Expanding student learning, enabling intellectual growth

Interdisciplinary programs combine two or more academic disciplines and offer students ample opportunities to achieve their individual academic and professional goals. Science students at Oregon State have access to interdisciplinary, innovative and career-focused academic programs. Undergraduate science students can combine two disciplines for an in-depth and comprehensive learning experience that helps them accomplish their academic and career interests. Oregon State is renowned for its unique, flexible and cutting-edge interdisciplinary programs in the areas of environmental and natural sciences.

Enhance your undergraduate study with an interdisciplinary minor

Environmental Sciences Minor

A minor in environmental sciences can be fruitfully combined with a major program in biology, zoology, chemistry, microbiology, physics or mathematics to gain a well-rounded education in scientific and policy issues that include global climate change, pollution, biodiversity conservation, sustainability, and balancing resource use and preservation.
Minimum of 27 credits required.

Sample Courses

Principles of Climate: Physics of Climate and Climate Change

World Soil Resources

Hydrogeology

Geographic Information Science Certificate

The undergraduate Geographic Information Science (GIS) Certificate offers students of mathematics, statistics, physics and allied fields a pathway to specialize in geographic information systems. The discipline combines theory and principles underlying geospatial data collection, technologies to manage and analyze geospatial data, computational and statistical models to model geospatial data, digital cartography and other areas. The GIScience undergraduate certificate consists of 27 credit hours. GIS professionals are in high demand for jobs in government, NGOs, and the private sector, and have rewarding careers in natural resource management, online and interactive mapping, business, planning, and many others.

Sample Courses

Forest Surveying

Remote Sensing: Principles and Applications

Geovisualization: Web Mapping

Geology Minor

The undergraduate Geology minor provides a means for students majoring in physics, chemistry, and related fields to develop a strong geology background as part of their program. Minimum of 14 unique credits required.

Sample Courses

Physical Geology

Earth Systems Science

Igneous Petrology

Natural Resources Minor

Students majoring in biology, microbiology and allied fields with an interest in natural resources management can choose to complete the Natural Sciences minor which provides a broad exposure to the natural resources field. Minimum of 27 credits required.

Sample Courses

Principles of Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Rangeland Ecology and Management

Land and Water

Sustainability Minor

The Sustainability minor includes core and tailored elective courses to expand students’ knowledge and experience of their primary major in the context of sustainability principles and frameworks. Science majors across the disciplines of physics, chemistry, and the life sciences with an interest in the various dimensions of sustainability can add on this minor. The sustainability minor requires earning 27 credits.

Sample Courses

Social Dimensions of Sustainability

Environmental Economics and Policy

Environmental Chemistry

Oceanography Minor

Science majors with a foundation in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics and with an interest in the marine environment can pursue a minor in oceanography. In addition to core courses, elective courses are offered in the fields of ocean and climate science and biological science that cover diverse aquatic environments from coastal mangroves to ice-covered polar regions. This minor will add rigorous interdisciplinary breadth and a broad environmental sciences background to any undergraduate program, broadening employment prospects and enhancing chances for gaining admission to graduate programs. Students must complete 14 unique credits.

Sample Courses

Oceans, Coasts and People

Polar Oceanography

Aquatic Biological Invasions

Science and Math Education

The Education Double Degree Program provides science and mathematics majors a flexible, focused pathway to earn two undergraduate degrees concurrently — one in a science or mathematics major and one in education. This program is highly suitable for biology, mathematics, chemistry and physics majors who want to pursue careers as elementary, middle and high school teachers and aspire to make a difference as education leaders. New, more accessible undergraduate options in the Education Double Degree provide a means for addressing gaps in science and mathematics teaching. Post-baccalaureate students from other institutions who pursue the Education Double Degree will be required to satisfy the University’s double degree requirement of 36 credits.

Sample Courses

Civil Rights and Multicultural Issues in Education

Science or Mathematics Pedagogy and Technology

Teacher as Reflective Practitioner