University Catalog 2025-2026
Undergraduate Programs: College of Applied and Natural Sciences
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Administration
Dean
Gary A. Kennedy
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies
Donna Hood
Associate Dean for Graduate Studies & Research
Jamie Newman
Department of Health Informatics & Information Management
Jan E. Fuller, Head
Division of Nursing
Sherry Peveto, Interim Director
School of Agricultural Sciences & Forestry
Joshua Adams, Interim Director
School of Biological Sciences
William J. Campbell, Director
School of Human Ecology
Ethel N. Jones, Director
Address
More information about the College of Applied and Natural Sciences can be obtained by contacting:
College of Applied and Natural Sciences
P. O. Box 10197
Louisiana Tech University
Ruston, LA 71272
(318) 257-4287
and/or visiting our web site at https://ans.latech.edu/
Mission
The mission of the College of Applied and Natural Sciences is to provide high quality undergraduate and graduate education; to promote critical thinking, analytical reasoning and effective communication; to engage in research and disseminate knowledge; and to perform service for local, state, national and global communities.
Accreditations
- The educational program in Forestry leading to the professional degree of BSF is accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF). SAF is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the specialized accrediting body for forestry in the United States.
- The Health Informatics and Information Management program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
- The School of Human Ecology undergraduate programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. The Nutrition and Dietetics undergraduate didactic program (DP) and the post-baccalaureate Dietetic Internship (DI) are accredited by Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The Early Childhood Education Center is accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs Division of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
- The Division of Nursing is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN) and has continued “full approval” by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN).
Undergraduate Degrees Offered
Associate of Science in Nursing
Bachelor of Science
- Agricultural Business
- Animal Science
- Biology
- Environmental Science
- Family and Child Studies
- Geographic Information Science
- Fashion Merchandising & Retail Studies
- Nutrition & Dietetics
Bachelor of Science Forestry
Bachelor of Science Health Informatics & Informaiton Management
- Health Informatics & Informaiton Management
Bachelor of Science Medical Technology
Minors Offered
Students pursuing an undergraduate major in any college may earn a minor in one of the following fields:
- Animal Science
- Biology
- Culinary Management
- Environmental Science
- Family & Child Studies
- Forestry
- Geographic Information Science
- Gerontology (interdisciplinary)
- Health Informatics and Information Mangement
- Human Nutrition
- Fashion Merchandising & Retail Studies
- Plant Science
- Wildlife Habitat Management
Specific requirements for each of these minors are identified in the area where the associated major is described. A student must earn a grade of “C” or better in each course applied toward meeting the requirements of a minor.
Requirements for Admission, Graduation, and Transfer Credit
Students who meet the University admission criteria will be admitted to the College of Applied and Natural Sciences. Specific admission criteria have been established for some programs. These criteria are identified in the sections of this catalog describing the academic programs. Graduation requirements are the same as those for the University unless noted otherwise.
Candidates for admission to the College of Applied and Natural Sciences who have completed course work at another institution must submit an official record of that credit to Louisiana Tech University. This record will be evaluated by the department offering the program in which the candidate wishes to major. The evaluation will determine which curricular requirements of the program of study at Louisiana Tech have been satisfied by the student’s prior course work. General education requirements are evaluated by the College of Applied and Natural Sciences. A grade of “C” or better is considered acceptable for transfer of credit for required or equivalent courses in the College of Applied and Natural Sciences degree programs.
Advising
Each student in the College of Applied and Natural Sciences is assigned an academic advisor. This advisor assists students in planning, implementing, and completing their programs of study as well as in career planning. Assignments are made to assure that students have advisors who have specialized knowledge in their fields of study. Students have the opportunity to change their advisor, and such changes can be initiated with the appropriate academic unit head.
Special Programs Experiential/Cooperative Education
Students majoring in Agricultural Business, Animal Science, Biology, Environmental Science, Family and Child Studies, Forestry, Geographic Information Science, and Fashion Merchandising and Retail Studies may elect to participate in a cooperative education/internship experience one or more terms during their college careers. These students receive relevant work experiences while earning college credit. Some students are paid for their services.
These experiences are designed to develop professional competencies, to impart general and specific skills, to provide opportunities for application of theoretical concepts, and to assist students in the transition from college to employment. The work experience also may provide students an entree for their first job following graduation.
Experiential learning experiences occur beyond the north Louisiana area. Cooperative education and practical work experiences occur in a variety of locations both within and outside Louisiana. Nursing, Health Informatics and Information Management, Family and Child Studies (Child Life), and Nutrition and Dietetics students receive clinical instruction in varied health care facilities throughout north and central Louisiana. Medical Technology students complete clinical experiences in hospitals during their senior year. The Early Childhood Education Center serves as an early childhood demonstration laboratory for Family and Child Studies students. Students may travel to New York, Dallas and other fashion centers as part of the Fashion Merchandising and Retail Studies travel study. Students in programs in the Department of Agricultural Sciences have the opportunity to complete cooperative education experiences in agricultural industries. All programs require application and acceptance.
Facilities
Academic programs in the College of Applied and Natural Sciences are located in Carson Taylor Hall, George T. Madison Hall, and Wyly Tower on the main campus, as well as Reese Hall and Lomax Hall on the South Campus. In addition, numerous laboratory facilities in other buildings and at other sites enhance the instruction of students. Biological Sciences and Human Ecology are located in Carson Taylor Hall. Nursing is located in George T. Madison Hall. Health Informatics and Information Management is located in Wyly Tower. Agricultural Sciences and Forestry are located on the South Campus.
The Center for Children and Families, the only such center in Louisiana approved by the Board of Regents, is operated by the School of Human Ecology. The Center encourages collaborative research, instruction, and service that promote the well-being of children and families in north Louisiana. The Center sponsors the endowed Bruce Everist Lecture Series. The Center also includes the Early Childhood Education Center, a learning laboratory for 3- and 4-year-old children, where Family and Child Studies students observe, teach, and conduct research.
Reese Hall, Lomax Hall and the Forestry Laboratory Building provide classrooms, laboratories and office space for Agricultural Sciences and Forestry. In addition, Lomax Hall houses research and student laboratories, greenhouses, and a display greenhouse for large plant specimens and exotic plantings. The 850 acre South Campus also has a meats laboratory, which trains students in meat processing and marketing; and an equine center. The Louisiana Tech University Farm Salesroom, also located on South Campus, offers products that are produced and/or processed by the Department of Agricultural Sciences. The Tech Meats Laboratory sells retail cuts of beef, chicken, and pork through the Salesroom. Other products include seasonal fruits and vegetables, ornamental plants, Christmas poinsettias, and bedding plants. The Salesroom provides an integrated link in the marketing and sales of food and ornamental plant products.
The Louisiana Tech Equine Center provides facilities and animals for student instruction in all phases of horsemanship such as breeding, training, and nutrition. The Center also provides horsemanship classes and a therapeutic and handicapped horseback riding program.
Also located on the South Campus are numerous facilities which support the agriculture and forestry programs: a sawmill, a dry kiln, wood utilization laboratories, a wood working shop, a weather station, a farm machinery shop, barns for livestock, fields, forests, nurseries, research vegetable and flower gardens, a 50-acre arboretum, and ponds.
University-owned forestlands (800 acres) in north Louisiana and west Mississippi are used in the forestry education and research programs.
Scholarships
A number of scholarships are available in the College of Applied and Natural Sciences. Any student enrolled in the College is eligible to apply for general ANS scholarships. Other scholarships are available only to students in a certain department or major.
Applied and Natural Sciences Scholarships
- The Marvin T. Green Foundation Scholarship*
- The Ruston Hospital Endowment*
*Health-related careers
Agricultural Sciences Scholarships
- The Benjamin Forbes Leadership Scholarship
- The Block and Bridle Brittain Simms Memorial Scholarship
- The Block and Bridle Richard Hill Memorial Scholarship
- The Block and Bridle Sullivan Memorial Scholarship
- The Hal B. Barker Endowed Scholarship
- The Tommie and Susie Murphey Memorial Scholarship
- The C. G. Hobgood Memorial Scholarship
- The T. W. Ray Johnson Memorial Scholarships
- The John A. Wright Horticulture Scholarship
- The Todd McAfee Memorial Scholarship
- The Agricultural Endowment Scholarships
- The Bessie Mae Talbert Purdy Scholarships
- The James Furman & Lavara B. Love Endowed Scholarship
- The John Green Endowed Scholarship
Biological Sciences Scholarships
- The Radford B. Allen, Jr. Medical Technology Scholarship
- The George Roy Hayes, Jr. Endowed Scholarship
Forestry Scholarships
Application deadline is March 15. Contact School of Forestry, P.O. Box 10138, Ruston, LA 71272 for applications, or complete an on-line application posted on the School of Forestry web site.
- The E. R. (Andy) Andrulot Endowed Scholarship
- The Clyde and Ruby Anthony Endowed Scholarship
- The Lloyd P. Blackwell Scholarship
- The Wirt L. and Althea E. Bond Endowed Forestry Scholarship
- The Forestry Alumni Association Scholarship
- The Forestry Department Endowed Scholarship
- Forestry Presidential Awards
- The Louisiana Forestry Foundation Scholarships
- The Roy O. Martin Foundation Scholarship
- The McBride Endowed Scholarship
- The Mr. & Mrs. E. W. Merritt, Sr. Forestry Scholarship
- The Dan and Dave Metz Memorial Endowed Scholarship
- The Richard M. Sisk Trust Fund Award
- The Louis and Frances Pirkle Forestry Scholarship
- The Clara E. Wilson & Winifred S. Emmons Scholarship
Health Informatics and Information Management Scholarships
- The Eddie Cooksey Scholarship
- AHIMA Foundation Scholarship
- Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship
Human Ecology Scholarships
- The Home Economics Endowment Scholarships
- The Mary Wilks Chandler Endowed Scholarship
- The Clyde and Mildred Mobley and Kola Mobley Fouche Memorial Scholarship
- The F. C. and Gladys M. Haley Endowed Scholarship
- The Clothielde Tuten Clark Scholarship
- The Rhoda L. Chambless Scholarship
- The Willie Lou Durrett Scholarship
- The Laurie S. and Helen Mobley Scholarship
- The Lois M. Jackson Dietetics Advisory Board Scholarship
- The R. Terral Whetstone Scholarship
- The Eastman/Auto-Chlor Scholarship
- The Bette Heard Wallace Endowed Scholarship
- The Henry E. and Margaret A. Stamm Endowed Scholarship
- The Merle Burk Endowed Scholarship
- The Willie Fletcher Endowed Scholarship
- The Jeanne Mack Gilley Endowed Scholarship
- The E. Lee and Armede Wilks Young Endowed Scholarship
- The Rev. and Mrs. W. R. Gage Endowed Scholarship
- The Dr. Harvye Lewis Endowed Scholarship
Nursing Scholarships
- The Mary Marguerite Merritt Scholarship
- The Henry R. Mays, Jr. Scholarship
- The Virginia Pennington Scholarship
- The Gorman Memorial Endowed Scholarship
- The Edna C. Koss, RN Scholarship
- The Mary B. Jarrell/Lincoln Health Foundation Scholarship
Student Organizations
A number of organizations provide students opportunities for professional and leadership development, service, and networking with other students, faculty, and professionals. Students who desire more information about these organizations may consult either their advisor or their academic unit head. College organizations include the following:
Agricultural Sciences
- Alpha Zeta
- Block and Bridle
- Equestrian Club
- Future Farmers of America
- Greenscape
- Pre-Vet Club
Biological Sciences
- Alpha Epsilon Delta
- Chi Lambda Beta
Environmental Science
- National Association of Environmental Professionals
Forestry
- Alpha Zeta
- Forestry Club
- GIS Club
- Xi Sigma Pi
- Student Chapter, Society of American Foresters
- Student Chapter, The Wildlife Society
Health Informatics and Information Management
Human Ecology
- Child Life Student Association
- Fashion Republic
- Kappa Omicron Nu (National Honorary)
- Louisiana Tech Student Council on Family Relations
- Louisiana Tech Student Dietetic Association
- Louisiana Tech Student Louisiana Early Childhood Association
Nursing
- Louisiana Tech University Student Nurses Association
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