Student Work
Nghi Tran decided to major in general science because it provided a broad scope of the diverse fields within science. She was drawn to the degree because of her interest in learning about science and all its applications; she was less interested in delving deep into one specific field. She also felt that it was the best degree to pursue in order to reach her long-term goal of becoming a pharmacist. “[You get] a nice overview of a lot of good information you can readily apply to many health fields,” she says.
During her time at UO, Tran has been involved in the pre-pharmacy club, which provides students with information about pharmacy school and different aspects of the career field. In addition, Tran has interned with Peer Health and has volunteered with Volunteers in Medicine, which placed her at the on-campus clinic. During her internship Tran was able to work directly with patients. “I highly recommend volunteering at the clinic to any pre-pharmacy student,” she says. “It provides great exposure to the field.”
When senior Suzanne Wise was in high school, she realized that she wanted to be a dentist. For her, choosing an undergraduate degree in general science was the best way to get the information she needed to move on to a doctoral program in dentistry.
At a sophomore, Wise was a teaching assistant for two biology classes. She helped out with lab sections, graded papers and labs, and helped students when they had questions about the lab or the coursework.
In addition, Wise is in the pre-dental club and has job-shadowed several local dentists that were introduced to her through one of her biology classes. She also worked with Doctor Shane Samy once a week.
“Definitely look into general science,” Wise says. “You don’t hear about it as much as other programs, but it’s good for all pre-health sciences and for people who want to double major.”
Selected Faculty Work
The General Science Department is made of faculty members from many of the science departments. Currently serving on the committee that oversees the general science program are chemistry professor Thomas Dyke, geological sciences professor Eugene Humphreys, associate professor Gary Klug from human physiology, mathematics professor James Isenberg, anthropology professor John Lukacs, and biology associate professor Alan Dickman.
Career Prospects
General Science can work for many career interests. It can be appropriate for students interested in health-related careers in medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and medical technology. Pre-engineering students have used the major to gain a broader scientific background than is provided in traditional pre-engineering programs in chemistry or physics.
Combined with a second major or minor in English, general science can be excellent preparation for a writing career in science, technology, or natural history. Combined with a major in a particular science discipline, general science can provide a supporting upper-level breadth. The major also works well for students who want to teach elementary or middle school science. A bachelor’s degree in general science can be useful in many careers in medicine, dentistry, education, and research. When combined with other majors or minors a degree in general science can also be excellent preparation for careers in law, business, and public relations.