<p>Posted this in the Science forum but didn't get any replies =/. Hopefully its different here.
Currently I'm a freshman Biomedical Engineering major looking to switch to strictly Biology. I've realized I don't like the engineering portion as much as I thought, my interest seems to lie more on the biology size. What I'm looking to focus on in the future is some sort of research career. My main interests lie in neurobiology, toxicology, cellular biology, pharmacology, and some other closely related fields. What I am curious about is how would I go about focusing on those certain topics if my school doesn't offer those as a major. Is my best bet choosing Biology as my major then applying to grad school where those areas are focused on? Also, what could I do with a degree in some of the fields I listed? Obviously I could go to med school and become a doctor, but what else? Advice is greatly appreciated it!</p>
<p>Your best bet is going to graduate or medical school. Most schools wouldn’t have those majors except for cell bio and neurobiology. Bio would be fine for pursuing graduate programs. Other than medicine, you could go into pharmacy, research, or academia. Plenty of other options as well I’m sure.</p>
<p>If you do not like engineering, it makes sense to switch. </p>
<p>A major difference, if you make the switch, is that unlike engineering, a bachelors degree in Biology does not get you very far in the working world. You probably could find work as a lab tech, but that is pretty low level job. Grad school would greatly increase your employment prospects. Biology is also a fine major for medical school.</p>
<p>Yea, I sort of assumed a BA in Biology wouldn’t do much. Do you guys have any idea what the job outlook is for someone with a degree in one of the fields mentioned above? Working for a pharmaceutical company or government agency, how well the pay is?</p>
<p>A bachelors in cell bio and neurobio offer up the same prospects for jobs as a bachelors in bio, more or less. The other two really aren’t majors to my knowledge, they are things you pursue post-undergrad.</p>
<p>Also, Bio majors have more applicability than most people give them credit for.</p>
<p>A research-oriented career generally requires a PhD.</p>
<p>If you want to be a PI yes.</p>
<p>Would you consider Biology major and Neuroscience minor?</p>
<p>Thanks for the help! I wouldn’t mind minoring in Neuroscience. The current dilemma I’m in is this - I currently go to a branch campus that does not offer Neuroscience as a major, but the main campus does. If I was to switch my major to Biology here then switch over to Neuroscience at the main campus once I transfer over, how behind do you guys suspect I will be? Am I better off just getting my BA in Biology?</p>
<p>D is Zoology major and Neuroscience minor. She said that a lot of classes overlap and Neuroscience classes at her school are easier than other Bio classes. You mentioned pharmacology and she is taking psychopharmacology now. She loves that class and planning keep the textbook. So far she was able to take one Psych class along with couple other science classes and classes in her other minor. She is very busy overall. She feels that she is OK graduating on time. Looks like you will be just fine, it depends on classes available each semester at your school.</p>