The School of Natural Sciences
The School of Natural Sciences strives to advance our understanding of all things related to human nature. If you are interested in digging deeper into the study of our planet and the systems and theories within it, explore Mercyhurst’s dynamic programs in Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, Physics, and Mathematics.
Class sizes in the School of Natural Sciences range from 20–35 students in first-year and sophomore courses, to an average of 15 in upper-level coursework. Students foster close working relationships with faculty members and gain pertinent hands-on experiences through faculty-led research. This makes our graduates well prepared to either join the workforce with a bachelor's degree or, as most do, go on to pursue graduate studies.
Students in Biochemistry, Biology, and Chemistry normally go on to pursue a Ph.D. and/or graduate programs in health-related fields such as medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry. We have a nearly 100% placement rate in post-graduate jobs and graduate and medical programs.
All Natural Sciences programs have a capstone experience where students gather data to produce written theses and present their research in oral seminars open to the campus community. In this manner, they already have many of the experiences they will once again see in graduate programs.
Our students also enjoy attending regional and national conferences to present their research findings. For Geology majors, their capstone experience also includes field school, which often takes place in Arizona, Utah, or Montana.
Biochemistry and Chemistry majors have the option of earning a degree that is certified by the American Chemical Society. This degree accreditation certifies that we have the faculty expertise, facilities, and the curriculum like top programs at major universities. We have several nationally recognized clubs that students can join such as Tri-Beta, Pre-Health Society, the Society of Physics Students, and the local ACS chemistry club. It is very easy for our majors to earn a minor degree in physics or mathematics, making them more marketable after graduation.
Fast Facts
- Research excursions regularly take students around the region and around the globe.
- Our graduates have gone on to master’s and doctoral programs at schools like Ohio State, Northwestern, and Cornell.
- Faculty-Student Academic Travel experiences have taken students to investigate volcanoes in Costa Rica, secure safe water in Puerto Rico, view the CERN supercollider in Switzerland, and study marine biology in the Caribbean.
- Mercyhurst’s Hirtzel DNA Sequencing Center features two cutting-edge sequencers that allow for rapid amplification of DNA from any organism, offering research applications in many disciplines.
The Mercyhurst University Department of Applied Forensic Sciences offers a multidisciplinary undergraduate major dedicated to educating students in matters related to science, forensic science, society, and the law. Starting with a deep understanding of the natural sciences, students learn to identify, collect, analyze, and interpret forensic evidence through hands-on experiences in our state-of-the-art forensics lab on campus and in hundreds of real-life cases.
Chemistry plays a role in virtually every part of the scientific process. If you’re curious about the chemical reactions, molecular structures and biochemical processes that underlie our world and everything in it, discover the study of Chemistry or Biochemistry at Mercyhurst. Accredited by the American Chemical Society, our programs take you from the basics in chemistry, mathematics, and physics through advanced organic and inorganic chemistry, experimental physical chemistry, instrumental analysis, or chemical biology.
In the Department of Biology, the emphasis we place on personal attention and close interaction between faculty and student provides our majors with a solid core of learning and preparation within biology as well as mathematics, physics and chemistry. Experiential learning is key, and we encourage every student to pursue hands-on field and laboratory experiences, opportunities to participate in faculty-student collaborative research, travel courses, professional conferences, community service, and professional practicum training.
Chemistry plays a role in virtually every part of the scientific process. If you’re curious about the chemical reactions, molecular structures and biochemical processes that underlie our world and everything in it, discover the study of Chemistry or Biochemistry at Mercyhurst. Accredited by the American Chemical Society, our programs take you from the basics in chemistry, mathematics, and physics through advanced organic and inorganic chemistry, experimental physical chemistry, instrumental analysis, or chemical biology.
Environmental Science explores the intersection between humans and the natural world. This complex field touches upon aspects of the biological and physical sciences, governmental policies, economics, and social issues. Our Environmental Science major educates students in the physical and social sciences, helping you to be reflectively aware of the natural environment in which you live, globally responsible of the Earth and its resources, and prepared to successfully address all types of environmental issues.
Geology is the study of the Earth and how it works. Specifically, geologists seek to answer questions as diverse as “How did this mountain form?” and “When will this volcano erupt again?” to “How do we provide clean drinking water?” Geologists work at the interface between human-kind and the Earth, and are on the front line in solving a multitude of energy and environmental issues. Geologists use knowledge of math, chemistry, physics, and biology to answer these questions and gain first-hand experience working in the field.
The Mercyhurst University Department of Physics seeks to provide a high-quality physics education that prepares students to be the scientists of the future, confident in their abilities and their understanding of physics.
The Department of Applied Forensic Sciences at Mercyhurst offers a year-long graduate certificate program in Forensic and Biological Anthropology. The on-campus program allows students to construct their own curriculum for the school year according to their research interests to meet a minimum five-course requirement. This program is designed for students interested in complementing their undergraduate education with specialized hands-on training in the area of forensic and biological anthropology, while preparing for graduate school and/or future careers in medico-legal death investigations.
The Associate of Science in Biology curriculum is equivalent to the science, math, and general education courses that are required of freshman and sophomore students at many four-year institutions. The intent of this program is to prepare students who are interested in pursuing a biology-related baccalaureate degree or pre-health professional degree.
Mission
The School of Natural Sciences strives to advance our understanding of human nature and our place on Earth. We prepare students to be leaders in investigating the diversity of the universe and the scientific and social dimensions of our world. Along with rigorous coursework that motives students to engage with theories, form hypotheses, and devise valid experiments, our curriculum features regular collaboration with professors in a chosen discipline. Our graduates are equipped with strong problem solving, critical thinking, and communication skills to prepare them for careers in a variety of industries.
