Following is a list of approved Scientific Literacy electives. Scientific Literacy is the ability to apply the scientific method and related concepts and principles to make informed decisions and engage with issues related to the natural, physical, and social world. Degree graduates will recognize and know how to use the scientific method, and to evaluate empirical information.
Prior to enrolling in the courses on this list, students should check the course descriptions to ensure that they meet any pre-or co-requisites.
To avoid transfer problems, students should carefully select courses to fulfill elective requirements with the assistance of their advisors and upon an investigation of the transfer requirements of the institution to which transfer is contemplated.
Explain: Map the steps of the scientific method of inquiry leading to evidenced-based knowledge.
Identify: Recognize the elements of research design.
Interpret: Determine if a research design is correlational, descriptive, experimental, and/or a review.
Synthesize: Plan, design, and conduct scientific investigations, demonstrating an understanding of discipline-related concepts, the scientific method, and research design in the collection of empirical evidence.
Apply: Use empirical information to draw an evidence-based conclusion.
Communicate: Share results and/or conclusions, drawn from empirical information, to the intended audience.
Recognize: Identify how the independent variable (or the cause) impacts the dependent variable (or the effect) to explain cause and effect relationships.
Describe: Demonstrate an understanding of what experimental controls are and why they are important.
Evaluate: Distinguish a scientific argument from a non-scientific argument.
Communicate: Describe the impact that technology has had on science, and vice-versa.
Differentiate: Define and compare inductive, deductive, and causal forms of reasoning.
Distinguish: Differentiate between the concepts of hypothesis, theory, and paradigm.
Clarify: Communicate the limitations of science, and how this may impact public perception and acceptance of empirical evidence.
Integrate: Create a product, based on the knowledge and skills learned in (discipline-related) science and/or technology.
Approved Electives
- BIO 101
- BIO 102
- BIO 106
- BIO 107
- BIO 141
- BIO 142
- BIO 150
- CHM 101
- CHM 111
- CHM 112
- GOL 105
- GOL 106
- PHY 101
*Students will not receive credit for both BIO 101 and BIO 106 or BIO 102 and BIO 106.
**Science AS students may use these courses only as laboratory science electives beyond the two laboratory science electives that must be year-long courses, e.g. BIO 101-102 and PHY 201-202. Additionally, BIO 141-142 generally do not transfer for the Liberal Arts AA and Social Sciences AS degree programs. Please check with the four-year institution you plan to attend.