Majors in the Fields of Health, Life & Food Sciences


Agricultural Education *

Do you wish to share your passion for agriculture with others? Do you enjoy motivating others? Are you up for the challenge of being a role model and possibly influencing young people’s lives or careers? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then a major in Agricultural Education may be for you.

Department website: Agriculture and Resource Economics

Catalog: Major in Agricultural Education

Animal Science

Are you interested in the raising of animals, or in the production and distribution of animal products? Would you enjoy the challenge of creating better animal agricultural systems to meet the needs of the world’s population? Are you interested in nutrition, genetics, and reproductive sciences? An Animal Science major may help you transform your interests into a career.

Department website: Animal Sciences

Catalog: Major in Animal Science

Biochemistry

Is the chemical composition of living things fascinating to you? Would you like to have a role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease? Are you curious about gene expression and cellular replication? What about how our bodies synthesize vitamins and minerals? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then maybe a biochemistry major is for you.

Department website: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Catalog: Major in Biochemistry

Biological Science *

Do you enjoy learning about organ systems and cells in humans and animals? Do you enjoy doing research? Do you have a passion for biological sciences you want to share with others? Are you interested in how plants grow and develop? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may want to consider biological science as a major.

Department website: Biology

Catalog: Major in Biological Science

*Teacher licensure available as a Biology Education Concentration of the Natural Sciences major

Biomedical Engineering

Are you interested in applying engineering principles and technology to improve human and animal health? Do you have an aptitude for creativity and problem solving? Would you be motivated to design medical devices and equipment, improve therapies for fighting illnesses, find better ways to diagnose illnesses? Do you want involvement in the health care industry or considered medical school? If so, you may want to consider a major in biomedical engineering.

Program website: School of Biomedical Engineering

Catalog: Undergraduate programs in Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical Sciences–Anatomy and Physiology Concentration

Do you enjoy learning about the anatomic features of humans and animals and how organ systems function in detail? Do you dream about solving an important medical problem? Do you envision yourself as a professional in the medical or research field? If your answers are “yes”, then an anatomy and physiology concentration of the biomedical sciences major may be the choice for you.

Department website: Biomedical Sciences

Catalog: Major in Biomedical Sciences–Anatomy and Physiology Concentration

Biomedical Sciences–Environmental Public Health Concentration

Are you interested in public health issues? Would you like to study how environmental factors relate to the health and disease of humans and animals? Would it be interesting to focus on maximizing people’s health, comfort and productivity? Would the study of communicable disease transmission, toxic chemical exposure, or air and water quality management interest you? If so, you may want to consider environmental public health as a concentration of the biomedical sciences major.

Department website: Environmental Health and Radiological Health Sciences

Catalog: Major in Biomedical Sciences–Environmental Public Health Concentration

Biomedical Sciences–Microbiology and Infectious Disease Concentration

Do you wish to understand how microbes affect human health? Do you wonder how microorganisms can be used to clean up pollution and toxic wastes or be used to improve foods and beverages, develop new medicines, or enhance farm crops? Would you like to study the human immune system, or help develop vaccines against infectious disease? If your answers are “yes” then a microbiology concentration in the biomedical sciences major may be the choice for you.

Department website: Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology

Catalog: Major in Biomedical Sciences–Microbiology and Infectious Disease Concentration

Chemistry *

Are you naturally curious about what makes up the everyday things you see? Are you fascinated by the vast possibilities that lie in biotechnology and pharmaceutical research, food product development, medicine, and toxic substance management? Would you like to research and develop products and manufacturing processes? If your answer to any of these questions is “yes”, then a major in chemistry may be right for you.

Department website: Chemistry

Catalog: Major in Chemistry

*Teacher licensure available as a Chemistry Education Concentration of the Natural Sciences major

Data Science
Fermentation Science & Technology

Are you interested in learning about the science, safety, and business of the fermentation industry? Do you wish to understand how fermented products affect human health? Do you have a strong foundation in life and physical sciences? If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, then you may want to consider a major in fermentation science and technology.

Department website: Food Science and Human Nutrition

Catalog: Major in Fermentation Science & Technology

Health & Exercise Science

Are you interested in helping individuals improve their health and fitness? Would you like learning about human movement, exercise prescription, and health behavior change? Do you enjoy working with people of all ages? Is medicine or physical therapy in your horizon? If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, then a major in Health and Exercise Science may be the one for you.

Department website: Health & Exercise Science

Catalog: Major in Health & Exercise Science

Horticulture

Do you like working in yards or greenhouses growing flowers, fruits and vegetables? Are you curious about propagating and breeding plants? What about discovering and developing new plant varieties through research? If any of these sound exciting, perhaps a major in Horticulture is for you.

Department website: Horticulture and Landscape Architecture

Catalog: Major in Horticulture

Hospitality Management

Have you ever wanted to run a hotel or recreational resort? Does running a restaurant in a mountain lodge sound appealing to you? Is working in a recreational industry your idea of a great occupation? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes” then a degree in Hospitality Management may be the right one for you.

Department website: Food Science and Human Nutrition

Catalog: Major in Hospitality Management

Human Development and Family Studies

Are you interested in learning about the way human beings grow through the specific stages of human development such as infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and aging? Have you ever wondered how environmental and social factors affect physical, cognitive, and emotional development? Have you ever thought about a career in family counseling or working with youth in various settings? If your answer to any of these questions is “yes” then a major in Human Development and Family Studies may be for you.

Department website: Human Development and Family Studies

Catalog: Major in Human Development & Family Studies

Neuroscience
Neuroscience - brain

Are you interested in how the brain works both in a biological and psychological sense? Are you fascinated by how the brain’s function becomes disrupted in diseases and following brain injury? Would you like to build an in-depth understanding of the structure and function of the nervous system? Do you like learning about the underlying science behind human behavior? If these questions have you answering “yes,” then you may want to consider neuroscience as a major.

Program website: Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience

Catalog: Major in Neuroscience

Nutrition and Food Science

Are you curious about the linkage between nutrition and health? Does helping people increase their well-being through improved nutrition appeal to you? Would you like to do nutritional research, education, or counseling? Does the safety of our food and how it’s prepared interest you? If any of your answers to these questions is “yes” then a major in Nutrition and Food Science may be the one for you.

Department website: Food Science and Human Nutrition

Catalog: Major in Nutrition and Food Science

Psychology

Are you interested in how the human mind works? Do you wish to understand human behavior? Do the processes of development, perception, learning, motivation, and thinking intrigue you? Would you like to better understand how psychology relates to the physiological and social functioning of animals and humans? Are you interested in a major that qualifies you for a wide range of occupations? Consider a major in psychology!

Department website: Psychology

Catalog: Major in Psychology

Soil & Crop Sciences

Are you interested in how the plants we eat grow, and how to grow them bigger, better, safer, and more efficiently? Would you like to understand the composition of soil and how it relates to plant or crop growth? Are you interested in how to make crops more resistant to pests and drought? Are you concerned about our environment? Interested in international agriculture? If you answered yes to any of the above, you may want to consider a major in Soil and Crop Sciences.

Department website: Soil and Crop Sciences

Catalog: Major in Soil and Crop Sciences

Statistics

Are you good at organizing and analyzing information? Would you be interested in producing and interpreting trustworthy data and presenting the results in a useful manner? Does the idea of calculating odds and probabilities fascinate you? Would you like to apply mathematics to everyday situations and to solve practical problems? A “yes” answer to these questions, then you may want to consider a major in statistics.

Department website: Statistics

Catalog: Major in Statistics

Zoology

Have you dreamed of working with animals in a zoo? Are you curious about the habits of animals or how they adapt to their environment? Would you like to do research with animals or train animals? What about working in a lab assisting with the detection, diagnosis and treatment of diseases? Is becoming a veterinarian something you have dreamed of? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may want to consider majoring in zoology.

Department website: Biology

Catalog: Major in Zoology

* — denotes Undergraduate Teacher Licensure available for that major