Career Paths - Chemistry
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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
- 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
- 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.
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)
