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College of Science and Mathematics

Create Your Path To An Interdisciplinary Career

In-demand disciplines in STEM include biological sciences, computer sciences, physical sciences, psychology, statistics and more. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupations in STEM fields are expected to grow to more than 10 million between 2018 and 2028. These lucrative career opportunities have a medium annual wage of $84,880.

 

Undergraduate Degrees 

The College of Science and Mathematics offers multiple degrees across our 7 departments.

Two undergraduate degrees are offered through the Department of Biology. Generally, students who have chosen to pursue a career in the Life Sciences (including graduate school) will work toward the Bachelor of Science in Biology. Students hoping to earn a teaching credential in Biology will work toward the Bachelor of Arts in Natural Science with a Biology Option.

Contact the Biology Department Office (559-278-2001) to make an appointment with the Undergraduate Coordinator or to identify an advisor for your area of concentration.

The Chemistry and Biochemistry Department provides a variety of undergraduate training. These programs help students planning professional careers in chemistry, biochemistry, and allied professions, for those contemplating graduate work for advanced degrees, for those planning careers in the health professions, and for teachers of chemical and physical sciences.

Graduates from the Chemistry Department have pursued graduate study and professional degrees in nationally and internationally recognized research institutions, medical schools, and pharmacy schools.

The bachelor's degree in computer science prepares students for careers in the computing industry or for graduate study. Combined with a minor in another field of study, the bachelor's degree allows students to utilize their computing expertise in a variety of specialized fields.

The core and computer science theory courses are excellent preparation for students who intend to pursue an advanced degree in computer science.

The Bachelor of Science in Geology prepares students for employment in petroleum geology, mineral exploration, land-use planning, environmental assessment, hydrology, and engineering geology, or for teaching earth science or physical science at the secondary level. The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences offers an interdisciplinary approach to the natural sciences with an emphasis on biology, chemistry, and geology. This degree is designed for students interested in areas such as pollution abatement, water resources, ecosystem protection, restoration, or management. Our applied geology option specializes in engineering geology, hydrogeology, or exploration geology fields, which have the strongest employment potential.

To learn more contact the Advising and Resource Center. 

The Department of Mathematics serves the University and the community by providing mathematics education to mathematics, science, engineering, and liberal studies majors, as well as general education mathematics courses for all majors. In pursuit of its educational mission, the department of Mathematics offers the following degree programs:

The Department of Physics offers small class sizes, world-class research, and individual attention. 

For questions please contact our office at 559.278.2371.

A bachelor’s degree in psychology is an important first step in pursuing a career in the field. Psychology bachelor’s degrees are also often prerequisites for admittance into psychology graduate programs. Our program allows students to take more electives, it is often the preferred option for students who wish to explore a wider array of career options after graduating

 

Graduate Degrees 

The Department of Biology participates in a number of postbaccalaureate and graduate programs.

A masters degree in chemistry will prepare you for a doctoral program or for a number of careers in research, development, education, and administration. You will learn the skills you need to conduct specialized laboratory research in the highly competitive chemical and biological industries.

Our program emphasizes student research. You will learn to design, conduct, and analyze research in laboratory courses.

Students pursuing a master's degree in computer science learn about cutting-edge technologies in this expanding field. Graduates can pursue in-demand careers in information security, big data collection and analysis, and cloud computing. A master's degree in computer science requires 30-45 credits and takes approximately two years of full-time study to complete.

The M.S. in Geological Sciences is the degree-level most often sought by employers in geological sciences. Excellent opportunities can be found in energy and environmental fields as well as careers within or related to geology, including education, government, scientific communication, and consulting.

The Masters in Mathematics is designed for students who wish to study mathematics at an advanced level. Within this program, students may choose to focus their coursework on paths leading to careers in business or industry, teaching at a community college, assuming a leadership role in high school mathematics education, or going on to pursue a Ph.D. in mathematics or mathematics education.

The objective of our M.S. program is to build a firm basis for subsequent Ph.D. study in physics or in related fields, for positions in industry, and for teaching at the community college level. We offer a broad-based academic program with the opportunity for specialized theoretical or experimental research. 

Students completing degrees have successfully pursued all three of these career goals - with roughly equal numbers going to doctoral programs and industry, and a smaller number directly into teaching.

We offer three graduate programs in Psychology. All three programs have a strong emphasis on research and the empirical foundation of psychology:

  • M.A. Pyschology is oriented toward individuals who intend to eventually pursue a doctoral degree at another university, pursue a career in Research Analysis, or teach at a community college level; this program requires a minimum of 30 semester hours. This program operates within a "mentorship model" in which students work closely with a faculty member whose research interests align with their own. Together, the student and faculty member develop a research question and hypothesis which eventually turns into the final product of the graduate experience: an experimental thesis.
  • M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis is a two-year, full-time graduate program and requires a minimum of 44 units of coursework. The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® or Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst® examination. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination (see the next page for a description of our supervised experience). All students complete an experimental thesis as a culminating experience, working in close collaboration with their faculty mentor. The M.A. in  ABA is designed to prepare students to be active, effective, and ethical contributors to the science and practice of Behavior Analysis.
  • Ed.S. Psychology  has an emphasis in School Psychology; this program requires a minimum of 69 semester hours and is a terminal degree program for those pursuing careers in School Psychology. Students in the Ed.S. program are required to spend one full day a week during the first year and one and a half days a week the second year at a school site in practicum. The third year of the program is spent in internship at a school site. 

Admission to the graduate program is competitive. Due to the number of applicants we typically do not admit unclassified graduate students to our program. The acceptance to applicant ratio varies significantly from year to year.