University of Oregon General Science Program

General Science is a unique area of study that allows each student to design their own academic program in the natural sciences (for students interested in the social sciences, see the General Social Science Program). Students choose their areas of specialization from a broad range of sciences, tailoring their studies to their particular interests and career goals. The Frequently Asked Questions section gives a detailed overview of the requirements for the General Science major, while the General Science Checksheetcontains a condensed version of General Science course requirements. The General Science Advisor can answer questions about General Science requirements and assist students in planning their schedules. GenSci students are encouraged to stop by our office (KLA 65 C) during Office hours.

General Science can work for many career interests. It can be appropriate for students interested in health-related careers (including medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and medical technology). General Science may be particularly useful to students whose scientific interests do not fit well within a single discipline. The neurosciences, environmental sciences, and biophysical sciences are examples of such cross-disciplinary areas. Combined with a second major or minor in English, General Science can be excellent preparation for a writing career in science, technology, or natural history. Combined with a major in a particular science discipline, General Science can provide a supporting upper-level breadth. The major also works well for students who want to teach elementary school or high school science. A bachelors in science in General Science can be useful in many careers, such as medicine, dentistry, education, and research. When combined with other majors or minors a degree in General Science can be excellent preparation for careers in law, business, public relations, and many others.

The General Science department is different from other majors in that it has no faculty. Instead, the department is overseen by a program Director. The GenSci Director, in consultation with and advisory committee, makes curriculum decisions,  rules on petitions for General Science credit, and can be contacted at gensci@uoregon.edu.