 Do you love math and science? Are you always asking why things work the way they do? Do you enjoy tinkering and experimenting? Do you thrive on discovery? If so, the natural and mathematical science majors in the College of Arts and Sciences might be the place for you. These majors involve a rigorous theoretical and mathematical background, and most combine this with hands-on lab work, collaboration, and experimentation. First, let's take a look at the majors in the mathematical side. Mathematics, actuarial science, computer and information science, and data analytics. These math-based majors give students a quantitative foundation from which to understand the world around them. The Mathematics major establishes a substantial mathematics core, then branches into five different specialization tracks which allow you to focus on acquiring the mathematical tools needed to tackle certain types of problems. The traditional track is the most flexible focus area, giving you a strong foundation in classical math. The applied math track teaches you how to apply mathematical reasoning to the physical sciences, particularly chemistry and physics. There is an education track for students who plan on teaching math at the high school level. Keep in mind a master's is required for teacher licensure with this track. The financial math track prepares you to perform in-depth numerical analysis of the financial market and understand how that data can be useful in making business decisions. The last track is the bio math track, which teaches you how to use mathematics and modeling in the biological sciences. Another major that requires strong math skills is actuarial science, the study of risk. Actuarial science introduces you to the mathematical and statistical foundation of all types of insurance, pension and benefit plans, as well as all the government regulations that impact how those services are offered. Actuarial science students take advanced math and statistics courses, as well as some general business classes in economics, finance and accounting. To become an actuary, you must pass a series of actuarial exams. The actuarial science curriculum is specifically geared towards preparing you to take up to five exams before receiving your undergraduate degree, creating a competitive advantage in the job search. A minimum OSU GPA of 3.0 is required to declare the major, along with certain prerequisite courses. The Computer and Information Science major provides you with the skills to become a software developer. The core of this major is similar to the Computer Science and Engineering major in the College of Engineering, but instead of taking engineering courses, CIS majors follow the broader and more rigorous arts and sciences general education requirement. CIS students learn fundamentals of computer programming and computing languages, as well as how they can be applied to various fields, such as graphics and animation, information systems, software development and artificial intelligence. Data Analytics is an interdisciplinary major shared between the Department of Statistics and the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. Data Analytics majors learn how to extract meaningful information from huge data sets. Practitioners in this rapidly growing field have expertise that cuts across core disciplines of computer science, mathematics and statistics, as well as critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills. Data Analytics offers three specializations, biomedical informatics, business analytics and computational analytics. Admission to the program is competitive and based on academic performance as well as programming experience. Now let's look at the arts and sciences majors in the natural sciences. These can roughly be divided into two categories, biological and physical. All majors in the biological sciences involve substantial lab work and focus on the study of how the organisms in our world live, reproduce and interact with their environment. The biology major is the most general biological science major, covering topics like growth, reproduction, cellular structure, genetics and biochemistry. Students can choose to focus their studies in forensic biology, life science education if they want to teach the biological sciences or pre-health if they plan to go on to a health profession like dentistry, medicine or optometry. The evolution and ecology major examines the processes that contribute to evolutionary change including natural selection, genetic drift and environmental factors. This knowledge can then be used in conservation efforts as well as the study of modern problems like antibiotic resistance. If you are interested in microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi, you might find a good fit in the microbiology major. Microorganisms play a large role in the development of medicines, food and industrial chemicals. Students will learn about genetics, reproduction, cellular structure and survival strategies. If you're interested in genetics and the relationship between genes, traits and reproduction, molecular genetics could be a good choice. Students will learn how genes impact how an organism develops and functions as well as how other external factors such as disease impact organisms with different genes. Zoology is a biological science major that focuses more specifically on animals. Students in this major learn about a wide variety of animals from simple mollusks to more complex animals. Students take courses related to all animal groups including invertebrates, fish, birds and mammals. The zoology major can prepare students for graduate school in many areas in the biological sciences, health sciences or education. Students can also become a biological research technician in the public or private sector or perform environmental assessments for businesses, non-profits or government organizations. All of the biology-based majors can prepare students for future careers in lab research or field work in professions such as dentistry or medicine or in other biological science-based industries such as environmental consulting and pharmaceutical sales. The physical sciences study the laws and physical systems that govern the universe and the planet on which we live. The biochemistry major straddles the physical and biological sciences, combining elements of biology with chemistry. Biochemistry majors study the chemical processes that are foundational to the existence of life, ranging from the absorption of medicines by the body to gene expression. Biochemistry also provides a solid foundation for research or careers in biomechanics, medical technology, biotechnology and agriculture. The chemistry major examines the composition, structure, properties and reactions of matter. Chemistry has a huge range of applications, including in plastics, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Both chemistry and biochemistry involve a rigorous math curriculum. The core chemistry requirements of both majors overlap considerably with those of many pre-professional health programs, so either could be an appropriate choice of major if you're interested in health professions. The physics major could be a great choice if you're interested in studying the most fundamental nature of physical reality. Physics seeks explanations for the behavior of matter from everyday observations about how a ball moves through the air or how bubbles form in water to the most groundbreaking observations of the Large Hadron Collider. If you are interested in outer space, the origins of the universe, the search for extraterrestrial life, or the behavior of planets, stars and interstellar bodies, then you might like a major in astronomy and astrophysics. Both physics and astronomy and astrophysics are heavily based in math and physics, and students pursuing these majors must develop advanced quantitative reasoning skills. If you're drawn to both of these areas at once, OSU offers a predefined physics and astrophysics double major that might be worth considering. If you are more interested in the structure of our own planet rather than other ones, you might be interested in our Earth Science major. Earth Science majors study planet Earth's physical systems and natural history. They take courses covering subjects such as geology, energy, oceanography, petrology, mineralogy, and more. Graduates can go on to work in the petroleum industry, mining, and environmental consulting. In terms of career preparation, natural and mathematical science majors develop skills in critical thinking, scientific reasoning, and scientific literacy, and many of them develop teamwork and leadership through hands-on collaborative lab work or field work. The College of Arts and Sciences Career Services Office, FutureLink, provides arts and sciences majors with career development advice and connects them to internships and job opportunities. Students can look at courses in quantitative and logical skills and natural sciences general education categories to explore any of these majors. You can find more detailed recommendations using the freshman GE guide and the courses to explore majors guide available at go.osu.edu slash love your classes. For more information about natural and mathematical science majors or to declare a major, call 614-292-6961 or stop by the Arts and Sciences Advising Office in 100 Denny Hall. As always, you are welcome to meet with any advisor in university exploration if you have follow-up questions. You can schedule an appointment by calling 614-292-0646 or stopping by our office in 352 Denny Hall.