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¶¶Òõ̽̽App

Natural Sciences

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Division of Natural Sciences

¶¶Òõ̽̽App’s Division of Natural Sciences provides numerous opportunities for student formation. We believe God will shape you through learning in the classroom and also by creating strong mentorship opportunities with faculty, peers, and the community!

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We're Making World Changers

Students from the Division of Natural Sciences Shine on the MCAT

¶¶Òõ̽̽App (¶¶Òõ̽̽App) students enrolled in the Pre-Med Concentration of ¶¶Òõ̽̽App Marion’s Pre-Health Care Sciences Program performed exceedingly well on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), which is the national standardized exam US medical schools use as a major part of their applicant evaluations. Read More >

Distinguished Faculty

Matthew Kreitzer Headshot

Matthew Kreitzer

PROFESSOR | PH.D.

Dr. Matthew Kreitzer joined ¶¶Òõ̽̽App’s Biology Department in the Fall of 2003 after completing his PhD in biological sciences focusing on Neurobiology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. At ¶¶Òõ̽̽App he teaches anatomy and physiology courses for allied health majors as well as introductory biology and upper division anatomy, physiology, and neuroscience courses for biology majors.

Meet the Faculty

Pre-med Studies

Common Core Courses

The pre-med classification at ¶¶Òõ̽̽App begins with a 'common core' set of courses worth 12 credits. After completing the common core courses, students will take additional courses that reflect their chosen concentration. These concentration-specific courses are required as prerequisites for the respective professional school applications.

Pre-med Concentrations (with addtl. credits needed):

  • Pre-athletic training (37 addtl. credits)
  • Pre-chiropractic medicine (29)
  • Pre-dentistry (47-49)
  • Pre-medicine (44-45)
  • Pre-occupational therapy (23)
  • Pre-optometry (50-51)
  • Pre-pharmacy (51-52)
  • Pre-physical therapy (36)
  • Pre-physician assistant (41)
  • Pre-public health (18)
  • Pre-speech pathology/audiology (18)
  • Pre-veterinary medicine (51-52)

Discover Pre-Med

Find the way Forward

Discover your God-given potential and begin impacting the world in Jesus' name with a degree in Natural Sciences from ¶¶Òõ̽̽App!

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Facilities and Equipment

¶¶Òõ̽̽App Natural Sciences students benefit from world-class facilities and learn using state-of-the-art scientific and diagnostic equipment.

science classroom
greenhouse

Why ¶¶Òõ̽̽App is Unique!

  • Approximately 150 students in the division
  • 85% of students completing the premed program are accepted into a health professional school
  • 70 students have attended external conferences since 2011
  • Faculty in our division currently have 3 grants from the National Science Foundation totaling more than $1,000,000
  • 17 research papers have been published by division faculty
Why STEM at ¶¶Òõ̽̽App?

Over the past 5+ years, ¶¶Òõ̽̽App has made significant advances in equipping itself to be a leader in STEM undergraduate education. ¶¶Òõ̽̽App maintains a faculty/student ratio of ~15:1, which enables outstanding mentorship of undergraduates by faculty in the traditional classroom as well as non-traditional learning settings like undergraduate research, student societies, and seminars.

This exceptional program support has been coupled by recent initiatives at ¶¶Òõ̽̽App to infuse significant infrastructure, new programs, and resources to catalyze STEM education at ¶¶Òõ̽̽App, making ¶¶Òõ̽̽App fertile ground for cultivating a future STEM workforce.

Biology FAQs

● Au Sable Institute: Field-based environmental science courses offered through a Christian consortium, available in Michigan, Oregon, and Costa Rica

● Wildcat Farm: Hands-on training in sustainable agriculture and environmental science while producing food for the community

● Hodson Research Institute: Flagship lab for biology and chemistry research; supports year-round and summer projects

● Faculty-Led Projects: Students have co-authored papers on neural transmission, bone and cartilage cell health, bacterial genomics, HIV, and extremophile studies

● Conference Presentations: Students present at local, regional, and national meetings

● Internships in Industry and Healthcare: Placements at Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, ECHO, Corteva, BW Fusion, and hospitals such as Marion General, Parkview, and Lutheran

● Working in industry or education

● Working in a hospital lab or research setting

● Graduate studies in a biological discipline or medicine

FAQs Chemistry/Biochemistry

● Hodson Research Institute supporting year-round and summer projects

● Faculty-led research with mentorship in chemistry and biochemistry

● Student presentations at local, regional, and national conferences

Prepared for graduate or professional study and employable in diverse laboratory and research environments

Hands-on courses with faculty mentorship using state-of-the-art instrumentation such as GCMS, HPLC, and FTIR

Students benefit from small-group mentoring and direct research engagement that prepare them for competitive graduate and industry positions

FAQs Environmental Science

● Au Sable Institute: Field-based environmental science courses in Michigan, Oregon, and Costa Rica

● Wildcat Farm: On-campus training in sustainable agriculture and community food production

● Hodson Research Institute: Year-round and summer project support

● Faculty-Led Projects: Student co-authored research on plant tissue culture, microbe genomics, and invasive bee species

● Conference Presentations: Participation at local, regional, and national meetings

● Employment in industry or education

● Research in government, academia, or private sectors

● Graduate study in biology or environmental policy

Extensive hands-on learning in environmental science courses and opportunities to work alongside faculty in research and at Wildcat Farm

Graduates are career-ready for research and environmental positions or advanced study in biological and ecological sciences

FAQs Medical Technology

● 3+1 Program Model – 3 years on ¶¶Òõ̽̽App’s Marion campus + 1 year of clinical training at an affiliate hospital.

● Clinical Affiliates – IU Health Methodist (Indianapolis), Parkview Hospital (Fort Wayne), Franciscan Health Dyer (Dyer).

● Placement Rate – 100% of students placed at their first-choice clinical site.

● Outcome – B.S. in Medical Technology + eligibility for Board Certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.

100% of graduates are offered clinical laboratory jobs immediately upon graduation.

● Fourth year is full-time, supervised clinical rotations in hematology, microbiology, immunology, clinical chemistry, genetics, and more.

● Affiliates provide professional preparation equivalent to graduate-level training.

● Program does not include medical imaging, but focuses specifically on laboratory science.

● 100% first-choice clinical site placement rate.

● Strong employment outcomes – virtually all graduates hired by their clinical site.

● Integration of rigorous science with a Christian worldview and personal faculty mentorship.

Division Articles

Recent Posts

Cutting-Edge Nuclear Research
  • Kennedy McDonald
  • March 27, 2026

Unlocking the Atom: ¶¶Òõ̽̽App’s Role in Cutting-Edge Nuclear Research

A physics professor at ¶¶Òõ̽̽App leads cutting-edge nuclear research through national collaborations, giving undergraduates rare hands-on experience with advanced experiments and detector development. Through close mentorship and Christ-centered teaching, students are equipped to pursue scientific discovery as both a career and a calling to serve others.
Read More
¶¶Òõ̽̽App Community
Advancing Neuroscience Through Undergraduate Research
  • Kennedy McDonald
  • March 26, 2026

Breaking Down the Brain: Advancing Neuroscience Through Undergraduate Research

At ¶¶Òõ̽̽App, undergraduate students are helping advance neuroscience using hands-on research guided by the dean of the School of STEM and professor of biology, Matthew Kreitzer, Ph.D.
Read More
¶¶Òõ̽̽App Community
¶¶Òõ̽̽App Bee Research
  • Malachi Nutter
  • March 25, 2026

Bee Research Is Buzzing: How Pollinator Gardens are Making a Difference

A USDA-funded ¶¶Òõ̽̽App research project uses Wildcat Farms to study pollinator gardens, showing they boost biodiversity, bee health, and crop outcomes while supporting the local community. Through hands-on research and mentorship, students are trained to see science as faithful stewardship, equipping them to serve others and care for creation.
Read More
¶¶Òõ̽̽App Community
Healthcare students and studying for test
  • Brittany Shigley
  • December 11, 2025

Preparing for Graduate Health Programs: How ¶¶Òõ̽̽App’s Pre-Med Program Builds a Strong Foundation

A career in healthcare begins with the right undergraduate education. For students interested in health professions such as medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, or occupational therapy, the journey starts by building a strong foundation in the sciences and developing essential skills like critical thinking, leadership, and ethics.
Read More
Healthcare

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