<p>So with college right around the corner I have a huge decision to make unfortunately. The college I am attending in the fall ( MSU) is making me decide on a major before July 20th ( that's the date of my orientation). So I've luckily narrowed it down between two majors: Microbiology or Human Biology, and i need some help in deciding on which is the more difficult one between the two. I've have the course guides for the two majors, the requirements I have to take once I start in the fall. When you look at the course guides both majors have very similar classes that I must take, but the real challenge is the additional classes I must take, which correspond to my major. So to all of you reading this, could you please help me out and tell me the advantages/disadvantages of taking one versus the other? If you have any knowledge on the course or the classes listed on the websites below it will be a big help!!! I plan on to go to med school after college and I need a major that can get me a good GPA and not kill me by having to devote my life to books 24/7. I need a 120 credits to graduate. Thanks so much for all your help everyone!!! I really appreciate it!!!</p>
<p>[url=<a href="http://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.asp?Program=3969%5DMSU">http://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.asp?Program=3969]MSU</a> RO: Academic Programs: Human Biology<a href="Human%20Biology,%20just%20look%20at%20the%20top%20gray%20box%20only%20with%20the%20courses%20and%20credits%20listed%20out">/url</a></p>
<p>[url=<a href="http://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.asp?Program=3769%5DMSU">http://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.asp?Program=3769]MSU</a> RO: Academic Programs: Microbiology<a href="Microbiology,%20the%20same%20thing%20goes%20like%20Human%20Biology,%20the%20top%20gray%20box%20only">/url</a></p>
<p>Are you sure they’re making you decide? That’s not very common. A lot of people are undecided for for the first two years or so until they get the general cores out of the way.</p>
<p>The required core science courses seem to be the same for both majors. So, toss a coin, and you can always change your major later.</p>
<p>BTW, the required core science courses generally satisfy the premed requirements for most meds schools. As long as you have Gen Bio, Gen Chem, Org Chem, Calculus, and Gen Physics, you can major in whatever you want. Some med schools may have some additional recommended or required courses.</p>
<p>@Shackleford- yeah they’re making me choose a major because i have 58 credits entering and the university academic guidelines say any student in entering their 3rd year or has 56 credits must declare a major.</p>
<p>@zapfino-i understand that i can switch my major anytime since both majors have similar courses, but looking at the two course guides for microbiology and human biology…to your perspective which one look more difficult to pursue?</p>
<p>I can’t comment on the difficulty. I think they would be about the same but that’s just a guess. All I can say is do what you’re interested in. Microbiology is studying bacteria (unicellular eukaryotes), human biology is studying… humans (multicellular prokaryotes). Those are wildly different last time I checked :p. I can’t realistically see why you wouldn’t be able to decide rather easily between those two. They both have applications in medicine though.</p>
<p>An undergrad degree in Microbiology is not terribly different than an undergrad degree in human biology or molecular biology or genetics or any number of other fields. You spend so much time in college knocking out the basics that it is realistically only a difference of three or four classes that separate Micro from anything else. If you are coming in with Bio, Gen Chem, Organic Chem, Analytical Chem, Genetics, Calc, Biochem, Physics and any other general credits done, then you might want to make your decision based upon which classes you would be taking immediately. Read course descriptions, email professors, contact former students, read online review sites (ratemyprof.com), seek out syllabi/old exams/assignments and make a decision about what sounds most interesting to you. If you are entering preparing to take many or most of the general requirements I mentioned above, then picking a major may not be a major decision and you could change later as you find out more information.</p>
<p>On a separate note- Microbiology covers bacteria (prokaryotes not eukaryotes), viruses, fungi, protists (unicellular eukaryotes), phages and many other aspects. The background knowledge you need in biochemistry, genetics and physiology is still the same but the applications and topics are different.</p>