Pathways to Medicine Majors

The discipline of Biochemistry uses chemistry as a tool to examine and explore the processes of life. Biochemical and chemical knowledge provides an underpinning for many disciplines including medicine, agriculture, and engineering. The questions that biochemists and chemists address encompass many critical challenges that humans face today.

The major in Bioinformatics provides students with the biological knowledge and computational skills to leverage the large variety of biological data being generated. Bioinformatics majors will be prepared to meet the growing demand for individuals who understand core biological concepts and the computational approaches needed for 21st century biology.

The major in Biology provides a solid foundation in modern biology. As opposed to majors with an emphasis on specific fields of biology (e.g., Molecular and Cellular Biology, Biochemistry, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology), Biology offers broad training in biological systems from their component parts, biological molecules and cells, up through organisms to communities to whole ecosystems, as well as the biological processes that organize such systems and allow their development and evolution.

Chemistry is often called the central science as it provides the connection between mathematics and the physical, life and applied sciences. Chemistry is the science of molecules and their transformations. Chemists study the composition, properties and reactivity of matter and synthesize and discover new molecules and materials. Since the transformation of matter is integral to the modern world, the study of chemistry can lead to a diverse variety of careers.

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) deals with the integration of biological systems across all levels of organization, from molecules within cells up through global ecosystems. As such, the department covers a very wide range of topics, from the genetic analysis of complex traits, evolution at the molecular level, phylogenetic analysis, organismal form and function, population and community ecology, genomics, and mathematical modeling.

University of Arizona Molecular and Cellular Biology students learn cutting edge biology through innovative teaching methods and hands-on research experiences. The MCB degree provides students the strong foundation in genetics, development, and biotechnology they need to pursue careers in medicine and other health care fields, pharmaceutical and biology research, and education. 

The Neuroscience & Cognitive Science program is designed on a strong foundation in the basic sciences, in psychology and philosophy, and in mathematics. This foundation is followed by a substantial set of core courses that expose students to the breadth of concepts and methods of scientific inquiry in the highly interdisciplinary fields of Neuroscience and Cognitive Science. In addition, students choose their electives in the major from emphasis areas that enhance their understanding of core concepts and that allow them to delve into specific sub-areas in accord with their personal interest.

The BA in Psychology emphasizes the fundamental principles of Psychology that can be applied to solve practical problems related to human behavior and society. You’ll gain a broad education in Psychology that is relevant to many fields, including counseling and therapy, social work, education, physical health and wellness, marketing and sales, law and forensics, environmental sustainability, and human resources. The BA program emphasizes real-world applications through community engagement, and is designed for students who want marketable skills they can use to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation.

The BS in Psychological Science prepares students for careers that require an in-depth understanding of the research methods used to study the mind, brain, and behavior. With special topic seminars and intensive hands-on research opportunities, the BS program emphasizes critical thinking, analytical thinking, and quantitative skills that prepare students for a Ph.D. program in Psychology or for other advanced training programs that require a strong background in science, such as medicine, nursing, public health, education, business, or public policy.

Our undergraduate Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences program is designed to provide foundational information to develop critical thinking skills, the ability to evaluate scientific information, and to facilitate the development of writing skills. For students wishing to pursue clinical or research careers in Audiology or Speech-Language Pathology, the undergraduate degree provides the prerequisite coursework required for graduate study.