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Why should you consider Chemistry?
Faculty in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry are award-winning researchers. They have been recognized by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Department of Energy with grants to conduct ground-breaking research. As an undergraduate student, you will have an unparalleled opportunity to explore the world of research with mentorship by these outstanding faculty.  COSAM has invested in state-of-the-art technology with equipment such as a Bruker D8 Venture dual source single crystal X-ray diffractometer for small molecule and biological molecule structure determination. In COSAM labs, you will have an opportunity to gain hands-on experience through conducting experiments with high-tech instrumentation.
Career Paths:
Chemist (Industry, Government)
Chemical Researcher
Environmental Scientist
Hazardous Waste Management
Laboratory Manager
Professor/Researcher (Academia)
Quality Assurance / Quality Control Analyst
Toxicology
Cosmetics
Pharmacology
Materials Scientist
Dentist
Forensic Science
Medical Doctor
Patent Law Pharmacist
Public Policy / Regulation
Prospective Companies:
Dow Inc.
Pfizer Inc.
Johnson & Johnson
Merck & Co., Inc.
Procter & Gamble Co.
ExxonMobil Corporation
3M Company
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
AbbVie
GE
Coca-Cola
Abbott Laboratories
Ecolab Inc.
Colgate-Palmolive
Eli Lilly
Why should you pursue a degree in Geosciences?
Geoscientists enjoy various career choices with exciting outdoor and technological work.
They have opportunities to travel to exotic and adventurous field settings to investigate dynamic processes that shape the earth
They employ geospatial and information technology to understand people, places, and
processes of the earth
They specialize in diverse areas – field mapping and natural resource assessment, environmental remediation, geotechnical engineering, hydrology and water resources, managing mining and oil/gas exploration, government inspection of major construction projects, scientific research at universities or research labs, teaching geosciences
Geoscientists are stewards of the earth and its biosphere, helping to protect the environment
and Earth’s populations.
They identify and remediate harmful surface and groundwater contaminants
They identify areas prone to flooding, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and volcanic eruptions
They study climate extremes (drought, hurricanes, heatwaves, storms) and learn about climatic and environmental changes
Geoscientists have a great career outlook with excellent salaries.
They hold a variety of professional jobs in industry, government agencies, and non-profit
organizations
They have more job opportunities in the field than there are graduates to fill them. The total job number is expected to increase by 14%  (faster than average) by 2022 to a total of 340,000 jobs (Status of Geoscience Workforce, AGI 2014)
They enjoy a median annual salary of $91,130 (2018 data, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Career Paths:
Aerial Photography
Architecture
Banking
City Planning
Climatology
Commercial Mapping
Conservation
Demographics
Ecotourism
Emergency Management
Environmental Protection
Geographic Information Systems
Geological Surveys
Geospatial Image Analysis
Global Positioning
Historic Preservation
Hydrogeology
Land Management
Law
Meteorology
Mining
National Park Management
National or Local Defense
Natural Resources
Outdoor Recreation
Paleontology
Politics
Public Health
Public Policy
Real Estate Development
Resource Exploration
Science Museums
Seismology
Space Exploration
Sustainable Energy
Utilities
Volcanology
Prospective Companies:
ExxonMobil
Chevron
Shell
BP
Halliburton
Schlumberger
Enviromental Resources Management (ERM)
Rio Tinto
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
BHP
Why should you pursue a degree in Mathematics?
Mathematics majors develop the critical thinking, reasoning, and analytical skills that are always in high
demand in the job market. As technology becomes more complex and our access to data increases, people with the ability to understand, synthesize, interpret, and create mathematical solutions are increasingly valuable.
Mathematics is integral to the work in streaming services, airlines, pension funds, animation studios, cybersecurity firms, stock markets, casinos, meteorology, and countlessother industries. COSAM math graduates work for companies as varied as Facebook and the MissileDefense Agency
Why have four MATH majors in COSAM?
Variety. MATH is a wide field and our multitude of course options and majors can prepare you in different ways. The majors are virtually identical for the first three or four semesters, so you have time to get here, talk it over with professors, and decide what’s right for you.
Mathematics
This curriculum offers students broad and flexible coursework in mathematics. It is well suited for students
who wish to pursue a career in teaching mathematics in a university/college, or who desire more flexibility or emphasis in liberal arts.
Applied Mathematics
Applied math requires both substantial coursework in mathematics and in another area where the mathematics can be applied. Common choices are areas in engineering, business, science, and economics. This option prepares students to work in traditional fields, such as engineering, physical science, or computer science, or the allied fields of biological, behavioral, and managerial sciences.
Applied Discrete Mathematics
Discrete math is used primarily by the computer, transportation, supply chain, and logistics industries.
This curriculum is designed to give you a background in mathematics and the fundamentals of computer science.
The degree includes a strong interdisciplinary requirement in related fields of application, such as computer
science, cryptography, industrial engineering, electrical engineering, and management information systems.
Actuarial Science
This program offers a well-balanced curriculum in applied mathematics with advanced preparation for the actuarial profession. Traditionally, the majority of actuaries work in careers associated with the insurance industry. An increasing number of actuaries work in the broader financial services sector including commercial and investment banking and retirement funds. Actuaries are also employed by corporations, as well as by state and federal governments. Actuaries in the U.S. and Canada achieve professional status by passing a set of challenging examinations. Many prospective actuaries begin sitting for these exams while still in college. COSAM’s actuarial courses are designed specifically to prepare the students to take three of these exams.
Career Paths:
Actuary Analyst
Big Data Analyst
Biotechnology Consultant
Cost Estimator
Cryptographer
Economist
Energy Consultant
Financial Planner
Insurance Underwriter
Fraud Investigator
Geodesist
Inventory Control Specialist
Lawyer
Market Researcher
Mathematician
Medical Doctor
National Security Advisor
Programmer Analyst
Purchasing Agent
Quantitative Analyst
Risk Analysis
Software Tester
Statistician
Technical Writer
Prospective Companies:
Bank of America
JP Morgan
Goldman Sachs
Google
Microsoft
Apple
ProtectiveLife
Aflac
ALFA
McKinsey & Company
Boston Consulting Group
Bain & Company
Pfizer Inc.
Johnson & Johnson
Merck & Co., Inc.
Amazon
Target
Chevron
BP
Why should you pursue a degree in Physics?
COSAM has a low ratio of faculty members to physics majors which means each student receives individual attention usually only available at much smaller schools. As an undergraduate student, you can take classes on sub-atomic particles, the origins of the universe, superconductivity, and superheated plasmas.
Physics majors interact with faculty performing worldclass research using world-class instrumentation. Department research focuses on five major areas including Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (AMO), Biophysics, Condensed Matter Physics, Plasma Physics,
and Space Physics.
The AMO group has finished construction of an attosecond laser facility, and the Condensed Matter group is finishing the installation of a state-of-the-art molecular beam epitaxy system. Our Plasma group operates the Magnetized Dusty Plasma and Compact Toroidal Hybrid experiments at Auburn, and collaborates on the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator in Germany and the DII-D tokamak in San Diego. Our Space physics group is continuing development of magnetospheric and satellite observing modeling codes to deepen our understanding of
the solar system environment.
Through the Auburn University Small Satellite Program, physics majors design, build, and operate satellites which have been launched into orbit. Their first satellite, “AubieSat 1,” which was placed into orbit through NASA’s Educational Launch program, transmitted “War Eagle” in
Morse Code from Earth to space. The program is working toward student-built projects for planetary exploration.
The new Leach Science Center opened in June 2019 and includes a 62,500 square-foot, $24 million expansion. The entire building is student-centric with vibrant study spaces and numerous places for students to collaborate with classmates and faculty.
Physics, the most fundamental science, tries to explain how the physical universe behaves. Physicists study the nature of the universe at every level--from sub-atomic to cosmological. Physics provides a versatile degree and essential problem-solving skills for a broad spectrum of rewarding careers in scientific research, academics, business, medicine, law, education, engineering, and computer science.
Career Paths:
Accelerator Operator
Applications Engineer
Astronomer
Biophysicist
Computational Scientist
Data Analyst
Data Scientist
Energy Policy Analyst
Forensic
Firearms Examiner
Health Physicist
IT Consultant
Lab Technician
Laser Engineer
Materials Scientist
Medical Physicist
Meteorologist
Optical Engineer
Patent Agent
Process Engineer
Research Associate
Quantitative Research Analyst
Software Developer
Systems Analyst
Technical Specialist
Web Developer
Prospective Companies:
NASA
Lockheed Martin
IBM
Intel
GE
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
SpaceX
Google
Boeing
Microsoft
Why should you consider Biological Sciences?
Biology is the science of life. Biologists study every facet of life from the molecular structure of neurotransmitters to the population health of whales worldwide. Our knowledge of biological principles
allows us to create new drugs and therapies, maintain safe packaging processes for food, monitor the health of an ecosystem, plan for potential disease outbreaks, predict the best treatment plan based on a tumor’s specific genetics, and protect endangered animals. Biology is an evolving field, continually creating new jobs and opportunities that do not exist today.
You will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on research with guidance from a team of award-winning faculty. Opportunities exist for both laboratory and fieldbased research. Students often work long-term with faculty culminating in a conference presentation or publication.
If you are interested in biodiversity, the Auburn University Museum of Natural History provides unique
access to historic and regional specimens. The AUMNH currently comprises five large collections (fishes, aquatic invertebrates, insects, herpetology, and plants) and several modest-sized collections (arachnids and myriapods, birds, mammals, and vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology). Students can volunteer and do research with the museum.
You may also study abroad with classmates in Biology to apply your knowledge and skills in the field. Our students have challenged themselves through coursework and cultural exchange on previous trips to Jordan, Costa Rica, and Swaziland.
Career Paths:
Agriculture or Food Science
Animal Training
Aquaculture
Biomedical Research
Biotechnology
Botany
Conservation
Consulting
Eco-Tourism
Environmental Protection
Epidemiology
Genetic Counseling
Genetics of Oncology
Food Safety
Forensic Science
Laboratory Management
Law
Marine Archeology
Medical Device Development
Medical/Pharmaceutical Sales
Medical/Technical Illustration
Nutrition
Pharmacology
Public Health
Public Policy/Regulation
Quality Control
Science Journalism
Science Museums
Technical Sales and Marketing
Veterinary Medicine
Zoos & Aquariums
Prospective Companies:
Johnson & Johnson
Merck & Co.
Pfizer
Genentech
Amgen
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Covance
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Conservation International
National Instituties of Health (NIH)
Career Paths - Science Education
AUTeach offers science students a hands-on path to explore science education while tackling Alabama’s STEM teacher shortage. Students earn a double major in science and education, graduating certified to teach secondary science.The AUTeach program totals 30 credit hours: eight courses and one semester of apprentice teaching in a local school.
This unique program enhances career prospects and graduate school opportunities.
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