Grad degree unrelated to undergrad major?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hello everyone.</p>

<p>I am currently an undergrad economics (and history) major (I am, specifically, a junior). However, my interest in economics as something I want to spend the rest of my life doing is waning, and I'm beginning to find that I'm more interested in certail other subjects, in particular epidemiology and biology.</p>

<p>My dilemma is, I intend to go to graduate school of some kind for something, and I am increasingly sure that that something is not going to be economics (and it certainly isn't going to be history!). I'm currently considering applying to epidemiology or biostat programs after I graduate. Luckily, due the peculiar nature of the economics department at my school, which is dominated by engineering and premed students i should mention, so everything is more quantitative and scientific than at, say, a liberal arts college), I have been and am taking courses that would be good preparation for epidemiology or biostat, plenty of math and statistics courses. </p>

<p>I have also, however, begun to take courses in biology (and intro chemistry as a prerequisite). And I'm finding that most of what I read nowadays is not economics, but mathematical biology or epidemiology, and looking at the courses offered, the bio ones interest me more than any of the econ ones. And yet, it's certainly too late for me to switch to a bio major. So here's my question:</p>

<p>If I were to take the 'right' classes, like several core classes and advanced bio classes I'm interested in (after this semester I will have the prerequisites to most of the undergrad bio courses offered), would it be totally unreasonable for me to apply to som sort of graduate biology program? I mean, if I've taken the necessary math courses and beyond, intro chem, and the integral bio classes and (hopefully) do well in a few advanced classes, would the fact that I am still a mere econ major preclude me from getting into any sort of bio program at a decent school? The only think I could see being problematic is the lack of OCHEM, but I could at least take a semester of that the summer before matriculating, right?</p>

<p>Part of the reason I am concerned about this right now is that I am trying to decide between finishing the econ major and taking bio classes when I can, or dropping the econ major and (since I'm almost done with the history major) spending my last 3 semesters (4 including next summer) taking lots of bio classes, but then having to apply to grad schools as <em>sigh</em> just a history major. The biostat/epidemiology reps I've emailed at a few schools I'm interested say it wouldn't be a problem, since most schools don't even have epi or biostat majors, it's the classes you take that are more important than the majors. But is the same true for Bio grad programs? </p>

<p>Thanks anyone who had the patience to read my entire post and/or respond.</p>

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<p>in general, they care more if you have taken the classes that prepare you for grad work (and for competitive programs if you have research exp) than if you have a degree in biology.</p>

3

<p>Is getting a double major in Biology and History (after dropping econ) not an option? I couldn’t figure that out based on your post. If it *is *doable, then obviously wait to get your Biology degree before you apply, that way you won’t have to “apply to grad schools as <em>sigh</em> just a history major.” </p>

<p>If it’s not doable and you’re just looking to take the core classes, grad schools will still let you in - programs usually don’t specifically list Biology degree as a requirement (that’s only for jobs). Any degree from a 4-year college would do. However, the advantage of being enrolled in the actual Bio major is that you get priority for those upper division classes you’ll need. </p>

<p>Good decision to switch to bio, though. Economics is pretty dull and lifeless IMO. I can’t imagine spending a career thinking about money all day. I already got my mind on my money, and my money on my mind. .</p>

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<p>Getting a bio major at this point probably would be an impossibility (or would at least be improbable). I could probably take all the necessary bio courses, but the issue would be the year of OCHEM, the labs, the year of physics, all that i doubt I could fit into my schedule. </p>

<p>Of course it’s not like I want to get a phd in molecular biology or something ver chemistry-related. I’m mainly interestes in population biology and ecology, and have been looking at those sorts of programs. So would it kill me not to have the year of OCHEM.</p>

<p>(Quote: denizen): If it’s not doable and you’re just looking to take the core classes, grad schools will still let you in - programs usually don’t specifically list Biology degree as a requirement (that’s only for jobs). Any degree from a 4-year college would do. However, the advantage of being enrolled in the actual Bio major is that you get priority for those upper division classes you’ll need. </p>

<p>Good decision to switch to bio, though. Economics is pretty dull and lifeless IMO. I can’t imagine spending a career thinking about money all day. I already got my mind on my money, and my money on my mind. .(/Quote)</p>

<p>Given tha tmy school isn’t too big (4000 undergrads, so no Ohio State) and there are lots of non-bio premeds, Biomed engineering majors, and such, I don’t think not being a bio major would keep me out of too many upper level classes. There’s a good teacher:student ratio here.</p>

<p>I agree though. I think econ is interesting, fun to read about, but not a subject I want to devote the rest of my life to doing or studying. Plus my older borther is an econ grad student, and I don’t wanto look like I’m copying him :).</p>

<p>(btw, is there a quote function here? If there is, it wasn’t conspicuous enough for me to find it.)</p>

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<p>You have to do [ quote ] text [ /quote ]. Without those spaces, otherwise I couldn’t type it to show you. :slight_smile: </p>

<p>I see…</p>

<p>As far as the requirement for physics, ochem, etc. into a bio program, I’m not sure. You’ll have to verify that with each school. As a bio major I personally never had to worry about that. </p>

<p>Fortunately PhD programs are pretty no-nonsense so you don’t have to take Communications or Public Speaking or Microeconomics like you do for Pharm, Optometry, Med, or other professional schools. Just good ol’ quintessential biology courses.</p>

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<p>Your math (presumably, because your an economics major) and statistics background will be a plus. Programs in biology almost uniformly require two semesters of organic chemistry, not because it is needed in graduate school but because it might be. Programs are often prepared to overlook small deficiencies in an otherwise qualified individual, but you cannot afford many of these in the competitive arena of graduate admissions.</p>

<p>Can you minor in biology instead of graduating with a double major in history and economics? As denizen says, you don’t have to major in a field as long as you take the courses, but to give yourself the proper preparation, you’ll probably fulfill minor requirements along the way.</p>

<p>Remember that you will have to study the field at the graduate level, and any failing in preparation will make it that much more difficult. My daughter got into a neuroscience program without having taking physics (one of the recommended courses), but she found herself scrambling to teach herself certain aspects of physics during a core course on cellular neuroscience. The less you have to teach yourself, the better. Even though you plan to study evolutionary biology, most programs will require you to take certain core courses to give you breadth, and these courses assume an undergraduate background in their subject matter. </p>

<p>Your coursework is not going to be as much a problem as your lack of research. You simply cannot get into a good PhD program without some sort of research experience. </p>

<p>My advice to you is to drop the double major so you can concentrate on preparing yourself for a biology program. Secure a lab position now with a professor so you can get started with the research requirement. Apply to REUs for next summer. Since you are a junior, you can get a full academic year plus a summer of research before you apply – as long as you start now.</p>