NATURAL SCIENCES COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

 

SC 094 Family Health (3)

An introductory non lab remedial/certificate science course about family health topics with emphasis on family structure, accurate mental and physical processes related to sexuality and family cycles, nutrition and diet, lifestyle diseases that affect families in Micronesia and limits of family resources to maintain the health of families.

 

 

SC 098 Survey of Science (3)

A non-lab remedial/certificate science course that emphasizes the development of science concepts for natural sciences such as chemistry, physics, earth science and biology, and hands-on experience to promote basic science skills such as measurement and the use of the scientific method of inquiry to explore the natural environment. In addition, scientific literacy and reading comprehension will be addressed to assist students in furthering their science education.

 

 

SC 100a Science for Teachers (3)

This one-semester course covers basic knowledge of topics and contents in the Chuuk State Department of Education’s science curriculum framework (Grades 1-8) in order to increase information background of students (pre-service teachers) in elementary-school science. At the same time, it is intended to help students develop and demonstrate both science methodology and science teaching methods and skills in Space Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, Human Science, and life Science.

 

 

SC 101 Health Science (3)

Prerequisite: ES 089Emphasizes basic human anatomy, disease and disease carriers, personal and community hygiene, first aid treatment of minor accidents, mental health and illness, and sex education.

 

 

SC 110 Introduction to Ecology (3)

Prerequisite: ES 089

Deals with survey of biological ecology with the distribution and abundance of organisms in relation to physical, physiological, population and community characteristics.

 

 

SC 111 Environmental Studies (3)

Prerequisite: ES 089

Introduces the concept of ecosystems, exposes students to local ecological communities and resources, presents local environmental problems, such as pollution, resource depletion, and population, and suggests possible control methods.

 

 

SC 112 Introduction to Human Nutrition (3)

Prerequisite: ES 089

Provides basic information on the nutrients, and components of a proper diet with an emphasis on Pacific Island foods, and on diet-related disease common in Micronesia.

 

 

SC 117 Tropical Pacific Island Environment w/Lab (4 )

Prerequisite: ES 089 and recommended completion of one other college-level science course and Micronesian History. The course will present ecological principles made relevant by examples from Pacific Island ecosystems and from interactions of humans with our island reefs and forests. It will focus on the close interrelationship between the physical (hydrosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere) and biological (biosphere) environments of tropical Pacific Islands and the impact of human colonization. Emphasis will be placed on islands as "closed" systems with limited surface area and resources. Drastic alteration to Pacific island environments by rapid population growth, industrialization and modern technology within the last century will be explored.

 

 

SC 120 Biology w/lab (4 )

Prerequisite: ES 089

Provides an introduction to modern biological concepts at the molecular, cellular, and organismic levels, including cell biology, anatomy, physiology, genetics, plant and animal diversity and ecology.

 

 

SC 122a Anatomy and Physiology I w/lab (4)

Prerequisite: SC 120

Deals with the survey of the human body systems including the study of structures and functions of the human body.

 

 

SC 122b Anatomy and Physiology II w/lab (4)

Prerequisite: SC 122a

Deals with the systems that integrate and control the body functions and maintain continuity of life.

 

 

SC 130 Physical Science w/lab (4 )

Prerequisite: ES 089

A general overview of physical science which includes the study of motion, force, energy, matter, electricity, light, magnetism and basic chemistry.

 

 

SC 180 Microbiology w/lab (4 )

Prerequisite: SC 120

Emphasizes basic understanding of microbiology and control of pathogenic micro-organisms with emphasis on common infections caused by pathogenic micro-organisms and work of body resistance.

 

 

SC 201 Astronomy (3)

Prerequisite: ES 089

Provides a survey of the astronomical universe, including solar systems, star clusters, and galaxies.

 

 

SC 202 Weather and Climate (3)

Prerequisite: ES 089

Deals with basic understanding of weather and climate with emphasis on atmospheric extent, composition, pressure, temperature, and circulation of air masses.

 

 

SC 206 Oceanography and Coastal Process in Classroom (3)

An introduction to oceanography and coastal processes to help Pacific Island teachers incorporate these topics into school science programs. This two-week in-service course includes guest speakers and hands-on laboratory and field experience supplemented by background resource materials and references.

 

 

SC 210 Conservation Science (3)

Prerequisite: ES 089

Conservation science is a response to the wave of global environmental change that threatens a large portion of the world's natural ecosystems. Basic principles of ecology and processes such as deforestation, species loss, land degradation, overpopulation, and global warming will form the framework for understanding conservation issues. Examination of cases linked to the Tropical Pacific Islands threatened ecosystems will illustrate practical applications of these theoretical notions.

 

 

SC 220 Introduction to Geology (3)

Prerequisite: ES 089

Introduces the natural and physical environment: the landscape, rocks and minerals, rivers and oceans, volcanism, earthquakes and other processes inside the earth.

 

 

SC 230 Introduction to Chemistry w/lab (4)

Prerequisite: MS 098

The course is an investigation of the fundamentals of general chemistry and an introduction to organic chemistry. The course will emphasize the role of chemistry in modern human life. The laboratory supports the lecture topics, through both qualitative and quantitative experiments. The topics include: basic concepts, chemical substances, chemical reactions, atomic structure, states of matter, and an introduction to organic chemistry.

 

 

SC 240 Introduction to Physics w/lab (4 )

Prerequisite: C or better in SC 130 or MR 130.

Introduces the basic concepts of classical mechanics and gravitation. A survey of electromagnetism, optics, thermodynamics and modern physics is given.

 

 

SC 245 Remote Sensing (3)

Prerequisite: C or better in SC 130, SC 2 0 or MR 130.

Explores the principles behind the absorbency and reflectance properties of electromagnetic waves from the sun as they are transformed into actual photographs by modern equipment showing the terrain features of the earth’s surface.

 

 

SC 250 General Botany w/lab (4)

Prerequisite: SC 120 or MR 120 or instructor’s permission

Introduces the study of structure, function and evolution of plants, their relationship to the environment and to humans.

 

 

SC 255 General Zoology w/lab (4 )

Prerequisite: SC 120 or MR 120 or instructor’s permission Provides a general survey of the basic principles of animal biology with emphasis on the invertebrate and vertebrate groups, classifications, structure, physiology, life histories, ecology, evolution and genetics.

 

 

SC 260 Independent Studies in Biology (1-3)

Prerequisite: Instructor’s permission.

Participation in a field or laboratory research project alone or jointly with faculty project leader and other participants. Student works on one or more phases of the project, including library research for background information, collecting data, analyzing data, and preparing a research report or manuscript suitable for publication.

 

 

SC/ED 333 Life Science for Teachers (3)

This course covers, in depth, the major life science concepts and topics outlined in the FSM and FSM State’s curriculum standards.

 

 

SC/ED 343 Physical Science for Teachers (3)

This course covers, in depth, the major physical science concepts and topics outlined in the FSM and FSM State’s curriculum standards. A teaching practicum constitutes the laboratory experience.

 

 

SC/SS 115 Ethnobotany (3)

Prerequisite: ES 089

The course combines the study of the interaction of people and plants with a broad survey of the diversity of plants described both scientifically and culturally. Students learn about the social impact of plants on culture while becoming knowledgeable in the characteristics, local uses, and names of the major plant phyla present in Micronesia. Computer based technologies are also a component of this course.