GREETINGS FROM THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Greetings from the College of Science and Technology. In the College of Science and Technology at Tarleton State University, we are committed to helping meet the high demand for STEM professionals across Texas and beyond. To do so, our college provides distinctive STEM programs that engage students in hands-on experiences in traditional classroom and laboratory settings, as well as resume building experiences outside the classroom. COST students gain relevant educational opportunities in cutting-edge research, industrial internships, field studies, competition teams, and much more. We are developing the next generation of problem solvers — scientists, technologists, engineers, mathematicians — required to tackle complex global challenges. To be successful in STEM fields, students must have hands-on experiences that ensure their know-how to be leaders and innovators upon graduation. Our programs prepare students to enter the workforce or continue their education, either in their field of study or through professional areas like medicine, pharmacy and optometry. If you have any questions or want to learn more about our programs, please schedule a visit, send us an email or give us a call. The welcome mat is always out. Sincerely,
Dr. Michael T. Huggins
Professor and Dean College of Science and Technology
BRIEF OVERVIEW Tarleton’s College of Science and Technology educates students for careers in healthcare, research, education, manufacturing, environmental science, engineering and business, among other fields, while being outstanding contributors to their communities and professions. More than 1,500 students are enrolled in the college in Stephenville. COST faculty in the are dedicated to providing our students with high-quality educational experiences to ensure their success after graduation. With a focus on student success, the math and science clinics provide free tutoring for many of the most academically challenging courses students might encounter during their studies.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
790-acre
230
TIMBERLAKE BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATION
and
a working cattle ranch in Mills County advances environmental research, engages students in scientific discovery and promotes stewardship of the natural world
BACHELOR’S DEGREES
30
MASTER’S DEGREES
AWARDED ANNUALLY
16
undergraduate and 6 graduate
STEM DEGREE PROGRAMS
98,000-square-foot, $54 million
STATE-OF-THE-ART ENGINEERING BUILDING
32-INCH TELESCOPE
at Hunewell Ranch provides students hands-on experiences to undertake significant astronomy research
DEGREES The college offers undergraduate degrees in biology, chemistry, geoscience, mechanical engineering technology, construction science and management, mechanical engineering, mathematics, civil engineering, physics, manufacturing engineering technology, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, industrial engineering, computer science, manufacturing and industrial management, and biomedical sciences. Graduate degrees are available in biology, mathematics, geoscience, quality and engineering management, computer engineering, and environmental science. BACHELOR’S MAJORS AND CONCENTRATIONS Biology * Aquatic Ecology Botany General Biology General Environmental General Wildlife Life Science Molecular Terrestrial Ecology Zoology
Biomedical Science General Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental Pre-Pharmacy Pre-Physical Therapy Pre-Vet
Chemistry * Biochemistry Environmental Chemistry Forensic Chemistry Interdisciplinary Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental Pre-Pharmacy Professional Chemistry
Civil Engineering Computer Science Computer Engineering Computer Science Data Science Game Development Software Engineering
Construction Science and Management Electrical Engineering Environmental Engineering Environmental Science Environmental Policy Geospatial Information Science Science Soil Science
Geoscience * Earth Science Environmental Science Geology Hydrogeology Petroleum Geology
Industrial Technology *
Manufacturing Engineering Technology
MASTER’S MAJORS AND CONCENTRATIONS
Manufacturing and Industrial Management
Biology *
General Industrial Management Safety Management
Mathematics Biomathematics Data Analysis Environmental Mathematics Financial Analysis General Pre-Actuarial Pre-Law Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental Technical Writing
Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Engineering Technology Physics *
Computer Engineering Environmental Science Geoscience * Mathematics Quality and Engineering Management
MINORS Biology Chemistry Civil Engineering Construction Science and Management Computer Science Earth Science Electrical Engineering Engineering Engineering Technology Environmental Engineering Environmental Science Geology Mathematics Mechanical Engineering Physics Soil Science Technical Writing KEY * Teacher Certification Available
SIGNATURE EVENTS Annual poster session. The college hosts a showcase each year where students present and discuss their research findings.
Service Day. As part of Tarleton’s annual Service Day, faculty, staff and students participate in a variety of events to give back to the community, including the Bosque River Cleanup, Chamberlain Elementary School STEM Day and Service Day at Timberlake Biological Field Station.
Math Day. The Mathematics Department celebrates the end of the academic year by hosting Math Day. The centerpiece is a speed round where students give three-minute research talks to a panel of VIP judges (president, provost, deans, legislative and industry leaders) and compete for cash prizes.
National Chemistry Week and Earth Day. The Tarleton Geological Society and Tarleton Chemical Society host bake sales, meetings and speakers to celebrate these events annually.
Star parties. COST offers an astronomy outreach where participants use a combination of the observatory at Hunewell Ranch and portable telescopes to engage in a variety of educational experiences.
Planetarium shows. The planetarium conducts regular shows in the theater to showcase astronomy and related topics. The theater also hosts “movie nights” for COST student organizations.
HIGH-IMPACT PRACTICES Study Abroad. Developing a global perspective gives students the know-how to be leaders. From studying mathematics in Greece and Germany to researching ecology in Honduras and Costa Rica, the college offers abundant opportunities to learn overseas.
Student research. We learn by doing, and opportunities abound for groundbreaking research. Students use computational modeling to address legislative gerrymandering, to study mosquitoes for new pest control measures, and to research nontoxic, cost-effective delivery systems for chemotherapy drugs.
Mentorship. The innovative Health Pre-Professions Mentoring Program matches students with Tarleton alumni and friends in the medical, dental, pharmacy and health professions. The program helps students learn more about their field of study while connecting alumni and professionals to the university.
Competition teams. Design and build competitions are an important opportunity for students in many STEM programs, especially engineering and engineering technology, to showcase their classroom knowledge. COST teams participate in regional, national and international events alongside much larger institutions, and they regularly place in the top five and win! In April 2020 a Tarleton environmental engineering team finished first in the WEAT (Water Environment Association of Texas) competition, ahead of similar teams from Texas A&M, Texas Tech, UT Austin and the University of Houston.
Sense of Place. Learning to communicate in the public arena is vital to the scientific community. Sense of Place, a provost-supported initiative, begins this process in the freshman biology course sequence. Sense of Place helps students develop an awareness of ecological impacts on local species. Students acquire skills that can be used in other courses by learning how to connect content knowledge with real-life examples, plus they begin to develop partnerships with individuals outside the classroom.
Field experiences. Biological science, geoscience and environmental science programs have large field components, from daily lab trips lasting only a few hours to week-long endeavors to important formations or ecoregions, such as the Guadalupe Mountains, Davis Mountains, Big Bend, New Mexico lava fields and Timberlake Biological Field Station.
SEA-phages and SEA-genes. As part of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science Education Alliance, students discover and characterize new bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) and use bioinformatics to annotate their sequenced genomes. Students can continue their research on bacteriophage genetics by performing microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry experiments on cytotoxicity, immunity and protein interactions. Students present their work at regional and national conferences and publish the results in scientific journals.
DEPARTMENTS The Department of Biological Sciences offers a wide range of courses leading to a career in ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics, microbiology, physiology and virology. Students gain hands-on experience with biological techniques and instrumentation while working in state-of-the-art laboratories. Emphasizing one-on-one instruction, the Department of Chemistry, Geoscience and Physics is dedicated to helping students master their chosen field. Faculty and staff work closely with students to challenge them academically and prepare them professionally for robust careers in science. The Mathematics Department prepares students to succeed in applied mathematics, data science and mathematics education. Students work with cutting-edge technologies such as supercomputing and 3D printing. The School of Engineering brings together two academic departments focused on engineering, computer science, construction science, and engineering technology. Housed within the departments are programs in civil, mechanical, electrical and environmental engineering; computer science, construction science and management, engineering technology, manufacturing engineering technology and industrial technology. The Department of Computer Science and Engineering prepares the next generation of civil, electrical, environmental, and mechanical engineers to meet workforce needs. In addition, the department is home to a growing computer science program with concentrations in gaming development, cybersecurity, software engineering, data science and computer engineering. The Department of Engineering Technology focuses on preparing students for careers in manufacturing, construction, engineering technology and industrial technology by providing students with the needed experiences to be successful.
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS Academic student organizations help students learn, grow and lead, and they play a big role in the college experience. Through these groups, students begin developing their professional networks and creating entry into a career. The College of Science and Technology is home to a variety of academically oriented student organizations: •
Alpha Epsilon Delta (pre-health)
•
American Association of Petroleum Geologists
•
American Society of Civil Engineers
•
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
•
Beta Beta Beta biology honors society
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Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers
•
Mathematics Club
•
National Association of Home Builders
•
Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering
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Society of Women Engineers
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Tarleton Chemistry Society
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Tarleton Educators for the Advancement of Mathematics
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Tarleton Geological Society
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Tarleton Physics Society
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Texas Society of Professional Engineers
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HANDS-ON LEARNING The Timberlake Biological Field Station is an outdoor, handson laboratory and longtime working cattle ranch that advances environmental research, engages students in scientific discovery and promotes stewardship of the natural world. Students can research aquatic ecology, biology, chemistry, engineering, sociology, geospatial analyses, herpetology, hydrogeology, landscape management, plant ecology, sustainability, water quality and wildlife management. Every year, students from around the country spend 10 weeks conducting and presenting research as part of the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. Topics have included ways to improve water quality and ecology in the Colorado River and how cattle grazing can diversify monoculture fields of coastal Bermuda grass.
Scientific discovery. Undergraduate students find and name their own bacteriophages as part of the Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science program, administered by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science Education division. Students first dig in the soil to find new viruses, then they work through a variety of microbiology techniques and complex genome annotation and bioinformatics analyses. The program aims to increase undergraduate interest and retention in biological sciences through immersion in research.
Stargazing. Beneath the iconic copper dome of the Lamar Johanson Science Building, the Tarleton Planetarium provides a spectacular, immersive view of the stars. The facility features a Digistar 5 projection system, 5.1 surround sound and accurate images to bring the wonders of space to students, faculty, staff and visitors.
Undergraduate research. COST faculty work closely with students to provide opportunities to conduct research. These experiences enable students to build on their classroom knowledge by studying real-world problems and generating résumé worthy results for journal publications and conference presentations.
Internships. For many STEM students, internships provide an important mechanism to begin their professional careers. By working with companies such as Lockheed Martin and Bell Helicopter, students gain experience in a corporate environment that propels them toward success and often gets them hired (by the same company) shortly after they graduate. Internships also are available at the Tarleton research centers — the Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research, the Texas Analytics Institute and the Center for Agribusiness Excellence.
WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY The college has challenged my intellectual abilities with advanced classes and electives, and given me opportunities like research to improve my analytical skills, build a stronger sense of self-efficacy and find my place in the field of science. It is very clear that the professors are passionate about their subject matter and truly care about all of the students. - Tiffany Lee, biomedical science major, pre-medical track, Class of 2020
As a first-generation college student, it was especially important that my professors knew me and could help me reach my goal of entering a PhD program. At Tarleton I was not just a nameless face in a crowded lecture hall. I established lifelong relationships and received personal guidance and meaningful mentoring from every one of my professors. This close-knit family atmosphere in the College of Science and Technology was what I enjoyed most about my time as a student at Tarleton. - Brittany Stewart, 2017 graduate in biomedical science, now pursuing a PhD in biomedical science at UT Southwestern Medical Center
The faculty in the College of Science and Technology have been amazing mentors. We have had many conversations about what I want to do with my life, and they offered great advice on how to achieve my goals. The connections I have made with faculty, staff and fellow students will impact me for the rest of my days. I know that I am equipped for success. I am extremely grateful that Tarleton’s gates are always open because it will forever be my home. - John “Trey” Carter, chemistry major, Class of 2020
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