CNMS Major Options

Choosing a major in college can be stressful but it is important to know that you have time, you have options, and you have the help of the CNMS Advising Team. One of the benefits of a natural science degree is that many (though not always all) of the introductory, first-semester classes remain the same regardless of your specific life science major selection. This allows you to have some credit time/space to reflect on your specific interests and aptitudes while letting those considerations guide your decision. It is also often just as important to consider post-graduate plans such as ensuring that a major will provide the academic background necessary for professional or graduate schools.

 

As part of your major-selection journey, review the major options listed below and then proceed to the associated links to understand the focus, course requirements, research, and career options for the various natural science majors. Students interested in the areas of math and statistics will be redirected to the respective department homepages for additional advising and major support.

 

Natural Science Majors

The Biology Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science majors at UMBC focus their coursework in six major research areas: cell, computational, developmental, evolutionary, molecular, and plant biology. Related areas of interest also include immunology, genetics, and neuroscience.

This kind of undergraduate coursework will engage students in research and lab-work that will encourage broad scientific reasoning skills leading to a wide range of career options and professional/graduate school programs.

Students interested in these majors will have to complete coursework in biology, chemistry, math, statistics and physics.

Take some time to review the major requirements for the different biology degrees by following the links below:

Biology — Bachelor of Arts

Biology — Bachelor of Science

While both Biology degree (BA and BS) programs will prepare students for similar career pathways, there are differences in coursework and overall purpose between the two. The video below provides additional information.

A sample graduation plan for students interested in this major can be found here for the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Arts programs.

 

As one of the university’s largest academic departments, Biology students have a great variety of research opportunities both on and off campus.

Click HERE to see what faculty and students are researching.

It is never too early to start connecting the dots between undergraduate studies and a career. UMBC offers life-long career advising support for undergraduates and alumni through our Career Center.

 

To get a sense of some careers that are available to a student in these majors please review the WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY BIOLOGY MAJOR? worksheet and/or feel free to begin consulting with the Natural Science Career Center Liaison — Adam Morris.

 

Sample Internship/Research/Co-op Sites for Biological Sciences:

  • NIH
  • National Aquarium
  • Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
  • University of Maryland Medical Center
  • University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
  • FDA
  • Johns Hopkins Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit
  • Institute for Genome Sciences

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology degree at UMBC is a joint venture between the faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Chemistry. This combination of perspective allows for a more interdisciplinary approach to life and physical sciences.

A Biochemistry student can expect a larger emphasis on chemistry and math coursework versus what is expected from a Biology Major (BA or BS Degree). This increased focus leaves career options open to research and laboratory careers spanning both biological and chemical areas of interest as well as their intersections.

Students interested in this majors will have to complete coursework in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, math, and physics.

For a more comprehensive idea of what courses students are expected to complete, please view the major requirement worksheet below.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major Requirement Worksheet

A sample graduation plan for students interested in this major can be found here.

With ties to both the Biology and Chemistry programs at UMBC, Biochemistry students have a great variety of research opportunities both on and off campus.

Click HERE to see what faculty and students in this field are researching.

It is never too early to start connecting the dots between undergraduate studies and a career. UMBC offers life-long career advising support for undergraduates and alumni through our Career Center.

 

To get a sense of some careers that are available to students in this major please review the WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY BIOCHEMISTRY MAJOR? worksheet and/or feel free to begin consulting with the Natural Science Career Center Liaison — Adam Morris.

 

Sample Internship/Research/Co-op Sites for Chemistry/Biochemistry:

  • FDA
  • AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals
  • Paragon Bioservices
  • MedImmune
  • Emergent Biosolutions
  • Human Genome Sciences

The Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BINF) degree at UMBC explores the intersectionality between the fields of biology, chemistry, math, and computer science with the intention of using technology to access and understand biological questions.

A Bioinformatics student can expect an equal academic emphasis in life and computational sciences. This program is intended to prepare students for careers and graduate study in technical and research areas of interest.

Students interested in this majors will have to complete coursework in biology, chemistry, math, physics, and computer science.

For a more comprehensive idea of what courses students are expected to complete, please view the major requirement worksheet below.

Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Major Requirement Worksheet

A sample graduation plan for students interested in this major can be found here.

Bioinformatics is the only Life Science major that employs gateway requirements which enforces a policy that students must pass all introductory coursework with a 3.0 grade average. Additional gateway information such as residency, repeat, and overall grading requirements can be found on the department website here and on the major requirement worksheet linked above.

Students who do not immediately meet these gateway requirements have the option of petitioning the steering committee.

Please be sure to discuss these gateway requirements with an advisor as soon as possible to ensure eligibility.

Bioinformatics’ inherent multi-disciplined focus allows for students in this major to explore research opportunities across the life and computational sciences.

Click HERE to see what faculty and students in this field are researching.

It is never too early to start connecting the dots between undergraduate studies and a career. UMBC offers life-long career advising support for undergraduates and alumni through our Career Center.

 

To get a sense of some careers that are available to a students to major in the degree please review the WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY BIOINFORMATICS MAJOR? worksheet and/or feel free to begin consulting with the Natural Science Career Center Liaison — Adam Morris.

 

Sample Internship/Research/Co-op Sites for Bioinformatics:

  • NIH
  • A & G Pharmaceuticals
  • Tetracore, Inc.
  • Bioqual, Inc.

 

The Chemistry Department at UMBC offers two types of degrees in the field of Chemistry — the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Arts. In either case, students can expect a rigorous introduction to theoretical and applied chemistry via our innovative lectures and labs. Related areas of interest include: Analytical, Biophysics, Drug Design, Forensics/Toxicology, Organic, and Physical Chemistry.

A Chemistry student is extensively trained for research and laboratory careers as well as graduate study.

Students interested in this major have the option of pursuing either a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree. Both degrees will require students to complete coursework in chemistry, math, and physics. 

The Bachelor of Science degree is an American Chemical Society accredited program and will ask students to complete approximately 15 additional credits in chemistry and math versus the Bachelor of Arts program.

For a more comprehensive idea of what courses students are expected to complete for each degree type, please view the major requirements below.

Chemistry — Bachelor of Science

Chemistry — Bachelor of Arts

 


A sample graduation plan for students interested in this major can be found here for the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Arts programs.

With over 18 areas of research interests, Chemistry students have a great variety of research opportunities both on and off campus.

 

Click HERE to see what faculty and students in this field are researching.

It is never too early to start connecting the dots between undergraduate studies and a career. UMBC offers life-long career advising support for undergraduates and alumni through our Career Center.

 

To get a sense of some careers that are available to a Chemistry Major please review the WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY CHEMISTRY MAJOR? worksheet and/or feel free to begin consulting with the Natural Science Career Center Liaison — Adam Morris.

 

Sample Internship/Research/Co-op Sites for Chemistry/Biochemistry:

  • FDA
  • AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals
  • Paragon Bioservices
  • MedImmune
  • Emergent Biosolutions
  • Human Genome Sciences

The Biology, Chemistry, and Physics Departments at UMBC intentionally aligned their science coursework with the requirements necessary to pursue a STEM teaching career through their respective Education Degrees. Students pursuing these majors will acquire the skills necessary to pursue a career in the technical/applied sciences and/or seek certification to teach at the secondary level.

Students interested in these majors may have to complete coursework in biology, chemistry, math, physics, statistics, geography, psychology, and education. 

 

For a more comprehensive idea of what courses students are expected to complete, please view the major requirement worksheets below.

Biology Education

Chemistry Education (Biochemistry Track)

Chemistry Education (Physical Chemistry Track)

Physics Education

Sample graduation plans for students interested in Biology Education, Chemistry Education (Biochemistry Track), Chemistry Education (Physical Education Track), and Physics Education can be found here.

It is never too early to start connecting the dots between undergraduate studies and a career. UMBC offers life-long career advising support for undergraduates and alumni through our Career Center.

 

To get a sense of some careers that are available to students in these majors please review the WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY EDUCATION MAJOR? worksheet. Students pursuing these degrees may also want to review the respective BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, and PHYSICS career guides for additional career pathways and/or consult with the Natural Science Career Center Liaison — Adam Morris.

Physics students are trained to see and to understand nature in an especially profound way. They learn how to dissect a problem into its essential components, to understand the interrelation of the parts, and to apply mathematical and computational techniques to produce a solution.

The UMBC Physics Department has 25 faculty, roughly 50 graduate students, and 150 undergraduate majors. The department’s research is centered in 4 main areas: astrophysics, atmospheric physics, condensed matter physics, and quantum optics and quantum information.

The UMBC Physics Department offers a BS in Physics (including an Honors option) or a BA in Physics Education.

Students interested in this majors will have to complete coursework in physics, math, chemistry, and computer science.

For a more comprehensive idea of what courses students are expected to complete, please view the major requirement worksheet below.

Physics Major Requirement Worksheet

A sample graduation plan for students interested in this major can be found here.

Physics students have a great variety of research opportunities both on and off campus.

Click to see what faculty (HERE) and students (HERE) in this field are researching.

It is never too early to start connecting the dots between undergraduate studies and a career. UMBC offers life-long career advising support for undergraduates and alumni through our Career Center.

Typically about half the graduating seniors from the Physics Department go on to graduate school. Recent UMBC Physics graduates have received PhD degrees at MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, The Johns Hopkins University and the Universities of California at Berkeley, Illinois and Michigan, among others. Additionally, Physics graduates are found in professions as diverse as patent law, medicine, and finance.

To get a sense of some careers that are available to students in these majors please review the WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY EDUCATION MAJOR? worksheet. Students pursuing these degrees may also want to review the respective PHYSICS career guides for additional career pathways and/or consult with the Natural Science Career Center Liaison — Adam Morris.

 

Sample Internship/Research/Co-op Sites:

  • NASA Goddard
  • United States Department of Energy
  • JHU Applied Physics Lab
  • Leidos, Inc.
  • Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

 

Other CNMS Major Options & Departments

The UMBC Bachelor of Science in Translational Life Science Technology (TLST), which focuses on applied biotechnology, is an upper-division major offered through UMBC at The Universities at Shady Grove campus in Rockville, Maryland. UMBC students wishing to declare the TLST major should complete 60 credits of lower-level prerequisite courses at the UMBC home campus in Catonsville, Maryland. All of the upper-level TLST courses are only offered at the Shady Grove campus in Rockville, Maryland.

Additional information about this major (including advising support, course requirements, research areas of interest, and career options) can be found on The Universities at Shady Grove website link below.

Click HERE to visit the Translational Life Science Technology (TLST) website

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers degree programs leading to Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) in Mathematics, and Bachelor of Science (BS) in Statistics.

Within the BA and BS programs in Mathematics the following Areas of Specialty are available:

  • Specialty toward Graduate Studies
  • Specialty in Applied Mathematics
  • Specialty in Optimization and Operations Research
  • Specialty in Actuarial Science
  • Specialty in Statistical Sciences
  • Specialty in Mathematics Education

Within the BS program in Statistics, the following Tracks are available:

  • Mathematical Statistics Track
  • Applied Statistics Track

For more information about these majors (including advising support, course requirements, research areas of interest, and career options) can be found on the Department of Mathematics and Statistics website link below.

Click HERE to visit the Department of Mathematics & Statistics website

 

The CNMS is also home to the Department of Marine Biotechnology. However, this department does not offer any undergraduate-level degree programs. Students considering a career in Marine Biology may wish to prepare themselves for graduate study in that field by majoring in Biological Sciences, Environmental Science, or by developing their own program of study through UMBC’s Individualized Studies program. The Department of Marine Biotechnology does offer some opportunities for Undergraduate Research, both during the academic year and through special summer programs.

 

Exploratory or Undecided Major Resources

If you are unsure of your major options or preferences, CNMS Advising colleagues in the Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising team are ready to offer their support. Their advisors are committed to helping students explore degree options and evaluate general education,  gateway, and major requirements. They welcome all students needing major exploration assistance and work with them until an appropriate new academic plan is secured.  Additional information can be found here. 

Submit a Self-Referral for Exploratory or Undecided Major Support HERE