Pathways to Learning through a Global Vision
Educating the next generation of scientists and leaders.
The School of Natural Sciences prepares broadly educated and socially conscious scientists who bring diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to the scientific community and workforce. Our dedicated faculty and staff empower students to achieve their goals, pursue rewarding careers and make positive contributions to society.
Through innovative teaching, personalized support and mentoring, and extensive opportunities for experiential learning (including internships and research with faculty), we meet students where they are and help them become the scientists, scholars, and professionals they aspire to be.
Hands-on Learning in and Outside the Classroom
Our curriculum also places a strong emphasis on collaborative, hands-on learning. Classwork and evidence-based research are conducted in world-class classrooms, labs and in the Wild Basin Creative Research Center. We formed the Institute for Interdisciplinary Science (i4), an educational and professional framework that aids in building cross-sector partnerships and interdisciplinary collaborations through funding mechanisms for NSCI faculty and students. In addition, study abroad opportunities have been integrated into our programs so students can explore the world without extending their degree completion timelines.
Our Departments
The School of Natural Sciences comprises six academic departments offering more than 30 undergraduate major, minor and certificate programs.
Department of Biological Sciences
The Department of Biological Sciences explores the processes which maintain life, as well as the events that disrupt it. Students will approach the study of biology from the level of genes, through cells and organ systems, to populations of living organisms.
Department of Chemistry
In the Chemistry Department, students learn basic chemical principles and theories through unique, hands-on, collaborative learning experiences designed to prepare graduates for a variety of careers.
Department of Computer Science
Study the theory and development of computer software by learning algorithmic processes that create, describe and transform information.
Department of Forensic Science
Learn how to collect and analyze evidence from crime scenes so it can be used in court cases or the criminal justice system.
Department of Kinesiology
Explore the principles and theories related to fitness and the human body — from the basics of bio-mechanics to exercise physiology.
Department of Mathematics
Pursue your passion for problem-solving and prepare for high-impact careers in engineering, statistics, finance, cryptography, aeronautics, scientific research or business.
Our Programs
The School of Natural Sciences’ degree, certifications and partner programs prepare students for careers in the sciences, medicine and agriculture, and entry into graduate and professional schools.
Academic Advising
The School of Natural Sciences provides students with personalized academic guidance that can play an important role when choosing a major, selecting courses and making progress toward graduation.
The School of Natural Sciences Stories
Meet Our Faculty
Student-faculty collaborations provide irreplaceable opportunities for insights, innovation and growth. Under the leadership of Dean Jonathan Hodge, our faculty are dedicated teachers and research scholars encourage our students’ intellectual curiosity and critical thinking about the natural world.
Our Facilities
Classes and labs take place in our three facilities where students engage in hands-on education that emphasizes interdisciplinary connections, original research and active learning.
John Brooks Williams North
The John Brooks Williams North building is home to the University's cutting-edge laboratory instrumentation, including a Confocal Microscopy system by Olympus, compound and dissecting fluorescent scopes and a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance room.
John Brooks Williams South
The John Brooks Williams South building houses high-powered computing laboratories that support projects in robotics, environmental science and bioinformatics. It was awarded Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) program's 3-star rating for its environmentally sensitive design. The sun penetrates southern-facing windows in the winter to increase solar heat intake, while large overhangs and window screens limit solar radiation in the summer.
Wild Basin Creative Research Center
St. Edward’s Wild Basin Creative Research Center serves as an interdisciplinary research lab and a hands-on learning center for students. Wild Basin extends over 227 acres within the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve system with hiking trails, volunteer opportunities and events open to the public.
Institutes and Symposiums
The mission of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Science (i4) is to build capacity in interdisciplinary sciences, informatics and emerging technologies as we increase students’ readiness for the 4th Industrial Revolution.
The Institute coordinates on-campus interdisciplinary events, organizes cross-sector cooperative agreements with public and private entities, networks STEM majors with employers and graduate programs through guaranteed internships, and more.
Follow i4 on X (Twitter), Instagram and YouTube!
The Senior Seminar Symposium, an annual event dating back to 1993, gives all Natural Sciences students an opportunity to present their research at the end of the academic year.
The Lucian Symposium honors the late Brother Lucian Blersch, CSC, a longtime professor of Engineering at St. Edward’s. An endowment in his name provides support for research endeavors of the NSCI professor chosen as Lucian Chair.
Since 2001, the Lucian Chair has helped organize a public symposium that brings noted scientists to campus and highlights natural science research.
The mission of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Science (i4) is to build capacity in interdisciplinary sciences, informatics and emerging technologies as we increase students’ readiness for the 4th Industrial Revolution.
The Institute coordinates on-campus interdisciplinary events, organizes cross-sector cooperative agreements with public and private entities, networks STEM majors with employers and graduate programs through guaranteed internships, and more.
Follow i4 on X (Twitter), Instagram and YouTube!
The Senior Seminar Symposium, an annual event dating back to 1993, gives all Natural Sciences students an opportunity to present their research at the end of the academic year.
The Lucian Symposium honors the late Brother Lucian Blersch, CSC, a longtime professor of Engineering at St. Edward’s. An endowment in his name provides support for research endeavors of the NSCI professor chosen as Lucian Chair.
Since 2001, the Lucian Chair has helped organize a public symposium that brings noted scientists to campus and highlights natural science research.
Contact the Dean’s Office
- NSCIoffice@stedwards.edu (syllabi requests, general administrative inquiries)
- NSCIdean@stedwards.edu (registration help, student petitions/waivers, personnel inquiries)
- Office main line: (512) 448-8460
Dean's Message
Welcome to the School of Natural Sciences at St. Edward’s University.
In keeping with St. Edward’s Holy Cross mission, we educate the hearts and minds of aspiring scientists, equipping them with the knowledge and experience to tackle difficult problems, grapple with the moral and ethical implications of their work, communicate effectively with broad audiences, and help ensure that scientific progress benefits the whole of humanity and not just a select few.
Comprising six departments, we offer courses in astronomy, bioinformatics, biology, chemistry, computer science, forensic science, general science, kinesiology, mathematics, and physics. Most of our classes and labs take place in the John Brooks Williams Natural Sciences Center — two of the newest academic buildings on campus, built specifically for the needs of science in the 21st century. With our facilities and focus on undergraduate education, we are able to offer unparalleled student research opportunities. Many of our students present their work on campus and at local, regional, and national conferences, often winning awards recognizing the quality of their research projects. Our faculty are innovative teachers and leaders in their fields, dedicated to the success of all students.
The School of Natural Sciences offers more than 30 undergraduate major, minor, and certificate programs, including the new BS in environmental biology and climate change, a certificate in data analysis, and minors in bioinformatics, fitness and conditioning, and recreation management. Our BA in health systems & administration provides an opportunity for working healthcare professionals to complete a bachelor's degree and open doors for leadership roles in their fields. In addition, our partnerships with other universities throughout the U.S. allow students to build on their St. Edward’s education and earn two degrees in five years — one from SEU and one from the partner institution — with guaranteed admission and financial aid for those who qualify. Examples include multiple engineering programs at Washington University in St. Louis, clinical laboratory science at UTMB, and the ESTEEM program in entrepreneurship at Notre Dame.
Our NSF-funded Institute for Interdisciplinary Science (i4) was established to build capacity in interdisciplinary sciences, informatics, and emerging technologies as we increase students’ readiness for the 4th Industrial Revolution. Paid summer internships are among the opportunities i4 makes available for our students.
We also operate the Wild Basin Creative Research Center and manage the 227-acre Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve, located a short drive from campus. Faculty, staff, volunteers, and the public have direct access to Wild Basin, a small piece of and gateway to the 30,000+ acre Balcones Canyonlands Preserve.
The past few years have brought many challenges, but the School of Natural Sciences remains a vibrant and inclusive community of learners, teachers, scholars, and professionals. We are preparing the next generation of scientists to meet these challenges in the pursuit of a more just world. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have questions or would like to learn more.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Hodge, PhD
Dean, School of Natural Sciences
Professor of Mathematics