Department of Natural Sciences

Rachna Sadana, PhD, Chair
STB 316, 713-221-8015
Maria Benavides, PhD, Assistant Chair
STB 340, 713-221-8170
Amy Baird, PhD, Assistant Chair
STB 326, 713-222-5301

Faculty

Professors:	Baird, Benavides, J. Johnson, Morano, Sadana, Tobin, Uzman
Associate Professors:	Aoki, Bowden, Ge, Gulati, Jiang, K. Johnson, Jose, Kang, Theruvathu, Trufan
Clinical Associate Professor:	Durham, Cox-Miller
Assistant Professors:	Delclos, Li, Palacio-Lopez, Rueda, Visbal
Senior Lecturers:	Brown, Chaubal, Minard, Musselwhite, Saha
Lecturers:	Blaimont, Bichler, Idowu, Parillon, Parker, Pedroza, Pinelis, Sen, Shembekar, St. Hill
Emeriti:	Abramowitz, Avenoso, Christmas, Fefer, Hoffmann-Pinther, Merrill, Price, Sherman, Umland

The Department of Natural Sciences (NS) is dedicated to delivering an exceptional education through active learning in the classroom, hands-on laboratory experiences, and independent research opportunities. Our mission is to prepare students for dynamic careers in research, health professions, education, and the energy industry, as well as for success in graduate and professional studies. As an interdisciplinary department, our faculty includes biologists, chemists, physicists, and geoscientists with expertise spanning a wide range of scientific fields. We are committed to fostering a deeper appreciation for science and enhancing scientific literacy through innovative instruction and experiential learning.

We offer a diverse curriculum with lower- and upper-level courses in multiple modalities, supporting majors and programs in Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Physical Sciences, and Geosciences, with multiple concentrations. Our courses are rigorous, our class sizes are small, and most students engage in independent research alongside faculty in our laboratories.

Beyond mastering foundational knowledge in their disciplines, our graduates develop essential skills that are embedded throughout their coursework, including teamwork and collaboration, effective scientific communication, ethical reasoning and professional responsibility and critical thinking and problem-solving.

At the Department of Natural Sciences, we are committed to empowering the next generation of scientists and leaders through a transformative educational experience that integrates scientific knowledge, research, and real-world application.

Drop Policy for Science Courses with Prerequisites/Corequisites

Students must follow stated prerequisite/corequisite listings for natural science courses. Students may be dropped from any class for which they lack a prerequisite or a corequisite. The student will receive a W for the dropped course after the official day of record.

Requirements for Graduation for Degrees in the Department of Natural Sciences

In order to satisfy the requirements of a degree, credit for science courses will only be granted when the student has satisfactorily completed any listed corequisite. The Department of Natural Sciences also has the following general requirements for all science degrees: (1) Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all science courses that apply toward the degree; (2) a grade of C or higher is required in all upper-level science courses to be applied towards graduation; (3) Students must have at least 18 credit hours of upper-level science from UHD with a minimum GPA of 2.0 to apply toward the degree; (4) Students must satisfy the required number of upper level hours in a degree; (5) Students must complete an exit survey distributed by the Natural Sciences Department.

Science Education Certification Programs

Jon Aoki, EdD, Coordinator
N614A, 713-221-8687

The Department of Natural Sciences, in cooperation with the Department of Urban Education, offers science teacher certification programs for secondary-level education. This program satisfies the requirements established by the State Board for Educator Certification and Texas Education Agency. A curriculum guide is available in STB 316.

Honors Program in the Natural Sciences

Robin Jose, PhD, Coordinator
STB 338, 713-221-8115

In order to enhance the educational opportunities and experiences of academically talented students at UHD, the Department of Natural Sciences offers an Honors Program in the Natural Sciences. The program is designed to challenge and motivate students to do more than the minimum required for a particular degree in science. Students who successfully complete this program will be designated as graduates of an Honors Program in the Department of Natural Sciences on their university transcript.

Admission Requirements:

Application to the department’s Honors Program Admissions and Review Committee
Earned at least 60 semester credit hours of recognized university-level work
An overall GPA of at least 3.0 with a GPA of 3.25 or better in science courses
Earned at least 16 semester credit hours in science, eight of which must have been taken at UHD

Program Requirements:

Satisfy the requirements for one of the department’s Bachelor of Science degree programs
Complete one honors-designated course in addition to six hours credit in BIOL 4399 , CHEM 4399 , GEOL 4399 , MBIO 4399 , or PHYS 4399 Senior Honors Thesis. The senior thesis will be completed under the supervision of an approved member of the UHD faculty with input from the Honors Program Committee
Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.25 in all science courses including the required honors courses
Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better in all non-science courses taken at UHD

The departmental Honors Program Admissions and Review Committee must approve all honors designated courses and all projects proposed by students for their honors theses. Upper-level courses designated as Honors require at least 25 percent more in-depth study than that required of students taking the course without honors credit. The additional course requirements will vary depending on the course and instructor.

Programs

Major

Minor

Courses

Biology

Geology

GEOL 3312 - Structural Geology