ScienceScienceB.A. in Science: Concentration in Individual Major
B.A. in Science: Concentration in Physical Science
M.A. in Science
The Center for Interdisciplinary Science (CIS) is a part of the College of Science and Engineering which especially encourages inquiries that extend across disciplines, not only within the sciences but also in other areas as they interface with the sciences. The bachelor's degree is based on gaining the breadth of science and scientific methodology through Basic Courses, and gaining depth in a defined interdisciplinary area through a Thematic Concentration. The basic courses include mathematics (six units), physics (eight units), chemistry (eight to ten units), biology (five units), earth sciences (three to four units), and history of science (two to three units). The specific basic courses vary slightly depending on the type of thematic concentration that the student takes.
A student may take one of three thematic concentrations:
Individual Major. The student in consultation with an adviser designs and proposes an interdisciplinary science theme. A written statement must be developed which describes the goals of the proposed major. The Individual Major consists of courses planned in advance to focus on this coherent theme.
Physical Sciences. Within this thematic concentration, three areas of emphasis are possible; namely, chemistry, physics, and earth sciences.
Meteorology. Students interested in this program should consult the Department of Geosciences, TH 509, 338-2061.
Career opportunities are primarily those in which a broad scientific background is desirable, such as work related to environmental concerns, health, safety, physical hazards, technical writing, science education, and technical administration.
All major course work must be completed with letter grades (CR/NC grades are not acceptable). Courses are listed under Interdisciplinary Science. Online course descriptions are available.
| Basic Courses | Units | |
| Mathematics | 7-8 | |
| MATH 226 | Calculus I (4) | |
| One of the following: | ||
| MATH 227 | Calculus II (4) | |
| CSC 210 | Introduction to Computer Programming: PASCAL | |
| Physics | 8 | |
| PHYS 111/112 | General Physics I and Laboratory (3/1) and | |
| PHYS 121/122 | General Physics II and Laboratory (3/1) or | |
| PHYS 220/222 | General Physics with Calculus I and Laboratory (3/1) and | |
| PHYS 230/232 | General Physics with Calculus II and Laboratory (3/1) | |
| Chemistry | 8-10 | |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I (5) | |
| One of the following: | ||
| CHEM 113/114 | General Chemistry II and Laboratory (3/2) | |
| CHEM 130 | General Organic Chemistry | |
| Biology | 5 | |
| BIOL 230 | Introductory Biology I (5) | |
| Earth Sciences—one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| GEOL 102 | Introduction to Oceanography | |
| GEOL 110 | Physical Geology (4) | |
| ASTR 320 | The Solar System and | |
| ASTR 321 | Observational Astronomy Laboratory (1) | |
| ASTR 330 | Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology | |
| METR 401 | Introduction to Physical Meteorology (4) | |
| History—one of the following: | 3 | |
| ASTR 350 | History of Astronomy | |
| BIOL 321 | Magic, Myths, and Medicine—A History of Medicine | |
| NEXA 387 | Origins of Modern Science | |
| NEXA 389 | Darwinian Revolution | |
| NEXA 390 | Einsteinian Revolution | |
| CHEM 599 | Chemistry, Its Evolution Through the Centuries | |
| MATH 300 | History of Mathematics | |
| PHYS 500 | Physics: Its Evolution Through the Ages | |
| Total basic courses | 34-38 | |
| Electives Academic courses selected by the student in consultation with a faculty adviser in the College of Science and Engineering centering on an interdisciplinary science theme. The elective program must be designed, proposed, and approved by the adviser and the director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Science before the senior year or before completion of 90 units of credit. At least fifteen elective units must be in upper division courses. CIS 510, Search for Solutions, is recommended as a capstone course for the major |
21 | |
| Total units for program | 55-59 | |
All major course work must be completed with letter grades (CR/NC grades are not acceptable). Courses are listed under the Center for Interdisciplinary Science. Online course descriptions are available.
NOTE: Students taking a thematic concentration in physical science must take: CHEM 113-114, GEOL 110, ASTR 320-321 or METR 401, and NEXA 390. Chemistry Emphasis students only may take CHEM 599 in place of NEXA 390. Total basic course units in this case will be 40.
| Basic Courses | Units | |
| Mathematics | 7-8 | |
| MATH 226 | Calculus I (4) | |
| One of the following: | ||
| MATH 227 | Calculus II (4) | |
| CSC 210 | Introduction to Computer Programming: PASCAL | |
| Physics | 8 | |
| PHYS 111/112 | General Physics I and Laboratory (3/1) and | |
| PHYS 121/122 | General Physics II and Laboratory (3/1) or | |
| PHYS 220/222 | General Physics with Calculus I and Laboratory (3/1) and | |
| PHYS 230/232 | General Physics with Calculus II and Laboratory (3/1) | |
| Chemistry | 10 | |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I (5) | |
| CHEM 113/114 | General Chemistry II and Laboratory (3/2) | |
| Biology | 5 | |
| BIOL 230 | Introductory Biology I (5) | |
| Earth Sciences | 8 | |
| GEOL 110 | Physical Geology (4) | |
| ASTR 320 | The Solar System and | |
| ASTR 321 | Observational Astronomy Laboratory (1) or | |
| METR 401 | Introduction to Physical Meteorology (4) | |
| History/Capstone—one of the following: | 3 | |
| NEXA 390 | Einsteinian Revolution | |
| CIS 510 | Search for Solutions | |
| CHEM 599 | Chemistry, Its Evolution Through the Centuries (optional course for Chemistry Emphasis only) | |
| Total basic courses | 41-42 | |
| CHEMISTRY EMPHASIS | ||
| CHEM 300 | General Physical Chemistry I | 2 |
| CHEM 301 | General Physical Chemistry II | 2 |
| CHEM 320 | Modern Methods of Quantitative Chemical Analysis | 4 |
| CHEM 333 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 334 | Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (2) or | |
| CHEM 335 | Organic Chemistry II | 2-3 |
| Upper division electives in Chemistry | 2 | |
| Emphasis total | 15-16 | |
| Total units for program | 56-58 | |
| PHYSICS EMPHASIS | ||
| PHYS 320/321 | Modern Physics and Laboratory (3/1) | 4 |
| PHYS 340 | Modern Optics | 3 |
| One of the following: | 3-4 | |
| PHYS 357 | Principles of Electronics (4) | |
| PHYS 370 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | |
| PHYS 355 | Introduction to Digital Electronics | |
| Upper division electives in Physics | 5-6 | |
| Emphasis total | 15-17 | |
| Total units for program | 56-59 | |
| EARTH SCIENCES EMPHASIS | ||
| GEOL 420 | Mineralogy | 4 |
| GEOL 440 | Paleontology (4) or | 4 |
| GEOL 450 | Geomorphology (4) | |
| Upper division Astronomy with Laboratory | 3-4 | |
| Upper division electives in earth sciences (Astronomy, Geology, or Meteorology) | 3-4 | |
| Emphasis total | 14-16 | |
| Total units for program | 55-58 | |
The Master of Arts in Science is intended for students who are not going into the traditional science disciplines but rather are interested in synthesis and holistic inquiries that extend across disciplines not only within the natural sciences but also to other disciplines such as social, behavioral, and humanistic areas as they interface with the natural sciences. The program is recommended for students who: (1) plan to terminate their studies at the M.A. level and seek employment in areas for which they are qualified; (2) are interested in science teaching at the secondary and junior college levels; and (3) wish to further their understanding of interdisciplinary science areas. The program is generally not suitable for students who wish to continue on for advanced studies in traditional science disciplines.
This program is currently under revision and is not admitting students for the 1999-00 academic year. Interested students should contact the director regarding the status of the program.