Natural Science

Major options and career paths

Please consult the course catalog for specific degree requirements.

  • Focus: The chemical and molecular basis of biological systems, biomolecules, and metabolic pathways.
  • Best for: Students aiming for graduate school in molecular biology or professional programs in pharmacy, medicine, veterinary medicine, or dentistry.
  • Employability and O*NET career outlook:
    • Primary occupations: Biochemist, chemical laboratory technician, or pharmaceutical research assistant.
    • Salary range: Entry-level laboratory technicians with a bachelor’s degree earn a median salary of $52,000 to $86,620. With an advanced or professional degree, biochemists earn a median annual salary of $103,650, with top earners exceeding $148,880. (Source: O*NET OnLine 19-1021.00)
    • Job growth: Projected to grow 6% (faster than average) through 2034.

  • Focus: A broad, comprehensive foundation in organismal biology, ecology, and evolutionary principles.
  • Best for: Careers or advanced graduate study centered around organismal, field, and environmental biology.
  • Employability and O*NET career outlook:
    • Primary occupations: Biological technician, wildlife biologist, or environmental scientist.
    • Salary range: Entry-level biological technicians earn a median annual wage of $52,000, with senior-level positions reaching up to $93,500. Environmental scientists and zoologists command a median salary between $72,860 and $80,060. (Source: O*NET OnLine 19-4021.00)
    • Job growth: Steady 3% average growth expected over the next decade.

  • Focus: The structure, function, and physiological interactions within the human body.
  • Best for: Individualized, flexible preparation for professional health programs and allied health professions (e.g., physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant).
  • Employability and O*NET career outlook:
    • Primary occupations: Medical scientist, clinical research coordinator, or entry into specialized advanced clinical practice (PA, PT, OT).
    • Salary range: Graduates stepping straight into clinical coordination or healthcare research assistanceships earn median entry wages of $51,333 to $60,000. Postgraduates working as certified medical scientists earn a median salary of $100,590. (Source: O*NET OnLine 19-1042.00)
    • Job growth: Healthcare and medical research roles are expanding rapidly due to an aging population, with medical scientist roles tracking at above-average growth.

  • Focus: A specialized consortium program offered in partnership with Wright State University. Students spend their final year in an immersive clinical pathology certificate program to transfer credits back.
  • Best for: Completing this track leaves you fully eligible to sit for the ASCP certification exam and enter clinical employment immediately.
  • Employability and O*NET career outlook:
    • Primary occupations: Clinical laboratory technologist, medical laboratory scientist (MLS), or blood bank technologist.
    • Salary range: Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians earn a median annual wage of $62,000, with the top 10% of certified specialists earning over $98,000 per year. (Source: O*NET OnLine 29-2011.00)
    • Job growth: Continued demand in hospital and surgical settings guarantees roughly 22,600 job openings annually nationwide due to workforce replacement needs.

  • Focus: An interdisciplinary major blending natural sciences and social sciences (offered in collaboration with the School of Humanities and Social Sciences).
  • Best for: Careers in crime scene investigation, forensic pathology support, or direct admission into M.S. Forensic Science programs.
  • Employability and O*NET career outlook:
    • Primary occupations: Forensic science technician, crime scene investigator (CSI), or criminalist.
    • Salary range: Forensic science technicians command a median annual wage of $67,440, with specialized criminalists and lab personnel in high-level jurisdictions earning more than $107,490. (Source: O*NET OnLine 19-4092.00)
    • Job Growth: Projected to grow an explosive 13% over the next decade, much faster than the national occupational average.

Academic minors

  • Biology (18 cr): Enhances everyday scientific literacy and core biological principles.
  • Chemistry (20 cr): Builds systematic observation and deductive reasoning through organic and general chemistry.
  • Environmental Studies (18 cr): An interdisciplinary minor exploring how human activity impacts the biosphere.
  • Neuroscience (20 cr): Jointly offered with the School of Humanities and Social Sciences to study the nervous system and mental health from biological and psychological perspectives.

Featured coursework and hands-on training

Rather than sitting in massive lecture halls, you will actively engage with science through immersive, specialized coursework designed to mirror real-world laboratory environments:

  • Molecular biology and genetics labs: Dive deep into cellular mechanisms, DNA analysis, and gene expression.
  • Organic chemistry and quantitative analysis: Master advanced physical science principles and precise chemical testing.
  • Forensic and anthropological investigations: (Criminalistics track) Gain hands-on experience in evidence tracking, criminal investigation foundations, and forensic anthropology.
  • Clinical chemistry practicums: (Medical Laboratory Science track) Gain immersive, real-world diagnostic experience in clinical pathology.