Undergraduate Students

Explore every pathway
to scientific progress.

Welcome to the Eberly College of Science, home of the biological, physical, and mathematical sciences at Penn State. We’re widely recognized and respected for high-quality education and scientific breakthroughs—and we’re firmly committed to making a positive impact on the world. If that sounds like something you’d like to be a part of, you’re in the right place.

Learning the language of research

Erin O'Donnell, a second-year student at Penn State majoring in molecular biology, examines an isolated soil sample during a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB 294) lab session. BMB 294 is designed to help undergraduates become more acclimated with the process, language and skills necessary for research studies.

Undergraduate Erin O'Donnell examines an isolated soil sample during a BMB 294 lab session.

Students in a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) 294 lab work with natural products isolated from soil samples collected around Pennsylvania to try to identify compounds with antibacterial properties. The course is designed to help undergraduates carry-out research projects under faculty supervision.

Undergraduate students working in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) 294 lab.

Dr. John Alumasa, assistant research professor in Penn State's Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, guides one of his students through some of the goals of a lab session during his Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) 294 class at South Frear Building.

Dr. John Alumasa, assistant research professor in Penn State's Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, during the BMB 294 class at South Frear Building.

Nick Tomasko, a second-year student at Penn State majoring in biochemistry, finalizes his notes prior to isolating and labeling samples during a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) 294 lab session.

Undergraduate student Nick Tomasko, finalizes his notes prior to isolating and labeling samples during a BMB 294 lab session.

Undergraduate student Emily McNaughton works on testing isolated soil samples during a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) 294 lab session. McNaughton is a first-year student at Penn State majoring in biochemistry.

Undergraduate student Emily McNaughton works on testing isolated soil samples during a BMB 294 lab session.

Katie Bartlett, a microbiology major at Penn State, places a sample in a laboratory vortex mixer during a hands-on research session in her Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) 249 class.

Undergraduate student Katie Bartlett places a sample in a laboratory vortex mixer during a hands-on research session in her BMB 249 class.

Soil samples that were isolated and labeled by undergraduate students in a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) 294 class are placed in an incubator to be warmed. BMB 294 is an integrated research and seminar course allowing students to participate in a course-based undergraduate research experience.

Soil samples that were isolated and labeled by undergraduate students in a BMB 294 class are placed in an incubator to be warmed.

Explore our undergraduate programs

Select the program titles to view more information.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

The Astronomy and Astrophysics program	Options	Minor
Astronomers study the fundamental problems of the nature and evolution of our universe. In this major, you can explore the properties and origins of the planets, stars, and galaxies, and of the universe as a whole. You might like this program if... You enjoy applying the ideas of physics to the study of complex systems and phenomena beyond our own planet. You want to study the answers to big questions relating to astronomy, such as “How was the universe created?” and “How likely is it that life exists beyond Earth?”	Computer Science Option Graduate Studies Option	Astronomy and Astrophysics Minor

The Astronomy and Astrophysics program

Options

Minor

Astronomers study the fundamental problems of the nature and evolution of our universe. In this major, you can explore the properties and origins of the planets, stars, and galaxies, and of the universe as a whole.

You might like this program if...

You enjoy applying the ideas of physics to the study of complex systems and phenomena beyond our own planet.
You want to study the answers to big questions relating to astronomy, such as “How was the universe created?” and “How likely is it that life exists beyond Earth?”

Computer Science Option
Graduate Studies Option

Astronomy and Astrophysics Minor

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program	Options	Minor
Biochemists and molecular biologists study the molecular basis of life. In this major you can apply basic principles of chemistry and physics to the study of living cells and their components, to explain life at its molecular, genetic, and cellular levels. You might like this program if... You want to know how life works at the most fundamental levels. You want to learn how molecules can be manipulated to address global challenges such as disease, famine, and energy needs.	Biochemistry option Molecular and Cell Biology option	Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Minor

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program

Options

Minor

Biochemists and molecular biologists study the molecular basis of life. In this major you can apply basic principles of chemistry and physics to the study of living cells and their components, to explain life at its molecular, genetic, and cellular levels.

You might like this program if...

You want to know how life works at the most fundamental levels.
You want to learn how molecules can be manipulated to address global challenges such as disease, famine, and energy needs.

Biochemistry option

Molecular and Cell Biology option

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Minor

Biology

The Biology program	Options	Minor
Biologists investigate ways to cure neurological diseases, conserve coral populations in tropical oceans, discover more-efficient ways to use plants for food and bio-energy, develop vaccines for infectious diseases, and examine many other aspects of life. In this major, you can explore the diversity and organization of organisms—from single-celled bacteria to multi-cellular plants and animals, including humans. You might like this program if... You are interested in learning about the biological details of the Earth’s many organisms. You enjoy a dynamic field of study, with new discoveries being made every day.	General Biology option Genetics and Development option Neuroscience option Plant Biology option Vertebrate Physiology option Ecology option	Biology Minor Marine Sciences

The Biology program

Options

Minor

Biologists investigate ways to cure neurological diseases, conserve coral populations in tropical oceans, discover more-efficient ways to use plants for food and bio-energy, develop vaccines for infectious diseases, and examine many other aspects of life. In this major, you can explore the diversity and organization of organisms—from single-celled bacteria to multi-cellular plants and animals, including humans.

You might like this program if...

You are interested in learning about the biological details of the Earth’s many organisms.
You enjoy a dynamic field of study, with new discoveries being made every day.

General Biology option

Genetics and Development option

Neuroscience option

Plant Biology option

Vertebrate Physiology option

Ecology option

Biology Minor

Marine Sciences

Biotechnology

The Biotechnology program	Options	Minor
Biotechnologists apply principles of molecular and cellular science to produce biologically important and industrially useful products. In this major, you can explore topics such as genetic engineering, pharmaceutical development, and bio-manufacturing. You might like this program if... You want to understand how to apply scientific concepts to the development of new products and technologies for the benefit of humanity and our surroundings. You are interested in medicine but don’t want to work directly with patients.	General option Clinical Laboratory Science option Integrated Undergraduate Graduate Program	None

The Biotechnology program

Options

Minor

Biotechnologists apply principles of molecular and cellular science to produce biologically important and industrially useful products. In this major, you can explore topics such as genetic engineering, pharmaceutical development, and bio-manufacturing.

You might like this program if...

You want to understand how to apply scientific concepts to the development of new products and technologies for the benefit of humanity and our surroundings.
You are interested in medicine but don’t want to work directly with patients.

General option

Clinical Laboratory Science option

Integrated Undergraduate Graduate Program

None

Chemistry

The Chemistry program	Options	Minor
Chemists study matter and the changes it can undergo. In this major you can seek to gain a molecular-level understanding of compounds and materials through the building, measuring, and modeling of their properties, while learning to predict and explain changes when they react to form new substances. You might like this program if... You are curious about why the materials you encounter in daily life have certain properties and interact in different ways. You want to help create new and better chemicals for personal care, medicine, construction, agriculture, or energy storage.	Analytical Concentration option Physical Concentration option Synthetic/Biological Concentration option Integrated Undergraduate Graduate Program	Chemistry Minor

The Chemistry program

Options

Minor

Chemists study matter and the changes it can undergo. In this major you can seek to gain a molecular-level understanding of compounds and materials through the building, measuring, and modeling of their properties, while learning to predict and explain changes when they react to form new substances.

You might like this program if...

You are curious about why the materials you encounter in daily life have certain properties and interact in different ways.
You want to help create new and better chemicals for personal care, medicine, construction, agriculture, or energy storage.

Analytical Concentration option

Physical Concentration option

Synthetic/Biological Concentration option

Integrated Undergraduate Graduate Program

Chemistry Minor

Data Sciences

The Data Sciences program	Options	Minor
Data scientists explore the methods, systems, and processes used to extract knowledge from data and turn these insights into discoveries, decisions, and actions. In this major, you can develop the knowledge and skills needed to manage and analyze large-scale, unstructured data—to address an expanding range of problems in industry, government, and academia. You might like this program if... You want to apply data analytics to strategic decision-making. You are interested in statistics, mathematics, and the social sciences—and want to combine them to understand what data can tell us.	Statistical Modeling Data Sciences (Eberly College of Science) Applied Data Sciences (College of Information Sciences and Technology) Computational Data Sciences (College of Engineering)	None

The Data Sciences program

Options

Minor

Data scientists explore the methods, systems, and processes used to extract knowledge from data and turn these insights into discoveries, decisions, and actions. In this major, you can develop the knowledge and skills needed to manage and analyze large-scale, unstructured data—to address an expanding range of problems in industry, government, and academia.

You might like this program if...

You want to apply data analytics to strategic decision-making.
You are interested in statistics, mathematics, and the social sciences—and want to combine them to understand what data can tell us.

Statistical Modeling Data Sciences (Eberly College of Science)

Applied Data Sciences (College of Information Sciences and Technology)

Computational Data Sciences (College of Engineering)

None

Forensic Science

The Forensic Science program	Options	Minor
Forensic scientists apply chemistry, molecular biology, and physics to matters of the law. In this major, you can develop a strong scientific foundation and general criminalistics education while individualizing your experience to meet your specific degree and career goals. You might like this program if... You want to utilize your scientific knowledge to help solve complex problems concerning civil, criminal, and homeland security issues. You want to understand how evidence is collected at the crime scene, analyzed in the laboratory, and presented in courts of law.	Biology Option Chemistry Option	None

The Forensic Science program

Options

Minor

Forensic scientists apply chemistry, molecular biology, and physics to matters of the law. In this major, you can develop a strong scientific foundation and general criminalistics education while individualizing your experience to meet your specific degree and career goals.

You might like this program if...

You want to utilize your scientific knowledge to help solve complex problems concerning civil, criminal, and homeland security issues.
You want to understand how evidence is collected at the crime scene, analyzed in the laboratory, and presented in courts of law.

Biology Option

Chemistry Option

None

Mathematics

The Mathematics program	Options	Minor
Theoretical mathematicians increase basic knowledge in “pure” fields like abstract algebra, analysis, and topology. Applied mathematicians use tools from calculus, analysis, computing, statistics, and operations research to solve problems in science, industry, government, and other areas. This major emphasizes careful analysis of problems, precision of thought and expression, and the development of mathematical skills. You might like this program if... (B.S.) You want to develop strong problem-solving skills, comprehension of abstract concepts, and creative thinking ability. (B.S.) You want to have access to a wide variety of careers in the fields of science and technology, finance and risk analysis, research and industry, or teaching. (B.A.) You want a broad liberal arts education with a strong mathematical foundation. (B.A.) You want mathematics to complement your study of other subjects.	Bachelor of Arts Options Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) option Integrated Undergraduate Graduate Program Bachelor of Science (B.A.) option Bachelor of Science Options Integrated Undergraduate Graduate Program Bachelor of Science (B.S.) option Actuarial Option Applied & Industrial Option Computational Mathematics Option General Mathematics Option Graduate Study Option Systems Analysis Option	Mathematics Minor Information Sciences and Technology for Mathematics

The Mathematics program

Options

Minor

Theoretical mathematicians increase basic knowledge in “pure” fields like abstract algebra, analysis, and topology. Applied mathematicians use tools from calculus, analysis, computing, statistics, and operations research to solve problems in science, industry, government, and other areas. This major emphasizes careful analysis of problems, precision of thought and expression, and the development of mathematical skills.

You might like this program if...

(B.S.) You want to develop strong problem-solving skills, comprehension of abstract concepts, and creative thinking ability.
(B.S.) You want to have access to a wide variety of careers in the fields of science and technology, finance and risk analysis, research and industry, or teaching.
(B.A.) You want a broad liberal arts education with a strong mathematical foundation.
(B.A.) You want mathematics to complement your study of other subjects.

Bachelor of Arts Options

Bachelor of Science Options

Microbiology

The Microbiology program	Options	Minor
Microbiologists study microscopic organisms and how they interact with other organisms and the environment. In this major, you could study how microbes both benefit and harm human health; the role of microbes in the environment; or how microbes can be used in medicine, agriculture, and engineering. You might like this program if... You are interested in learning about the interplay between infectious diseases and the immune response. You want to pursue a career in genetic engineering, medicine, public health, or environmental studies.	None	Microbiology Minor

The Microbiology program

Options

Minor

Microbiologists study microscopic organisms and how they interact with other organisms and the environment. In this major, you could study how microbes both benefit and harm human health; the role of microbes in the environment; or how microbes can be used in medicine, agriculture, and engineering.

You might like this program if...

You are interested in learning about the interplay between infectious diseases and the immune response.
You want to pursue a career in genetic engineering, medicine, public health, or environmental studies.

None

Microbiology Minor

Physics

The Physics program	Options	Minor
Physicists study natural phenomena in the universe to discover the basic principles and laws that govern the physical world. In this major, you can study the fundamental conceptual, mathematical, computational, and experimental tools that are needed to tackle these scientific and technological challenges. You might like this program if... You are curious about how things work. You are fascinated by how the natural world is organized, how mathematics describes it, how experiments can probe its properties, and how one can predict new physical phenomena.	General option Medical option Electronics option Computational option Materials-Nanotechnology option: Nanotechnology track Materials-Nanotechnology option: Materials track	Physics Minor

The Physics program

Options

Minor

Physicists study natural phenomena in the universe to discover the basic principles and laws that govern the physical world. In this major, you can study the fundamental conceptual, mathematical, computational, and experimental tools that are needed to tackle these scientific and technological challenges.

You might like this program if...

You are curious about how things work.
You are fascinated by how the natural world is organized, how mathematics describes it, how experiments can probe its properties, and how one can predict new physical phenomena.

Materials-Nanotechnology option: Nanotechnology track

Materials-Nanotechnology option: Materials track

Physics Minor

Planetary Science & Astronomy

The Planetary Science & Astronomy program	Options	Minor
Planetary scientists study the Earth system in the context of the solar system and the universe as a whole. In this major, you can apply knowledge and methods from mathematics, geosciences, chemistry, biology, astronomy, and physics to explore the Earth and use telescopes to obtain astronomical data. You might like this program if... You want to delve deeper into questions about black holes, life in the cosmos, and the origin of the universe. You have an interest in science communication or science education.	None	Planetary Science & Astronomy Minor

The Planetary Science & Astronomy program

Options

Minor

Planetary scientists study the Earth system in the context of the solar system and the universe as a whole. In this major, you can apply knowledge and methods from mathematics, geosciences, chemistry, biology, astronomy, and physics to explore the Earth and use telescopes to obtain astronomical data.

You might like this program if...

You want to delve deeper into questions about black holes, life in the cosmos, and the origin of the universe.
You have an interest in science communication or science education.

None

Planetary Science & Astronomy Minor

Premedical-Medical

The Premedical-Medical program	Options	Minor
This is an accelerated program in cooperation with the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, where you have the opportunity to earn both the B.S. and M.D. degrees in seven years. Undergraduate Bulletin description You might like this program if... You are focused on a future career as a physician. You want to study many core science disciplines. You want to fulfill a Minor in another area of interest.	None	None

The Premedical-Medical program

Options

Minor

This is an accelerated program in cooperation with the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, where you have the opportunity to earn both the B.S. and M.D. degrees in seven years.

Undergraduate Bulletin description

You might like this program if...

You are focused on a future career as a physician.
You want to study many core science disciplines.
You want to fulfill a Minor in another area of interest.

None

Premedicine

The Premedicine program	Options	Minor
The Premedicine major integrates knowledge and practices across the fields of biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and physics with additional breadth in the social sciences, ethics, and deep critical-thinking skills that are necessary for advanced study in the field of medicine. You might like this program if... You want to use your science expertise to work and make a difference with people. You aspire to make your career in medicine.	None	None

The Premedicine program

Options

Minor

The Premedicine major integrates knowledge and practices across the fields of biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and physics with additional breadth in the social sciences, ethics, and deep critical-thinking skills that are necessary for advanced study in the field of medicine.

You might like this program if...

You want to use your science expertise to work and make a difference with people.
You aspire to make your career in medicine.

None

Science, B.S.

The Science, B.S. program	Options	Minor
The Science major provides a broad and interdisciplinary foundation in the natural sciences. This program uses the principles of chemistry, physics, and the life sciences to understand how these integrate over general areas including biological sciences and health professions, public policy, and science research and development. You might like this program if... You are curious about the natural world and how science disciplines come together to explore and understand it. You are considering a career in current and emerging interdisciplinary sciences or health professions, or one that combines science with law, policy, or business.	General option Legal Studies, Government Service, Public Policy option Biological Science and Health Professions option	None

The Science, B.S. program

Options

Minor

The Science major provides a broad and interdisciplinary foundation in the natural sciences. This program uses the principles of chemistry, physics, and the life sciences to understand how these integrate over general areas including biological sciences and health professions, public policy, and science research and development.

You might like this program if...

You are curious about the natural world and how science disciplines come together to explore and understand it.
You are considering a career in current and emerging interdisciplinary sciences or health professions, or one that combines science with law, policy, or business.

General option

Legal Studies, Government Service, Public Policy option

Biological Science and Health Professions option

None

Science B.S./M.B.A.

The Science B.S./M.B.A. program	Options	Minor
The Science B.S./M.B.A. program is a special cooperative program with the Smeal College of Business, where you can earn an undergraduate degree and a master of business administration in an accelerated time frame. You might like this program if... You love studying science but don’t necessarily want a career in a laboratory. You want the opportunity to move into a leadership role early in your career.	None	None

The Science B.S./M.B.A. program

Options

Minor

The Science B.S./M.B.A. program is a special cooperative program with the Smeal College of Business, where you can earn an undergraduate degree and a master of business administration in an accelerated time frame.

You might like this program if...

You love studying science but don’t necessarily want a career in a laboratory.
You want the opportunity to move into a leadership role early in your career.

None

Statistics

The Statistics program	Options	Minor
Statisticians use critical and abstract thinking to apply mathematical principles to statistical problems and combine modeling with computational skills to analyze data. In this major, you can explore a field that combines mathematics, computing, and analysis to better organize and understand data. You might like this program if... You enjoy working with numbers and data. You are a problem-solver who enjoys figuring out how things work or what data mean.	Applied option Actuarial option Biostatistics option Computing option Graduate Studies option	Statistics Minor

The Statistics program

Options

Minor

Statisticians use critical and abstract thinking to apply mathematical principles to statistical problems and combine modeling with computational skills to analyze data. In this major, you can explore a field that combines mathematics, computing, and analysis to better organize and understand data.

You might like this program if...

You enjoy working with numbers and data.
You are a problem-solver who enjoys figuring out how things work or what data mean.

Graduate Studies option

Statistics Minor

Why Penn State Science

Eberly Science undergraduates get the chance to dig into research alongside other students and professors—so you’ll gain real-world experiences and start building skills right away.

See our latest research

“This college has given me countless opportunities to better myself: completing research, being a learning assistant, and achieving a quality education. As one of the first people in my family to attend college, I felt an immense sense of accomplishment.” — Huyen “Lina” Tran ’18, Eberly student marshal.