General Science
An 18-credit science minor with breadth across biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science — designed for students who want broad science literacy rather than a single-discipline deep dive.
About the Minor
ACU’s General Science Minor is built for students who want substantive science literacy across multiple disciplines — not depth in just one. The 12-credit core lets you choose three lab-science courses from six options: Survey of Biological Science (BIO 100), Introduction to Sports Medicine (BIO 220), Exercise Physiology (BIO 360), General Chemistry I (CHM 151), General Physics I (PHY 111), or Experiencing Science (SCI 100). The 6-credit elective block lets you add another two courses from Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology (BIO 200), Creation Apologetics (BIO 385), Kinesiology (BIO 476), or other science electives approved by the department.
The structure is deliberate: this isn’t pre-med preparation (the Biology Minor exists for that). This is for future Christian-school general-science teachers, elementary educators wanting solid science literacy, ministry students preparing to engage science questions thoughtfully, and any major where broad scientific knowledge adds professional weight.
Pairs especially naturally with Elementary Education, Secondary Education (science emphasis), Christian Ministries, Communication, and any non-science major where science fluency strengthens the career path.
What You'll Learn
Work Across Science Disciplines
Build literacy across biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science — the breadth K-12 science teaching and informed citizenship both require.
Apply the Scientific Method
Design experiments, collect data, and interpret results in real lab settings across three or more lab courses.
Engage Creation Apologetics
Examine origins and creation questions from a worldview-explicit perspective through BIO 385.
Connect Science to Real Applications
Trace how scientific knowledge applies to health, ecology, athletics, and everyday life — depending on the courses you choose.
Communicate Scientific Ideas
Develop the working vocabulary and conceptual frameworks to discuss science with non-specialist audiences — useful for teaching, ministry, and writing.
Studying Creation Across the Disciplines
A Biblical Worldview treats the natural and physical world as careful study of what God has made — meaning rigor and reverence go together rather than against each other.
Creation Worth Knowing
Whether you're studying biology, chemistry, physics, or earth science, you're studying creation. ACU's general-science curriculum treats that conviction not as a sidebar but as the working assumption — investigating how the world actually works is itself a form of paying attention to what God has made.
Grounds your science in wonder, not just method.Faith and Science Together
Christian engagement with science has been a steady thread through the history of inquiry. ACU's curriculum reflects that, treating rigorous science and Christian conviction as belonging in the same conversation. The Creation Apologetics elective makes that integration explicit."
Equips you to do excellent science while holding your faith seriously.Stewardship in the Sciences
Biology, ecology, chemistry, and physics all carry stewardship implications — environmental, health, technological, communal. A Biblical Worldview takes that responsibility seriously across the disciplines, not just in environmental courses.
Equips you to take the practical implications of scientific work seriously.Where This Minor Takes You
General Science is one of the most flexible minors at the university — it sharpens scientific literacy for nearly any career where understanding science matters.
Christian School General-Science Teacher
Pair the minor with Elementary or Secondary Education to teach K–8 science in Christian schools where broad science preparation is more useful than single-discipline depth.
Elementary Classroom Teacher
Add substantial science breadth to an Elementary Education major — most K–6 teachers feel underprepared in science.
Children's and Family Ministry Leadership
Bring science literacy into ministry roles where parents and students bring real questions about creation, origins, ecology, and health.
Christian Apologetics and Public Writing
Equip yourself to engage science-and-faith questions thoughtfully in apologetics, journalism, or public communication.
Pre-Allied-Health (with Additional Coursework)
Build a foundation that — paired with major-specific coursework — can support paths into healthcare-adjacent fields.
Lifelong Scientific Literacy
For any career, the minor builds the kind of scientific vocabulary and reasoning ability that modern citizenship and decision-making require.
Why Students Choose This Minor
The General Science Minor at ACU is built around breadth — for students who need solid science across disciplines rather than depth in one.
Six Core Options
Choose three of six lab-science courses for the 12-credit core — biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, sports medicine, exercise physiology.
Real Lab Work
Every core course includes integrated lab time. The minor is hands-on, not just lecture-based.
Creation Apologetics Available
BIO 385 is a distinctive ACU elective that few science programs anywhere offer as a real 3-credit course.
Built for Non-Pre-Health Majors
Where the Biology Minor leans pre-med, the General Science Minor leans toward Education, Ministry, and broad-application careers.
Same Faculty as the BS Biology
General Science Minor students take the same lab courses with the same professors as ACU's science majors.
Getting Started
The General Science Minor is flexible — most students complete it across their sophomore through senior years by adding science courses to their general-education load.
Talk With Your Academic Advisor
Map the 18 credits into your degree plan and choose your three core lab courses and two electives based on where you're headed.
Confirm Math and Science Placement
CHM 151 and PHY 111 require MAT 112 completion (or placement). BIO 360 requires BIO 100 or BIO 181. Check prerequisites before scheduling.
Sequence the Lab Courses
Lab courses can be demanding — spread them across at least three semesters rather than packing them into one.
Add Creation Apologetics (Optional)
If you're heading into ministry, Christian education, or apologetics work, BIO 385 Creation Apologetics is a strong elective pick.
View BIO 385 →Explore More Options
Ready to Build Real Science Literacy?
The General Science Minor gives you breadth across disciplines, real lab work, and a science-and-faith elective most programs don't offer. Apply or reach out today.
