RasGuides: *General Education Courses*: Natural Sciences

Natural Sciences: Description and Student Learning Outcomes

Natural Sciences

Natural Sciences is the study of the physical world and how life works. In Natural Sciences, students will demonstrate an understanding of the natural world, its processes, and the inter-relationships of its systems. Students will apply the scientific method to find answers, prove or disprove hypotheses, analyze claims, and discover facts. Courses in this category provide students with learning experiences that include exploration of the world around them.

Describe scientific theories and the scientific method to understand the natural world.

Analyze evolving scientific theories to draw conclusions about the natural world.

Natural Sciences

The Rasmussen University Online Library has a lot of different ways for you to find sources for your research. Check out our video series for more information about getting the most out of the online library, including information about:

Beginning a research project can be overwhelming! Consider following these steps to get your research assignment rolling!

Read your assignment thoroughly; highlight requirements and due dates.
Do some background research; consult your textbook, encyclopedias, or Research Starters database.
Develop a library database search statement:
- Brain storm key words that describe your topic or the concepts you are researching
- Watch this short video to learn how to write your search statement
- Perform a search in Discovery or a subject-specific database (click on the Articles tab above for recommended databases)
- Refine your search results and select articles for your research assignment.
Take notes as you read through the resources you have selected.
Record the bibliographic information for resources selected to use when creating APA references.

Library Databases: Natural Science

Start your search for articles using the library databases linked below:

Academic Search Complete via EBSCO This link opens in a new window
Articles from all subject areas gathered from more than 11,000 magazines, journals, books and reports. Subjects include astronomy, multicultural studies, humanities, geography, history, law, pharmaceutical sciences, women's studies, and more. Coverage from 1887 to present. Start your research here.
CINAHL Complete This link opens in a new window
Rasmussen has upgraded from CINAHL Plus with Full Text to CINAHL Complete! We now have access to 62% more full-text journals for your use! As always, CINAHL is geared towards nurses and medical professionals and is the definitive research tool for nursing and allied health literature.
Discovery All-in-One Search This link opens in a new window
Discovery is an all-in-one search platform. Search most of our academic databases at one time on our familiar, easy-to-use EBSCO platform.
Ovid Nursing Journals This link opens in a new window
Articles from more than 35 nursing journals in full text, searchable as far back as 1995.
ProQuest (PQ Central +) This link opens in a new window
Business, justice studies, technology and design, and allied health disciplines are all covered in this database of databases! Highlights include access to HOOVERS business content, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times.
SciEdu Open Access Journals This link opens in a new window
SciEdu Press publishes 30 open-access scholarly titles including the subjects of biology & medicine, economics & management, sciences & engineering, and social sciences & humanities.
Click on the journal title to view the current issue and search the journal archives.
Science Reference Center via EBSCO This link opens in a new window
Information about all areas of science: biology, chemistry, geology, aeronautics, environment, health & medicine, physics, technology and wildlife. Sources include articles from journals, magazines, encyclopedias, reference books, and more.

eBook Databases: Natural Science

Access ebooks on your topic by searching the databases linked below:

eBook Central via ProQuest This link opens in a new window
eBook Central via ProQuest is a collection of ebooks selected by Rasmussen University Librarians to aid in research and support course assignments.

When logging in for the first time, you may be prompted to search for your institution. Search for 'Rasmussen' and select it from the list and you will then be routed to the main search page.
eBooks and Academic eBooks via EBSCO This link opens in a new window
24/7 access to eBooks in all program areas.
Ovid Nursing eBooks This link opens in a new window
43 ebooks published by the American Nurses Association (ANA) on subjects including ethics, communication, collaboration, correctional nursing, addiction nursing, forensic nursing, home health nursing, and more.

Selections from our eBook Collection

Climate Change by Joseph Romm
ISBN: 9780190250171
Publication Date: 2015-12-03
Dehydrogenases by Margaret Collins
ISBN: 9781536105506
Publication Date: 2017-01-01
Gray's Basic Anatomy by Richard Drake, A. Wayne Vogl, and Adam W. M. Mitchell
ISBN: 9780323508506
Publication Date: 2017
Inorganic Chemistry by Robert Valls
ISBN: 9781119468950
Publication Date: 2017-11-29
Ripples in Spacetime : Einstein, Gravitational Waves, and the Future of Astronomy by Govert Schilling
ISBN: 9780674981126
Publication Date: 2017

Video & Image Databases: Natural Science

ASP: Health and Society in Video This link opens in a new window
Health and Society in Video explores medical progress in health and wellness issues. Videos are featured in subjects such as health policy, counseling & therapy, nursing, medical imaging, and sports medicine & exercise science.
ASP: Medical Imaging in Video This link opens in a new window
Medical Imaging in Video provides a way to observe technical imaging procedures before practicing them in a clinical setting. Topics include radiography and sonography, radiation therapy, equipment, patient communication, and more.
Britannica Image Quest This link opens in a new window
Access more than two million rights-cleared images from over 50 of the best collections in the world.
Films on Demand: Master Academic Package This link opens in a new window
Browse all of the academic videos available in the Films on Demand suite. Browse most popular, recently added, featured producers, and subjects.
Subjects include: sociology, English, technology & society, world languages, earth science, psychology, business & economics, history, counseling & social work, geography, music & dance, archival films & newsreels, political science, engineering, mathematics, nursing, anthropology, art & architecture, criminal justice & law, communication, philosophy & religion, physical science, education, environmental science, health & medicine, area studies, and biology.

Build an APA Tool Kit

Watch APA Quick Start for an overview of the APA citation style
Download a copy of the pre-formatted APA paper template to use for all of your APA assignment.
Print out a copy of the APA Sample Paper to use as a model for you APA assignments.
Use the APA Paper Checklist as you review your paper before submitting for a grade.
Consider making an appointment with an APA tutor for assistance with this citation style.
Create an account in NoodleTools and use it to create your References list.
Consult the APA Guide to find answers to your APA questions, then bookmark it for easy access.

Use Writing Resources for a Polished Paper

Consult the Writing Guide for step-by-step instructions for various types of writing assignments
Develop a thesis statement and create an outline prior to writing your paper.
Create a Grammarly account and upload all written assignments to find grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
Submit your paper to the Online Writing Lab for feedback from a professional tutor.
Make an appointment with a Rasmussen tutor to review your written assignment.