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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) ma 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.

Biological Sciences

Base Curriculum Courses

No credit toward the major/specialization
Principles of Biology I4.5 credits
General Chemistry I4 credits
Pre-calculus and Elements of Calculus *3 credits
or 
 A more advanced calculus course3-4 credits
* Please note:  Students with credit for MTH 2000 or 2001 must complete a calculus course.
Program Prerequisites                         16.5 – 17.5 credits
Principles of Biology II4.5 credits
General Chemistry II4 credits
Principles of Organic Chemistry I4 credits
General Physics I4 credits
or 
Quantitative Physics I5 credits
Required Courses                               7 credits
Statistics for Social Sciences3 credits
or 
Business Statistics3 credits
or  
BIO 2100
Biostatistics (
ENV 2100
)
3 credits 
Principles of Genetics4 credits

Electives                               19 – 20.5 credits

Electives are based on students' interests and future goals, and are chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor. The major includes five elective courses, at least two of which must be at the 4000-level or higher, chosen from the following list:

Molecular and Cellular Biology4 credits

BIO 3009

Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development (
ENV 3009
)
4.5 credits
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy4 credits
Endocrinology4 credits
Biology of Invertebrates4 credits
BIO 3035

Introduction to Molecular Biotechnology

4 credits
Plants in Action4 credits
Microbiology4 credits
Human Physiology4 credits
Developmental Biology4 credits
Independent Study3-4 credits
Honors4 credits
Medicinal Chemistry4 credits
Biochemistry4 credits
Independent Study3-4 credits
Honors4 credits
Introduction to Environmental Science4 credits
Energy Conservation4 credits
Human Conservation4 credits
Economic and Legal Aspects of Ecology4 credits
Global Ecology4 credits
Air and Water Pollution4 credits

ENV 3015L
 

Tropical Reef Ecology   (plus lab
ENV 3015
)
3 credits
Freshwater Ecology   (BIO 3050)4 credits
Ecosystem Sustainability4 credits
Microbial Ecology4 credits
Topics in Environmental Science4 credits
Independent Study3-4 credits
Honors4 credits

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

CHM 3001
 General Chemistry II

CHM 3003
 Principles of Organic Chemistry I

CHM 4900
 Biochemistry (co-requisite of CHM 3006—Principles of Organic Chemistry II)

Medicinal Chemistry

CHM 3001
 General Chemistry II

CHM 3003
 Principles of Organic Chemistry I

CHM 4010
 Medicinal Chemistry (co-requisite of CHM 3006—Principles of Organic Chemistry II)

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 1020; or 2) ENV 1003L and ENV 1004; or 3) BIO 1003; or 4) BIO 1015 and BIO 1016; or 5) BIO 3001.

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 or 4900).

Program Prerequisite

Principles of Ecology

4 credits
or  
ENV 1003L
Fundamentals of Ecology3 credits
ENV 1004
Fundamentals of Ecological Research3 credits
or  
BIO 1003
Survey of the Living World4 credits
or  
BIO 1015L
Fundamentals of Biology - Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology3 credits
BIO 1016
Fundamentals of Biology - Laboratory Research in Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology3 credits
or  
BIO 3001
Principles of Biology II4.5 credits

Required Capstone Course

Ecosystem Sustainability

4 credits

or

Topics in Environmental Science

4 credits

Electives

BIO 3009

Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development (

ENV 3009
)

4.5 credits
BIO 3016
Environmental Modeling (
ENV 3016
4 credits

BIO 3020

Biology of Invertebrates

4 credits

BIO 3040

Plants in Action

4 credits

BIO 3050

Freshwater Ecology (

ENV 3050
)

4 credits

CIS 3700

Green IT

3 credits

ENV 3001

Introduction to Environmental Science

4 credits

ENV 3002

Energy Conservation

4 credits

Human Conservation

4 credits

Economic and Legal Aspects of Ecology

4 credits

ENV 3008

Air and Water Pollution

4 credits

ENV 3015
/

ENV 3015

Tropical Reef Ecology (Lecture and Lab)

4 credits

Contemporary Economic Development

3 credits

Introduction to Human Geography (

ANT 3009
)

3 credits

World Regional Geography (

ANT 3036
)

3 credits
JRN 3800
 

Environmental Reporting

3 credits

Law and the Environment

3 credits

Law, Business and Sustainability

3 credits
PAF 3442
The Environment, Political Choices, and Public Policy3 credits

Environmental Ethics

3 credits

The Politics of Energy and the Environment

3 credits
PSY 3185
Environmental Psychology3 credits

 

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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. Students with no previous exposure to physics are encouraged to take 

PHY 1003
Concepts in Physics, before beginning the minor.

To satisfy this minor, students must take three courses, two at the 3000-level or above, and a capstone at the 4000-level or above, from among the following list:
General Physics II 
  (Not open to students who have completed 
PHY 3010
 and/or 
PHY 3020
)
PHY 3004
Physics on the Computer with Python



Quantitative Physics I    [recommended]
  (Not open to students who have completed 
PHY 2003
 and/or 
PHY 3001
)
Quantitative Physics II    [recommended]            
  (Not open to students who have completed 
PHY 3001
)
PHY 3200
Methods of Theoretical Physics 



Modern Physics
PHY 4140
Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics
Astrophysics
Independent Study
Honors


Recommended Courses in the Department of Mathematics:

Students are encouraged to take each of the following courses:
Calculus I
Elementary Calculus II
Intermediate Calculus

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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)

Survey of the Living World

2 lecture hours; 4 lab hours; 4 credits

General Biology - Structure and Function - A Human Orientation

2 lecture hours; 4 lab hours; 4 credits

BIO 1011L

Fundamentals of Biology: Human Biology Lecture

2 lecture, 1 recitation; 3 credits

Fundamentals of Biology: Human Biology Laboratory

3 hours; 3 credits

BIO 1015L

Fundamentals of Biology - Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology

2 lecture, 1 recitation; 3 credits

Fundamentals of Biology - Laboratory Research in Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology

3 hours; 3 credits

Principles of Biology I

2 lecture hours; 1 recitation hour; 3 lab hours; 4.5 credits

Population Biology: Evolution Ecology

2 lecture hours; 3 lab. hours; 1 recitation hour; 4.5 credits

BIO 2100
Biostatistics (
ENV 2100
)
2 lecture hours; 2 lab hours; 3 credits 

Principles of Biology II

6 hours; 4.5 credits

Reading Science

1 hour; 1 credit

Molecular and Cellular Biology

2 lecture hours; 4 lab. hours; 4 credits

Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development (

ENV 3009
)

2 lecture hours; 1 recitation hour; 3 lab hours; 4.5 credits

Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy

2 lecture hours; 4 lab. hours; 4 credits

Developmental Biology

2 lecture hours; 4 lab. hours; 4 credits

Endocrinology

2 lecture hours; 4 lab. hours; 4 credits

Principles of Genetics

2 lecture hours; 4 lab. hours; 4 credits

BIO 3016
Environmental Modeling (
ENV 3016
2 lecture hours; 4 lab hours; 4 credits 

Biology of Invertebrates

4 hours; 4 credits

Human Physiology

2 lecture hours; 4 lab. hours; 4 credits

History and Evolution of Life

2 lecture hours; 1 recitation hour; 2 lab. hours; 4 credits

BIO 3035
Introduction to Molecular Biotechnology2 lecture hours; 4 lab hours

Plants in Action

2 lecture hours; 4 lab hours; 4 credits

Freshwater Ecology (

ENV 3050
)

2 lecture hours; 4 lab hours; 4 credits

Microbiology

2 lecture hours; 4 lab. hours; 4 credits

Human Physiology

2 lecture hours; 4 lab. hours; 4 credits

Development Biology

2 lecture hours; 4 lab. hours; 4 credits

Independent Study I

Hours and credits to be arranged

Independent Study II

Hours and credits to be arranged

Special Problems

4 hours; 4 credits

Special Problems

4 hours; 4 credits

Biology Honors I

Hours to be arranged; usually 4 credits per semester

Biology Honors II

Hours to be arranged; usually 4 credits per semester

Biology Honors III

Hours to be arranged; usually 4 credits per semester

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Courses in Chemistry (CHM)

Chemistry and the Environment

2 lecture hours; 4 lab. hours; 4 credits

CHM 1003L

Fundamentals of Chemistry

3 hours; 3 credits 

Fundamentals of Chemical Laboratory Techniques

3 hours; 3 credits

Select Topics in Chemistry

1 hour; 1 credit

General Chemistry I

2 lecture hours; 4 lab. hours; 4 credits

General Chemistry II

2 lecture hours; 4 lab. hours; 4 credits

Principles of Organic Chemistry I

2 lecture hours; 4 lab. hours; 4 credits

Principles of Organic Chemistry II

2 lecture hours; 4 lab. hours; 4 credits

Physical Chemistry I

2 lecture hours; 4 lab. hours; 4 credits

Physical Chemistry II

2 lecture hours; 4 lab. hours; 4 credits

Medicinal Chemistry

3 lecture hours; 3 lab hours; 4.5 credits

Biochemistry

2 lecture hours; 4 lab. hours; 4 credits

Independent Study I

Hours to be arranged; usually 4 credits per semester

Independent Study II

Hours to be arranged; usually 4 credits per semester

Independent Study III

Hours to be arranged; usually 4 credits per semester

Honors Chemistry I

4 hours; 4 credits

Honors Chemistry II

4 hours; 4 credits

CHM 6003H

Honors Chemistry III

4 hours; 4 credits

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Courses in Environmental Science (ENV)
ENV 1003L

Fundamentals of Ecology

3 hours; 3 credits 

Fundamentals of Ecological Research

3 hours; 3 credits

Principles of Ecology

2 lecture hours; 4 lab. and field hours; 4 credits

Environmental Conservation

2 lecture hours; 4 lab. and field hours; 4 credits

ENV 2100
Biostatistics (
BIO 2100
2 lecture hours; 2 lab hours; 3 credits 

Introduction to Environmental Science

3 lecture hours; 2 lab. hours; 4 credits

Energy Conservation

3 lecture hours; 2 lab. hours; 4 credits

Human Conservation

3 lecture hours; 2 lab. hours; 4 credits

Economic and Legal Aspects of Ecology

3 lecture hours; 2 lab. hours; 4 credits

Global Ecology

3 lecture hours; 2 lab. hours; 4 credits

Air and Water Pollution

3 lecture hours; 2 lab. hours; 4 credits

Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development (

BIO 3009
)

2 lecture hours; 1 recitation hour; 3 lab hours; 4.5 credits

Tropical Reef Ecology Laboratory

4 lab hours; 0 credits

ENV 3015L

Tropical Reef Ecology

3 credits; 1 lecture hour

ENV 3016
Environmental Modeling (
BIO 3016
2 lecture hours; 4 lab hours; 4 credits 

History and Evolution of Life

2 lecture hours; 1 recitation hour; 2 lab. hours; 4 credits

Freshwater Ecology (

BIO 3050
)

2 lecture hours; 4 lab hours; 4 credits

Ecosystem Sustainability

3 lecture hours; 2 lab hours; 4 credits

Microbial Ecology

2 lecture hours; 4 lab. hours; 4 credits

Topics in Environmental Science

3 lecture hours; 2 lab hours; 4 credits

Independent Study I

Hours and credits to be arranged

Independent Study II

Hours and credits to be arranged

Independent Study III

Hours and credits to be arranged

Tropical Reef Ecology Laboratory

4 lab hours; 0 credits

Hon Env Stud I

Hours to be arranged; usually 4 credits per semester

Hon Env Stud II

Hours to be arranged; usually 4 credits per semester

 

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Courses in Physics (PHY)

Concepts in Physics

3 lecture hours; 1 recitation hour; 2 lab hours; 4 credits

Fundamentals of Experimental Physics

3 hours; 3 credits

PHY 2002L

Fundamentals of Physics: Theory and Practice

3 hours; 3 credits

General Physics I

3 lecture hours; 1 recitation hour; 2 lab. hours; 4 credits

Hyper complex Numbers with Applications in Physics

2 lecture hours; 1 recitation hour; 2 computer workshop hours; 4 credits

General Physics II

3 lecture hours; 1 recitation hour; 2 lab. hours; 4 credits

PHY 3004
Physics on the Computer with Python3 lecture courses; 3 lab hours; 4 credits

Quantitative Physics I

4 lecture hours; 2 lab hours; 5 credits

Quantitative Physics II

4 lecture hours; 2 lab hours; 5 credits

PHY 3200
Methods of Theoretical Physics 3 hours; 3 credits 

Biological Applications of Physics

6 hours; 4 credits

Modern Physics

3 lecture hours; 3 lab hours; 4 credits

PHY 4140
Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics 3 hours; 3 credits 

Astrophysics

3 lecture hours; 1.5 lab hours; 1.5 field excursion hours; 4 credits

Independent Study I

Hours and credits to be arranged

Independent Study II

Hours and credits to be arranged

Independent Study III

Hours and credits to be arranged

Honors Physics I

Hours to be arranged; usually 4 credits per semester

Honors Physics II

Hours to be arranged; usually 4 credits per semester

 

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