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University Advising > Exploratory Preference Major > Exploring Students > Spartan Interest Assessment >

Investigative Majors & Careers

Investigative (Thinkers)

People who like to observe, learn, investigate, analyze, research, evaluate, or solve problems; enjoy science or math; analytical reserves, independent, scholarly.

Investigative Majors, Classes, & Careers

Step 1: Complete the Spartan Interest Assessment

Please complete the Spartan Interest Assessment and read the information on your results. Next, if you’re interested in learning more about Investigative majors, classes, and careers, take some time to explore the information in the next steps. Feel free to explore majors, classes, and careers for as many categories that interest you.

Step 2: Investigative Majors, Classes, Careers & more

Take a few minutes to explore potential majors, classes, and careers for the Investigative (Thinkers) category. We encourage you to write down any areas that you would like to learn more about. Be sure to take note of any questions you might have about these as well.

View MSU majors that might interest you. Learn about each major’s requirements on our Academic Programs Catalog, and click here to find out, "What can I do with this Major?"

  • Actuarial Science
  • Advertising Management
  • Animal Science
  • Anthropology – BA/BS
  • Applied Engineering Sciences
  • Astrophysics
  • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Biotechnology
  • Biological Science – Secondary Education
  • Biomedical Laboratory Science
  • Biosystems Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Chemical Physics
  • Chemistry – BA/BS
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computational Mathematics – BA/BS
  • Computer Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Criminal Justice
  • Crop and Soil Sciences
  • Dietetics
  • Economics – BA/BS
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Entomology
  • Environ. Econ & Management
  • Environ. Studies & Sustainability
  • Environmental Biology
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Environmental Geography
  • Environmental Geosciences
  • Experience Architecture
  • Food Science
  • Genomics and Molecular Genetics
  • Geographic Information Science
  • Geological Sciences
  • Global History
  • Graphic Design
  • Horticulture
  • Human Biology
  • Human Geography
  • Information Science
  • Integrative Biology – BS
  • International Relations Major
  • Materials Science and Engineering
  • Mathematics – BA/BS
  • Mathematics, Advanced – BA/BS
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Medical Laboratory Science
  • Microbiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Nursing
  • Nutritional Sciences
  • Physical Science Major 
  • Physical Science – Secondary Education
  • Physics – BA/BS
  • Physiology
  • Plant Biology
  • Psychology – BA/BS
  • Sociology – BA/BS
  • Statistics – BA/BS
  • Urban and Regional Planning
  • Veterinary Technology
  • Zoology – BA/BS

View exploratory classes for the Investigative (Thinkers) category. Learn about course descriptions here.

  • AL 110 (4): Writing and Civic Life
  • AL 200 (3): Cultural Difference and Study Abroad
  • AL 210 (4): Democratic Discourse and Critique in the Arts & Humanities
  • ANP 201 (3): Intro to Cultural Anthropology
  • ANP 203 (3): Introduction to Archaeology
  • ANP 206 (3): Intro to Physical Anthropology
  • ANP 264 (3): Great Discoveries in Archaeology
  • ANS 110 (4): Introductory Animal Agriculture
  • ANS 242 (3): Introductory Horse Management
  • ANS 282 (3): Companion Animal Biology and Management
  • AST 101 (1): The Celestial Clockworks
  • BMB 101 (1): Frontiers in Biochemistry
  • CEP 260 (3): Dynamics of Personal Adjustment
  • CEP 261 (3): Substance Abuse
  • CJ 210 (3): Introduction to Forensic Science
  • CMP 124 (3): Residential Construction Materials and Methods
  • CMSE 201 (4): Intro to Computational Modeling
  • CMSE 180 (4): Introduction to Data Science
  • CMSE 201 (4): Computational Modeling & Date Analysis I
  • CSD 203 (3): Intro to Communicative Sci and Disorders
  • CSD 213 (3): Anatomy and Physiology of Speech & Hearing Mechanisms
  • CSE 100 (1): Computer Science as a Profession
  • CSE 102 (3): Algorithmic Thinking and Programming
  • CSE 231 (4): Introduction to Programming I
  • CSS 101 (1): Introduction to Crop Science
  • CSS 120 (3): Issues in Food & Agriculture
  • CSS 124 (2): Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems
  • CSS 202L (1): The World of Turf Lab
  • CSS 222 (2): New Horizons in Biotechnology
  • CSUS 200 (3): Introduction to Sustainability
  • CSUS 215 (3): International Development and Sustainability
  • DH 285 (3): Introduction to Digital Humanities
  • ECE 101 (1): Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • EEM 260 (3): World Food, Population and Poverty
  • ENT 205 (3): Pests, Society and Environment
  • FOR 101 (3): Michigan’s Forests
  • FOR 110 (1): Contemporary Issues in Forests & the Environment
  • FOR 202 (3): Introduction to Forestry
  • FOR 204 (3): Forest Vegetation
  • FOR 222 (2): Forestry Field Methods
  • FSC 211 (3): Principles of Food Science
  • FW 181 (3): Intro to Science, Technology, Environment, Public Policy
  • GEO 204 (3): World Regional Geography
  • GEO 206 (3): Physical Geography
  • GEO 221 (3): Introduction to Geographic Information
  • GLG 201 (4): The Dynamic Earth
  • GSAH 220 (3): Global Interactions and Identities
  • HM 101 (3): Introduction to Public Health
  • HNF 150 (3): Introduction to Human Nutrition
  • HRLR 211 (3): Intro to Organizational Leadership
  • HRT 204 (2): Plant Propagation
  • HRT 251 (3): Organic Farming Principles & Practices
  • HST 251 (3): Doing Digital History
  • IBIO 150 (3): From DNA to Populations
  • LA 200 (3): Introduction to Landscape Architecture
  • MI 220 (3): Methods for Understanding Users
  • MI 239 (3): Digital Footprint: Privacy & Online Behavior
  • PHL 130 (3): Logic and Reasoning
  • PHL 210 (3): Ancient Greek Philosophy
  • PHL 211 (3): Modern Philosophy
  • PLB 105 (3): Plant Biology
  • PLS 170 (3): Introduction to Political Philosophy
  • PSL 250 (4): Introductory Physiology
  • PSY 101 (4): Introductory Psychology
  • PSY 200 (3): Cognitive Psychology
  • PSY 209 (3): Brain and Behavior
  • PSY 236 (3): Personality
  • PSY 280 (3): Abnormal Psychology
  • REL 101 (3): Exploring Religion
  • REL 175 (3): Religion in Film
  • REL 185 (3): Intro to Religion and Non-Profits
  • REL 220 (3): Religion in America
  • SOC 100 (4): Introduction to Sociology
  • SOC 161 (3): International Development and Change
  • SOC 216 (3): Sex and Gender
  • VM 101 (1): Veterinary Medicine in Society
  • WS 153 (4): Introduction to Women Authors
  • WS 201 (3): Introduction to Women’s & Gender Studies
  • XA 242 (3): Introduction to Experience Architecture

View careers for the Investigative (Thinkers) category:

  • Aerospace Engineer
  • Agricultural or Food Scientist
  • Biological Scientist
  • Chemist or Materials Scientist
  • Clinical Laboratory Technologist
  • Computer Programmer
  • Computer Software Engineer
  • Computer Systems Analyst
  • Dentist
  • Dietitian or Nutritionist
  • Economist
  • Environmental Scientist
  • Geoscientist or Hydrologist
  • Management Consultant or Analyst
  • Market Researcher
  • Mathematician
  • Medical Scientist
  • Optometrist
  • Pharmacist
  • Physician or Surgeon
  • Physicist or Astronomer
  • Psychologist
  • Urban & Regional Planner
  • Veterinarian

Step 3: What’s next?

Now that you have identified majors, classes, and careers that you would like to learn about, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with an Exploratory Advisor to discuss what you’ve learned, and identify the next steps in your exploration process.