General Science

General Science

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Bachelor of Science

Top 5 Reasons to Study

01

Prepares you for immediate entry into health care professional programs.

02

Develops skills across the sciences, not just in one specific field.

03

Public science communication is a growing field, from traditional museums to YouTube.

04

A broad, rigorous background is essential for science policy work.

05

Lets you follow your own passions across the whole field of science, technology and medicine.

Core
Skills

  • Critical Thinking
  • Quantitative Analysis
  • Logical Reasoning
  • Medical Humanities

Sample
Jobs

  • Occupational Therapist
  • Science Museum Curator
  • Physician Assistant
  • Science Teacher
  • Technology Policy Analyst

Top
Employment
Industries

  • Health Care
  • Education
  • Laboratory Sciences

Brag
Points

  • Brand-new curriculum to help you get the most out of your science education.
  • Health Professions concentration specifically designed to work with professional school entrance requirements.
  • Science Studies concentration ideal if you are interested in science communication and policy work.

General Science

Bachelor of Science

Get the Courses You Need

1st Year

This is the year you lay the foundation with the introductory courses and labs in mathematics, geosciences, biological sciences, physics, and chemistry. You can also start taking some courses that look at science from the human perspective.

2nd Year

In your second year, you'll start building on that foundation by beginning to take more advanced courses in your chosen area of focus. By now, you'll be ready for some upper-level social science courses, too, helping you put into perspective what you're learning in your science classes.

3rd Year

For students in the Health Professions concentration, this is the year you start working toward the specific entry requirements for professional schools in your chosen career path. For Science Studies students, you'll hit your stride in your chosen science emphasis, while developing your written and oral communication skills with more advanced humanities and social science courses about science, technology and medicine.

4th Year

This is the year it all comes together. Some of your most challenging courses in the scientific discipline you're specializing in will happen this year, as well as the capstone writing course that helps you put it all together. But there will still be room for you to take some courses that will make you a well-rounded student who's literate and capable across a number of scientific fields.

Hands-On Learning

1st Year

This year, your hands-on experience will come in the form of laboratory courses. You'll take labs in all areas of science offered through the College of Arts and Sciences, so you'll have a good idea of what you'd like to focus on in later years.

2nd Year

Science isn't just static knowledge—it's a dynamic process of communication and reinterpretation. Polish your skills as a science communicator by writing for one of many campus publications, like our weekly newspaper The Reflector or The Streetcar, our journal of the arts and letters.

3rd Year

This is a good time to start gaining practical experience with potential careers. One great way to do this is by shadowing someone working in a job you'd like to do, learning the routine and day-to-day challenges. Our Healthcare Pathways Resource Center can help arrange this for many careers in the medical field.

4th Year

One of the best ways to make yourself attractive to potential employers is to do an internship. Not only can this give you hands-on experience with work in your chosen scientific or medical field, but it helps establish you as someone who understands the rigors of the work.

Connect with Community

1st Year

Taking part in clubs and activities is an essential part of the college experience. As a Science, Health and Society major there are lots of student-run organizations that will help you explore your interests and meet others who share them. These include everything from associations for specific academic interests, to volunteer organizations, to clubs based around recreational activities.

2nd Year

If you've done well in your first-year courses, you can start giving knowledge back to the Bulldog community by applying to work as a supplemental instructor or tutor. This is a great way to gain instructional experience while also keeping the fundamentals in mind as you progress to more advanced coursework.

3rd Year

By the time you've reached your junior year as a Science, Health and Society major, you will likely have qualified for membership in an honors society in your area of emphasis. Joining an organization like Beta Beta Beta, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Sigma Gamma Epsilon or many other such organizations is a recognition of your achievement, but it's also a good way to qualify for postgraduate scholarships, learn about research opportunities, and establish professional relationships.

4th Year

This is the year when many of our majors are heading to professional or graduate school or launching their careers. Either way, this is where the relationships you've formed with members of the MSU community will pay off as you put together applications and letters of reference.

Explore the World

1st Year

It's never too early to start studying a new language. Your career path might take you in a direction where mastery of another language will be part of your day-to-day work life. It's also a great way of learning to see the world from another perspective.

2nd Year

The Science, Health and Society major requires two semesters of a language—but you don't have to stop there. Science and health are international fields, and working toward greater fluency in your chosen language can later open a lot of doors.

3rd Year

Science is a human endeavor, and part of your education involves learning more about human cultures. This is a great year to consider a study abroad program. Mississippi State has dozens of partnerships with universities all around the world that will keep you on track with your major while you're learning more about the places your degree can take you.

4th Year

Employers and professional schools put a lot of value on applicants with a global perspective. In your applications and interviews, you can cite experiences you had at Mississippi State (and elsewhere, if you studied abroad) that gave you insight into other cultures and societies. 

Launch Your Career

1st Year

Your path through the Science, Health and Society major has a lot to do with your career goals. If you are looking to work in a medical field, you'll probably want to choose the Health Professions concentration. If you'd like to work in science policy and education, then the Science Studies concentration is probably right for you.

2nd Year

Our majors don't just know a lot about science—they can help others learn about it too. You can enhance those skills by taking advantage of the Writing Center and the Speaking Center, two great resources to improve your written and oral communication inside and outside of the classroom.

3rd Year

This is the perfect time to get acquainted with the Healthcare Pathways Resource Center. Their advisors can help you explore career options in the healthcare field, get you ready for professional training, and inform you about internship opportunities.

4th Year

Employers are looking for capable, knowledgeable graduates, but they especially want people who have proven they can learn new things. The broad knowledge our students gain across scientific fields, their mastery of specialized areas, and the critical thinking skills that they've practiced as Science, Health and Society majors make them competitive candidates on the job market and for professional programs.

Major Maps are intended as general planning guides and may be updated as academic requirements, policies, and opportunities change. The MSU Academic Catalog in effect for the student’s catalog year is the official source for degree requirements and policies.

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