Natural Sciences

Nutritional Science | Physics and Earth Sciences
Interdisciplinary Courses
Pre-Professional Preparation in Medicine and the Allied Health Fields

Nutritional Science Courses

If a course is listed as both lower-division and upper-division, the amount of work required for upper-division credit differs in both quantity and quality from that required for lower-division credit.

NSC1012/2012 Introduction to Nutrition (3)
Prerequisite: Math Placement Level 1.
Three hours lecture. Studies the major nutrients and their functions. Includes digestion, metabolism, disorders, food fads, obesity, and proper diet for health.

NSC1018/2018 Nutrition and Health in Developing Countries [CDiv] (3)
Prerequisite: Math Placement Level 1.
Three hours lecture, discussion. Studies nutrition and health issues in developing countries, including a critical look at causes and solutions to world hunger. Introduces the major nutrients and proper diet for health. Not recommended for students who have taken NSC1012.

Physics and Earth Sciences Courses

PH001 Physical Geology (3)
Prerequisites: High school chemistry or CH001 or PH009; Math Placement Level 1.
Studies the structure of the earth and the agents of its dynamic changes: global plate tectonics, weathering, mass wasting, and glaciation, within the context of mineral formation, the rock cycle, and geologic time. Includes consideration of human activity in regards to mineral and energy resources and land use. The format consists of lectures, discussion, demonstrations, laboratories, and field trips.

PHY1003 College Physics (4)
Prerequisite: Math Placement Level 4 or equivalent; high school physics or PHY1109 recommended.
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. This course does not require calculus and is the first course in a two-part sequence. Topics include kinematics, dynamics, properties of solids, liquids, gasses, heat, wave motion, and sound. Laboratory emphasizes error calculations for objective evaluation of data. Standard equipment and air tracks are used extensively.

PHY1008 Physical Geography (3)

Prerequisite:  A high school science or geography course is recommended.
Physical Geography provides an introduction to the major components of our physical environment.  Topics include: the Earth and its place in the solar system, plate tectonics, climate and weather, geology, soils, and human interaction with the natural world.  The format of the course includes lectures, discussion, and demonstrations, with computer support by way of geographic information system (GIS) applications.  This course is useful for all students interested in human-environment relationships, especially: natural sciences, medicine, social and political sciences, business, marketing, management and law.  This course satisfies the Core Curriculum Natural Science Requirement.

 

PHY1109 Introduction to Physical Science (3.5)
Prerequisite: Math Placement Level 2.
Three hours lecture, one and one-half hours laboratory. Introduces topics selected from physics, astronomy, chemistry, and meteorology. Emphasizes the nature of discovery and the formation of concepts, laws, and theories in science. Laboratory exercises demonstrate lecture topics. Required for Liberal Studies majors.

PH010 Astronomy (3)
Prerequisite: High school math or science course.
Three hours lecture and field trips.  This is an introductory course in astronomy.  The topics addressed in the course include the structure and dynamics of the universe, galaxies, stars, and our solar system.  We discuss electromagnetic radiation, atomic structure, and the evolution of the constituents of space, as well as the technology, from earthbound telescopes to space probes, used to collect information.  The course is open to non-science majors as well as science majors.

PHY1205 College Physics (4)
Prerequisite: PHY1003.
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. This course is a continuation of PHY1002 covering optics, electricity, and magnetism. Laboratory uses basic electronic measuring devices in electrical circuits, meters, pulse generators, and oscilloscopes.

PHY1304 Physics for Scientists (4)
Prerequisites: MTH1320/1322 and two semesters high school physics or PHY1109, or permission of instructor.
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. This is a calculus-based course in general physics, the first part of a two-course sequence. Topics include mechanics, properties of matter, heat and thermodynamics, and simple harmonic motion including sound. Laboratory emphasizes error calculations for objective evaluation of data. Standard equipment and air tracks are used extensively.

PHY1306 Physics for Scientists (4)
Prerequisite: PHY1109.
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. This course is calculus-based, the second part of a two-course sequence in general physics. Topics include electricity, magnetism, and optics. Laboratory uses basic electronic measuring devices in electrical circuits, meters, pulse generators, and oscilloscopes.

PHY2000 Science in Action (4)

Prerequisites: B101009 or PHY1009 or BIO1101 or CHE1101 or CHE1202 or by permission. 

Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory.  In this community-based learning course, students design and test science experiments for children and then partner with a local elementary school to work with/lead the elementary students through those experiments.  Students choose projects from the physical, life, and earth sciences that support the learning outcomes outlined in the Science Content Standards found in the Science Framework for California Public Schools.

PHY2994 Laboratory Assistant (1-3)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Provides an opportunity for Natural Science majors to earn credit assisting instructors.

PHY2999 Independent Study in Physics (1-3)
Provides an opportunity for independent study or research under the direction of an instructor. See Undergraduate Policies and Procedures section on Independent Study.

Interdisciplinary Courses

If a course is listed as both lower-division and upper-division, the amount of work required for upper-division credit differs in both quantity and quality from that required for lower-division credit.

BIO1465/2465 Natural Sciences Seminar (1)
Offers presentations and discussions of selected topics in natural sciences. Speakers are scientists from other institutions and from the NDNU faculty and student body. May be repeated for credit.

BIO2007 Geographical Information Systems and Public Health (4)
Introduces the essentials of GIS and the fundamentals of epidemiology. Lectures and laboratories use GIS software to develop skills in database management, graphical display, and mapping, incorporating epidemiological methods to develop maps exemplifying a range of public health issues including infectious and vector-borne disease patterns, epidemic investigation, environmental hazards, and health services access.

NSC1001/2001Science and Technology in Developing Countries [CDiv] (3)
Three hours lecture, discussion. Studies the effects of information from and methodology of modern science in developing countries. Investigtes the impact of technological advances such as computers, genetic engineering, pesticides, and fertilizers on the environment, values, and social institutions of these countries. Not recommended for students who have taken NSC1018/2018 or BIO2108

SM004/104 Revolutionary Women and Minorities in Science [CDiv] (3) 
Three hours lecture, discussion.  How long have women and minorities been active in science?  This course explores the disparity between the contributions of women and minorities in science and engineering throughout history and their under-representation in these fields.  We study the contributions of many notable scientists including Marie Curie, Gerty Cory, St. Elmo Brady, Marie Daly, Alejandro Zaffaroni, and Luis Frederico Lelois, and examine the gender, class, and racial prejudices they experienced.

NSC2007 Development of Scientific Thinking (3)
Lecture, discussion. Explores the nature of scientific thinking processes in the context of child development. Studies the roles of direct experience, technology, and conceptual changes in scientific learning with reference to values and ethical principles.

Courses closely related to these Interdisciplinary courses but offered in other departments include:

• SOC2625 Animals, People, and the Environmen
• SOC2627 Animals, People, and the Environment - Fieldwork

Pre-Professional Preparation in Medicine and the Allied Health Fields

Medicine

Students planning post-graduate application to medical, dental, pharmacy, or veterinary schools should consult, at an early date, the individual schools to which they plan to apply for specific undergraduate course requirements. Any baccalaureate program can be acceptable, however certain courses are either required or recommended and cover topics included on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Generally these include:

Courses		Units
	English (writing)	6
BIO1101/1103	General Biology (one year with laboratory)	8
CHE1202/1204	General Chemistry (one year with laboratory)	8
CHE2203/2205	Organic Chemistry (one year with laboratory)	8
PHY1003/1205	Physics (one year with laboratory)	8
	Statistics and Calculus (consult individual school catalog)	8
Additional Courses:
BIO2200	Developmental Biology	4
BIO2210	Human Physiology	5
BIO2215	Genetics	4
BIO2280	Microbiology	5
CHE2380/2382	Biochemistry	8
	Humanities and Social Sciences

Admissions committees of the medical schools look for persons of high ability in science demonstrated in coursework and independent investigations. In addition, students should show strong analytical skills and motivation, as well as a practical exposure to the field of medicine.

Allied Health Professions

Preparation for the allied health professions depends heavily upon the particular area of healthcare involved; a wide range of baccalaureate programs may meet requirements. In general, however, the minimum preparation for these professions consists of the following courses:

Courses		Units
CHE1202/1204	General Chemistry (one year with laboratory)	8
CHE2203/2205	Organic Chemistry (one year with laboratory)	8
PHY1003/1205	Physics (one year with laboratory)	8
	Biology (two years with laboratory, to include BY001A/B)	16
	Mathematics	8

Certain of the allied health professions may require preparation closely resembling the requirements for pre-medical programs. Students are advised to consult at an early date the catalogs of the schools to which they intend to apply to be certain of requirements.