The Natural Science Foundation
To fulfill the Natural Science Foundation, students must take one three-credit course, core-designated as inclusive of a “hands-on” component. Students who have not taken a high-school physics course will be required to take a physics-based natural science core course.
Why Natural Science?
Science provides an empirical analysis of truth in the natural order and approaches the natural world from the unique perspective of the scientific method. Students should be able to dissect an argument and determine if it truly meets the criteria of science, or if it simply uses scientific-sounding words and phrases to hide a flawed analysis. They should be able to appreciate the compatibility of reason and faith in the pursuit of truth.
In the Dominican tradition, study is undertaken not only for itself but also for the benefit of others. In engaging with the pressing issues of the day (such as embryonic stem cells, global warming, and the wise use of energy resources), and committed to service and the common good, graduates must be prepared to look beyond labels and catch phrases to the basic scientific facts and data which will provide a foundation for realistic solutions. Students need to be able to integrate religious, philosophical, political, and scientific viewpoints into a coherent whole in order to make effective decisions for the betterment of society. This background will enable Providence College students and graduates to make informed decisions about important scientific issues that affect society.
For Faculty Advisors
The information below is intended to help faculty members learn more about the Natural Science Foundation.
Natural Science Requirement Objectives
The following is a list of objectives that you may find useful when you’re preparing to submit a course to the CCC for approval.
Natural Science courses will:
- Characterize the scientific method by demonstrating the dependence of science on quantitative and testable empiricism, the way scientific theories and models are developed, and the dynamic nature of scientific theories.
- Present a body of contemporary scientific information drawn from the natural sciences and, where appropriate, address issues that have a significant impact on the world to give students a foundation from which to understand better the interrelatedness of the sciences and society.
- Illustrate a scientific perspective, describing how scientists study the natural world, and how this differs from other forms of study.
- Give students significant opportunities to illustrate the role of testable empiricism in the development of scientific theories via classroom, laboratory, or project activities.
