The Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Steve Hovan, Dean

Daniel A. Burkett, Dean’s Associate for Academic Affairs
Dan Widzowski, Dean’s Associate for Pre-professional Programs

We change lives through science and math. Our graduates change the world as educators, scientists, and leaders.

We change lives through:

opportunities to explore, create, and innovate,
team-based problem-solving in teaching and learning,
interdisciplinary scientific research, and
challenges that inspire individual achievement.

These four mission objectives encompass the Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics’ (KCNSM) approach for education of its students now and in the future. New scientific and mathematical methods often arise through an integration of qualitative and quantitative concepts to identify patterns and processes. Thus, progress in the natural sciences and mathematics is maximized through interdisciplinary-collaborative teams built on separate and specific knowledge and approaches of their respective disciplines. Scientific endeavors increasingly depend on this integrative approach that includes interconnecting scientific theory, experimentation, and simulation. Solutions to the problems facing future generations will involve ever larger and more complex databases capturing information of ever finer resolution. The college’s graduates become responsible lifelong learners, applying lessons learned in the natural sciences and mathematics to their professional and personal lives, changing the world as educators, scientists, and leaders.

College Majors

College Minors

Credit Certificate Programs

Interdisciplinary Programs, Minors and Certificates

The interdisciplinary degree programs, minors, and certificates are multidisciplinary and are not specific to one university college. The areas with significant coursework in our college are: Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security, Global Health, Professional Teamwork and Leadership, Sustainability, Cultural Competencies Certificate, and the Scientific Communication Certificate. Visit Interdisciplinary Programs to view offerings and requirements.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the university’s Liberal Studies requirements, all students seeking a baccalaureate degree in the KCNSM must complete the requirements for a major as established by the department through which they wish to specialize. Statements of these requirements and those for minoring in a specific field appear in the department sections that follow. A double major or minor may encompass a discipline outside as well as within the college but should be selected only with advisor approval. As a general principle, there is considerable latitude in course choice for Natural Sciences and Mathematics majors; for specifically required courses, substitution in any program must have the written approval of the student’s department chairperson or the college dean.

Degrees

Students may earn a bachelor of arts degree in anthropology, biology, computer science, or geography and GIS. All other undergraduate tracks and programs are awarded a bachelor of science degree.

Several departments in the college sponsor a Masters degree. Many of the Masters programs offer an early admission option for current undergraduates. The Safety Sciences program offers a PhD in Safety Sciences. Information on these programs and early graduate admissions can be obtained from the department chair.

Minors and Certificates

Each department in the college offers a minor in their discipline. Note that minors may not include more than two courses from their department that also count for their major. In addition, there are certificates in Geospatial Intelligence, Military Geographic Competencies, Unmanned Aerial Systems, and Secondary Science Education.

The Foreign Language Requirement

Several programs require some level of foreign language competency. See individual program requirements for more information.

Any foreign student, registered as such at IUP, whose acquired native language is other than English and who demonstrates an acceptable proficiency in English, is exempt from the foreign language requirement for a Natural Sciences and Mathematics degree if the department he/she is majoring in does not require a specific language not thus covered.

Internship Programs

Several departments in the KCNSM have established extensive internship programs under which students engage in an off-campus supervised work experience for credit. For more information about specific internship programs, students should consult with the chairperson of the department in which the student is majoring. Students eligible for internships may receive federal or state funding.

Preprofessional Programs

The college offers programs for the preparation of students for acceptance by a professional school: pre-medical (including osteopathic medicine) and pre-veterinary medicine. In addition, the college offers a major in the natural sciences for those students whose goal is dentistry, pharmacy , optometry, chiropractic, physician assistant or physical therapy. All programs are so designed that, should a student not pursue a graduate program, the student may still earn an IUP baccalaureate degree with appropriate coursework.

The preprofessional health programs in the college presuppose that the student has an excellent background in the high school sciences and mathematics and will prove to be an excellent college student. Students should identify their proposed field of study upon admission to IUP.

Cooperative Programs

IUP has entered into cooperative agreements with a number of outstanding institutions to provide significant career opportunities to students. These formal agreements provide for accelerated graduate or professional degree programs or carefully planned and coordinated undergraduate programming with the cooperating institution. Programs are intended to ensure acceptance of properly qualified students by the cooperating professional schools. Additional information about specific programs can be found under the appropriate academic department in this catalog.

Chiropractic (See Natural Science): The Northeast College of Health Sciences, Palmer College of Chiropratic, Sherman College of Chiropractic, Parker College of Chiropractic, Life University, and Logan Chiropractic College programs are designed to accelerate professional training (eg.3+3) of IUP students in the field of chiropractic medicine.
Dentistry (see Natural Science)
Engineering (see Physics): The agreement between IUP and The University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering is a dual baccalaureate opportunity for students to receive a three year solid foundation in science, math, humanities and social sciences at IUP, followed by approximately two years of instruction at Swanson School of Engineering. Successful students are transcribed a physics B.S. degree from IUP and a B.S.E. degree in one of the following from Pitt: Bioengineering, Chemical
Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Science, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. For more information contact the pre-engineering advisor in the physics program.
Jefferson Medical College, Physician Shortage Area Program (See Department of Biology): The program increases the opportunities for IUP students to be admitted to Jefferson Medical College.*
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) (See Department of Biology): LECOM and IUP have a cooperative “3+4” program. Students will be awarded a BS degree with a major in biology from IUP upon successful completion of the first-year curriculum at LECOM and of the undergraduate requirements at IUP.*
Optometry (See Natural Science): The Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University program accelerates the professional training of IUP students in the field of optometry.
Pharmacy (see Chemistry): The Shenandoah University School of Pharmacy, University of Charleston School of Pharmacy (WV), or LECOM School of Pharmacy programs are designed to accelerate the professional training of IUP students in the field of pharmacy.
Physical Therapy (see Natural Science): The Gannon University School of Physical Therapy program is designed to enhance the professional training of IUP students in the field of physical therapy.
Physician Assistant (See Natural Science): The Salus University Physician Assistant Studies program accelerates the professional training of IUP students in the field of physician assistant.
Primary Care Scholars Program: This program enables the college to identify students with primary care potential and to provide these students with the opportunity to interact with primary care faculty, physicians, and medical students at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine for one week during the summer.*
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) (See Department of Biology): PCOM has established this “3+4” Early Acceptance program with IUP. The program will enable students who have demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to the practice of medicine to gain a provisional acceptance to PCOM. Students will be awarded a BS degree with a major in biology from IUP upon successful completion of the first-year curriculum at PCOM and the undergraduate requirements at IUP.*

*Contact the pre-medical advisor, N. Bharathan, for specific information.