Natural Science

Why major in natural science when you can major in such separate disciplines as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, and math/computer science? Because the course requirements in natural science are spread broadly across the five areas. This makes natural science the ideal major if you are interested in fields such as biostatistics, biophysics, a career as a scientific or technical librarian, or a business career in a science-oriented industry.

Students often choose a secondary focus to a major in natural science, such as neuroscience, environmental studies, philosophy, computer science, psychology, or history.

St. Mary's Project (SMP)

By definition, a St. Mary's Project is in an area of the student's special interest. The interests of natural science majors are many, as shown by the titles of some SMPs:

• Mathematical insights into Species competition
• Scientific illustration of a vertebrate zoology lab manual
• The aerodynamics of a golf ball flight
• Gene mapping of a familial skin disorder
• A conservation education resource on coral reef ecology

A Ph.D. candidate in graduate school writes:

Travel Abroad

Students in the tropical marine biology class often go to Caribbean waters during Spring Break to conduct research for their SMPs. This faculty-led, 10-day program takes place in Belize, which features Mayan ruins, a rainforest, and the second largest coral reef in the world.

Life After St. Mary's

The natural science major is great preparation to become a high school science teacher or as a biostatistician, science librarian, or a business person in a science-oriented industry.

All science majors have access to the College's Health Science Advisory Committee. This faculty group helps science students plan their course of study at St. Mary's and later guides them through the application process to graduate and professional school. Recent graduates have been accepted at these schools (among others):
Medical: Columbia, Duke, George Washington, Georgetown, Harvard, Howard, Johns Hopkins, University of Chicago, Maryland, Vanderbilt.
Research: American, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Virginia, Yale.
Veterinary: Cornell, Ohio State, Pennsylvania, Virginia Tech.

For more information, contact the Admissions Office at
http://www.smcm.edu/naturalscience/index.html