Food Science and Human Nutrition
College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture
The Bachelor of Science in food science and human nutrition degree program allows students to choose from one of three concentrations — human nutrition and dietetics, food science, or food management. Food science is the study of the chemistry, microbiology and processing of foods. Human Nutrition and Dietetics is the study of the effect of nutrients on people’s health and the role of diet in prevention or treatment of chronic diseases. The Human Nutrition and Dietetics concentration (Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as the first step in becoming a registered dietitian. Students in all concentrations have the opportunity to gain valuable experience in their field by doing research with professors through for-credit independent studies, work-study and/or work merit. Students in the food science and human nutrition program have the opportunity to work in state-of-the-art facilities. Hitchner Hall’s commercial kitchen teaching lab offers experience cooking on commercial grade equipment and the Highland Pilot Plant facility allows students to learn how to operate food processing equipment. The program also offers students the opportunity to gain practical experience in the Sensory Evaluation Center for one of the highest-paid and sought after food science specializations. The School of Food and Agriculture is the only food science program in New England, which has full sensory evaluation facility equipment with a digital data collection system. A degree in food science and human nutrition leads to employment opportunities in wellness and community programs; sports nutrition; hospital dietetics; private practice; home health care; government; foodservice; food industry; health-oriented organizations such as the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society; and research laboratories.
Visit the School of Food and Agriculture website
View a printable fact sheet for Food Science and Human Nutrition (pdf)
Forest Operations, Bioproducts and Bioengineering
College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture
The interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science in forest operations, bioproducts, and bioenergy (FBB) at the University of Maine extends basic forestry training to include analysis of harvesting operations as well as forest resources utilization. Courses focus on forest harvesting and the evolving uses for wood in sawmills, pulp and paper manufacturing, composite materials and energy generation. The efficient and environmentally acceptable growth, management, extraction, and transportation of timber for the manufacture of forest products are major challenges to one of the region’s most important industries. The FBB program has been designed to address these challenges by combining course work, field work and faculty expertise in forest management, forest ecology, and wood science, along with an emphasis in business administration and entrepreneurship. The FBB program is accredited by both the Society of American Foresters and the Society of Wood Science and Technology. Graduates of the program are prepared for careers in industrial and consulting forestry, as well as in the administration and supervision of wood processing facilities. Specific career areas include: forest land management; wood appraisal and procurement; forest road planning and design; harvest planning and administration; mill supervision and quality control; and wood products business/marketing. Opportunities also exist for graduate education at both the M.S. and Ph.D. levels in the areas of forest operations, wood science and technology, and forest management.
Visit the School of Forestry website
View a printable fact sheet for Forest Operations, Bioproducts and Bioenergy (pdf)
Forestry
College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture
The University of Maine has the longest, continuously accredited professional forestry program in the United States. Forestry is an applied science that involves conserving and managing forest ecosystems within increasingly complex social environments involving public and private, industrial and nonindustrial forestland. The field combines forest ecosystem sciences, management sciences, and communications skills for managing forest resources to meet society’s ever-increasing needs for forest-based products and services. The Bachelor of Science in forestry curriculum, accredited by the Society of American Foresters, combines instruction in liberal arts, sciences, practical forestry skills, and forest resource management. Courses take an integrated approach, which allows students to balance society’s demands for a healthy forest, wood-based products, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and water resources. The program utilizes the University’s 1,270-acre Dwight B. Demeritt Forest located next to the campus, the Penobscot Experimental Forest and other properties owned and managed by the University. Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the numerous opportunities for summer employment with public and private land-management organizations and to get as much hands on experience as possible. Our students are employed by such federal agencies as the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service. Employment is also available at state agencies, nongovernmental conservation organizations, and with forestry consultants.
Visit the School of Forestry website
View a printable fact sheet for Forestry (pdf)
French
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Through the Department of Modern Languages and Classics, students seeking to study French can pursue a bachelor of arts degree in the language or a degree in romance languages (French and Spanish). Students also have the opportunity to pursue minors in French, Spanish, professional languages and classical studies, as well as earn a certificate of proficiency in French and/or Spanish. The department prepares students to communicate with and understand people from different cultures — modern and ancient — both abroad and at home. Students broaden their cultural and intellectual horizons by developing bilingual or multilingual critical thinking skills as they prepare for careers in commerce, education, government, engineering, science, art, law or service industries. The department works closely with the Canadian Studies program, Honors College and College of Education and Human Development. Travel study courses are a key part of the French program, and many direct exchange and other study abroad programs are open to students in destinations around the world, including France, Spain, Canada, Japan, Morocco, Jordan and China.
Visit the Modern Languages and Classics website
View a printable fact sheet for Modern Languages and Classics (pdf)
Human Dimensions of Climate Change
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
This program engages students in the human dimensions of climate change — one of the most important scientific and cultural challenges facing the world today. Students explore and understand the diverse human causes and impacts of climate change to better enact successful policy decisions at local, national and international levels. The program provides students with skills useful within the academic environment and beyond. Specific skill sets are both quantitative and qualitative and focus on ethnographic methods and analysis, such as participant observation, directed interviewing, and statistical analysis of qualitative and quantitative ethnographic data. Graduates of this program seek positions in private business as well as in state, national and international institutions that deal with policy decisions related to the human dimensions of climate management and change.
History
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
The History Department offers a variety of chronological, geographical and thematic courses that enhance students’ understanding of themselves and the contemporary world by expanding their knowledge to include the experiences of other people, both past and present. Courses range from ancient times to the present, cover most geographical regions of the world, and allow topical specialties including women’s, environmental, technology and labor. Traditionally, history graduates have gone into teaching and education careers in primary and secondary schools. With appropriate graduate-level training, they have taught in colleges and universities. Increasing numbers of history graduates are finding employment at private and public nonprofit organizations and agencies, such as museums, archives and libraries, research and service institutions, legislative bodies and planning agencies. Others find career opportunities in the private sector, including publishing, journalism and broadcasting, and business. History is an ideal pre-law major.
Visit the History website
View a printable fact sheet for History (pdf)
International Affairs
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
A degree in international affairs benefits students as they prepare to become national and global citizens, teaching them the dynamics behind a changing global society and introducing them to ways of enhancing international community. The International Affairs Program offers a strong, interdisciplinary curriculum that includes courses from departments across campus and enables students from diverse disciplines to integrate an international perspective into their studies and future careers. The bachelor of arts degree in international affairs allows students to choose among several interdisciplinary thematic concentrations: international security; history and development of the global system; comparative politics and area studies; culture, conflict, and globalization; economics; language, culture, and the humanities; global women’s, gender, and sexuality issues; and Canadian studies. During the first two years, students are encouraged to complete coursework to fulfill the general education requirements of the degree and the international affairs core curriculum. Students should develop or sharpen their language training early in the program to fulfill the language requirement in the third or fourth year. The final two years should be focused on the concentration electives. All students are strongly encouraged to participate in the Study Abroad Program. Exposure to multiple academic disciplines, combined with language skills, permits graduates to pursue diverse interests and career paths that tap the employment opportunities that globalization offers. Students go on to law and graduate school and find work within environmental or international organizations; the travel and hospitality industries; public or diplomatic service; think tanks; journalism and electronic media; and education.
Visit the International Affairs website
View a printable fact sheet for International Affairs (pdf)
Journalism
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
UMaine’s journalism program provides coursework that prepares students for leadership roles in journalism careers. a journalism major offers students strong oral and written expression skills, a firm grasp of public affairs, and a broad foundation in the liberal arts. Full-time faculty members are established scholars who draw on professional experience and ongoing contacts with journalism organizations. An active internship program encourages students to become acquainted with working in media organizations, enabling them to acquire work experience, professional contacts and an understanding of the industry before they enter the job market.
Visit the Communications and Journalism website
View a printable fact sheet for Communications and Journalism (pdf)
Kinesiology and Physical Education
College of Education and Human Development
Kinesiology and physical education majors have three options for concentrations. Students in the exercise science concentration gain a deep understanding of the physiological, mechanical, and developmental understanding of human health and physical performance, and are well prepared for allied health careers. The Teaching Coaching concentration prepares students to become physical educators in K-12 schools and similar settings, and includes an intensive semester of student teaching as the culminating experience. Students in the Outdoor Leadership concentration engage in course work that combines physical activity facilitation skills with outdoor sport and activity experiences to prepare students for future careers in the outdoor industry and outdoor education. All KPE students have valuable hands-on learning experiences in a variety of settings, and use state-of-the-art metabolic and biomechanical analysis systems to develop an understanding of human work capacity and movement.
Visit the College of Education and Human Development website
Management
Maine Business School
Management majors navigate the complexities of corporate, international and small business management. The program’s broad scope helps students understand administrative and organizational principles including decision-making, teamwork, leadership, motivation, organizational change, strategic analysis and production system analysis as well as recruiting training and compensating personnel. Career paths for management majors include business consulting, general management in private and nonprofit organizations, and human resource management.
Visit the Maine Business School website
View a printable fact sheet for Maine Business School (pdf)
Marine Sciences
College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture
The University of Maine’s School of Marine Sciences — one of the largest marine research institutions in the United States — offers a Bachelor of Science in marine science with concentrations in marine biology, marine physical sciences or aquaculture. Basic knowledge in biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, and physics is essential for students to analyze the workings of marine systems and to appreciate the processes affecting marine life. The interdisciplinary curriculum prepares students to analyze critically contemporary issues such as environmental change, human impacts on the ocean, and biodiversity. The program provides a solid preparation for immediate employment in marine-related industries, governmental agencies, education, and the nonprofit sector. Faculty and student research activities include the fields of aquaculture, oceanography, public policy, marine biology, biotechnology, geology and archeology. Students in the program are required to conduct independent research projects in their senior year under the supervision of university faculty. In addition to the Gulf of Maine, research is conducted throughout the world’s oceans, from the Arctic and the tropics to the Antarctic. Many students study abroad in locations like Australia, Turks and Caicos, and Costa Rica. Students are encouraged to participate in the Semester by the Sea program at the Darling Marine Center — UMaine’s marine laboratory located in Walpole, Maine — which functions year-round as an international research and educational facility for marine faculty and students. These experiences prepare to students to continue on to graduate programs across the country.
Visit the School of Marine Sciences website
View a printable fact sheet for Marine Sciences (pdf)
Marketing
Maine Business School
The marketing major teaches skills in market assessment, marketing to particular segments, brand building, teamwork and communication. Students also learn how to make professional presentations. Marketing majors commonly have careers in retail management, services marketing, sales, public relations, advertising and marketing research.
Visit the Maine Business School website
View a printable fact sheet for Maine Business School (pdf)
Mass Communication
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Firmly grounded in the liberal arts, a degree in mass communication provides students with a broad understanding of the roles of media in society. The degree prepares students for careers in the media and provides background in mass communication theories and research issues necessary for graduate study in related communication fields, the humanities and social sciences.
Visit the Communications and Journalism website
View a printable fact sheet for Communications and Journalism (pdf)
Mathematics
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics enables students to develop the skills in analytical and logical reasoning needed to succeed in today’s world, where technology is an ever-expanding part of everyday life. The department offers opportunities for students to build a strong foundation in core mathematical areas and a number of specializations to prepare for fulfilling careers. Faculty bring their research into the classroom, allowing students to see the many ways in which mathematics is used in different fields. Beyond introductory courses, many classes are small, allowing for engaging interactions among faculty and students. A degree in mathematics prepares students for a variety of careers, including statistician or research scientist in a government laboratory or company, including pharmaceutical, manufacturing and technology firms; research programmer; risk analyst and actuarial scientist for financial or insurance companies; and educator. Proficiency with mathematics and analytical reasoning is a highly desired skill, especially when combined with a background in a secondary field, such as business, computing or a branch of science. A mathematics degree is attractive to employers, as it indicates strong quantitative skills and an ability to see broad links between technology and society.
Visit the Mathematics and Statistics website
View a printable fact sheet for Mathematics and Statistics (pdf)
Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering
Mechanical engineering technology focuses on a broad range of engineering activities, including the development, design, testing and manufacturing of products; design, operation and maintenance of processes; and technical sales and marketing. These technical skills are used to meet the changing needs of society in fields that include transportation, power generation, energy conversion, climate control, machine design, and manufacturing and automation.
Visit the Mechanical Engineering website
View a printable fact sheet for Mechanical Engineering (pdf)
Mechanical Engineering Technology
College of Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Technology focuses on a broad range of engineering activities, including the development, design, testing and manufacturing of products; design, operation and maintenance of processes; and technical sales and marketing. These technical skills are used to meet the changing needs of society in fields that include transportation, power generation, energy conversion, climate control, machine design, and manufacturing and automation.
Visit the Mechanical Engineering Technology website
View a printable fact sheet for Mechanical Engineering Technology (pdf)