@PSUfan55 , Immunology & Infectious Disease and the Toxicology majors are good options out of Ag. However, while these are easier programs to get into, they aren’t necessarily easier to complete. If you compare the recommended academic plans for those programs against those at Eberly, these majors share much of the same required coursework. Even though these majors are housed out of a different college, students often still take a year of chem, year of organic chem, biol or micro, year of physics, plus have heavy math requirements, etc.
Just my two cents, but what it’s really going to come down to is the math. For most of the pure science degrees, even those out of College of Ag, the student would still need to get through Calc 1 and Calc 2, which isn’t easy. If the student doesn’t excel at calculus, chances are they aren’t going to get through calculus-based physics, which is required for some programs. Unless you are a math whiz, you will need to look for degrees that require the more basic algebra-based “introductory” physics (PHYSICS 250/251).
FYI…this is why picking a major now is kind of ridiculous because you really wouldn’t know all of this unless you work with an adviser. PSU expects students to switch and switch again based on how they perform in the earlier courses.
Biotechnology (Clinical Lab Science option) is an awesome program as you can earn the degree with the lower level physics and more introductory organic chem sequence… plus HUGE job potential. My son almost went this route, and may end up switching to it. It’s ideal for those who like medicine but don’t want to work with patients or go to med school. Advisers told us students get job offers before they even graduate as clinical lab scientists are in demand.