Integrated Scientific Topics (IST)
[Currently Studies in Natural Science (NST)]
Revised requirement
Adopted May 2006; anticipated effective date September 2008
Description:
Studies in Natural Science: Two courses, each from a different department or program, that develop an integrativeunderstanding of scientific content , scientific principles, and the methods of contemporary natural science. At least one must be a Scientific Exploration and Discovery (SED) course, and at least one must be an Integrated Scientific Topics (IST) course.
Administrative guideline:
- A course meeting the Studies in Natural Science requirement may be designated as a Scientific Exploration and Discovery (SED-x) course, an Integrated Scientific Topics (IST-x) course, or both. Students must complete at least one SED course and one IST course, or one course with both attributes and a second course with either attribute, in order to fulfill the requirement.
B. Integrated Scientific Topics (IST-x)
Guidelines for courses:
- Courses must focus on scientific content and scientific principles from one or more fields within the natural sciences with respect to one or more specific topics.
- Courses must incorporate a variety of disciplinary perspectives, within or in addition to the natural sciences, on the topic(s) being investigated.
Intended learning outcomes for students:
Students will demonstrate:
- An ability to use concepts and tools from one or more natural sciences to understand an issue or topic.
- An ability to use a variety of disciplinary perspectives, within or in addition to the natural sciences, to understand an issue or topic.
- An ability to use scientific terminology appropriately in meaningful scientific dialogue.
Integrated Scientific Topics requirement complete description - includes committee comments on course guidelines to assist instructors in preparing proposals for GE accreditation
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Current requirement
Description:
Studies in Natural Science: Two courses that develop a student's understanding of scientific knowledge, the process of scientific discovery, and the role of the sciences in society and culture. The two courses taken by a student may not be in the same department or interdisciplinary program; one of the courses must be a laboratory course [NSL]; and while courses in a variety of disciplines may satisfy this requirement, at least one of the two must be in biology, chemistry or physics [NST-B, NST-C, or NST-P].
Administrative guideline:
The two courses taken by a student may not be in the same department or interdisciplinary program. While courses in a variety of disciplines may satisfy this requirement, at least one of the courses must be in biology, chemistry or physics.
Guidelines for courses:
- The primary focus of courses is on scientific content, scientific principles, and the methodology of contemporary natural science.
- Courses develop some understanding of how the content and principles were discovered and how they have come to be accepted as valid.
- Courses must include some discussion of the reciprocal relationships between science and society. Courses which treat the broader aspects of science would be appropriate, provided they also satisfy Guideline 1.
- To count as a laboratory course, the students must have substantial and direct experience in doing natural science, including data collection and analysis of experimental results. Labs should also be somewhat exploratory in nature or aimed at discovery. In addition, students should develop some experience in designing experiments.
Intended learning outcomes for students:
The current version of this requirement does not include a statement of intended learning outcomes.
Studies in Natural Science requirement complete description - includes committee comments on course guidelines to assist instructors in preparing proposals for GE accreditation
