Science encompasses many different disciplines and fields. Pursuing a science degree can lead to a career as a wildlife biologist, pharmaceutical researcher, doctor, nurse, medical lab technician, environmental engineer, and much more.
Biology
Biology students at El Centro explore the fascinating worlds of the human body, microbiology, our environment, and more. The El Centro Biology Department offers a combination of traditional classroom and lab, online, and hybrid classes to suit students with different needs and learning styles.
SCIT 1407 & 1408 Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II
These courses cover the structure and function of the human body with an applied systematic approach. They are designed for students planning to obtain a two-year degree in allied health in the Dallas County Community College District and are not meant for students interested in transferring to a 4-year program. These classes are available online and as traditional lab and lecture courses.
BIOL 2401 & 2402 Anatomy and Physiology I & II
These major level courses examine the structure and function of the human body. They are designed for students considering a four year degree in science or allied health. To improve student access, the course is available as an online course in addition to the regular classroom lecture and lab style.
BIOL 1406 General Biology for Majors I
This courses in an introduction to contemporary biology for students majoring in the sciences. Topics include the chemical basis of life, structure and function of cells, energy transformations, and molecular biology, and genetics.
BIOL 1407 General Biology for Majors II
In this course, students delve into the topics of evolution and ecology and discover the amazing diversity of life. The lab exercises bring the topics alive with fun exercises to understand difficult concepts. Students examine the diversity of life by looking at specimens from a large collection and compare the complexity of organisms by dissecting specimens from various groups.
BIOL 1408 & 1409 General Biology for Non-Majors
These courses provide non-science majors with a survey of contemporary biology. Topics include scientific problem-solving, unity of life, energy pathways important to life, evolutionary and behavioral adaptations, biological diversity, ecology, form and function of organisms, and current issues in biology
BIOL 2416 Genetics
This course is an introduction to genetics. Topics include Mendelian inheritance, recombinant genetics, the biochemical theory of genetic material, and mutation theory. Plant and animal materials are used to study population genetics, linkage, gene structure and function, and other concepts of heredity.
BIOL 2420 Microbiology for Non-Majors
Microbiology at El Centro provides students with an informative, enjoyable view of the world of microorganisms, their impact on a diverse population and the management of diseases caused by them. The scope of this course at El Centro encompasses a wide range of subject matter, from the origins of microbiology through the fascinating processes of bacterial recombination and genetic engineering, to the recognition and treatment of disease. Our hands-on teaching of microscopy, staining techniques, culture and sensitivity methods provides each student with valuable tools for careers in health care and other biological sciences. At El Centro College, we recognize that each student is unique and, therefore, important to us. We care.
Chemistry
El Centro chemistry courses provide our students with a sound basic knowledge, and the program has vastly grown over the past few years. If you are interested in instrumentation, check out our facilities and equipment link to see some of our brand new, state of the art, equipment in the Chemistry Instrumentation Lab.
CHEM 1405 & 1406 Introductory Chemistry I & II
These courses are designed for non-science majors. Topics include the periodic table, atomic structure, chemical bonding, reactions, stoichiometry, states of matter, properties of metals and nonmetals, compounds, acid-base theory, oxidation-reduction, solutions, organic chemistry, and biochemistry.
CHEM 1411 & 1412 General Chemistry I & II
Designed for students majoring in science or a related subject, these courses provide a survey of the fundamentals of chemistry. Topics include the mole concept, chemical reactions and stoichiometry, states and properties of matter, the periodic table, chemical bonding, atomic and molecular structure, gas laws, reaction kinetics, chemical equilibrium, modern acid-base theory, buffers, and chemical thermodynamics.
CHEM 2423 Organic Chemistry I
This courses introduces students to the fundamental classes of organic (carbon) compounds, and begins the study of aliphatic and aromatic compounds, including nomenclature, structure and isomerism, stereochemistry, types of reactions, common mechanisms, and syntheses.
Geology and Environmental Science
El Centro’s Geology and Environmental Science courses offer a glimpse into the inner and outer workings of our planet. El Centro’s environmental science and geology students have exciting opportunities for hands-on learning, including lab classes at the Trinity River Audubon Center and studying rocks under petrographic microscopes.
BIOL 2406 Environmental Biology
Students in BIOL 2406 Environmental Biology explore a fascinating world less than 15 minutes from El Centro at the Trinity River Audubon Center in south Dallas. They learn about ecosystems by collecting aquatic organisms from ponds, study biodiversity by catching insects using nets and traps, and analyze water samples with laboratory tests fit for a mad scientist. Read what our students are saying about BIOL 2406.
ENVR 1401 Environmental Science
Students in ENVR 1401 Environmental Science explore diverse topics, such as ecology, geology, geography, land and water management, human population, and environmental policy. Students learn about sustainability by examining their “ecological footprint”, learn about urban ecosystems by collecting environmental data in downtown Dallas and compare the data to other places in the world, study air quality by testing carbon dioxide levels and examining signs of potential biological and chemical contamination, and analyze water samples from area lakes with laboratory test kits. El Centro College emphasizes student-centered teaching and research to solve global environmental problems for the 21st century.
GEOL 1401 Earth Science
Designed for non-science majors, this course provides an introductory survey of physical geology, historical geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy. It relates the interaction of the earth sciences to the physical world.
GEOL 1403 Physical Geology
Physical geology focuses on geological processes, including the evolution of magna, the mechanics of volcanic activity, earthquakes, and plate tectonics. Lab exercises include studying rocks with new petrographic microscopes, determining the epicenters of earthquakes, studying the behavior of seismic waves, glacial environments, desert environments, and erosion.
GEOL 1404 Historical Geology
Aimed at non-science majors, this course is a study of earth materials and processes within a developmental time perspective. Topics include: fossil taxonomy and preservation, stratigraphy, geologic time scale, relative and absolute age dating, geologic maps, plate tectonics, astronomy, events during each major interval of the geologic time scale, glaciation, evolution and energy. The geological history of North America is emphasized.
GEOL 1445 Oceanography
This course in an introductory study of the geological, chemical, physical and biological characteristics and processes of earth’s oceans. Topics include the formation of ocean basins and geologic materials, composition of seawater, currents, waves and tides, oceanic interaction with the atmosphere, marine pollution, marine resources, and life in the ocean.
GEOL 1447 Meteorology
This course surveys weather phenomena, climate, and the processes that control them. Topics include composition and structure of the atmosphere, interaction of the ocean and atmosphere, climate, hazards of severe weather, and methods of forecasting weather.
Physics
El Centro physics students learn about the underlying principles that govern the world around us from cell phones to heat. Learning is supplemented with hands-on lab activities that bring the principles of physics to life.
PHYS 1401 College Physics I
This is an algebra-based physics course that introduces students to the joys of Newton and his laws. Students will learn about mechanical physics and heat. Mechanical physics delves into properties of objects and how they move or respond to forces. Hands-on lab activities help students to translate the concepts into relevant observations.
PHYS 1402 College Physics II
This is the second in the series of algebra-based physics and introduces students to electromagnetic interactions, light, and sound. Learn how your cell phone actually works. No, it’s not magic. Environmental effects of electrical equipment production are also discussed. Hands-on lab activities help students understand difficult concepts like Ohm’s law.
