<p>I may be double majoring in Biology (or Biological Sciences)/Psychology (while on a pre-med track) in the future and I can not help but notice the way that UIUC handles Biology. From what I read, after Freshmen year,everyone is required to pick between Molecular-Cellular Bio or Integrative Bio, with IB focusing more on the study of animals and how organisms interact with each other. Although I'm still unsure of what concentration of Biology I want to go into, neither of those fall within my interests. I still want Biology as one of my majors though. I thought about creating my own major through IPS but I would really like to avoid that....help? Lol</p>
<p>What don’t you like about both of those majors? IB, as you said, tends to focus on animals, plants, and more of the macroscopic world. MCB focuses on cellular life, the microscopic world. There is also a biochemistry major if that fits your interest. What are you interested in the field of biology?</p>
<p>Aklauss17, the areas I’m interested can mostly be applied to humans and often overlaps with other areas of study. IE; Neuroscience, pharamacology, etc. Neuroscience and psychology are big interests of mine (yet still tentative), hence my intent to double major.
I am still unsure about what to concentrate in, but I know I don’t want to be the type of biologist that studies plants and animals. I may end up using molecular-cellular bio, but not as a concentration…</p>
<p>I would say you’re definitely more on the side of MCB. MCB has some neuroscience classes, but neuroscience is mainly an upper level and graduate degree subject. You really have to have a good backing in biology/psychology to study in-depth neuroscience.</p>
<p>If I were to choose MCB, would I be obligated to take classes only in MCB or could I add certain IB courses in my curriculum also? I was hoping I could just do Biological Science in general and narrow it down as I get older and more sure of where I want to go with this.</p>
<p>You can very easily take IB courses also! Of course, to complete the MCB program you have to take the certain classes that are required, but you’ll be able to take some IB classes too. You don’t have to (and can’t) declare if you want to go MCB or IB until after your freshman year. You’ll take an intro class to both and decide from there. If you have any other questions I’d be happy to answer them.</p>
<p>what about the mcb curriculum doesn’t interest you? neuroscience and cell biology are closely related. if you want to study neuroscience, you’re going to need to have a solid foundations of cell signaling, pathways, genetics, and biochemistry - all of which are covered in mcb.</p>
<p>I am admitted to biology major as freshman as well, but I’m hoping to double major in mcb( molecular n cellular bio) + chemical and bimolecular engineering (CBE) OR transfer to CBE cos the ranking of uiuc’s cbe is much higher than tt of biology. how difficult is it to double major in MCB n CBE or to transfer into CBE?</p>
<p>i’d say its near impossible. chemical engineering is one of the hardest majors and you’re gonna try and add a full mcb curriculum on top of that?</p>