The Department of Natural Sciences has 915 students and had 101 students graduate from the program in the past year. The department is composed of 29 full time faculty members in the disciplines of Biology, Chemistry, Geology, and Physics. The department offers more than 30 different undergraduate degrees that draw upon the breadth of these scientific disciplines and emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of modern science. The department offers an interdisciplinary program in Nanoscale Science, numerous preprofessional programs, a variety of undergraduate programs designed to prepare students for scientific careers or graduate school, and master’s programs in Biology and Science Education.
The department places an emphasis upon the following:
Located on the northeast edge of the campus, this facility was renamed in 2014 to honor Northwest’s ninth president. In 2017, the Hubbard Center’s west wing, which had been a business incubation center, was remodeled. The building houses classrooms, labs and offices for faculty teaching biology, chemistry and physics.
Total square feet: 46,710 | Year built: 2009
Garrett-Strong Science Building offers 26 labs where students can gain profession-based experiences on campus. This facility also houses a synthetic cadaver, an aquarium and two museums that feature living animals such as hedgehogs, rats, iguanas and more.
Renovated in 2000-2001, Garrett-Strong contains laboratories, lecture halls and classrooms. The building also houses the University's Geoscience Museum and the Walter M. and Velma C. Troutman Collection.
Total square feet: 159,787 | Year opened: 1968
Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area (MOERA) features more than 320 acres of land dedicated to providing experiential learning opportunities. Students taking wildlife ecology and conservation courses construct Sherman traps for small animals and pitfall traps for reptiles and amphibians!
“We have smaller class sizes. That means smaller labs, more hands-on opportunities. I probably had more of an opportunity to work with different instrumentation in my labs than at other larger schools.”
Caitlin McEntee '22
Chemistry with a biochemistry emphasis
The American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training has added Northwest Missouri State University to its listing of approved institutions.
Northwest’s ACS-certified major in chemistry prepares students with a comprehensive and deep exposure to the many aspects of chemistry. Students are intellectually challenged and gain an appreciation of how the discipline impacts their daily lives. The degree program is designed to prepare up-and-coming professional chemists for careers in research institutions, industry or the pursuit of graduate studies.
Northwest students who complete the course curriculum receive certificates in conjunction with their degree.
Northwest geology students and faculty traveled fall 2023 to Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The group explored mineral resources and mining operations, turning course concepts into hands-on experiences.
C F Gray Physical Science Scholarship, Margaret Wade Long Scholarship for Teachers of Math & Science, Ruth Collins McQuerry & Wayne H McQuerry Memorial Scholarship, Dr. Richard A Hart Scholarship and more!
