College of Science

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George Mead Jr., Dean

Purpose

The primary purpose of the College of Science is to offer quality undergraduate and graduate science curricula. Course offerings in the sciences are designed to satisfy the requirements of offered science curricula; of science and mathematics requirements of the core curriculum, and of specific requirements of other curricula and programs.

Faculty and Other Resources

In addition to courses and curricula, the College of Science is charged with the responsibility for providing the expertise, resources, and additional learning opportunities necessary for each student to progress in meeting academic, personal, and career goals. Laboratories, equipment, and library holdings are a necessary part in providing learning opportunities in the sciences.

Research and Other Services

College of Science faculty are encouraged to concentrate on teaching and to pursue research and scholarly activity as a means of keeping themselves, the curricula, and the course content up to date. Participation in community service activities such as science fairs, career days, and public lectures are among the activities encouraged to enhance the community learning in the sciences. Research in areas related to the regional environment, local industries, as well as basic science also provide enrichment for the sciences, the University, and Southwest Louisiana.

College of Science Computing Center

William Albrecht,  Coordinator
 The mission of the center is to assist the College of Science in creating and maintaining an environment that meets the research and instructional needs of the College of Science faculty and students.

The department provides hardware and software required for courses in the college and provides technical support to all faculty in the college. The department interfaces with Information Technology on campus-wide technical issues and offers workshops and other services to University personnel and to the community at large.

Curricula

The College of Science offers the basic service courses in the natural, physical, and mathematical sciences; specialized courses leading to academic majors in most of its departmental disciplines; and various professional and preprofessional curricula.

Within the College of Science, the departments of Agricultural Sciences; Biology and Health Sciences; Chemistry; Mathematics, Computer Science, and Statistics; and Physics offer curricula leading to the Bachelor of Science Degree. The Chemistry curriculum is approved by the American Chemical Society. The Clinical Laboratory Science curriculum is accredited by Accreditation Services of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and approved by the American Medical Association. The Radiologic Sciences curriculum is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. The Computer Science curriculum is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). More detailed information, including professional and preprofessional curricula may be found under the individual departmental listing or under the Premedical/Predental listing.

The College also offers the Bachelor of Science in Education (7-12) in Agricultural Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, and Mathematics.

The various curricula and course offerings in the College are designed to implement the University purpose.

Information concerning graduate work in the College of Science may be found in the Graduate School section of this catalog.

A student in the College of Science must meet all graduation requirements listed in the section entitled “Graduation Requirements” in the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

Minors

The Harold and Pearl Dripps Department of Agricultural Sciences offers a minor in Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Science, or Natural Resource Conservation Management; the Department of Biology and Health Sciences offers a minor in Biology; the Department of Chemistry offers a minor in Chemistry; the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Statistics offers minors in Mathematics, Computer Science or Statistics. Details may be found in the appropriate departmental listings.

Minimum Requirements of Many Medical/Dental Schools

Students who plan to attend medical or dental school may pursue any degree offered by the University. Admission to medical or dental school is on a competitive basis and each professional school has control of its own admission procedures and policies. The specific course requirements for admission differ among professional schools; however, the general requirements are given below.

Students should consult the catalog of the medical/dental school of their choice to determine if the school’s requirements exceed those listed. Selection factors considered by most medical/dental schools include grade point average, MCAT/DAT scores, personal interview at the medical/dental school (by invitation only), and evaluation provided by a committee composed of faculty members from the students’ undergraduate institution.

The Health Professions Committee is responsible for providing evaluation letters for students at McNeese State University who are applying to health professional schools.

Students interested in applying for admission to a health professional school, including medical, dental, osteopathic, and optometry schools should indicate their intention to be evaluated by filling out and signing an interview request form in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences office during the spring semester of their junior year. These students should also complete an evaluation file which will include:

• At least 5 faculty evaluation forms (available in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences office)
• 3 off-campus letters of recommendation (from persons not related to the student),
• unofficial transcripts of all college work
• a copy of the personal statement written as part of their application.

These materials should be sent to the chairperson of the committee who will set an interview time when the folder is complete.

Most professional schools recommend that a student obtain a bachelor’s degree before admission; however, some will admit students with three years of college provided they have completed the basic requirements. Those students who are admitted to an accredited medical or dental school after three years of college may be awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Science from McNeese State University after successfully completing the first year of work at that professional school. Under this option, ALL course work listed in the first three years of the Biological Sciences Curriculum MUST be completed before a degree can be granted.

Recommended Premedical/Predental Electives 

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