I have a chance to study Liberal arts with some courses in Genetics, Biotechnology, Cell biology and that sorta stuff for free. I will also study abroad for a year (guaranteed) where I will be able to take whatever courses I want and naturally, I’ll take more Bio courses. Will I be able to get some Biosciences Master’s degree with this background? Something like Bioinformatics maybe? (if I also take CS courses), or Biotechnology?
P.S.
What worries me is the fact that my degree will still say LIBERAL ARTS and majority of courses will naturally be humanities and arts.
I’m sure you will be able to. This is something you’d have to talk to guidance about with your school. Although it probably would be easier to get a Bachelors of Science (BS) so you won’t have to take as many courses.
Graduates of liberal arts colleges in the US major in those subjects (Genetics, Cell Biology, etc) and get into grad school all the time in those subjects. You may want to look at some of the better US colleges and see what courses constitute a major in the areas you are interested in. Modeling your coursework to some extent after that where possible might help you with grad school admissions later.
Most US students have to take some humanities courses as well as STEM courses. If you include math, bio, and CS courses as the ones relevant to your grad school aspirations, what percent of your classes will still be required to be in other humanities areas?
@TheDidactic
Yeah I know but I really don’t have many opportunities and the full tuition scholarship is a lifesaver for my family.
There isn’t anything else besides Liberal Arts studies that you could study? What school are we talking about if you don’t mind. I completely understand the full scholarship aspect and I encourage you to pursue that, especially if you want to get a master’s.
@intparent
I actually looked at what John Hopkins wanted me to get and I can squeeze in all the prerequisites. Only thing that worries me is the fact that they said I should have degree in “BIOSCIENCES OR ENGINEERING” and mine will just say liberal arts.
@TheDidactic
Yamanashi Gakuin University (Japan) opened International College of Liberal Arts:
http://www.icla.jp/en/curriculum.html
And no, the rest of faculties are in Japanese which I am not that good at.
I would not worry IF your coursework is comparable. You can include a letter of explanation. But I do think you need to confirm that it would be the case. Knowing the % of non-STEM courses you would have to take would be helpful.
OK, well you still should consult with your guidance department in the school and ensure that this is a beneficial route for you, as @intparent says.
This is a foreign college… do you really think they are going to be much help?
They SHOULD be able to, but I’m not 100% sure. If not, then OP will have to do his own research.
@intparent
@TheDidactic
Well I’ve had like 3 interviews and the dean and admissions representative really like me and think I’ll have a good science career after this. But the physics prof. was a bit skeptical (at least seemed that way to me) about my idea.
Also, during the study abroad year I’m free to take JUST the STEMS (I talked about this to the dean) and I will also be able to take all the science courses the college itself has. (it’s not like there’s too many of them lol)
Skeptical that you could come to the US and go to grad school after this education? I am going to say… deans and admissions rep have the JOB of trying to get you to the school, and you will not see much (or any) of them after you are admitted most likely. They just want you to come… so they may tell you whatever you want to hear. What is the EXACT % of required non-STEM humanities courses you would have to take?
@intparent
During the study abroad year I’m free to take JUST the STEMS (I talked about this to the dean) and I will also be able to take all the science courses the college itself has. (it’s not like there’s too many of them lol).
Yeah the prof. really worried me.
The prof. also said something like “EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GETTING INTO AND EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES”. weird…
Mmm… you aren’t answering the question about the % of coursework. Maybe you need to investigate, but do that and come back and tell us. Also, you need to make sure that the NUMBER of courses/credits is roughly equivalent to a US degree, I suspect. Although I do think there must be students from universities in places like the UK where they only for 3 years who get into US grad schools. So… that might be a point of flexibility, especially if your GRE credits are up to snuff and your coursework in your area of study matches what a comparable student in the same major at a good US college would complete.
@intparent
Yeah don’t know the exact % yet. I think the curriculum follows US one courses and credits-vise, I think all English programs in Japan do, cause they’re kinda built around US system cause the Japanese one is really different I’ve heard. Also, I’ve seen students from strictly STEM faculties from Japanese unis go to US unis no prob. The only thing that really worried me was the Liberal Arts on my degree, though now I guess that doesn’t pose a problem.
(Re: Post 14) Okay, red flags totally weren’t waving in my eyes when I read that post.
How will you be able to take just the STEM’s but still graduate with a degree in Liberal Arts w/Natural Sciences concentration? You should research yourself and find out these answers.
I’d find out more details of the graduation requirements and course distribution before I signed on.
@TheDidactic
It’s just for a year. The study abroad year. I’ll take LA courses while in Japan. Or am I spouting nonsense? 