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College of Natural Sciences

The college includes the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, Nutrition and Food Sciences, Science Education, and Physics; the School of Nursing ; The Rural California Nursing Preceptorship Program; the Center for Water and the Environment (CWE); the Center for Mathematics and Science Education (CMSE); the Center for Healthy Communities (CHC); the Northern California Rural Simulation Center (SIM Center); and the Gateway Science Museum.

Our Mission

The mission of the College of Natural Sciences is to serve as an anchor institution in Northern California for mathematics and the sciences, providing a diverse set of services to our students and the larger community. Our undergraduate, pre-professional, and graduate programs give students the rigorous theoretical and practical training required for professional and personal success. We provide the cornerstones for a wide variety of technical disciplines beyond our college through our foundational service courses. We strive to instill in the wider campus community an understanding of the nature of science and its importance in modern society. We affirm the importance of serving the community beyond our campus as a resource for mathematics and science expertise.

The college offers baccalaureate programs in biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, environmental science, geology, geosciences, mathematics, microbiology, natural sciences, nutrition and food sciences, nursing, physics; and master’s programs in biological sciences, botany, nursing, nutrition and food sciences, environmental science, geosciences, mathematics education, and science teaching. In addition to excellent classes utilizing state-of-the-art equipment, professors encourage students to participate in activities that complement their academic career choices, including research internships, and field experiences. Our discipline-based and pre-professional student organizations sponsor programs and events that support scholarship and community service. Our outreach to the University and the local community includes seminars and colloquia series featuring speakers who are making breakthroughs at the leading edge of mathematics and scientific research.

The College of Natural Sciences is committed to improving the scientific literacy of the public and to addressing the nationwide shortage of mathematics and science teachers. Our subject matter preparation programs develop the strong understanding of content needed to be an effective teacher of science or mathematics. Our collaborations with our local K–12 colleagues allow us to provide a wide variety of field experiences for future teachers.

Catalog Cycle:16