I am applying to college soon, and I am not quite sure if you can double major in molecular biology and biochemistry, or major in on and minor in the other.
They probably have mostly the same required courses right?
Would this make sense?
2007-07-13 07:31:55 · 13 answers · asked by Dr. Jeff1616 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Yes, in many colleges. However, it may not make a lot of sense. I wouldn't worry too much about which you will major/ minor in yet before you even start. It is enough to know you are interested in what I call small biology. Intro classes will be nearly identical if not identical. See which one you seem to like most as you go through. Grad schools and employers will look more at specific courses then the designation of major or minor. i would guess you would be better off with one major and more time in a research lab than a double major.
Remember that these decisions are pretty flexible until about junior year. (with the exception that if you make a major change, say anthropology to biochem, you will probably need to spend longer in college.)
2007-07-13 08:07:13 · answer #1 · answered by Cindy B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They would have similar classes, yes. However usually both majors require a huge amount of courses, and adding on additional courses for a double major would be difficult with other requirements, and very time consuming. There might be 4-6 course differences. Anything is possible, though.
An idea is to do molecular biology with a chemistry minor.
2007-07-13 07:37:44 · answer #2 · answered by misscarinne 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm pretty sure that I could if that's what I fancied to do (I'm a biology major). Where I attend college, they're mostly the same classes... but there are some differences that may make someone not want to go one route (such as, here, a biochem. major doesn't have to take nearly as much biology as a biology major, but just about all the classes that a biochem. major has to take here, a biology major has to take also). I can major in one and minor in the other also. I don't think it should be a problem, but if you're itching to know now, you could email an advisor and ask him or her. Good luck!
2007-07-13 07:44:28 · answer #3 · answered by buttercup1137 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it is possible. The university I went to had extremely similar biochemistry and molecular biology programs- differing in only a couple of classes. I think I finished one or two classes shy of the Mol Biol degree (I was a Biochem major) and minored in physics. Having that double major is not going to get you any more respect or consideration when applying for jobs or grad school. Research experience is 10x more valuable. Pic one and minor in math or physics and get into a summer research program asap.
2007-07-13 20:55:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can. A lot of the classes required for those two majors will be the same, such as biochem, o chem, p chem, lower and upper div bio. These two majors are very hard and time consuming ones, especially biochemistry, but they are really similar, so if you understand one, you should understand the other just fine. However, you should consider another second major that isn't so close to your first one. How about microbiology? Anyways, good luck in college!
2007-07-13 07:56:50 · answer #5 · answered by teknique 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want to major in molecular biology I guarantee you will study biochemistry FIRST - they are different parts of the same subject. Molecular biology is a part of biochemistry, but a VERY specific part. Check out the "NCBI Bookshelf" for "Biochemistry" and two books on molecular biology ("Molecular Cell Biology" and "Molecular Biology of the Cell"). Good luck!
2007-07-13 08:30:11 · answer #6 · answered by Paul Hxyz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most people I associate with consider them to be the same field. So although you would have two degrees, it would be like having two of the SAME degree... and I'm not sure what would be the point of that.
The only difference I can divine is that biochemists are chemists, while molecular biologists are biologists.
More useful, perhaps, would be a degree in chemistry and one in biology. You could even put a focus on that part in each degree, but would have much greater breadth. Of course that would probably mean correspondingly greater course loads!
2007-07-13 09:52:57 · answer #7 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends on your college but it is possible if you are willing to do some extra course, I personally have a double major in Biology and Psychology and also a degree in Forensic that I completed in 5 years. I took about 6 classes per semester, and a few during summer. Try to plan your class schedule really well, my classes kind of all were similar, and it made it easy to study, for example I was taking psychology of the brain (psy) along with physiology of the brain (bio).The only advice I can suggest make sure you have a job planned out for when you get out. With all my qualifications I still have not found a job in my field! Although I'm Canadian and our options are much lower in science employment , good luck. 1st step is see the dean of science in your University.
2007-07-13 08:14:06 · answer #8 · answered by Michelle L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it just does not make sense to do that, as the two are so closely intertwined. here are some broader combinations that might work
-Molecular biology and Minor in Chemistry
- biochemistry and zoology ( or botany)
- Genetics and biochemistry
-any biological science with a minor in computer science or mathematics.
2007-07-13 08:02:34 · answer #9 · answered by west_urn_enlightenment 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about that. I mean all sciences are related, but from what I know, microbio is like about bacteria and viruses and stuff like that, whereas molecular bio and biochemistry, are more leaning towards humans and animals [mostly humans though].
2016-03-15 03:32:58 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋