<p>Ok, so I'm torn between two majors. I've always wanted to do Biochemistry and still do; however, job prospects aren't very good in this particular field, so I'm undecided. I'm also interested in Chemical Engineering, which actually has pretty decent job opportunities, or so I've heard. Basically, I would like to double major, but that might be too difficult due to the fact that both are STEM majors. So, if I would decide to just do one or the other, I would have to decide between what I've wanted to do since childhood (biochemistry-- haha everyone else in my class wanted to be a vet, firefighter, or something else along those lines. I was /that one kid/ all the way back in elementary...) and my more realistic interest. </p>
<p>If you were placed in my situation, which one would you pick and why? Or, alternatively, if you think a double major would be doable comment that as well. By the way, I would be transferring in almost all of my gen ed/ liberal arts requirements because of dual enrollment, so I could take the Biochem classes in place of those and maybe still graduate in four years, although it would probably be four years without sleep :/</p>
<p>One of my employees has a daughter with a Masters in Biochem and it took her over a year to get full-time employment. Double major will be difficult. ChemE is a good major however another avenue for you to explore could be Biomedical Engineering.</p>
<p>Be aware though that with Biomedical engineering one would need a Master’s to work as an actual biomedical engineer.</p>
<p>how about Biochemical engineering?</p>
<p>I would major in Biochemical engineering, but I can’t find a university that is cheap enough and close enough to home for my mother to allow me to attend. I’m not as interested in biomedical engineering, sorry.</p>
<p>No need to be sorry. It was just a thought.</p>
<p>Does anyone know how different curriculums between biochem E and chem E would be? One program for chem E that I’m interested in actually requires Biochem E courses, so I think that might be a good program for me. Along with the required courses, junior and senior years I can choose a few engineering electives, so I could possibly tailor the curriculum to my tastes a little bit. </p>
<p>One thing you could do is a ChemE undergrad and take biochem electives, then go on to graduate school for a PhD in biochem. If academia doesn’t work out (and this will almost certainly be the case), you can always fall back on your chemE degree for a good job while your cohort without such a background will be doomed to a life of poverty wages and a terrible quality of life. Your chemE background will also give you a leg-up on doing a BME postdoc if you choose to go that route. Engineering faculty positions are generally much more abundant and less competitive than faculty positions in the natural sciences. </p>
<p>I haven’t heard of many schools that offer biochemical engineering as a major, and I don’t really see the point in specifically seeking out schools that do. If a school you’re interested in has biochemical engineering, great. If not, it doesn’t matter. It’s nothing more than chemical engineering applied to biological processes. Just major in chemical engineering. It’s not as if the two have different skills. If you really want, you can take a few bio/BME courses alongside your ChemE program.</p>
<p>Although the post above by @Magma55 is a bit dramatic, it’s not far off the mark. Any biology or chemistry related science major has terrible prospects (unless you attend professional school afterward), and I would not recommend it unless you are so passionate about it and set on doing it that you couldn’t possibly imagine yourself doing anything else. Any type of engineering is significantly better.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! I think I probably will major in Chemical Engineering for undergrad. From there, I’m not entirely sure what my educational plans will be. I like magma55’s idea of going to grad school for Biochemistry afterwards. That was my intention before when I was just thinking about a Biochem degree all the way through, but I guess Chem E keeps my options open for each path I’m considering. Sounds like a win-win to me!</p>
<p>I hate to revive this, but I had a question. I’m in the same position as you, transferring into a university now and finished a lot of prereqs. I was accepted for chemical engineering, but my love is chemistry and research work. However, I want to get a job. Problem is, chemical engineering may take an extra semester or year to graduate. Is this worth it? Also, can I go into chemistry for my PhD later on? I say this because after working internships and such, I really do enjoy academia and the research opportunities it offers. Should I switch out to chemistry and hope for the best there?</p>
<p>@eilrymist yes to all of the above, but, you would be better off with a phd in chemical engineering.</p>
<p>It is possible but not trivial to go into a Chemistry Ph.D. from Chemical Engineering. Chemical Engineering majors miss a lot of the advanced synthetic chemistry that a chemistry major takes and that is a fundamental basis for a graduate program in chemistry. </p>