<p>I am wondering if this can be done. Can I obtain a BS in Chemical Engineering or some other sort, and go to earn a PhD in Chemistry/Biochemistry or something similar? Can this be done? I'd imagine it could be, but I'd like to know.</p>
<p>Yep, it can be done. Just go take a look at what sort of courses are required for admission into various science PhD programs and make sure you take them.</p>
<p>That said, there’s no reason you can’t do chemistry or biochemistry research from within a ChemE, Materials, or other engineering discipline. Often times the job outlook for those PhDs are a bit better, too.</p>
<p>I’m sure you can but why? You are going from something with pretty good job prospects to something with awful job prospects. Most people go from science to engineering after getting raped on the job market.</p>
<p>A Science PhD is 5-7 years of serfdom at a university lab working 60+ hours a week for $20k followed by multiple years to a decade of post-docing same hours for $35/45k then if you are very lucky you may get a job more likely time for a career change.</p>
<p>I don’t really care much about the money - I was just curious in the sense that I’d like to have a BS that would set me up for a good job, but also let me pursue my passion for a PhD… that being said, there are similarities between each, but for some reason I like the sound of having PhD in some science related subject as opposed to an engineering one.</p>
<p>Even if you don’t care about money there is a real possibility you can end up in serious poverty or unemployment going for a science PhD nowadays. I’ve spoken to some science PhD’s in complete desperation in terms of employment.</p>
<p>^ Don’t listen to him. People come here all the time saying they want to go to grad school and the first thing they hear back is, “don’t do it, you won’t find a job.” </p>
<p>Honestly, if you are decent person, you will find a job with a PhD, even if it is teaching at a junior college. The point is, don’t give up on what you want because some guy on a forum said he talked to someone who said they couldn’t find a job.</p>
<p>What your asking is definitely doable, just listen to Racin and make sure you have the required background for whatever grad programs you want to apply for. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>The choice boils down to him/her. If he/she wants to get a PhD and waste time, money, and be a lab serf or whatever for years in the love of science, then that’s their life. Yes it can be done, but it will be challenging since there are a huge glut of PhDs so prepare to fight over jobs with people who have the same credential or better than you. You just have to sacrifice a lot and are willing to wait who knows how long. Overall, you are going to have to experience this on you own.</p>
<p>You don’t get a PhD in the sciences because of the money. As long as the OP realizes that he’s not going to be raking in the dough with a PhD and is OK with that, it’s fine. The problem is when people don’t realize what they’re getting into in that department.</p>
<p>I love that argument that you shouldn’t go into science for money and you should just accept the janitor wages because you love science.</p>
<p>Allowing yourself to be abused and exploited is not a sign of commitment. It is a sign of low self-esteem. You would not tell a women who was being abused by her husband that if she really loves him she should endure it or it means she never loved him in the first place.</p>