Meeting Abstract

145-4  Sunday, Jan. 8 14:15 – 14:30  Developing Relevant Science Classes for Non-science Majors SPAIN, D.*; SULLIVAN, L.; YOUNG, A.; SPAIN, Diara; Dominican University of California; Dominican University of California; Dominican University of California diara.spain@dominican.edu

A typical undergraduate student with a humanities or business major may take one or two science classes during their academic career to graduate. In many cases these classes are endured but not enjoyed by the students. We have used lemons to make lemonade by developing science classes targeting Honors Program students with non-science majors. In spring 2011 we began offering Aquatic Ecosystems of the Bay Area and in fall 2013 we began offering Bay Area Rocks: Geology of the Bay Area. These classes differ from the other science classes available to majors because the scientific content is explored, integrated, and interpreted with historical, current, and future issues. In addition to the content being relevant locally, these classes have a civic component which takes the students out the lab and into the community.