The College of Applied Natural Science is established following, the renaming of Adama University to  Adama Science and Technology University by the Council of Ministers in May 2011 to work towards the attainment to become the best Centre of Excellence in Science and Technology in Ethiopia. The college was formerly known as School of Applied Natural Science (SoANS) and become College in 2024. CoANs administers courses in applied Natural Sciences as part of the Adama Science and Technology University mandate.  The college focuses on cutting edge applied natural science which aims for the establishment of the excellence in education and research through infrastructures of undergraduate and postgraduate course works.

Currently the college comprises six departments: Applied Biology, Applied Chemistry, Applied Geology, Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics and Pharmacy. The Applied Chemistry department consists of two programs; applied chemistry and Industrial Chemistry. The undergraduate programs are four years programs except pharmacy which is five years program. Five of these departments are running postgraduate programs with 25 field of specializations in MSc and 20 fields of specializations in PhD programs. All the programs curricula are recently revised as per the principles of accreditation that focuses on Outcome Based education (OBE).

The college has two distinct characteristics; first, it is research-based and graduate-centered applied science school which focuses on teaching and training of students how to think creatively for the cascade of the natural science. Second, it aim not only for academia but also for industry by way of translational research to connect discoveries to developments. Both leave us very big challenges towards existing and emerging science and technology. Students both in undergraduate and in postgraduate courses will accelerate themselves by the collaboration with excellent professionals in international institutes and universities through exchange programs and co-work environments.

The courses offered in the seven undergraduate programs of the college are designed in a way that enables students to relate fundamental principles and theories of natural sciences with applicable practices. The CoANS has well experienced and qualified academic staffs majority of which are assistant professors and above with PhD.