WELCOME TO THE NATURAL SCIENCES DIVISION

The Division of Natural Sciences offers instruction in the biological and physical sciences for science and non-science majors. The Division is comprised of six areas: Astronomy, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Environmental Horticulture, Life Sciences and Physics. Earth Sciences courses are offered in geography, geology, meteorology and oceanography. Life Sciences courses are offered in anatomy, biology, field studies, microbiology and physiology. The Division provides a comprehensive lower division curriculum for science majors preparing to transfer to 4-year universities. We also provide general education courses that are designed to allow students to understand and apply the scientific method, and to understand basic underlying principles of nature and the relevance to their lives.

The Division also maintains a planetarium and observatory with several telescopes for its instructional program in astronomy and for public outreach. With the Chronos star projector, the faculty is able to display a realistic sky of the past, present and future from different locations in the solar system. There are monthly open houses at the observatory and when possible, planetarium shows are provided for schools and the public.