Science and Management Major

Major Requirements

The major in science and management requires a minimum of 16 courses, distributed as follows:

1. Core Program (9 courses)

Chemistry (1 or 2 courses)

Physics (2 courses)

Mathematics (1 course)

MATH 030 CM - Calculus I

Computer Science (1 course)

CSCI 051 CM - Introduction to Computer Science

Economics (4 courses)

2. Sequence (7 courses)

One of the following 4 sequences, consisting of 7 courses:

A. Chemistry Sequence

B. Physics Sequence

C. Biotechnology Sequence

D. Environmental Sequence

Internship or Practicum

See program convener for specific requirements. May be credit-bearing or non-credit.

Senior Thesis (1 or 2 courses)

Science and Management majors must complete a 1- or 2-semester thesis in biology, chemistry, or physics. For further information, see Senior Thesis in Science, below.

Note:

The introductory chemistry and physics courses may also be completed by both semesters of the Accelerated Integrated Science Sequence (AISS ).

Senior Thesis in Science

The senior thesis is a general education requirement and the capstone experience of a student’s undergraduate education. Students must complete a senior thesis in at least one of their majors under supervision of a faculty reader who teaches within that major, unless granted a special exception.

Science majors have the following senior thesis options. Refer to the major requirements above for major-specific senior thesis requirements.

2-Semester Thesis with Lab (2 courses, 2 credits)

Students interested in a 2-semester thesis with lab take one of the following pairs of courses in the 1^st and 2^nd semester of the senior year:

2-Semester Thesis with Summer Research (2 courses, 1 credit)

Students interested in completing a 2-semester thesis by conducting a substantial research project during the summer after their junior year should register for one of the following pairs of courses in the 1^st semester of the senior year. There is no credit or lab fee for 189L.

1-Semester Experimental Thesis with Lab (1 course, 1 credit)

Students interested in a 1-semester experimental thesis with lab take one of the following in the 1^st or 2^nd semester of the senior year:

1-Semester Library Thesis without Lab (1 course, 1 credit)

Students interested in a 1-semester library thesis without lab complete an extensive library research thesis in the 1^st or 2^nd semester of the senior year, chosen from:

Note:

The Senior Thesis Research Project course (188L) or the Summer Research Project course (189L) may not be counted as elective courses in the major.

Special Options for Majors in Science

Dual Major in Science

Students selecting a dual major including science should discuss their program requirements with the conveners of the appropriate programs. Usually up to 2 electives in science may be waived for dual majors including science. Unless otherwise specified above or exempted by the appropriate convener of the Keck Science Department, science students with dual majors are required to complete a 1- or 2-semester thesis in science.

Honors in Science

To be eligible for departmental honors in a science major, students must:

Achieve a minimum GPA of 10.5 in courses in the major;
Complete a 1- or 2-semester thesis project in which the student has demonstrated excellence by making a significant contribution to the progress of the research, by producing a thesis document judged to be of honors quality by the department, by presenting the work in a cogent fashion, and by engaging in the departmental seminar program.

Students with a dual major including science who wish to be considered for honors in science will only receive honors if they:

Have completed all requirements for a full major in science and are granted honors, or
Qualify and receive honors in both disciplines of their dual major. See Academic Honors at Graduation for details.

Study Abroad for Science Majors

The Keck Science Department supports study abroad for science majors, however majors need to be aware that spending a semester off-campus requires careful advanced planning and program selection. Science majors interested in study abroad should discuss their interest with their major advisors as soon as possible.

General Education Requirement Information for Science and Management Majors

General Education Requirement in Science

Every CMC student must complete one (1) laboratory science course offered by the Keck Science Department or elsewhere within the Claremont Consortium. This requirement must by satisfied by the end of the 2^nd year at CMC.

General Education Requirements in the Social Sciences and the Humanities

For students with science majors, general education requirements in the social sciences and humanities must be met by courses outside of a student’s major field(s). Science and Management majors must take courses in 3 of the 4 fields in the social sciences, including ECON 050 CM - Principles of Economic Analysis , PSYC 037 CM - Organizational Psychology , and either GOVT 020 CM - Introduction to American Politics or a history course approved for the general education requirement. Majors also must take courses in 2 of the 4 fields of the humanities (literature, philosophy, religious studies, and literature in a foreign language).

Student Learning Outcomes of the Program in Science and Management

Master the principles in their specific sequence/track (molecular biology, environmental biology, chemistry, physics, or other fields) and acquire the ability to apply them to solving problems including research questions.
Master the fundamental principles of economics and accounting.
Gain experience in the world outside the classroom.