{"id":51,"date":"2021-09-27T19:25:51","date_gmt":"2021-09-27T19:25:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sanjac.mycareerfocus.org\/fall-2021-volume-1-issue-3\/students-gain-flexibility-with-new-natural-science-degree\/"},"modified":"2021-10-21T16:35:51","modified_gmt":"2021-10-21T16:35:51","slug":"students-gain-flexibility-with-new-natural-science-degree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sanjac.mycareerfocus.org\/fall-2021-volume-2-issue-3\/students-gain-flexibility-with-new-natural-science-degree\/","title":{"rendered":"Students gain flexibility with new natural science degree"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Courtney Morris<\/span><\/p>\n

The problem was options. A San Jacinto College student who declared a life or physical science major had to stick to science courses under the related umbrella.<\/span><\/p>\n

The solution was flexibility. Beginning in fall 2021, San Jac\u2019s life and physical science degrees have merged into the new natural science Associate of Science degree<\/span>, allowing students to customize their academic path.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"The degree program is available at all campuses.<\/span><\/p>\n

Students will still have to complete core requirements, but they can choose the specific science and math courses that fit their career path or transfer university\u2019s requirements for their intended bachelor\u2019s degree.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were trying to eliminate barriers and decrease confusion when students are trying to select a pathway,\u201d Dr. Rhonda Bell, Central Campus dean of health and natural sciences, said. \u201cBy combining, they can choose the best classes to meet their educational and career goals.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The options also extend after graduation. If students choose to enter the workforce immediately, they can land solid entry-level jobs like technologist or research\/chemical lab technician. If they choose to pursue their bachelor\u2019s degree first, all their San Jac credits will transfer so they can earn higher credentials and increase their salary potential.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fields open to natural science degree holders include medicine, veterinary science, energy, forensics, environmental science, research and development, space science, meteorology, quality control, toxicology, genetics, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

Student Jeffrey Newcomb started as a life science major, hoping to get core classes out of the way while applying for the radiography program. A U.S. Navy reservist, he was deployed for a year in the middle of his schooling. The hands-on work and personal research changed his course.<\/span><\/p>\n

Newcomb switched to natural science when he returned to San Jac this fall. After earning his associate degree, he plans to pursue marine biology at the University of Houston-Clear Lake.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow I can take chemistry or physics and still be within my degree plan,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to make sure all my classes will still go toward my degree and allow me to have a smoother transition to the university.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Martha Robertson, assistant vice chancellor for teaching and learning, merging life and physical sciences stemmed from a larger task force discussion that started in 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n

Faculty, department chairs, deans, and student services representatives examined the College\u2019s Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees to ensure all 60 credit hours transferred. They researched what universities required, then suggested tweaks to streamline academic pathways for students.<\/span><\/p>\n

The task force found most schools didn\u2019t separate life and physical sciences, so merging the two degrees was a no-brainer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe could generically write out a [degree] description,\u201d Robertson said. \u201cIt didn\u2019t matter whether you took biology or physics. You could get the degree.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

One degree also eliminated the issue of students losing credits if they switched from life to physical science or vice versa.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSince the new degree includes life science and physical science pathways \u2026 students will not have to change their declared degrees if they change their mind about their pathway,\u201d said Susan Starr, North Campus department chair of natural sciences.<\/span><\/p>\n

What remains the same? Bell says research.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll continue to have a research focus,\u201d she said. \u201cThis degree [just] streamlines the available courses to students\u2026. Each campus is a little different, but all campuses have some component of undergraduate student research.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Why pursue natural science at San Jac? The College offers a wealth of resources to STEM students:<\/span><\/p>\n

Savings:<\/span> Many Open Books courses with free or reduced-cost textbooks<\/span><\/p>\n

Funding:<\/b><\/span> Department scholarships, internship opportunities, and LSAMP or N2B stipends<\/span><\/p>\n

Connections:<\/span> Research opportunities, STEM student clubs, and community outreach programs<\/span><\/p>\n

Environment:<\/b><\/span> Low faculty-to-student ratios for increased engagement and new science buildings with modern labs and equipment<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more at www.sanjac.edu\/natural-science-degree<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Courtney Morris The problem was options. A San Jacinto College student who declared a life or physical science major had to stick to science courses under the related umbrella. The solution was flexibility. Beginning in fall 2021, San Jac\u2019s life and physical science degrees have merged into the new natural science Associate of Science… read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":172,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,5,1],"tags":[],"article_type":[],"class_list":["post-51","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-physical-science","category-transfer","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nStudents gain flexibility with new natural science degree - Fall 2021, Volume 2 \u2013 Issue 3<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sanjac.mycareerfocus.org\/fall-2021-volume-2-issue-3\/students-gain-flexibility-with-new-natural-science-degree\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Students gain flexibility with new natural science degree\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Courtney Morris The problem was options. 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