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What Can I Do with a General Science major? General Science can work for many career interests. It can be an appropriate major for students interested in health-related careers (including 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. General Science may be particularly useful to students whose scientific interests do not fit well within a single discipline. The neurosciences, environmental sciences, and biophysical sciences are examples of such cross disciplinary areas. 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. The major also works well for students who want to teach elementary school or middle school science.
How Do I Become a General Science major?
To become a GenSc major, simply send your name and ID number to
gensci@uoregon.edu stating that your wish to become a GenSc major and
that you understand the program requirements. We will transfer your
major to GenSc.
What are the Requirements for the General Science Major?
The General Science major requirements include both lower division
and upper division courses, with upper division course work building on
the foundations established at the lower division level. All courses for
the major must be passed with C-minus or better grades. The major
requirements described here and in the UO Bulletin are minimum
requirements. These requirements are the least you
can get by with and still graduate with a General Science degree; however, we encourage you to design
your program to meet your academic goals. Do not be bound by the minimum requirements.
To secure the best academic preparation and thus enhance your chances for desirable employment or going on for graduate or professional study, you will choose to do more than the required minimum. Take advantage of the many advising resources available to you to choose a second major or a minor, elective courses, and/or work/internship experiences that will increase your knowledge and skills and maximize your options following graduation. If you approach your major and university graduation requirements as opportunities and guidelines rather than barriers and if you seek out knowledgeable advisers when you have questions, you'll have a good chance of graduating as a well-educated person with strong, transferable skills and more than one avenue to future employment.
Briefly, the GenSc requirements are:
Lower Division Requirements
1. All General Science majors must become proficient in
mathematics
through and including Math 251 and 252 or 246 and 247
or their equivalents(Calculus). Math 253, the
third course in the calculus sequence, is also highly recommended,
though not required. Depending on your math placement score, you may be
able to start with Math 111 (College Algebra), possibly 112 (Functions); or you may need to take math courses at a less
difficult level first. It is not possible to substitute Math 241 and 242
(Calculus for Business and Social Science) for Math 251 and 252. However,
if you've already taken Math 241, 242, and 243, you need only complete
Math 252. [Bear in mind that you cannot earn additional credits for 252
if you have already completed 242.] You should complete the calculus
requirement
before you begin your upper division courses.
2. You must take at least three approved lower division science
sequences. These sequences consist of a specified set of interrelated
courses
and laboratory experiences designed to prepare you for upper division work
in these disciplines. Which sequences you choose will depend on your
particular
interests and goals. Some students find it necessary to choose four
sequences
instead of three.
At least two of your lower division science sequences must
include
the associated laboratories. Again, your particular career/professional
goals may require you to take the labs for more than two of your
sequences.
For example, the admissions requirements of some professional schools
stipulate
courses and labs in three different areas.
Science sequences usually begin in the fall quarter and must
be taken in order. An exception is the Foundations of Biology Sequence
(BI 261-264). The beginning course for the foundations sequence (261) is
offered in the winter session and is a prerequisite for the other three
courses in the sequence. Organic chemistry is a pre-or co-requisite for
Foundations of Biology; thus, you will need to complete a year of general
chemistry prior to taking organic chemistry. There are currently two
organic
chemistry tracks, a two-term track and a three-term track. You will be
wise to consult an adviser before choosing which organic track to pursue,
since you cannot move from one to the other once the first course
is completed.
If you choose physics as an emphasis area you should take one
of the physics sequences that has an associated laboratory, since they
are prerequisite to upper division physics courses. All of the approved
lower division chemistry sequences will prepare you for upper division
chemistry: you should choose the one that best fits with your math and
chemistry background.
Approved lower division science sequences with associated labs include:
BIOLOGY 211, 212, 213, 214 (labs included)
or any three of 251, 252, 253 (labs included)
CHEMISTRY 221, 222, 223 with labs 227, 228, 229
or 224H, 225H, 226H with labs 237H, 238H, 239H
CIS 210, 211, 212 (labs included)
GEOLOGY 201, 202, 203 (labs included)
PHYSICS 201, 202, 203 with labs 204, 205, 206
or 251, 252, 253
Approved lower division non-lab sequences include:
ANTHROPOLOGY 270, plus two from 171, 173, 360, 361 or 362
GEOGRAPHY 141 and 143/361, plus one from 311, 321, 322, 323 or 360
Upper Division Requirements
By the time you are ready to enroll in upper division (300-level
and above) science courses, you should have satisfactorily completed all
or at least most of your lower division courses. Your upper division work
should flow naturally from what you have done at the lower division,
introducing
you to more complex theoretical and applied issues and concepts (i.e.,
providing disciplinary depth and building your skill level in the
discipline).
1. You will need a minimum of 32 credits in approved upper division
science courses. At least 24 of your upper division credits must be taken
for a grade and completed with grades of C minus or higher and must be
taken in residence at the UO.
2. Of the 32 upper division credits, with
permission, 4 of these 32 credits may be research or thesis credits.
Seminars, readings & conference, and practicums may
not be used to meet this requirement.
3. You will need two upper division emphasis areas. At least
12 of your upper division credits must be taken in one emphasis area and
at least 12 in another.
4. Upper division science courses may be selected from the
complete list at GenSc Checklist.
5. Tutorials may not be used for upper division credit for the General
Science major.
6. Upper division credits used to satisfy minimum requirements of
another
major may not be used to satisfy the upper division requirements in
General
Science.
Should I Take Courses in My Major Pass/No Pass?
We recommand that all your GenSc credit be taken for graded credit. University requirements state that at
least 24 of your upper division
credits
must be taken for a grade, however, you must apply for permission from the GenSc director to take
course for Pass/No Pass.
Not also that if graduate or professional study is even remotely a part
of your future plans, you should elect to take your academic courses
graded.
While admissions committees in graduate/professional schools are
interested
in your grade point average, they will also scrutinize your transcript(s).
(It's not difficult to recognize g.p.a. "protection strategies" by noting
which courses were taken for a grade and which were not)
What About Earning Honors in General Science?
Honors in General Science centers on a thesis which is the
culmination
of research conducted under the direction of a faculty adviser. The
adviser should be a member of the teaching faculty of the science department relevant to your thesis topic.
To graduate with
honors you must have a 3.50 overall g.p.a. and a g.p.a. of 3.5 in the
sciences. In addition, you must complete 9 credits of research (401) or
thesis (403) or both in the appropriate department. These must be
distributed
over at least two quarters, and cannot be used to fulfill emphasis area
requirements. You will also be expected to present your findings during
an oral presentation. Your thesis adviser, the director of the General
Science Program and one other committee member must approve your thesis
before honors will be awarded.
Students should try to identify an area of research interest
during their junior years and approach members of the faculty with whom
they want to work. It is best if a student can take a class taught by the
faculty member during the junior year (at the latest). Some faculty
members
require students to take a course from them before allowing students to
work in their laboratories.
If you intend to pursue honors in General Science you will need
to notify the program director no later that the first term of your senior
year.
Should I Double-Major or Minor in Another Area? What Courses
Outside the General Science Major Would Be Useful?
Adding a second major in a non-science field is an excellent idea. For example, a language or business
may suit your career goals. In addition, many students interested in science teaching will take follow an
Education program as well.
However, a second major in a science field is strongly discouraged for GenSc majors. The reason being
that the primary reason for the General Science program is to allow student to design their own science
degree. A second major in a science area would seem contrary to the goals of the GenSc program.
Having a minor is often desirable. Science
minors
(biology, chemistry, geology, physics, mathematics) are relatively easy
for the General Science student to obtain, since you can double-count
upper
division courses taken for the General Science major in your minor.
This is *not* true for a double major. The upper division credits that you use for your second
major can *not* be counted towards your General Science upper division credits. In general, you
will have to find two other emphasis areas to use for your upper division GenSc credits. Exceptions
are made, but these are rare. Any credits hours beyond what you need for your major can be
used for GenSc upper division credit.
Whether or not you decide to do a minor or a second major, there
are many courses at the University of Oregon that you can take to enhance
your General Science major. An obvious example is WR 320 Scientific and
Technical Writing. The General Science Adviser has a list of some of the
more obvious ones (most of which carry upper division credit) and can
suggest
others. Some may have prerequisites: however, you may be able to get the
instructors permission because of your background in related areas. And
don't stop here. Read through the course descriptions in the UO Bulletin
for ideas and talk with advisers for their suggestions.
What About Transfer Credits?
The University of Oregon accepts most academic work taken at
other accredited higher education institutions. Evaluators in the
Admissions Office create documents (U of O Transfer Evaluation Report and
U of O Transfer Work Summary) that summarize and specify exactly how your
transfer courses equate to U of O courses and academic requirements.
Students
transferring to the U of O sometimes find that while their previous
science
courses are group-satisfying, they are not evaluated as equivalent to
approved
sequences for the General Science major. Transfer students need to consult
a General Science Adviser to work out ways of handling deficiencies or
to resolve questions about transfer work.
If you decide to take science courses at another college or
university
after you declare the General Science major, you should obtain prior
approval
from a General Science adviser. While the courses and their credits may
be transferable to the U of O, they may or may not be allowed to count
toward the major. Transfer courses with grades lower than C- are not
acceptable
for major credit. Furthermore, the General Science program has a
residency requirement: 24 upper division science courses (i.e. 6
courses) must be completed at the U of O.
How Will My General Science Courses Fit Into the
University of Oregon Graduation Requirements?
1. All credits earned toward your major count toward the total
credits you need for the Bachelors Degree (180).
2. All upper division credits earned in the major count toward
the total upper division credits required for the Bachelors degree (62).
3. The lower division science sequences you take for the General
Science major more than satisfy your science (Group III) requirements.
Who Can Help Me Plan My Academic Program?
Although you can exercise considerable freedom in choosing your
courses, you will need to design your General Science program carefully.
Selecting courses randomly and/or choosing courses that barely meet the
requirements is definitely not the way to go. Ultimately your
General
Science degree will be as good (or bad) as you make it. You need a clear
idea of where you are headed and how to get there. Since your future
career
opportunities may depend on how well you put your academic program
together,
it is critical that you make good use of the advising resources
available.
General Science Advisers (G.S.A.s) provide routine advising,
progress and graduation checks, and generally act as resources for majors.
Your initial exploration of the major will probably begin with a G.S.A.
Later the G.S.A. can help you identify the faculty member(s) of the
General
Science Committee who can best assist you in developing a workable
academic
plan and/or advise you regarding particular areas of study and related
careers.
General Science peer advisers (upper division General Science
majors trained to do academic advising) are also available for
appointments
or on a drop-in basis to help you with general questions having to do with
such things as group requirements, making sense out of the time schedule,
understanding the General Science requirements, and learning how to
research
career options. Peer advisers maintain and update both career
binders
and internship binders, which contain good opportunities for General
Science
majors.
Other Advising Resources for the General Science Major
Early Pre-professional Advising (health sciences, veterinary
medicine, pharmacy, engineering, teacher education) is essential for
students
planning to go on to professional programs when they complete the
bachelorUs
degree. See the Preparatory Programs and Special Studies section of the
UO Bulletin for the names, campus addresses and phone numbers of
pre-professional
advisers.
The General Science Newsletter is published once each quarter
and is available in the General Science advising office and on bulletin
boards in science buildings. The newsletter provides advising tips
and timely information on curriculum changes, new courses, speakers,
internships,
practicum, and career opportunities.
Talk with one of the G.S.A.s about ways in which you might be involved
in producing the newsletter. Suggestions and requests regarding
newsletter
content are always welcome.
Sample academic programs for particular professional goals or
specific disciplinary emphases are available in the General Science
advising
office. These sample programs are meant to be suggestive only, and should
not be blindly followed without also consulting an adviser.
The Career Center, 117 Hendricks Hall, provides job listings
in numerous fields around the country, has an excellent resource library,
and skilled career counselors who are experienced in helping students
define
their career goals.
How Should I Prepare for Advising Sessions?
To make the most of advising sessions you need to hold up your end
of the advising relationship:
1) Become familiar with university graduation requirements and the General Science major requirements. You will be responsible for meeting all of these.
2) Keep an organized file of all important documents pertaining to your academic career: academic records, progress reports, transcripts, transfer evaluations, and planning materials. Take this file to your advising sessions.
3) Read the General Science Newsletter regularly to stay abreast
of changes and opportunities.
4) See your adviser as often as necessary, but try to schedule
your advising appointments away from the busiest times of the academic
calendar, avoiding the beginning of a term and registration periods when
advising time is in high demand.
5) Write down a list of the questions you want to ask so you won't forget anything.
6) Make a list of the topics covered during your advising session
and follow through on suggestions/strategies discussed.
7) Print out a copy of your unofficial transcripts and progress
report from DuckWeb to bring with you.
How Do I Make Petitions to the GenSc Program?
Any special requests or changes you wish to make to your GenSc degree program should be addresses as
petitions to the GenSc Director. Write our your request (clearly) and email to gensci@uoregon.edu. You
petition will be considered and ruled on in the shortest possible amount of time. If you are unhappy with the
result of your petition, you may appeal to the Assoc. Dean of Natural Sciences.
Student Guide to GS Major (revised September 2009)