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Natural Science Courses

The following courses can be used to fulfill the natural science requirement:

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics: 1211, 1212, 1250, 3392
    • Note: Astronomy 0001 may not be taken by Penn Engineering students.
    • Note: Other courses numbered below Astronomy 0011 can be taken as free electives only.
  • Biochemistry: Any course
  • Bioengineering: 3050, 5130
  • Biological Basis of Behavior: Any course
  • Biology: 0992 and any course numbered above 1000 except 2510
  • Biophysics: Any course
  • Cellular and Molecular Biology: Any course
  • Chemistry: Any course except CHEM 1000, 1011, 1200, 0250
    • Note: AP credit for Chemistry (CHEM 091 or EAS 0091) is equivalent to CHEM 1012. Some departments may not accept AP credit for Chemistry – see individual curricula.
    • Note: Students are permitted to take CHEM 1012 or CHEM 1151, but not both.
  • Computer and Information Science: CIS 3980 (Only CIS Majors may count this as a Natural Science or Engineering elective).
  • Earth and Environmental Science: EESC 1000, 1030.  Any course above 2000 pending approval by faculty committee (Currently approved: EESC 2120, 2500, 3300, 3600, 4200, 4320, 4360, 4440, 4630). EESC 3003 does not count as a Natural Science
  • Electrical and Systems Engineering: ESE 1120
    • Note: If ESE 1120 is taken, PHYS 0151 is not allowed.
  • Genomics and Computational Biology: Any course
  • Materials Science Engineering: MSE 2210
    • Note: MSE 2150, 2210, 2600, 3300, and 4300 may be counted as Natural Science or Engineering if taken prior to Spring 2015.
  • Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics: 1100, 1470
    • Note: If MEAM 1100 and MEAM 1470 are taken, PHYS 0150 is not allowed since these are equivalent.
  • Neuroscience: Any NRSC course- except NRSC 0050, 0060, 1159, 1160, 2217, 2227, 2249, and 4417
  • Physics: 0050, 0051, 0140, 0141, and courses numbered 0150 and above.
    • Note: PHYS 1100, 3314, 3360, and 5500 are not allowed.
    • Note: If you take the honor’s equivalent of a required Physics course, there is no need to petition for it (e.g. you can take PHYS 0170 in place of PHYS 0150; or PHYS 0171 instead of PHYS 0151 without having to petition).
  • Psychology: 1210

Freshman Seminar courses can not be used to fulfill the natural science requirement.