The Department of Natural Sciences is dedicated to excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service to its local, national, and international communities. It focuses on providing the highest quality instruction, teaching our students to question critically, think logically, communicate clearly, act creatively, and live ethically. The department uses the Gila National Forest as a natural laboratory and field-based courses that focus on the development of hands-on skills to provide a premier learning environment. The Natural Sciences Department strives to prepare graduates who can thrive academically and professionally. Our department is enriched by the scholarship and research of our faculty.