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06.02.10 - Build your science chops with us

The Natural Sciences Division is proud to keep you moving toward a more interesting future. Because that is where science always leads… to a more interesting future. The Natural Sciences Division offers you many different kinds of science courses from anatomy and biology to chemistry and physics. Develop and refine the skills you need in lecture, lab or out in the field. Want to learn about the stars? Observe and learn with us. Want to study desert ecology in the field? Come on along. Want to apply your calculus skills to questions on celestial mechanics? We can help. Just getting your Gen. Ed. Requirements out of the way? We offer lots of choices.


Of course the big mystery faced by all students is, “What will I do with my education?” According to the US Dept. of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, students with a strong background in science will have more and better opportunities in the job marketplace. Although science courses can be very challenging, the skills that you build can pay off in the form of a more fulfilling and better paying career. Please click on the Careers in Science link at left for more resources.


Science and Engineeering. Science (done by scientists) provides the theoretical understanding of nature – how things work. Technology (done by engineers) takes scientific theory and applies it in new and interesting ways to create useful new products and services. For example, scientists observe competitive behavior in natural ecosystems. The theory that explains this behavior is “Game Theory.” Engineers take game theory and develop artificial intelligence (AI) for bots in video games. In another example, physicists explain the motion of heavenly bodies in terms of celestial mechanics. Engineers take this information and land spacecraft on Mars.


Science is about discovering and engaging in exciting new activities by pushing it. If you like to push it, we’ve got a place for you. Let the Division of Natural Sciences get you ready for your next important move.

03.22.09 - Natural Sciences Staff Enjoy a Colorful Weekend in the Desert

Many Californians think of deserts as drab, brown wastelands -- tortuously boring landscapes that torment travelers with monotony and heat on their drives to Las Vegas. It is true that California deserts can seem uninviting to many -- but rarely to biologists. How can this be?

Ecology students at Corn SpringsMany biologists find the desert to be an irresistible natural environment, filled with interesting plants and animals that exhibit remarkable survival skills. The desert is not always brown and harsh. Sometimes the desert is splashed with colorful blossoms, especially after plenty of winter rain.

This spring, Ken Collins organized a weekend desert field trip for his General Ecology class. The destination was Corn Spring, a favorite spot known for its diversity -- and shade. Participants on this trip found the desert covered with flowers, in the canyons, on the flats and on the mountains. The General Ecology students and the accompanying members of the Natural Sciences Division witnessed the desert at its best -- abundant flowers, green mountainsides, healthy animals, and really fat Chuckwallas and barrel cactuses.

This weekend outing is just one example of how the faculty and staff in the Natural Sciences Division truly enjoy their chosen fields. And we try to share our joy for science and nature in the classroom. But sometimes it takes exposure to the bloomin' desert for one to begin to see the beauty of nature everywhere.