Integrated Natural Sciences

This program is now meeting fully in-person instead of hybrid. However, the program can accommodate students who are online or hybrid. With a faculty signature, this program can be taken for variable credit in the following areas: Chemistry, Biology, Applied Math or Research and Scientific Communication. Contact the faculty with any questions.

This program incorporates Greener Foundations. Greener Foundations is Evergreen’s 2-quarter introductory student success course, which provides all first-year students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive at Evergreen. First year students will get 14-credits from this program, and 2-credits from a Greener Foundations course. First year students will need to register for the 14-credit program CRN PLUS Greener Foundations (CRN 20001)

Integrated Natural Sciences (INS) is an interdisciplinary program designed to combine the concepts and methods of general biology and general chemistry, providing a rigorous and intensive foundation in the natural sciences. Students will also learn how to apply statistics, lab methods and field research into their understanding of biology and chemistry. The program is intended for students who are interested in pursuing more advanced coursework in biology, chemistry, and environmental sciences.

The nature of living organisms will be examined on molecular, cellular, physiological, and ecological levels within the context of evolutionary history. Chemical topics of equilibria, thermodynamics, and kinetics will provide a framework to understand biological and ecological systems. Students will engage with these themes using an experimental approach to develop critical and quantitative reasoning skills. Students will consistently use science process and reasoning skills. They will participate in hands-on field and laboratory experiences to improve their problem-solving abilities directed at understanding natural phenomena. Scientific concepts will build over the entire year, so it is in your best interest to enroll in the program for all three quarters.

INS fall quarter will integrate topics of biology and chemistry through the study of matter, evolution and ecology. We will first address genetics and inheritance as a framework for applying genetic diversity to evolutionary processes. We will continue to examine evolutionary processes on a macro level through ecology and engage in learning about biological diversity on Earth. In INS winter quarter, we will focus on both the molecular and organismal levels of biology. Molecular structure and properties will enhance our understanding of biological function. Students will study biomolecules, the structure and function of DNA and proteins, and how these molecules are integrated into systems. Chemical concepts of kinetics and equilibria will enhance these studies. We will then apply these concepts to animal form and function, reproduction, and physiology. In INS spring quarter, we will continue to integrate biology and chemistry by examining equilibria in greater depth and we will continue to tie our studies to thermodynamics. We expect students to end the program in spring with a working knowledge of scientific and quantitative concepts, the ability to reason critically, and with hands-on experiences in natural science. Students will also gain a strong appreciation of the interconnectedness of biological and chemical systems, and an ability to apply this knowledge to solving complex problems.

This program is intended to provide a foundation for future studies in the natural sciences and it is designed for students who take their learning seriously. Program standards and faculty expectations for learning will be high and the workload will be rigorous. Weekly program activities will include watching pre-recorded videotaped lectures, participation in synchronous lectures and small group problem solving workshops using Zoom, as well as hands-on experiences with in-person indoor and outdoor laboratory work and field work. Students can expect to do one to two labs each week, maintain lab notebooks, and write formal lab reports. Assessment of learning will occur through many methods such as exams, quizzes, homework assignments, reports, and projects.

To successfully participate in this program, students will need a laptop/desktop with webcam (or phone with webcam - not recommended to use phone only), whiteboard/pens, textbooks, scientific calculator (e.g. TI-30Xa), scanner app to produce pdf files, access to canvas/internet, and Zoom. Students can expect our remote teaching to be around 20% synchronous (scheduled) work using Zoom, 30% synchronous (scheduled) work doing in-person indoor and outdoor lab activities, and 50% asynchronous (self-paced) work using Canvas and YouTube. Our approach will emphasize participation in synchronous (live) sessions. Alternatives to indoor and outdoor labwork will be in the form of on-line resources for learning the skill sets and primary literature reading assignments related to the subjects.