University Studies Program
(May 21, 2002)
(updated January 9, 2003)
Definition:
Natural Science is the systemized body of knowledge pertaining to nature and the physical universe.
Rationale:
A university education helps students to develop the ability to think critically and objectively. It also provides educational experiences necessary to make informed decisions as members of society. A fundamental knowledge of some of the basic concepts in the physical, earth, and biological sciences is necessary if we are to think clearly and make wise choices concerning local, national, and global issues.
Science involves the formulation and testing of ideas through the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. The University Studies Program acknowledges two alternative approaches to achieving the goals of general education in the sciences--depth or breadth. The goals of understanding the scientific method and basic principles of the natural sciences can be achieved through broad exposure to several areas of science or through the study of one area of science in depth. The University Studies Program provides for the science requirement to be met through either approach.
Graduates of the University of Wyoming should have a basic understanding of the logic and methods of the natural sciences, and of their contemporary relevance. The Natural
Science requirement recognizes the different needs of science and non-science majors.
Exposure of non-science majors to broader, more integrated science courses may be more appropriate than traditional science major or non-major courses. Recognizing that many introductory science courses do not emphasize interrelationships between the natural science disciplines, an integrated Science (S) category exists. As these integrated S courses become available, they may be used by students not majoring in the sciences or engineering to fulfill the natural science requirement.
Outcomes:
Science involves the formulation and testing of ideas through the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. The University Studies Program acknowledges two alternative approaches to achieving the goals of general education in the sciences--depth or breadth. The goals of understanding the scientific method and basic principles of the natural sciences can be achieved through broad exposure to several areas of science or through the study of one area of science in depth. The University Studies Program provides for the science requirement to be met through either approach.
Criteria for Approval of University Studies Courses:
Integrated Science (S): S courses include basic scientific principles and explore the interrelationships between or within the traditional fields of physical, biological, and earth

sciences. While S courses may also explore the applications of science to broader societal issues, they emphasize rigorous content, application, methodology, and scientific inquiry.
These are 4 credit (with lab) courses.
Biological Science (SB): SB courses include basic and applied study of fundamental principles of biology, including cell structure and function, genetics, ecology, evolution, and organismal biology. These courses may also include applications of biological principles to societal issues such as land use, biodiversity, population and global environmental change, biotechnology, human wellness and disease. These may be either 3 credit (no lab) or 4 credit (with lab) courses.
Physical Science (SP): SP courses include basic and applied study of interactions that govern all physical and chemical phenomena. They emphasize the laws of motion, the relationships of space, time, mass and energy, electromagnetic radiation, macroscopic and microscopic views of matter, chemical transformation, and quantum principles. These may be either 3 credit (no lab) or 4 credit (with lab) courses.
Earth Science (SE): SE courses include basic and applied study of fundamental principles addressing the earth-sun relationship, astronomy, distribution of physical/geological features, map interpretation, weather/climate/oceanography, soils and vegetation. These may be either 3 credit (no lab) or 4 credit (with lab) courses.
In all categories, USP science courses:
1. Provide a substantial introduction to the fundamental principles of biological, physical, and/or earth sciences.
2.
3.
Examine how basic scientific concepts in a discipline or disciplines evolve.
Introduce students to the scientific approach as practiced in a discipline or disciplines.
4.
5.
Address the scope and limitations of the scientific approach.
Address how the discipline or disciplines influence and are influenced by contemporary society.
6. Provide a term-long laboratory or equivalent substantial experimental work using the tools and processes of scientific investigation integrated with the lecture.
Program Assessment :
The content of introductory USP science courses must reflect current college-level science teaching objectives. These are typically defined and delineated by professional accreditation organizations associated with each discipline. A periodic review of approved S, SB, SP, and SE courses against these standards shall be performed.
Fulfilling the Requirement :
Students may fulfill the USP science requirement in one of the following ways:
1. Non-science majors may meet the USP natural science requirement by taking any two courses from the three categories: biological (SB), physical (SP), and earth sciences
(SE). At least one of these courses must have a laboratory component (4 credits).

2. Non-science majors may also satisfy the natural sciences USP requirement by taking one four-credit integrated science (S) course as such courses become available in the curriculum. Courses designated (S) must have a laboratory component.
3. Science majors are expected to meet the USP natural science requirement through the normal course of their major requirements.
Process :
Using the University Studies Program criteria and outcomes, a sub-committee of three
University Studies Committee members (at least one from the sciences) will evaluate courses submitted for Natural Sciences category (S, SB, SP, SE) credit and will make recommendations to the full committee.

University Studies Program
Criteria Review Sheet
Integrated Science (S)
S courses include basic scientific principles and explore the interrelationships between or within the traditional fields of biological, physical, and earth sciences. While S courses may also explore the applications of science to broader societal issues, they must emphasize rigorous content, application, methodology, and scientific inquiry. These must be 4 credit (or more) courses with an appropriate laboratory component.
Course Prefix & Number:
Course Title:
Credit Hours:
Please attach a detailed course syllabus that includes the objectives or outcomes for the course and the means to assess the extent that students reach them.
List any prerequisites, including math placement level:
1.
How does the laboratory experience integrate with the lecture material? How does the laboratory subject matter emphasize more than one science discipline or subdiscipline?
2.
Using information from the syllabus, please describe how this course meets the learning goals (outcomes) and criteria for the integrated S category.
A.
What are the interdisciplinary emphases of this course?
B.
How does this course examine how basic scientific concepts across disciplines or sub-disciplines evolve?
C.
How does this course introduce students to the scientific approach as practiced in several disciplines or sub-disciplines?

D.
How does this course address the scope and limitations of the scientific approach?
E.
How does this course address how the various disciplines or sub-disciplines influence and are influenced by contemporary society (e.g. ethical considerations, social issues)?
3.
Explain how the assessment method(s) used for this course demonstrate student achievement of the learning outcomes for the S category. Explain how this assessment might provide information that can be used to improve accomplishment of desired learning outcomes.
4.
Does this course include an embedded USP component?
A.
If yes, which embeddable component is included, and how are the outcomes of the embedded component appropriately addressed in the course proposal?
5.
What other factors should the committee consider?

University Studies Program
Criteria Review Sheet
Biological Science (SB)
SB courses include basic and applied study of fundamental principles of biology, including cell structure and function, genetics, ecology, evolution, and organismal biology. These courses may also include applications of biological principles to societal issues such as land use, biodiversity, population and global environmental change, biotechnology, human wellness and disease. These may be either 3 credit (no lab) or 4 credit (with lab) courses.
Credit Hours: Course Prefix & Number:
Course Title:
Please attach a detailed course syllabus that includes the objectives or outcomes for the course and the means to assess the extent that students reach them.
List any prerequisites including math placement level:
1.
Is this a 4-credit course with lab? Or is it a 3-credit course without lab?
A.
If a lab is not included, how will the lecture integrate substantial experimental work using the tools and process of scientific investigation?
2.
Using information from the syllabus, please describe how this course meets the learning goals (outcomes) and criteria for the SB category.
A.
How does this course provide a substantial introduction to the fundamental principles of biological sciences?
B.
Does this course include applications of biological principles to societal issues such as land use, biodiversity, population and global environmental change, biotechnology, human wellness and disease? If so, please describe how these societal issues are addressed.

C.
How does this course examine how basic scientific concepts in a discipline or disciplines evolve?
D.
How does this course introduce students to the scientific approach as practiced in a discipline or disciplines?
E.
How does this course address the scope and limitations of the scientific approach?
F.
How does this course address how the discipline or disciplines influence and are influenced by contemporary society (e.g. ethical considerations, social issues)?
3.
Explain how the assessment method(s) used for this course demonstrate student achievement of the learning outcomes for the SB category. Explain how this assessment might provide information that can be used to improve accomplishment of desired learning outcomes.
4.
Does this course include an embedded USP component?
A.
If yes, which embeddable component is included, and are the outcomes of the embedded component appropriately addressed in the course proposal?
5.
What other factors should the committee consider?

University Studies Program
Criteria Review Sheet
Physical Science (SP)
SP courses include basic and applied study of interactions that govern all physical and chemical phenomena. They emphasize the laws of motion, the relationships of space, time, mass and energy, electromagnetic radiation, macroscopic and microscopic views of matter, chemical transformation, and quantum principles. These may be either 3 credit (no lab) or 4 credit (with lab) courses.
Credit Hours: Course Prefix & Number:
Course Title:
Please attach a detailed course syllabus that includes the objectives or outcomes for the course and the means to assess the extent that students reach them.
List any prerequisites including math placement level:
1.
Is this a 4-credit course with lab? Or is it a 3-credit course without lab?
A.
If a lab is not included, how will the lecture integrate substantial experimental work using the tools and process of scientific investigation?
2.
Using information from the syllabus, please describe how this course meets the learning goals (outcomes) and criteria for the SP category?
A.
How does this course provide a substantial introduction to the fundamental principles of physical sciences?
B.
How does this course examine how basic scientific concepts in a discipline or disciplines evolve?

C.
How does this course introduce students to the scientific approach as practiced in a discipline or disciplines?
D.
How does this course address the scope and limitations of the scientific approach?
E.
How does this course address how the discipline or disciplines influence and are influenced by contemporary society (e.g. ethical considerations, social issues)?
3.
Explain how the assessment method(s) used for this course demonstrate student achievement of the learning outcomes for the SP category. Explain how this assessment might provide information that can be used to improve accomplishment of desired learning outcomes.
4.
Does this course include an embedded USP component?
A.
If yes, which embeddable component is included, and how are the outcomes of the embedded component appropriately addressed in the course proposal?
5.
What other factors should the committee consider?

University Studies Program
Criteria Review Sheet
Earth Science (SE)
SE courses include basic and applied study of fundamental principles addressing the earthsun relationship, astronomy, distribution of physical/geological features, map interpretation, weather/climate/oceanography, soils and vegetation. These may be either 3 credit (no lab) or 4 credit (with lab) courses.
Course Prefix & Number:
Course Title:
Credit Hours:
Please attach a detailed course syllabus that includes the objectives or outcomes for the course and the means to assess the extent that students reach them.
List any prerequisites including math placement level:
1.
Is this a 4-credit course with lab? Or is it a 3-credit course without lab?
A.
If a lab is not included, how will the lecture integrate substantial experimental work using the tools and process of scientific investigation?
2.
Using information from the syllabus, please describe how this course meets the learning goals (outcomes) and criteria for the SE category.
A.
How does this course provide a substantial introduction to the fundamental principles of earth sciences?
B.
How does this course examine how basic scientific concepts in a discipline or disciplines evolve?

C.
How does this course introduce students to the scientific approach as practiced in a discipline or disciplines?
D.
How does this course address the scope and limitations of the scientific approach?
E.
How does this course address how the discipline or disciplines influence and are influenced by contemporary society (e.g. ethical considerations, social issues)?
3.
Explain how the assessment method(s) used for this course demonstrate student achievement of the learning outcomes for the SE category. Explain how this assessment might provide information that can be used to improve accomplishment of desired learning outcomes.
4.
Does this course include an embedded USP component?
A.
If yes, which embeddable component is included, and how are the outcomes of the embedded component appropriately addressed in the course proposal?
5.
What other factors should the committee consider?