At Ohio State, the majors in the College of Arts and Sciences are so numerous, they have to be split into three different sessions. And even only addressing the natural and mathematical science majors in the college, only are few majors were able to be deeply discussed. Of the majors discussed, I am most interested in the biochemistry major; I am, however, also considering a minor in anthropology. Biochemistry exists at the interface between biology and chemistry, two areas of study that greatly interest me. Beyond combining my interests in the two scientific fields, a biochemistry major also provides a solid foundation of education for other educational opportunities and specializations. Specifically, a biochemistry major would prepare me well for continuing on to medical school.

The College of Arts and Sciences, especially the natural science majors, has always been a strong contender of interest considering my intention of going into a scientific field. I had chosen to attend this lecture because of my strong interest in the majors within this segment of the college.

The lecture provided many interesting tidbits of information, with the most interesting, at least to me, pertaining to the many resources available to students not only in the college, but also just interested in a major in the college. On the college website, there’s a new search device (explore programs) that allows students to select interests and then matches the specified interests to specific majors and/or programs. Additionally, multiple student organizations exist that allow students to explore a certain field of study without declaring a major. Once a major has been chosen, the college, and the university, provides many resources to help their students succeed. Different services offered include a writing center, career services, tutoring, the list goes on.

The majors presented generally aligned with my past conceptions of the different majors. The majors are diverse and usually provide a fairly broad educational base that spans across several specializations. Furthermore, majors in this college are understandably difficult and require a good amount of work and effort to do well. Resources exist, however, to help students overcome the difficulties. Overall, while the majors can be harder than some, it can be extremely satisfying obtaining a degree from this college in the end.

Concerning a degree in biochemistry, I have questions concerning the possible careers following graduation. In the event that I decide not to go on to medical school, what would I be prepared to do? Another related question I have is how well do the program requirements satisfy prerequisites for medical school? Finally, how rigid is the coursework for majors in this college, would there be adequate time to pursue a minor, or even a double major?

Walking into the lecture hall this very early morning, I had not expected to add a major to my list of potential futures. Much to my surprise, the Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences, or the BSPS for short, slid its way to near the top of my list of possible majors. (This has to stop happening or else the short list will grow to be too long).

Within the BSPS, I am most interested in the Health Professions Pathway. This pathway provides students with a strong foundation in the math and sciences, while also fulfilling most or all of the prerequisites for health related professional programs. With its strong focus in the math and sciences, along with the highly qualified pre-health training, the BSPS Health Professions Pathway perfectly aligns with my interests. I am currently very interested in attending medical school and, eventually, becoming a doctor. The BSPS not only equips students with the necessary courses to apply to professional school, it also provides students with a solid knowledge base of medications which is an integral part of any health profession. In addition to lining up with my career interests, the BSPS is also very appealing to me academically. The heavy core of math and science courses, two of my favorite subject areas, would encourage me to become invested in my classes and their various applications.

Although I had initially chosen to attend this lecture on a whim to satisfy the class requirements, I am very glad to have been introduced to the BSPS major. Previously, I was under the preconceived notion that the BSPS was only for students intent on continuing  on to pharmacy school and becoming a pharmacist in some capacity. Instead, I learned that the BSPS can, and often does, prepare students for a variety of health professions and other various careers.

The most interesting, and inspiring, information to hear is that the renowned faculty that teach at the professional and graduate level also instruct the BSPS students. Many of the BSPS graduates have even emphasized the high level of interest and care the faculty have for the undergraduate students; in fact, 81% of the graduating class would choose BSPS again. As a smaller undergraduate program, students can really get a more specialized and individualized education.

In considering this major, a few questions have come up. Does the BSPS major offer built in internship/clinical opportunities like some of the other health related majors? And if, in the end, I decide not to continue on to medical school, what are my other career options, with a special interest in those that are similar to a physician?