Hand holding leaf with caterpillar on it.

Biology

The Department of Biology is one of the premier teaching and research units on campus. Building a strong foundation in biology opens the door to a myriad of academic and career paths in the health and environmental science industries. From microbes to mammals, plants to pathologies, biology is the study of life. Explore this diverse field with our leading research-oriented faculty and apply your learned skills to careers in everything from environmental conservation to healthcare.

Test tubes containing small pieces of plants.

Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry offers an exceptional foundational undergraduate program as well as three graduate degrees, including one interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Chemical Physics. Chemistry is the central science, and its principles operate in all aspects of our daily lives. Understanding chemistry is fundamental in understanding the world around us, everything from energy to biology, medicine to materials and more.

"Geography" spelled out in lights at night.

Geography

The Department of Geography, within the Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, is the only program in Nevada that grants university education and college degrees in geography. Do you want to solve the world’s most pressing issues: from climate change and biodiversity loss to immigration and global inequality? Geography is the examination of the complex and connected spatial, social, and environmental patterns that shape the lives and landscapes of our world. 

Student measuring strike and dip of a joint plain in granite rock.

Geological Sciences and Engineering

The Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering, within the Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, is dedicated to providing quality education in geology, geophysics, hydrogeology and geological engineering. There’s a whole world of discovery in the ground beneath your feet. From the shifting of tectonic plates to the eruption of volcanoes, learn about the Earth and all of the natural processes that have shaped it over time.

Woman pointing to graphs on poster.

Mathematics and Statistics

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics is a teaching and research-oriented department that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in pure and applied mathematics and statistics. Science, technology and engineering would not exist without a solid foundation in mathematics. This research-oriented department offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Pure and Applied Mathematics and Statistics. Find out how you can help decode the world around you.

Four people on edge of mine.

Mining and Metallurgical Engineering

The Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, within the Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, offers multiple undergraduate and graduate degree programs to prepare students for a fulfilling career. Look around you – most of what you will see contains minerals and mined materials. Know that the industry you are learning about and the career you are working towards plays an essential role in the day-to-day life of most people on the planet. 

Two people in Terawatt Lab.

Physics

The Department of Physics specializes in atomic, molecular, optical and chemical physics, high energy density and plasma physics, condensed matter physics, and atmospheric sciences. Research is conducted in state-of-the-art facilities at the University as well as through scientific collaborations at research centers across the country. From the stars in the sky to the quarks in an atom, physics allows you to explore the great mysteries of our universe, big and small. 

Woman with a geodesic sensor map on her head sitting under equipment. A computer with images of the woman displayed is in the foreground.

Psychology

Join the Department of Psychology in their exploration of the human mind. One of the largest majors at the University, the undergraduate program offers three tracks: general psychology, psychological science and behavior analysis. An interdisciplinary undergraduate degree program in neuroscience is also offered jointly through the Departments of Biology and Psychology. The doctoral degree programs in behavior analysis, clinical psychology and cognitive and brain sciences offer comprehensive training and produce cutting edge research.

 

Public service departments

In addition to its academic departments, the Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering is home to various public service departments.