Message from the Dean

Welcome to the University of North Georgia’s College of Science & Mathematics! We are a student-centered college whose top priority is to help you achieve your goals. The College of Science & Mathematics provides a learning environment that strongly supports and encourages the total development of each student. Our student-centered faculty use innovative teaching methods, experiential learning that focuses on cutting-edge research projects, and community engagement in teaching and learning to prepare our students to be life-long learners; critical thinkers; future leaders; and competent and caring practitioners in the various fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). In a nutshell, our top priority is your successful future.

The College of Science and Mathematics is composed of four separate, yet highly interconnected departments spread across five campuses. These departments are: 1) the Department of Biology; 2) the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry; 3) the Department of Mathematics; and 4) the Department of Physics. Overall, we consist of almost 250 faculty and staff members dedicated to the success of our students. The College of Science & Mathematics faculty are highly collaborative and use active engagement pedagogies and high-impact practices to transform their teaching environments into places where students can genuinely thrive. We are truly transdisciplinary.

The four departments of the College of Science & Mathematics are purposefully grouped together within the college because they are naturally complementary and synergistic. Learning by students in our college occurs both within and outside of the classroom and laboratory. The hard sciences employ a variety of instructional approaches in the classroom but also utilize a myriad of investigative and experiential approaches in the laboratory. It should be noted that our labs are not just contained in buildings. Our faculty heavily utilize nature’s laboratories to educate our students. The mathematics faculty rely on emersion techniques using real-world scenarios to educate their students. Above all else, the programs within the College of Science & Mathematics stress small class sizes to maximize the interactions between the professors and each student.

Undergraduate research projects are ubiquitous within the College of Science & Mathematics. Research projects are conducted in a variety of settings including computer-based projects, traditional laboratory-based projects, and field-based projects. In any given semester, many College of Science of Mathematics students are busy conducting research projects under the guidance of faculty mentors. These projects take place on campus, off campus, and even in foreign countries. The research facilities within the college are well-equipped to provide each student with an intellectually fulfilling research experience. Undergraduate researchers have the opportunity to present their research findings at a variety of local, regional, and national venues throughout the academic year.

Our college teams with many regional and local companies to provide valuable internship opportunities for our students. In some cases, internships can be tailored to suit a student’s needs. Students choosing to participate in an internship experience may select from a variety of formats and time frames. In addition, internships may be completed for credit or pay.

A variety of student clubs/organizations are also available which provide an avenue for students sharing the same passion to interact, grow, and establish peer networks. Throughout the academic year, student clubs are busy with a variety of fun, stress-relieving activities for our busy students.

The College of Science & Mathematics has many exciting things going on right now and a variety of plans for the future. We currently offer a truly transdisciplinary, inquiry-based STEM laboratory in which the curriculum focuses on major themes and concepts in biology, chemistry and physics with an emphasis on their integrated applications in modern, quantitative research. The STEM laboratory is a two-semester sequence and students are free to take one or both semesters. The fall semester STEM laboratory satisfies course requirements for BIOL 1107L, CHEM 1211L, and PHYS 1111L or PHYS 2211L. The spring semester STEM laboratory satisfies course requirements for BIOL 1108L, CHEM 1212L, and PHYS 1112L or PHYS 2212L. We also recently completed our new observatory in Dahlonega and our new greenhouse in Gainesville. In addition, we have even bigger plans. For Dahlonega, we have plans to build a new STEM building and in Gainesville we have plans to enlarge the Science building.

The College of Science & Mathematics will not just educate you, we will transform you. We will equip you with the necessary tools to allow you to confidently take the next career step whether that is becoming a productive member of the workforce, graduate school, professional school, or serving our country in the military. Finally, as a graduate of one of the programs from the College of Science and Mathematics, you will definitely know how to effectively work in a diverse environment, critically think in complex situations, and make ethical decisions.

John D. Leyba, Ph.D.
Dean
College of Science & Mathematics