The General Science Concentration of Vermont State University’s Natural Science degree will encourage your fascination with the complexity and dynamism of the natural world — and nurture your curiosity and creativity about how to address the issues facing our planet.
This concentration provides a diverse foundation of scientific knowledge that will help you identify your ideal career path. Whether you want to attend graduate school or pursue medical training, teaching, or a science career, the General Science Concentration will prepare you to reach your goals.
You’ll build on a core of classes in biology, chemistry, geology, environmental science, and physics. As you move into upper-level coursework, you’ll have the flexibility to focus on the subject areas that fit your professional goals and interests.
We understand that the cost and value of your education is important to you. That’s why we’re committed to being one of the most affordable colleges in Vermont and why more than 80% of our students receive aid. We're here to help you fit this program into your unique financial picture. Contact this program's Admissions Counselor any time to discuss what types of financial aid are right for you.
Combined with scholarships and aid, a Vermont State education is within reach for students from all financial backgrounds. Speak with our Admissions Counselor to estimate what your true out-of-pocket costs might be for this program.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition for Natural Science
$9,984 Full Time Annual
$416 /credit
$19,992 Full Time Annual
$833 /credit
Total Mandatory Fees
Undergraduate (In-Person / In-Person Plus)
$1,416 Full Time Annual
$59 /credit
Housing and Food
Standard Housing
$7,830 Full Time Annual
Standard Food Plan
$5,068 Full Time Annual
For complete information on tuition and fees across all programs and locations, as well as indirect costs of attendance, visit the complete tuition and fees page.
Why Study General Science at Vermont State
Learn in Nature: We prioritize out-of-the-classroom experiences. You’ll spend lots of time working in our greenhouses, labs, and natural Vermont ecosystems.
Small Classes: You’ll work closely with passionate, experienced professors and have the opportunity to participate directly in their research.
Flexible Options: We offer a wide range of classes and learning experiences across multiple campuses and online, giving you flexibility and room for exploration.
Preparation for What’s Next: Our core curriculum will prepare you for a variety of careers, including medicine, teaching, biology research, and environmental consulting.
What You’ll Learn
Our core curriculum will introduce you to fundamental knowledge in central sub-fields like physics, chemistry, environmental science, and geology.
For the General Science Concentration, you will complete 20 additional credits in science disciplines at the 3000 level or above. At least three of these credits must be an internship or senior thesis in the natural science discipline of your choice. This fieldwork will strengthen your resume and professional network, giving you excellent preparation for your next step, post-graduation.
In all your classes you’ll strengthen essential reasoning and critical thinking skills. You’ll learn how to apply the scientific process, use essential tools and technologies, and conduct original research. You’ll also strengthen your ability to develop arguments and communicate orally and in writing.
Outside the Classroom, In the Community
No matter what your specialty area of interest is, you’ll have numerous internship and research opportunities. You’ll take multiple field trips and spend significant time working in the outdoors. You can also participate in several active student clubs. You’ll have the chance, too, to enroll in travel courses that will take you to places like Iceland, the Mojave Desert, and the Virgin Islands.
Special Facilities
All of our campuses house dedicated lab and research space.
Castleton is home to labs for exercise science, petrology and tectonics, and computational chemistry, just to name a few. Castleton also boasts a greenhouse.
At Johnson you’ll find another greenhouse, an artificial stream laboratory, a cellular and molecular laboratory, and extensive herbarium and vertebrate museum collections.
Lyndon is home to several facilities dedicated to atmospheric sciences, including an observation deck and the Donald and Carmella Dalton Weather Center.
Certifications
All graduates of our Natural Science program are well prepared to take the General Science Praxis II exam and the Science Subject Area Praxis exams. These exams are part of the journey toward becoming a science educator.
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