Natural Science

Approved April 25, 2005

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the methods that scientists use to explore natural phenomena including observation, hypothesis development, measurement, data collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence, and quantitative analysis.[1]
Students will be able to use the terminology of a life science and/or a physical science to demonstrate cognition, interpretation, and communication of information in the natural sciences. [2]
Students will be able to evaluate or test hypotheses by analyzing evidence. [3]
Desirable but optional: Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding that what distinguishes science from pseudoscience is the demand for objective evidence as the ultimate test of scientific validity.

[1]This learning outcome focuses on the process of science. The expectation is that students will understand how scientists explore the natural world. The language is based on the first SUNY natural science learning outcome.

[2]The proper use and understanding of terminology is one gauge of "introductory abstract" thinking in the natural sciences. The requirement of both life science and physical science component is based on our preliminary discussions of the structure of the natural science requirement in IF.

[3]This brief and simple learning objective could be met by, inter alia, the "experimental experience" that we would like to see included in all natural science IF courses. The experience could be the full laboratory component that we have in many of our introductory majors courses or by the type of "lab module" that the Geography Department uses in its World’s Natural Environments course. In a psychology course, it could mean having the class engage in the coding of taped behavior and then calculating and/or discussing inter-rater reliability. The college should move in the direction of requiring that all natural science cognate courses include this experimental/laboratory experience.