The Natural Sciences Department encompasses the fields of biology, environmental science, chemistry, and physics. We provide a solid foundation to continue in biology, chemistry, environmental science, or any medical or engineering field. From pre-pharmacy, pre-med, or pre-engineering, we are a great place to start.

About Our Programs

Biology

Learn the foundation for understanding organisms, including their origin, evolution, characteristics, and interaction with their environment. Students examine biological processes at various levels of organizations such as molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological. 

Biology - A.S. Program Page

Biology A.S. Checklist

Chemistry

Learn a foundation for the field of chemistry through introductory inorganic and organic courses. Study includes atomic and molecular structures, orbital theory, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, and chemical equations.

Chemistry - A.S. Program Page

Chemistry A.S. Checklist

Physics

Physics promotes critical thinking and problem-solving skills and explains how things work in our natural world. Data from the American Institute of Physics show that physics majors get among the highest scores in the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) of all the undergraduate majors.

Astronomy

Explore the mysteries of the universe, such as the birth and evolution of stars, planets, galaxies, and the formation of matter, to improve life and technology on Earth.

Careers

The Natural Sciences Department prepares students for careers in a variety of industries, including:

  • Engineering fields (electrical, civil, mechanical, computer, aerospace, etc.).
  • Fiber optics.
  • Physics.
  • Pharmacy.
  • Radiology.
  • Physical therapy.
  • Nanotechnology.
  • Aviation.
  • Energy and renewable energy.

Courses

Biology

Program Requirements

  • PAS-1000 First-Year Experience
  • INT-1010 Introduction to Information Technology
  • EGL-1010 Composition I: Expository Writing
  • EGL-1340 Writing About Technical Topics
  • MAT-1360 Precalculus Part II
  • BIO-1130 Principles of Biology: Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior
  • CHM-1010 General Chemistry I

Prerequisite Electives

  • COM-1010 Foundations of Communication
  • COM-1110 Public Speaking
  • BMT-2750 Leadership Development
  • PHL-1330 Ethics
  • ANT-1030 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
  • ECN-1030 Principles of Macroeconomics
  • PSY-1010 General Psychology
  • SOC-1010 Introduction to Sociology

Program Electives

  • CHM-1020 General Chemistry II
  • CHM-1030 General Chemistry II Laboratory
  • BIO-1140 Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • CHM-2010 Organic Chemistry I
  • CHM-2020 Organic Chemistry II
  • CHM-2040 Organic Chemistry II Laboratory

Required Electives

  • BIO-1110 Environmental Biology
  • BIO-1120 Environmental Biology Laboratory
  • BIO-2010 Microbiology
  • BIO-2030 Genetics
  • BIO-2050 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
  • BIO-2060 Anatomy and Physiology II
  • MAT-2410 Calculus
Chemistry

General Education Requirements

  • BIO-1140 Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • PHY-1030 General Physics I
  • EGL-1010 Composition I: Expository Writing
  • MAT-2410 Calculus I
  • CHM-1010 General Chemistry I
  • INT-1010 Introduction to Information Technology
  • EGL-1340 Writing About Technical Topics

Program Requirements

  • PAS-1000 First Year Experience
  • CHM-1020 General Chemistry II
  • CHM-1030 General Chemistry II Laboratory
  • MAT-2420 Calculus II
  • CHM-2010 Organic Chemistry I
  • PHY-1040 General Physics Lab
  • CHM-2020 Organic Chemistry II
  • CHM-2040 Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
  • PHY-2030 General Physics II

General Education Humanities Electives

Choose one:

  • COM-1090 Interpersonal Communication
  • PHL-1090 Introduction to Logic
  • Any Foreign Language Course

General Education Social Science Electives

Choose one course from the first group and one course from the second group:

Group A (choose one)

  • ECN-1030 Principles of Macroeconomics
  • ECN-1050 Principles of Microeconomics
  • HST-1510 History of African Americans to 1877

Group B (choose one)

  • PSY-1010 General Psychology
  • SOC-1010 Introduction to Sociology
Physics and Astronomy

Introductory Physics Series — Algebra-Based

  • PHY-1010 Introductory Physics I (with lab, Gen-Ed)
  • PHY-1020 Introductory Physics II (with lab)

General Physics Series — Calculus-Based*

  • PHY-1030 General Physics I (no lab, Gen-Ed)
  • PHY-1040 General Physics I Laboratory (lab course to accompany PHY-1030)
  • PHY-2030 General Physics II (with lab)
  • PHY-2040 General Physics III (with lab)
  • PHY-1570 Technical Physics (with lab, Gen-Ed)
  • PHY-1650 Conceptual Physics for Medical Imaging

Astronomy Courses

  • PSC-1010 Introduction to Astronomy or Honors PSC-1010H (Gen-Ed, no math prerequisite)
  • PSC-1020 Introduction to Astronomy Laboratory (Gen-Ed, no math prerequisite)
  • PSC-1200 Exploring Chemistry and Physics Concepts (with lab, Gen-Ed)
  • PSC-1210 Exploring Earth and Space Science Concepts (with lab, Gen-Ed)

*This series is required for the Associate of Arts Engineering degree. It is also useful if you plan to transfer as a physics major.

Biology Faculty

Dr. Cassandra Moore-Crawford
(Coordinator; BIO-1010, BIO-1110, BIO-1120)
301-546-7562 | moorecm@pgcc.edu

Dr. Lorraine Clarke
(AS Biology program Coordinator; BIO-1130, BIO-1140, BIO-2030)
301-546-0153 | clarkelw@pgcc.edu

Dr. Christine Morin
(Coordinator; BIO-2050)
301-546-6768 | cmorin@pgcc.edu

Professor Alexander Imholtz
(Co-coordinator; BIO-2060)
301-546-7539 | aimholtz@pgcc.edu

Dr. Yuda Anriany
(Co-coordinator; BIO 2010)
(301) 295-3424 | anrianya@pgcc.edu

Dr. Glenn Gebler
(Coordinator; BIO-2010)
301-546-0424 | geblergf@pgcc.edu

Dr. Paria Parto
(Co-Coordinator, BIO-2060)
301-546-0491 | partopx@pgcc.edu

Professor Paul Assanah
301-546-0423 | passanah@pgcc.edu

Dr. Kuburat Bello
301-546-7574 | belloka@pgcc.edu

Dr. Dr. Sylvester Douglas  
773-988-9256| douglasa@pgcc.edu

Dr. Mark Hubley
301-546-0422 | hubleymj@pgcc.edu

Professor Sarah Hyatt
301-546-6718 | hyattsm@pgcc.edu

Professor Michelle Klein
301-546-0069 | kleinmr@pgcc.edu

Professor Brian Kram
301-546-0791 | krambw@pgcc.edu

Professor Lisa Maranto
301-546-0182 | lmaranto@pgcc.edu

Professor Tracy Dirks Ring
301-546-9689 | dirkste@pgcc.edu

Professor Cyrus Sadeghian
301-546-0435 | sadeghcx@pgcc.edu

Chemistry Faculty

Dr. Nadene Houser-Archield
(Coordinator, AS Chemistry program and all CHM-2000-level courses)
301-546-7593 | housernr@pgcc.edu

Dr. Lynne Heighton
301-546-6722 | heightlp@pgcc.edu

Professor Reyniak Richards
(Coordinator, CHM-1010-CHM-1030 courses)
301-546-0534 | richarra1@pgcc.edu

Dr. Sumana Nilanthi Yasapala
301-546-3958 | nilantsx@pgcc.edu

Dr. William Antonio Boyle
301-546-6728 | boylewa@pgcc.edu

Dr. Shehu-Alimi Elelu
301-546-0430 | elelusx@pgcc.edu

Physics and Astronomy Faculty

Dr. James C. Hunt (Coordinator for all PSC/PHY courses)
301-546-0429 | huntjc@pgcc.edu

Dr. Ki Chun Kim
(301) 546-4655 | kimkc@pgcc.edu

Dr. Neeharika Thakur
301-546-0605 | thakurnx@pgcc.edu

Contact Information

Dr. Thomas E. Snowden, Chair
Natural Sciences Department
Chesapeake Hall, Suite 100H
301-546-0420301-546-7544
snowdete@pgcc.edu