the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs. This ad hoc major integrates ecological principles in the dual context of science and society.

Prospective students are urged to register with the office of the Department of Natural Sciences early in their college careers. Each student will be assigned an individual advisor who will assist in formulating the specific ad hoc major program designed to attain the desired educational objectives. The department can be contacted at 646-660-6200.

The Weissman School of Arts and Sciences ad hoc major requires 30 – 33 credits.

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The Minors

Chemistry

Natural Sciences

Interdisciplinary Minor in Environmental Sustainability

Physics
 

Chemistry

Students may wish to minor in chemistry in order to pursue general intellectual interests or specific career objectives. For example, students can complete the chemistry courses required for admission to medical school by doing a minor in chemistry. The chemistry minor will consist of two chemistry courses at the 3000-level or above, followed by a capstone course at the 4000-level. The capstone course must be taken at Baruch College. All chemistry courses at the 4000-level or above (including independent study and honors) offered by the Department of Natural Sciences may serve as the capstone. Interested students should contact the department.

Examples of possible course sequences in the chemistry minor:

Biochemistry

Medicinal Chemistry

Natural Sciences Minor

Students may wish to minor in natural sciences in order to pursue general intellectual interests or specific career objectives. For example, students can complete some of the science courses required for admission to medical school by doing a minor in natural sciences. For the natural sciences minor, students take two natural sciences courses at the 3000 level or above, followed by a capstone course at the 4000 level. The capstone course must be taken at Baruch College. All 4000- level courses offered by the Department of Natural Sciences or an independent studies course may serve as the capstone. Interested students should contact the department.

Interdisciplinary Minor in Environmental Sustainability

The Department of Natural Sciences, the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences, and the Zicklin School of Business offer a joint interdisciplinary program in environmental sustainability. This minor is suitable for both business and liberal arts students who have an interest in developing a critical understanding of interactions between human society and the broader global ecosystem. The program emphasizes economic, legal, and philosophical issues of environmental sustainability.

The prerequisite to this minor is completion of one of the following options: 1) ENV 1003L and ENV 1004; or 2) BIO 1015 and BIO 1016; or 3) BIO 3001; or 4) Departmental Permission.

To complete the minor in environmental sustainability (11--12 credits) students must take one course at the 3000-level or above in environmental studies (ENV) offered by the Department of Natural Sciences, any other course from the electives listed below, and a required capstone course (ENV 4005, ENV 4900, or IDC 4010/H).

Program Prerequisite

Required Capstone Course

or

or

Natural Sciences Electives:   (4 – 8.5 credits)

At least one course from this list:

Electives:   (0 – 3 credits)

One course from this list or a second Natural Sciences electives from the list above

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Physics

The physics minor is suitable for students with an interest in the application of mathematical tools to fundamental scientific laws. The program emphasizes both mathematical ideas and classic experiments. To satisfy the minor, students must take three courses, two at the 3000-level or above, and a capstone at the 4000-level or above.

Tracks are not required, but examples of possible course sequences in the physics minor are:

Biomedical Track

• PHY 3001
  General Physics II
• PHY 3500
  Biological Applications to Physics (cross-listed as
  BIO 3500
  )
• PHY 4130
  Modern Physics

Astrophysics Track

• PHY 3010
  Quantitative Physics I
• PHY 3020
  Quantitative Physics II
• PHY 4201
  Astrophysics

Particle Physics Track

• PHY 3010
  Quantitative Physics I
• PHY 3020
  Quantitative Physics II
• PHY 4140
  Nuclear and Particle Physics

Computational Physics and Finance Track

• PHY 3004
  Physics on the Computer with Python
• PHY 3020
  Quantitative Physics II
• PHY 4004
  Statistical Physics with Applications to Mathematical Finance

Theoretical Physics Track

• PHY 3010
  Quantitative Physics I
• PHY 3020
  Quantitative Physics II
• PHY 3200
  Methods of Theoretical Physics - Recommended
• PHY 4130
  Modern Physics or
  PHY 4400
  Special Topics in Theoretical Physics

Students are free to construct their own minor from any set of three physics courses satisfying the general conditions for the minor. Physics courses at the 3000-level or higher at Baruch College include:

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Natural Sciences Laboratory Equipment

Facilities for advanced studies in biology, chemistry, and physics are available on the Baruch campus. In addition to equipment standard to biology research, the Department of Natural Sciences has laboratories equipped for microbiology and microbial ecology, cell biology, ecology, and physiology.

A student research lab offers incubators, microscopes, balances, centrifuges, growth chambers, and water baths to permit a wide range of research. Computers for data analysis and presentation design are also available. Faculty research labs are dedicated to specific areas of inquiry: cell-cell communication, molecular systematics and evolutionary biology, and microbial ecology. Research facilities are available for prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell culture, growth and maintenance of various plant and invertebrate animal species, histology, video microscopy, DNA amplification, cell fractionation, and various standard biochemical techniques, including UV/visible spectroscopy, electrophoresis, and chromatography.

Laboratories in chemistry are equipped for specific areas of experimentation: general chemistry, environmental chemistry, organic chemistry, and organic synthesis (electrochemistry apparatus, dissolved oxygen meters, atomic absorption apparatus, and instruments for nuclear magnetic resonance, gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, UV/visible spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy).

The physics area has a special computer lab for student research and a faculty laser optics research lab.

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Courses

Courses in Biology (BIO)

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Courses in Chemistry (CHM)

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Courses in Environmental Science (ENV)

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Courses in Physics (PHY)