2025-2026 College Catalog
Natural Sciences
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X-wing • 217/351-2285 • parkland.edu/ns
Scott Siechen, department chair
Karen Rocha, administrative assistant
The Natural Sciences department educates students and the public about the nature and practice of science. Courses are offered on chemistry, physics, astronomy, meteorology, geology, biology, evolution, environmental biology, microbiology, kinesiology, forensic science, and human anatomy and physiology. Many courses are offered entirely or partly online. All of these disciplines address the increasingly important issues of scientific literacy and how science relates to our society.
Besides serving students in preparatory, career, and transfer level courses, the Natural Sciences department also takes an active role in community activities and programs by hosting the regional Science Olympiad competition for central Illinois middle and high school students, and offering noncredit courses through Parkland’s Community Education department. The Natural Sciences department produces the Parkland television channel’s Surrounded by Science series and sponsors the monthly James B. Kaler Science Lecture series held at the Staerkel Planetarium. The department includes the Parkland Fitness Center and the William M. Staerkel Planetarium (second largest in the state), both of which are used by community members as well as Parkland students.
Courses
- Astronomy (AST)
- Biology (BIO)
- Chemistry (CHE)
- Earth Science (ESC)
- Engineering Science (ENS)
- Kinesiology (KIN)
- Physics (PHY)
- Science (SCI)
ProgramsAssociate in ScienceAssociate in Engineering ScienceCertificate
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