Department of Natural Sciences

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www.umes.edu/sciences/

Dr. Deborah Sauder, Chairperson

Mission

The mission of the Department of Natural Sciences (DNS) is to prepare students for employment in the diversified fields in biological, physical and environmental sciences and health related occupations. DNS programs also prepare students for entry into graduate or professional schools.

DNS offers undergraduate degree-programs in Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Science. Combined four-year BS/five-year MS programs are offered in Marine Sciences and Environmental Chemistry. The Department also offers minor programs in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science and Physics.

The Department offers graduate degree-programs in Chemistry, Toxicology and Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Sciences. Information regarding these programs can be found in the UMES School of Graduate Studies Catalog.

Objectives

The objectives of the programs in DNS are to:

1. Provide students with academic curricula to develop a strong understanding of basic science.
2. Prepare students to be adaptable to new developments in science.
3. Train students to conduct scientific research through example, mentoring and personal experience.
4. Prepare students for employment in newly evolving and conventional scientific fields related to their majors.
5. Expose students to social, historical, and ethical issues through the science curricula.
6. Promote interaction between the university and the community through faculty and students in the department.
7. Promote faculty development to accomplish the objectives of the department.

Department General Program Requirements

Maryland Higher Education Commission has set a graduation requirement of 120 semester hours to obtain a four year baccalaureate degree. The Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Science Programs require that students earn a minimum grade of “C” in each course of the Program Core Courses and Program Electives and an overall “C” grade average in General Education and Supportive Course Requirements. A grade of “C” or better is required in all prerequisite courses (lecture and laboratory) to continue with sequence classes offered by the DNS.

Departmental Requirements

Biochemistry : Students majoring in Biochemistry are required to complete a total of 120 credit hours of University courses. This includes a minimum of 43 semester hours of General Education Requirements, 49 semester hours of Departmental Core courses, 7 semester hours of program electives, 18 semester hours of Supportive courses and 3 semester hours of Free Electives.

Biology Non–Teaching major: Students majoring in Biology non – Teaching must complete a total of 120² credit hours of University courses. This includes a minimum of 42 semester hours of General Education Requirements, 25 semester hours of Departmental Core courses, 20 semester hours of program electives, 31 semester hours of supportive courses and 2 semester hours of free electives.

¹Minimum Maryland Higher Education Committee (MHEC) requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree^.

Biology Non–Teaching Honors: Students majoring in Biology non – Teaching Honors must complete a total of 120 credit hours of University courses. This includes a minimum of 42 semester hours of General Education Requirements, 25 semester hours of Departmental Core courses, 20 semester hours of program electives, 31 semester hours of supportive courses and 2 semester hours of free electives. The admission of students to the undergraduate program in Biology is based upon the general admission requirements of the University. Minimum requirements for application to the UMES Honors Program include a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 and minimum SAT score of 1650. Additionally, for retention in the Honors Program, each student must maintain a semester grade point average of 3.0 in their major courses and a cumulative GPA of 3.3. Students must complete a minimum of two honors courses each semester.

Biology Non–Teaching - Pre–Med/Pre- Dentistry Tracks: Students majoring in Biology with Pre–Med/Pre-Dentistry Tracks must complete a total of 120 credit hours of University courses. This includes a minimum of 42 semester hours of General Education Requirements, 25 semester hours of Departmental Core courses, 19 semester hours of program electives and 34 semester hours of supportive courses.

Biology Non–Teaching - Pre-Physical Therapy Track: Students majoring in Biology Non–Teaching with pre-Physical Therapy Track must complete a total of 120 credit hours of University courses. This includes a minimum of 42 semester hours of General Education Requirements, 25 semester hours of Departmental Core courses, 20 semester hours of program electives, 31 semester hours of supportive courses and 2 semester hours of free electives.

Students who meet University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s admission requirements can enroll in Biology Education. Prospective Biology Teacher Education candidates are not formally admitted to the Professional Education Unit until they have completed an Application to Teacher Education and have been accepted.

Teacher candidates who wish to major in Biology Education must have an overall and major content grade point average of 2.75 for admission into and retention in the program. For admission, an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher in a minimum of 45 approved semester hours is required, along with passing the University’s English Proficiency Examination, and also PRAXIS I (scheduled and administered by Educational Testing Services) while registered for Praxis preparation course (Credit 1) EDCI 201 .

Passing Praxis Scores

Applications must be completed for admission to the Biology Education teacher program within the scheduled deadline. The teacher education application lists specific course requirements and requires two essays which address the potential candidate’s disposition toward teaching, as well as providing writing samples, and a field experience recommendation. Four letters of recommendation from faculty (one has to be from the advisor) are also required.

Grades of “C” or above must be attained in each required course of the Biology Education major, the specialized content area combined with the professional educational courses. A candidate’s progress is monitored each semester by the academic advisor to ensure that the candidate continues to meet the minimum GPA of 2.75 in both the major and overall course work.

In order to be eligible for internship, Biology Education candidates are required to submit the following indicators: application for internship, field experience and pre-internship recommendations, methods instructor recommendations, formal academic measures including a 2.75 or higher overall grade point average, a 2.75 grade point average in the major, with no grades lower than C in all courses, PRAXIS II passing scores in Biology, and a working portfolio review.

All Biology Education candidates must satisfactorily complete the independent research project and manuscript prior to graduation. The candidates must satisfactorily complete the professional portfolio, which is started early in the program and revised and completed during the internship experience, is tied to the INTASC Principles, Unit’s Conceptual Framework, and NSTA standards prior to graduation. They must also complete an Exit Survey.

Chemistry Non -Teaching with ACS Certification*: To obtain an ACS-certified chemistry degree, students must complete a total of 120 credit hours of University courses as required by the major. This includes a minimum of 53 semester hours of Program Core courses, 15 semester hours of Supportive courses, 7 semester hours of Program Elective courses, 43 semester hours of General Education courses, and 2 semester hours of Free Electives. Students are required to adhere to ACS guidelines in meeting their undergraduate research requirements and in the submission of their CHEM 499  (undergraduate research) research reports. For more information, please refer to the ACS website www.ACS.org.

Chemistry Non -Teaching with ACS Certification* with Pre–Medicine/Pre-Dentistry tracks: To obtain an ACS-certified chemistry degree, students must complete a total of 120 credit hours of University courses as required by the major. This includes a minimum of 53 credit hours of Program Core courses, 15 credit hours of Supportive courses, 7 credit hours of Program Elective courses, 43 credit hours of General Education courses and 2 credit hours of Free Elective courses from the approved lists of requirements as outlined in the catalog. The students are required to adhere to ACS guidelines in the submission of their CHEM 499  requirements.

Chemistry Non -Teaching without ACS Certification: Students must complete a total of 120 credit hours of University courses as required by the major. This includes a minimum of 53 credit hours of Program Core courses, 15 credit hours of Supportive courses, 7 credit hours of Program Elective courses, 43 credit hours of General Education courses and 2 credit hours of Free Elective courses from the approved lists of requirements as outlined in the catalog.

Chemistry Teaching: Maryland Higher Education Commission has set a graduation requirement of 131¹ semester hours to obtain a 4 year baccalaureate degree. Students must complete 29 semester hours of program core courses, 15 hours of supportive courses, 3 hours of program electives courses, 42 hours of general education courses and 42 hours of professional education courses from the approved lists of requirements as outlined in the catalog. Students are not required to follow the ACS course guidelines since the degree is non-ACS certified. Teacher candidates who wish to major in Chemistry Education must have an overall and major content grade point average of 2.75 for admission into and retention in the program. For admission, overall GPA of 2.75 or higher in a minimum of 45 approved semester hours, passing the University’s English Proficiency Examination, and PRAXIS I (scheduled and administered by Educational Testing Services) while registered for Praxis preparation course (Credit 1) EDCI 201  are required.

Any individual who meets University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s admission requirements can enroll in Chemistry Education. Prospective Chemistry Teacher Education candidates are not formally admitted to the Professional Education Unit until they have completed an Application to Teacher Education and have been accepted.

Teacher candidates who wish to major in Chemistry Education must have an overall and major content grade point average of 2.75 for admission into and retention in the program. For admission, overall GPA of 2.75 or higher in a minimum of 45 approved semester hours is required, passing the University’s English Proficiency Seminar, and also PRAXIS I (scheduled and administered by Educational Testing Services) while registered for Praxis preparation course (Credit 1) EDCI 201 .

²The higher than 120 cr. hr. requirement for graduation is to meet the standards of NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) and NSTA (National Science Teachers Association).

Passing Praxis Scores

In order to be eligible for internship, Chemistry Education candidates are required to submit the following indicators: application for internship, field experience, and pre-internship recommendations, methods instructor recommendations, formal academic measures including a 2.75 or higher overall grade point average, a 2.75 grade point average in the major, with no grades lower than C in all courses, PRAXIS II passing scores in Chemistry, and working portfolio review.

All Chemistry Education candidates must satisfactorily complete the independent research project and manuscript prior to graduation. The candidates must satisfactorily complete the professional portfolio, which is started early in the program and revised and completed during the internship experience, is tied to the INTASC Principles, Unit’s Conceptual Framework, and NSTA standards prior to graduation. They must also complete an Exit Survey.

Environmental Science - Environmental Chemistry Option: Students must complete 120 semester hours: 42 semester hours in general education courses, 29 semester of hours in program core courses, 43 semester hours in program supportive courses and 6 semester hours in program electives. Students are required to take independent study and/or undergraduate research in their junior or senior year.

Environmental Science - Marine Science Option: Students must complete 120 semester hours: 42 semester hours in general education courses, 36 semester hours in program core courses, 35 semester hours in program supportive courses and 7 semester hours in electives. Students are required to take an independent study or undergraduate research in their junior or senior year.

Dual Degree Program - Environmental Science (Marine Sciences Track) UMES - SU Dual Degree Program-Students enrolled at Salisbury University in the Biology Program may earn a degree in Environmental Sciences from UMES by taking 30 hours of prescribed coursework in Environmental Science at UMES in addition to other required courses at Salisbury University.

Combined Four-year/Five-year B.S./M.S. Degree Program with Environmental Chemistry and Marine Sciences options: The two options are administered under the auspices of the undergraduate Environmental Science and the graduate Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Science (MEES) programs. The student receives the B.S. and M.S. degrees after completing the requirements for the two programs. A student wishing to pursue the 5-year M.S. program must make a formal application to the MEES program in the first semester of the junior year. Students must take the GRE (General Test) during their junior year. They have the option of being in residence at UMES or at a participating CEES campus during their senior and fifth years.

Students enrolled in the Environmental Chemistry option must complete 120 semester hours of undergraduate courses and 30 semester hours graduate courses for their degrees: 42 semester hours in general education courses, 33 semester hours in undergraduate program core courses and 45 semester hours of supportive courses. To receive the M.S. degree, students must satisfy degree requirements which include a total of 30 course credits: course work (27 credits) and Master’s Thesis research (6 credits).

Students who enroll in the Marine Science option must complete 120 semester hours of undergraduate courses and 30 semester hours of graduate courses for their degrees: 42 semester hours of general education courses, 38 semester hours of undergraduate program core courses, 34 semester hours of supportive courses and 6 semester hours of program elective courses. To receive the M.S. degree, students must satisfy degree requirements which include a total of 30 course credits: course work (24 credits) and Master’s Thesis research (6 credits).

Pre-Pharmacy Curriculum: The Pre-Pharmacy Program is a collection of courses that prepares a student for application to pharmacy schools. Each pharmacy school has specific admissions requirements and students must supplement this set of courses with any additional requirements. Some pharmacy schools require a BS prior to application. Pre-pharmacy students are advised to complete the 73 credit hours of courses with a grade of “C” or better. In addition to the 73 credit hours outlined, one semester of biochemistry is highly recommended.

Minors in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Physics: A minor can be obtained with 20 semester hours of program courses with a grade of “C” or better in addition to those courses used to fulfill graduation requirements in the major program.

Directory of Faculty

Chen, Nianhong, Assistant Professor
B.S., U. Sci. Tech. of China, Chem.; M.S.; U. Southern Mississippi, Mar. Sci.; Ph.D., Tulane University, Geochem

Cheney, Marcos, Professor
B.S., Univ. of Baja Chem., .M. Sci. Bio-Inorg., U.C. Davis, Ph.D. Anal & Envir. Chem., U.C. Davis

Chigbu, Paulinus, Director, LMRCSC & Professor
B.Sci. & M. Sci.; University of Benin, Nigeria; Ph.D., University of Washington, Seattle

Elnaiem, Dia-Eldin A., Associate Professor
B.Sc., M.Sc., University of Khartoum, Sudan; Ph.D., University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

Hearne, Jennifer Associate Professor
B.S., University of Maryland Eastern Shore; Ph.D., University of Delaware

Ishaque, Ali B., Associate Professor
B.Sc., University of Science & Technology, Ghana; M.Sc.; Ph.D., Free University of Brussels

Johnson, Linda, Associate Professor
B.S., Lincoln University; M.S., & Ph.D., Temple University School of Medicine

May, Eric, Associate Professor
B.S., Oregon State University; M.S., North Arizona State University; Ph.D., Oregon State University

Mazzaccaro, Anthony, Lecturer
B.S., University of Maryland College Park; M.S., Texas A&M University; Ph. D., Texas A&M University

Mitra, Madhumi, Associate Professor
B.S., Presidency College, India; M.S., Calcutta University, India; Ph.D. North Carolina State University

Morales-Nunez, Andres, Research Associate
B.S., Universidad de Bogota, Jorge Tadeo Lozano; M.S. & Ph.D., University of Puerto Rico; Ph.D.

Nyame, Anthony, Professor
B.S., University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; M.S., Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine; Ph.D., University of Georgia

Okulate, Mobolaji, Associate Professor
B.Sc., Ph.D., University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

Pitula, Joseph, Associate Professor
B.S., Rutgers University; M.S., Ph.D., University of Buffalo, New York

Potter, Amelia, Lecturer
B.S., Birmingham Southern University; M.S., University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Ruby, Douglas, Professor
B.S., Gettysburg College; M.S., Ph.D., University of Michigan

Stevens, Bradley, Professor
S.B., University of Cincinnati; M.S., College of Charleston; Ph.D., University of Washington

Taabodi, Maryam, Lecturer
B.S., Salisbury University; M.S., University of Maryland Eastern Shore; Ph. D., University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Uche, Udeochu, Associate Professor
B.Sc. & M.Sc. University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Ph.D., Howard University

Volkis, Victoria, Assistant Professor
B.A. and M.S., Leningrad Institute of Chemical Technology; M.S. Chemistry & Ph.D., The Technion – Israeli Institute of Technology

Waguespack, Yan, Professor
B.S., Beijing Polytechnic University; Ph.D., Tulane University

Xia, Meng, Assistant Professor
B.S., Ocean University of Qingdao; M.S., First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration of China; Ph.D., North Carolina State University

Programs

• Biochemistry, B.S.
• Biology - Biology Education, B.S.
• Biology Honors Non - Teaching, B.S.
• Biology Non - Teaching, B.S.
• Biology Pre-Med/Pre-Dentistry Track, B.S.
• Biology Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration, B.S.
• Chemistry (ACS Certification), B.S.
• Chemistry (without ACS Certification), B.S.
• Chemistry Education (Teaching), B.S.
• Chemistry Honors (ACS Certification) - Pre-Medicine/Pre-Dentistry Tracks, B.S.
• Environmental Science - Environmental Chemistry, B.S.
• Environmental Science - Marine Science, B.S.

• Biology Minor
• Chemistry Minor
• Environmental Sciences Minor
• Physics Minor

• Environmental Science - Environmental Chemistry, B.S./M.S.
• Environmental Science - Marine Science, B.S./M.S.

• Dual Degree Program, Environmental Science - Marine Sciences Track
• Pre-Pharmacy

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