<p>So here's my little dilemma. I'm planning to do pre-pharmacy, but here at the U of MN they highly encourage us to get a bachelors degree too. I think like 80% of the admitted class of the U of MN pharmacy school has it so it's obviously beneficial. My planned major is biochemistry. The prepharm reqs include a couple of social sciences requirements. Basically you choose whether you want to do 2 classes of sociology or psychology. I also need writing intensive classes. I think it wouldn't be too bad of an idea to make one of these into a minor seeing as how I'm forced to take the classes anyway.</p>
<p>Sociology Minor
-needs less credits
-has a couple of writing intensive classes I'd like to take
-only makes me take 2 extra classes apart from the stuff I need</p>
<p>Psychology Minor
-needs more credits
-will have to take extra 3 classes
-fits with a biochem major more than sociology does (I think at least)</p>
<p>So what do you guys think? Is either more practical to have? Or should I just go the easier route and take the minor in sociology? As my grad planner says, even with the soc. minor I'll be taking around 13 credits each semester so I could def. stand to have a higher load. Oh, and if someone can help me find a rational way to combine biochemistry and sociology please tell me. I'm running short on rationalizations at the moment.</p>
<p>In the long run, neither one is more practical than the other, because they're both similar in that they focus on aspects of life. Sociology is the study of how people interact and psychology is the study of how the individual mind works. They share similar concepts and approaches, so you won't miss out on the skills that you would gain from the other. The way I see it is that sociology is benefical if you go into law, urban planning, and social work. Psych is benefical for psychiatry, human resources, and health care, so I'd probably suggest psych in this case. You learn things such as mental diseases and human development, which I see as something that can benefit someone in medicine.</p>
<p>Whichever you're more interested in... if you're doing pharmacy, it's not like your minor will really matter for jobs.</p>
<p>I think sociology is more practical, and that basically has to do with what you get out of it for your own personal benefit. If you're taught sociology the right way, I think it makes you more open to accepting different aspects of humanity that most take for granted or don't stop to question.</p>
<p>Do whichever one interests you the most. They will both hone similar skills, so neither will give you much more of an advantage over the other. I can't see your choice of minor mattering significantly in the long run anyway, such as in your admission to pharmacy school.</p>
<p>As a professor I have some thoughts for you; </p>
<p>Psychology studies individuals, how they think, how they behave and why. Sociology can study individuals and groups but is more focused on social systems and societal level (rather than individual level) phenonema. Both are very diverse social science disciplines and pretty interesting. </p>
<p>But these two disciplines can intersect and overlap.Both psychologists and sociologists for example might study group behavior. And both might look at the same behavior but explain it different ways: some psychologists are interested in how personality impacts behavior, a sociology would be more interested in broader social forces impact behavior. . </p>
<p>It really doesn' t matter which you pick. In practical terms, psych. is closer if as a pharmacist you are interacting with people everyday. But think less in terms of instrumental and practical and more in terms of broadening your mind and learning something that interests you. Which seems more appealing when you look at course descriptions in either area? Pharmacy is practical enough and after all, it's not trade school, it's university; its not just job training but education. So look to learn things you'd otherwise never get a chance to that you think might be interesting and enjoyable and mind-opening. Any courses outside your main area will shape how you see the world, how you think, and influence you, even if they aren't directly related to your future goals. That is usually the point and benefit of breadth requirements.</p>