An exploration of current issues in physics, science, biology, health and medicine. The course provides an understanding of the scientific method and how to critically evaluate current issues from a scientific perspective.

A college-level study and application of science concepts contained in the Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations for pre-service elementary teachers. Focus of the course will be on Science Process Skills, Physical Science, Life Science and Earth/Space Science, centering on the integration of these disciplines using inquiry-based learning, labs and field trips. Course fee applied.

Teacher candidates will investigate and apply the principles of 3-dimensional science pedagogy to a select subset of science principles focused on PK-3. Using the Michigan Science Standards/NGSS as a foundation for developing skills in science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts, students will engage these ideas to figure out how phenomena in the real world integrate in culturally-relevant ways to enable students to build their understanding of how science works and applies to their cultural context. Pedagogical methods will focus on the use of play, observation, and a subset of science and engineering practices to engage students in phenomenological inquiry.

Building on the principles of Foundations of Integrated Science (PK-3) teaching candidates will investigate and apply the principles of 3-dimensional science pedagogy using the Michigan Science Standards/NGSS as a foundation for developing skills in science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts. Students will engage these ideas to figure out how phenomena in the real world integrate in culturally-relevant ways to enable students to build their understanding of how science works and applies to their cultural context. Pedagogical methods will focus on the use of inquiry-based instruction to engage students in phenomenological inquiry.

This course equips members of the health care professions with a working knowledge of medical vocabulary. Emphasis is placed on definitions, spelling, and pronunciation as it relates to the body. The course is designed for students desiring to pursue health-related careers.

This course cultivates scientific literacy within a distinctly Christian worldview. Students investigate the nature of science; practice sound logic and argument evaluation; and develop core skills for reading, visualizing, interpreting, and communicating quantitative data. Through case studies in health, environment, and technology, students assess claims, distinguish correlation from causation, and argue from evidence clearly and ethically. Throughout, we frame scientific inquiry as part of faithful discipleship: creation declares God's glory, human inquiry is real yet fallible, and wisdom requires humility, stewardship, and love of neighbor. (Prereq: PHI-211)

A study of the distinctive qualities of the planets, their moons, the stars, and galaxies.

Laboratory focused on the observations and calculations of planet, moon, star and galaxy movements and qualities. Course fee applied.

A study of the materials and processes of the earth, leading to a responsible Christian appreciation for it and its use. Explores basic principles through a survey of the history of the ideas about the earth. Applies basic insights of chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics to the solution of problems such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, marine erosion, the nature and distribution of fossil fuels, metals, ground water, other mineral resources, and the atmosphere and weather. Studies man-imposed and natural boundaries to characterize geographic regions.

Laboratory exercises in the earth sciences focusing on geology, land change and formation, resource use and the implications of atmosphere and weather on the Earth. Course fee applied

This course is a rigorous examination (based on a Christian philosophical worldview) of the nature of science and some of the major scientific ideas and issues affecting our culture.

This course explores the complex determinants of health and is designed to help students use their understanding of these determinants to develop strategies to improve the health of communities and populations. The course introduces students to the history, philosophy and ethics of epidemiology, and emphasizes the application of epidemiology (description, association and causality) to community health policy and practice. The student will analyze how policies and programs impact health outcomes within the current urban and global health care settings.

This course is designed to teach the student principles of pharmacology, including mathematics and calculations, rules and regulations governing medications, medication administration and safety issues. Medications specific to various diseases and disorders will be studied, emphasizing desired effects, side effects, and contraindications.

A scientific investigation of the feasibility of various origin theories with special emphasis on the creation vs. evolution debate. Explores the difference between origins science and operation science and analyzes the conflict in the Christian scientific community as well as the population at large.

This course provides an opportunity to work in a supervised biological setting (e.g., DNR, nature center, public health agency). The experience must include opportunities to apply the theories and concepts learned in the discipline or to enhance biological science research skills.

This course is aimed at practical work experience in a business setting. Students will have opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to business world situations. Students will acquire and document professional field experience and will receive 1 credit for every 40 hours of verified work.

This course is designed to serve as the culminating course of science content for the integrated science major and minor, just prior to the directed teaching semester. Using the major themes motif, each subject will be explored for the common and varied approaches to understanding its physical, biological and earth/space science content and interconnections. Philosophical underpinnings and ethical considerations will be stressed for each theme along with its outworking. Students will be responsible for developing their own set of alternative solutions for each problem encountered, discovering strategies for communicating integrated content in their classroom and devising techniques to stimulate their students to join the quest.

A special topics course which introduces workings of the brain and aspects of personality dealing with these at the level of the nerve cells and brain structures. Learned topics include: Perception, cognition, intelligence, the basis of emotional states, personality disorders and questions of guilt; progressive and degenerate diseases of the mind; nerve impulses and the synapses to understanding drug abuse and addictions; neural pathologies like speech disorders, attention deficit hyperactive disorder and the epilepsies; sensations, reflexes and movement control; brain waves, sleeping and arousal, awareness, consciousness and the soul, along with investigating the neural brain of gender differences.

This course focuses on specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are demonstrated by effective science teachers in secondary schools. Students will learn to design, organize, present, and evaluate the learning of science subject matter utilizing various instructional models and methods of teaching science.

The senior research project is independently conducted research under the guidance of a science faculty mentor and can be taken as a summer semester credit before taking the senior research capstone (SCI-496) or in the fall concurrently with the senior research capstone (SCI-496). Fee applied.

The senior research capstone is designed to help students develop the skills necessary to apply their major coursework to a research question focusing on literature review, scientific writing, use of statistics in writing, creating tables and figures, review-editing of manuscripts and posters and presentations. Attention is also given to key issues related to the transition from university to employment or graduate education in the sciences. Students engage in the process of vocational self-evaluation reflecting the knowledge, values and skills developed through their coursework. Second semester Junior or Senior status required. Course fee applied.

The second semester of research is a continuation of independently conducted research under the guidance of a science faculty mentor and is taken as a spring semester credit or in the fall concurrently with the senior research capstone (SCI-496). Fee applied.