Science Majors

For suggested first-year course schedules in each of the majors, visit What Courses Should I take in First Year? For individualized advice on courses for your program beyond first year, ask your departmental faculty advisor.   

APPLIED MATHEMATICS

Applied mathematics uses mathematics together with other fields such as physics, biology, chemistry or economics to make discoveries about the way the world works.

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME Accountant, air traffic controller, investment banker, meteorologist, actuary, teacher.

CONTACT
Phone: 709 864 8784
E-mail: mathugrad@mun.ca 
www.mun.ca/math

BEHAVIOURAL NEUROSCIENCE

Behavioural neuroscience, offered through the Department of Psychology, is the general study of the relations between the structure and activity of the brain and its function in generating integrated, adaptive behavioural responses.

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME This degree is excellent preparation for further training in health professions such as medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology.

CONTACT
Phone: 709 864 8496
Email: psychundergradadvisor@mun.ca  
www.mun.ca/psychology 

BIOCHEMISTRY

Biochemistry is the study of chemical processes associated with living organisms. Biochemists use concepts of biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, microbiology and genetics to unravel the complex puzzles of life.

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME Biochemist, biotechnologist, chiropractor, clinical biochemist, dentist, environmental health specialist, medical doctor, optometrist, research technician, science teacher, lawyer.

CONTACT
Phone: 709 864 8530
E-mail: bcadvice@mun.ca
www.mun.ca/biochem

BIOLOGY
BIOLOGY (Applied ecology and conservation)
BIOLOGY (Aquatic life)
BIOLOGY (Biological tools and techniques)
BIOLOGY (Biology for health professionals)
BIOLOGY (Comparative)
BIOLOGY (Evolutionary)
BIOLOGY (Molecular, microbial and cell)

Biology is the study of life and of living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution and distribution. The core of the program rests on central concepts in genetics, ecology, evolution, cellular and molecular biology and physiology. 

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME: Bio or medical technologist, cytologist, fisheries officer, epidemiologist, horticulturalist, immunologist, marine or aquacultural biologist, medical doctor, science teacher, wildlife or conservation officer, veterinarian.

CONTACT
Phone: 709 864 7498
E-mail: bioapo@mun.ca 
www.mun.ca/biology

CHEMISTRY,
CHEMISTRY (Biological)

Chemistry is the science of the composition, structure, properties and reactions of matter, especially of atomic and molecular systems. The synthesis of new drugs, the production of novel materials and the monitoring and improvement of our environment all involve the science of chemistry. 

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME Art conservationist, brew master, chemical laboratory technician, school/university educator, clinical chemist, forensic chemist, environmental chemist, geochemist, industrial research chemist, medical doctor, patent lawyer, petroleum chemist, pharmaceutical chemist.

CONTACT
Phone: 709 864 8772
E-mail: chemapo@mun.ca 
www.mun.ca/chem

COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY

Computational chemistry uses computers and software to model the behaviour and properties of chemical systems, from individual atoms to the large proteins found in living things. These models lead to design of molecules for new drugs and materials in medicine, and new ways to store and transport energy and information.

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME Chemical researcher at a pharmaceutical company, industrial research or development facility, or researcher with government or academia.

CONTACT
Phone: 709 864 8772
E-mail: chemapo@mun.ca 
www.mun.ca/chem

COMPUTER SCIENCE
COMPUTER SCIENCE (Data-Centric Computing)
COMPUTER SCIENCE (Smart Systems)
COMPUTER SCIENCE (Visual Computing and Games)

Virtually every discipline – practical, theoretical or creative – is experiencing the influence of computers. The ever-increasing dependence on computer technology in our daily lives presents rich opportunities for those interested in the design of new applications and systems.

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME Computational scientist, network analyst, entrepreneur, web specialist, information scientist, robotics programmer, software development specialist, systems designer, computer architect, systems analyst.

CONTACT
Phone: 709 864 8627
E-mail: cs-ugradadv@mun.ca 
www.mun.ca/computerscience

DIETETICS (in partnership with Acadia University)

Dietetics is concerned with the diet and its effects on health, especially with the practical application of a scientific understanding of nutrition. Use of the science of nutrition helps people to make healthy food choices, separating fact from fiction about food. 

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME Dietitian, food developer, food technologist, health and wellness coordinator, health promotion specialist

CONTACT
Phone: 709 864 8154
E-mail: adsu@mun.ca 
https://mun.ca/science/undergraduates/dietetics-program/ 

EARTH SCIENCES

Earth sciences encompass all scientific studies related to the structure and development of our planet, whether looking at the composition of rocks or soil on the earth’s surface, investigating the movement of plates or the properties of material far beneath our feet. Although field work plays an important role in many studies, today’s geoscientist commonly uses ocean drilling vessels, satellite imagery, high-precision geochemical and geophysical instruments, and the latest in electronic and laser microscopes.

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME Economic geologist, geochemist, geochronologist, geophysicist, hydrogeologist, marine geologist, paleontologist, petroleum geologist, sedimentologist.

CONTACT
Phone: 709 864 4464
E-mail: mmiskell@mun.ca  
www.mun.ca/earthsciences

ECONOMICS

Economics is the branch of social science that deals with the analysis and management of production, distribution and consumption of goods and services.

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME Auditor, bank officer, financial reporter, healthcare administrator, statistician, teacher, technical writer, labour relations specialist.

CONTACT
Phone: 709 864 8248
E-mail: economics@mun.ca
www.mun.ca/econ

ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSICS

At Memorial, environmental physics means exploring the earth’s environment through the understanding provided by physics. You will draw upon ideas and concepts from many different areas of physics including mechanics, electricity, magnetism, thermodynamics and atomic physics.

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME National laboratory research administrator, geophysicist, chemical physicist, oceanographer, meteorologist, geotechnical advisor, environmental assessor.

CONTACT
Phone: 709 864 6111
E-mail: physicsapo@mun.ca 
www.mun.ca/physics

GEOGRAPHY

Geography literally means “description of the earth” – its physical and human components and how they vary spatially. Geography studies the inter-relationships between climate, landforms, plants, animals and humans over the surface of the earth.

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME Climatologist, environmentalist, demographer, cartographer, geomorphologist, urban planner, GIS specialist.

CONTACT
Phone: 709 864 7417
E-mail: geog@mun.ca
www.mun.ca/geog

HUMAN BIOSCIENCES (starting Sept. 2023)

How do food, drugs and the environment impact your health? That is the central question of the Human Biosciences program. Courses provide an interdisciplinary background, blending concepts from biochemistry, nutrition, pharmacology and toxicology. Students can also tailor their program to their own interests in a student-defined general Human Biosciences degree, or in pre-defined sub-specialities in biochemistry, gene regulation, health and disease and nutrition.

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME Researcher, technical sales representative/marketing consultant; scientific/technical writer or editor, forensic scientist, clinical biochemistry, professor/lecturer/teacher, medical doctor/dentist/veterinarian, patent lawyer, environmental consultant, biomedical engineer, physiotherapist/occupational therapist, genetic counsellor

CONTACT
Phone: 709 864 8530
E-mail: bcadvice@mun.ca
www.mun.ca/biochem

MARINE BIOLOGY

Marine biology is the study of marine organisms, their behaviours and interactions with the environment. The joint marine biology major provides a wealth of experiential learning opportunities for students with a combination of wet labs, field trips and project-based courses.

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME: Fisheries officer, biological oceanographer, marine science educator, research/field technician, aquaculture scientist, nature interpreter, aquarium curator.

CONTACT

Department of Ocean Sciences
Phone: 709 864 2459
E-mail: oceanundergrad@mun.ca 
www.mun.ca/osc

or 

Department of Biology
Phone: 709 864 7498
E-mail: bioapo@mun.ca 
www.mun.ca/biology

NUTRITION

Nutrition, offered through the Department of Biochemistry, is the science that studies the means by which we take in and utilize food. Nutritionists study the metabolism of foods: how foods are converted and used by the body.

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME Chiropractor, clinical laboratory technician, health services professional, occupational therapist, optometrist, pharmaceutical representative, physical therapist, veterinarian.

CONTACT
Phone: 709 864 8530
E-mail: bcadvice@mun.ca
www.mun.ca/biochem

OCEAN PHYSICS

Many students come to Memorial, in part, because of our strength in ocean research and our geographical proximity to the ocean. This unique program, aimed at students looking for interdisciplinary training in both physics and oceanography, strengthens that connection. Ocean Physics provides students with basic and essential knowledge to study the physics of the ocean, atmosphere and climate and contains connections with the disciplines of meteorology, atmospheric science and environmental science.

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME: Oceanographer, meteorologist

CONTACT
Phone: 709 864 6111
E-mail: physicsapo@mun.ca 
www.mun.ca/physics

OCEAN SCIENCES,
OCEAN SCIENCES (Environmental Systems)

Ocean Sciences, or oceanography, is a field that encompasses the study of the global marine environment from broad geographic and interdisciplinary perspectives. It essentially looks at the interaction between marine life and oceanographic processes, covering such diverse topics as coastal and deep-sea food webs, marine animal ecology, physiology and behaviour, plankton dynamics, the effects of pollution or climate change on ocean life and ecosystems, the management and conservation of aquatic resources, and much more.

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME: Science teacher, SCUBA diver, fisheries officer, nature interpreter, aquarium curator, environmental analyst/consultant.

CONTACT
Phone: 709 864 2459
E-mail: oceanundergrad@mun.ca 
www.mun.ca/osc

PHYSICS

Physics is the study of the interactions between energy and matter. These interactions govern the physical world and are important in fields as wide ranging as meteorology, geophysics, materials science and optics.

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME Meteorologist, geophysicist, photonics specialist, health physicist, educator, researcher.

CONTACT
Phone: 709 864 6111
E-mail: physicsapo@mun.ca 
www.mun.ca/physics

PSYCHOLOGY

Psychology is the study of behaviour and the mind. As a science, psychology employs careful investigation to understand behaviour, thinking and experience. The profession of psychology applies this information to promote human welfare. The combination of writing, research and statistical analysis acquired in a psychology degree is a sound preparation for many careers.

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME Psychology is excellent preparation for careers in business, human resources, administration, advertising, human services, sales and research.

CONTACT
Phone: 709 864 8496
Email: psychundergradadvisor@mun.ca 
www.mun.ca/psychology 

PURE MATHEMATICS

Pure mathematics involves the study of the traditional core areas of mathematics such as abstract algebra, number theory, geometry, and real and complex analysis.

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME Accountant, air traffic controller, investment banker, demographer.

CONTACT
Phone: 709 864 8784
E-mail: mathugrad@mun.ca 
www.mun.ca/math

STATISTICS

Statistics is a branch of applied mathematics concerned with the collection and interpretation of quantitative data and the use of probability theory to estimate population parameters.

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME Forensic statistician, personal financial adviser, epidemiologist, risk management specialist, risk analyst.

CONTACT
Phone: 709 864 8784
E-mail: mathugrad@mun.ca 
www.mun.ca/math