Natural Sciences (BS)

Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 120 credits (approximately 40 courses) for a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in natural sciences. Of this total, at least 24 credits must be in upper-division (1000-level) courses. These 1000-level courses may come from any of the degree requirements, according to the specifications below. See our General Education program page for the remaining degree requirements.

Standard (Multidisciplinary) Option: (36 credits)

Choose a minimum of 36 credits (approximately 11-12 courses, not including labs) from two to four departments below. All courses taken must be related to natural sciences and selected in consultation with your CGS advisor. At least 15 credits (approx. five courses) must be taken from one department, which provides a disciplinary base. The other courses should be selected based on your professional and academic goals and approved by your academic advisor.

• Anthropology (natural sciences-related course) 
• Astronomy 
• Biological Sciences (excl. BIOSC 0100)
• Chemistry (only courses numbered 0110 and above)
• Computer Science (only courses numbered 0401 and above) 
• Geology and Environmental Science 
• History and Philosophy of Science (natural sciences-related course)
• Mathematics (only courses numbered 0220 and above)
• Neuroscience
• Physics 
• Psychology 
• Statistics (0200 or 1000; courses numbered above 1000)

Program Notes:

Flexible Format: Many CGS programs offer a blend of face-to-face and flexible online class formats, all designed to meet our students' needs and schedule constraints. When considering what subjects to study in the Natural Sciences Standard track, see our PDF list of courses available online.

Program Planning Checklist:

Use the Standard (Multidisciplinary) Track checklist (PDF) to plan and track your progress in the major.

Pre-Medicine Option: (39 Credits)

The pre-medicine natural sciences concentration incorporates the course work needed for admission to most medical and dental programs. Completion of this concentration does not guarantee acceptance into graduate study. Students pursuing this option can take advantage of the resources of the Pitt Interprofessional Center for Health Careers (PIC Health Careers). Night sections of biology, chemistry, and physics courses are available, with seats reserved specifically for CGS students. CGS online offerings are marked with (Web) or (Hybrid) on the program website.

Effective for Spring 2022 applicants and beyond: Students must have a 3.00 GPA to be admitted into the Pre-Medicine track in the Natural Sciences major.

CORE REQUIREMENTS:

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^{Effective Fall 2019: BIOSC 0057 or BIOSC 0058}

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^OR

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^{Note: This is a 4-credit course with lab included.}

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^{Note: This is a 4-credit course with lab included.}

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^OR

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^{Format: F2F and Web}

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Additional recommended courses for the pre-medicine option:

_{*Choose course not taken for track requirements.}

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^OR

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^{Format: F2F and Web}

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Program Notes:

• Admission requirements can vary from school to school. To ensure meeting eligibility criteria, one year of English (writing intensive) and one half year of Psychology and/or Sociology are also recommended. Consult the websites of the medical schools to which you plan to apply for their specific requirements.
• Please note also that students pursuing the Pre-Medicine track in Natural Sciences cannot be awarded a Chemistry minor in the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences.

Program Planning Checklist:

Use the Pre-Medicine Track checklist (PDF) to plan and track your progress in the major.

Pre-Physician Assistant Option: (min. 40 credits)

The Pre-PA curriculum is designed for students interested in pursuing Physician Assistant (PA) Studies after completing their undergraduate degree. The Pre-PA option incorporates the prerequisite course work necessary for application to PA programs. Completion of the Pre-PA plan does not guarantee admission. Many PA programs also require health care experience prior to admission. Students should check with each PA school / program they are considering applying to for their specific admission requirements.

Effective for Spring 2022 applicants and beyond: Students must have a 3.00 GPA to be admitted into the Pre-PA track in the Natural Sciences major.

CORE REQUIREMENTS:

The following courses are required for the pre-physician assistant option. CGS online offerings are marked with (Web) or (Hybrid).

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^{Effective Fall 2019: BIOSC 0057 or BIOSC 0058}

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^OR

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^AND

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^{Note: This is a 4-credit course with lab included.}

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^{Note: This is a 4-credit course with lab included.}

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^OR

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^OR

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^{Format: F2F and Web}

• PSY 1000 Level Elective 

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^{Format: F2F and Web}

^OR

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^{Format: F2F and Web}

^OR

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^{Format: F2F and Web}

Outside Major: Other Requirements

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^OR

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^{Format: F2F and Web, available as of Spring 2025}

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Program Notes:

If you are seeking to apply to the University of Pittsburgh's Physician Assistant program, the school accepts: BIOSC 0041/0042 & BIOSC 1250/1255 or HDD 1011/1012 & HHD 1030/1033 in place of NUR 0012/0002 & 0013/0003; NUR 0031/0032 in lieu of BIOSC 1850/1855, and NUR 0088 for the statistics requirement. Please note also that some of the listed course options may require students to be enrolled in a specific program within the offering school to register. Please check PeopleSoft for these requirements. You will also need a medical terminology course. For a full list of admission requirements, visit the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences PA program website.

Program Planning Checklist

Use the Pre-Physician Assistant Track checklist (PDF) to plan and track your progress in the major.

Earth & Space Science Pre-Education Option: (45 credits)

The natural sciences degree offers a 45-credit pre-education option in earth & space science, designed collaboratively with the School of Education. In this pre-ed option, you’ll take a core special education course and a variety of geology, physics, astronomy, and math courses that will help you prepare for graduate education. This option is ideal for students interested in the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Science Education (subject area: Earth & Space Science) at Pitt. Completion of the prerequisites for the School of Education does not guarantee acceptance to its programs.

Note: The School of Education recommends at least a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA for all of their teacher certificate programs. Please consult their Admissions page for program-specific requirements.

REQUIRED COURSES:

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^{Note: This is a 4-credit course with lab included.}

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^{Note: This is a 4-credit course with lab included.}

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^OR

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^OR

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^{Formerly: IL 1580 Foundations of Special Education}

• Science Electives - Subject topics will vary  

Program Planning Checklist:

Use the Pre-Education (Earth and Space Science) Track checklist (PDF) to plan and track your progress in the major.

General Science Pre-Education Option: (46 credits)

Created in partnership with the School of Education, our general science pre-education concentration includes the prerequisite coursework needed for admission into the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Science Education (subject area: General Science) at Pitt. In this pre-ed option, you will take 46 credits consisting of a core special education course and a variety of chemistry, biology, physics, astronomy, geology, and math courses that will help you prepare for science teacher certification or graduate education. Completion of the prerequisites for the School of Education does not guarantee acceptance to the program.

Note: The School of Education recommends at least a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA for all of their teacher certificate programs. Please consult their Admissions page for program-specific requirements.

REQUIRED COURSES:

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^{Effective Fall 2019: BIOSC 0057 or BIOSC 0058}

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^OR

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^OR

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^{Note: This is a 4-credit course with lab included.}

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^{Note: This is a 4-credit course with lab included.}

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^OR

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^{OR: another GEOL equivalent}

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^{Formerly: IL 1580 Foundations of Special Education}

Program Planning Checklist

Use the Pre-Education (General Science) Track checklist (PDF) to plan and track your progress in the major.