New lab science requirement at COSC

[topdog98]

It looks like COSC has changed their science requirement in their general education requirements.

General Education Requirements - Charter Oak State College Catalog

It PREVIOUSLY said: Natural Sciences (4-6 credits) "One 4-credit course that includes a lab, or two 3-credit courses."

Now it says:

Natural Sciences (7-8 credits) "One 4-credit course that includes a lab must be taken. The second course can be either a 4-credit lab or a 3-credit course without a lab. Examples: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, Oceanography, Physical Geography, Physics."

What would be the best way to fulfill the "4-credit course that includes a lab"?

Thanks

[bluebooger]

Chemistry > Division of Continuing Education > Colorado State University-Pueblo

CHEM 101: Chemistry and Society

3 semester-hour credits - Tuition $447.00, DVD/videotape fee $25- Required

Chemistry related to the everyday world. Drugs, food, pollution, pesticides, consumer products, energy, and home health. Principally for non-science majors. Videos Required

CHEM 101L: Chemistry and Society - Lab

1 semester-hour credits - Tuition $149.00

Laboratory is optional. Experiments to exemplify the logical steps of problem solving and explore the physical and chemical world.

I've never taken either course, but based on the course description of CHEM 101 this has got to be the easiest lab ever

but you may also want to check out
Biology > Division of Continuing Education > Colorado State University-Pueblo

[sanantone]

It looks like COSC gives lab credits for Straighterline courses with labs.

[rebel100]

I suspect straighterline is the easiest/quickest. University of Idaho or Arkansas independent studies might offer something.

[Daithi]

Straigherline would also be inexpensive.

[Lindagerr]

Of course I am a science person but I think requiring a lab is important. You can do it as described or just take a general Bio or Chem class at your local CC although this will be expensive with lab fees plus paying for four credits.

[publius2k4]

Of course I am a science person but I think requiring a lab is important.

I agree completely. But I'm also glad I enrolled at COSC early enough to avoid this requirement....am I a hypocrite? lol

[topdog98]

I appreciate all of the replies. (Well, except for publius2k4, who was just gloating at my expense! lol)

I am leaning towards Straighterline Chemistry with the lab. I think that will be the best fit for me. Thanks for the help!

Edited to add: To make up for the gloating, Publius, I'd love to hear your impression of the cornerstone and business capstone.

[publius2k4]

I appreciate all of the replies. (Well, except for publius2k4, who was just gloating at my expense! lol)

To make up for the gloating, Publius, I'd love to hear your impression of the cornerstone and business capstone.

Lol I wouldn't necessarily call it gloating, but I'll happily share my impressions:

I'm just now finishing the cornerstone this week. It was an interesting class. It involved writing a research paper related to your degree choice, along with using the college's various resources to progressively complete the project and showing different parts of your work throughout the course. In other words, you turned in an outline one week, a hypothesis another week, works cited page the next week, etc.

Also, you have to create a resume (or update your current one).

At another times in the course, you have to discuss your concentration with your adviser and create a Concentration Plan of Study which is forwarded to faculty within your area(s) of study for review and approval.

All in all, it was a pretty elementary course. Since I transferred into COSC with 108 credits, I enjoyed the course because it gave me a chance to review my academic history and consider how much I had learned and grown.

I can't speak on the business capstone. Although it was in my original plan, my adviser and I agreed that I should change it to the Social Science capstone since it matches better with the 2 areas within my Individualized Study concentrations (business management/public safety administration). I will begin that course next month. I definitely intend to post my opinions in the forum as I move through that course.




And back to your original post: I think the best option for the lab credit would be a straighterline course. They have several to choose from (biology, chemistry, anatomy & physiology, physics, and microbiology), and it's self paced.

For what it's worth, I'm thinking that straighterline is possibly the reason for COSC's new push for lab credit.

[sanantone]

If you're concerned about cost, it's probably best to avoid SL's Microbiology and A&P. The lab kits for those courses are most expensive. Their physics course is calculus-based.