is a bsc in biology useless?

[kear7856]

every job I looked at says they want people with a msc or higher :( its either get a masters or another degree in something else just to be safe. I feel like I wasted my time and $$ with this degree and I still have another year

[CavemanJ]

Useless no, just not as useful as before.

[medalgo]

Apply to a professional program related to healthcare/teaching or continue school to go into research.

You're lucky you didn't find this out next year, do some research over the summer, DECIDE ON SOMETHING and know what the deadlines are and start applying. A lot of people wait till they finish their degree anyways so you're not behind.

To be honest with you, all pure science BSc degrees are useless for work, because the subject nature is to acquire knowledge and expand science, not to give you a marketable skill. What have you really done other than read a textbook and answer questions, or do labs where instructions are given to you step by step?

I'm in science as well, and this naivety that university = job has to end, even college kids ridicule us for this, while making $15/hr. :facepalm:

[DrXenon]

I think there are some pretty sweet gigs in the provincial government. Conservation officer or other job in MNR? Bit of a lottery though.

[flamez1000]

Alone, without a masters or Phd, it is pretty darn useless. Switch into a different program if you still can.

Edit: Re-read OPs post, seems like he/she is almost done the degree. The only option you have at this point is to go for a masters or some professional program. Either that or nepotism, take your pick.

[xlc_88]

I think going to a more "applied" biology stream would be more useful (e.g. kinesiology, nutritional health, conservation/enviro bio) if you are looking for a job right away.

I know how you feel. I'm currently doing a MSc and sometimes wonder why I didn't pick a more applied stream of biology.

[epiphano]

I think going to a more "applied" biology stream would be more useful (e.g. kinesiology, nutritional health, conservation/enviro bio) if you are looking for a job right away.

Or biochem. That could get you a job as a lab technician at a company or a hospital.

[kear7856]

ye I was thinking about it lately but I think I want to switch to biophyics I think at ryerson I just need to take biophysics year 3 and like radiation stuff or a masters in biotechnology I just hate school I dont want to spend any more time doing it I already made horrible decisions in my 1 and 2 year I really just want to get out of debt

[nalababe]

No it is not useless.

It does depend on what you are looking to accomplish. Most of my colleagues at work typically have a BSc in Biology. Positions we hold range from Sales to Senior Management (Canada or Global).

As always, it is a way in...not the end.

Now if you want something as specific as research...then probably you'll want something higher.

[Nook]

I think so. Unless you want to become a paramedic, nurse, optometrist, teacher or researcher. Well not paramedic or nurse because for those, you generally need supervised experience working at a facility during your years as a student, which I'm guessing you don't have. Research requires a masters and teacher requires a B.Ed.

Otherwise, there aren't many jobs that you can get with JUST a B.Sc in biology. If you're going down the medical or dental line, any other degree would be a better option (just do the pre-requisite courses for med/dental school) as it leaves you with more options in career prospects in case you don't get in.

Nomsaiyan?

[floridian]

Speaking as someone with a Biology degree

I would try to pick up at least a minor in business, or if you have the time, get a major in business or accounting (even if you need to get another year of school to do it).

ALL companies hire business/accountin majors. biology gets so specialized it's hard to find jobs.

[vaportrails]

I can't speak for other universities, but Western's biology program is pretty intense.

You have to do a full credit practical lab course, a field course, a statistics course, a calculus, biophysics, organic and biochem, advanced level cell bio, then a bunch of lab credits after that. Just getting a major in Biology speaks to a serious amount of work and knowledge on behalf of the student.

In the end I switched to astro, but have nothing but respect for bio majors.

[windforcexx28]

It strongly depends on what you plan to do in the future. If your goal is to go into acedemia or research-related fields, I wouldn't call a bsc in biology "useless", since you need that undergrad knowledge to proceed into the Masters level anyways. The truth is many undergrad level programs don't really prepare you for the work force since a lot of the knowledge you gain is not applicable to real life situations. Something like biology is an obvious example (how often will you be required to name the anatomical parts of a human).

I felt the exact same way a couple just a while ago, so that's why I'm still in school :(

[kmarcie]

I can't speak for other universities, but Western's biology program is pretty intense.


That sounds pretty standard for most BSc programs out there. Unfortunately none of those skills and knowledge are used in real life.


Or biochem. That could get you a job as a lab technician at a company or a hospital.

Unfortunately, no. Lab techs require additional certification, and you will find that most hospitals and companies have masters students who are willing to do the same amount of work, so a BSc would most likely not be competitive.


Speaking as someone with a Biology degree

I would try to pick up at least a minor in business, or if you have the time, get a major in business or accounting (even if you need to get another year of school to do it).

ALL companies hire business/accountin majors. biology gets so specialized it's hard to find jobs.

+1 This. Minor in any kind of business just to put it on your resume. That way you can expand on that career path later. And with a BSc, you will probably rely heavily on that business minor to get a job later.

The trend now is that there is a huge surplus of BSc students with nowhere to go. If you had gone a more applied stream of science (X-ray technology, etc) you would have great chances of securing a job at a hospital. But at this rate, a BSc is too specified for any general position, yet not specified enough for an actual research position. I've known Masters student finding a job as a lab assistant at UT and you really do feel that their education is wasted.

If you're not looking to go into med school or dentistry school, minoring in business is the best way to get a job afterwards.

It's funny, because while in school BSc students feel smart for learning things that other people don't understand. My friends even felt superior to friends who studied business because business was 'common sense'. And now, all the business graduates have landed fantastic jobs where the science grads are still fighting for $15/hr lab assistant jobs.

[vaportrails]

It's funny, because while in school BSc students feel smart for learning things that other people don't understand. My friends even felt superior to friends who studied business because business was 'common sense'. And now, all the business graduates have landed fantastic jobs where the science grads are still fighting for $15/hr lab assistant jobs.

It may be true that the business grads have better job opportunities, but don't think for a minute that is a substitute for understanding the workings of the very ether that holds the world together. To me, it comes down to who I would rather sit down and have a beer with. Give me the science grad any day of the week. Their path is the more noble one. In my experience, most business grads lack passion. They're not in business because they have a genuine fascination with the paradigms surrounding human trade practices, their motivation begins and ends with personal greed.

They may make more money, but when it comes to the things that count in life, most fall sadly short. They are unremarkable human beings.

[Clement]

I think there are some pretty sweet gigs in the provincial government. Conservation officer or other job in MNR? Bit of a lottery though.
I'm pretty sure even those have tightened up.

I remember a friend of mine got into a gig as a food inspector with a BSc but now they require BSc and some sort of Microbiology Masters degree to go along with it. He wouldn't be able to get the same job if he quit and reapplied.

[kear7856]

looks like i'm staying in school longer then

[antibasher]

Useless or not is subjective to different people, I measure them by how likely the degree is able to get a job. As of now, the job market demands more engineering, physical science(occupational health/technician/computer science) and business graduates. I don't see much positions as lab technicians or any other positions for biology graduates in the current labour market. There is also much high number of biology/life science students compare to the fields mention above, so yes...there is an oversupply of biology students and the chances of you landing a suitable job are...slim.

[cheeseshredder]

It may be true that the business grads have better job opportunities, but don't think for a minute that is a substitute for understanding the workings of the very ether that holds the world together. To me, it comes down to who I would rather sit down and have a beer with. Give me the science grad any day of the week. Their path is the more noble one. In my experience, most business grads lack passion. They're not in business because they have a genuine fascination with the paradigms surrounding human trade practices, their motivation begins and ends with personal greed.

They may make more money, but when it comes to the things that count in life, most fall sadly short. They are unremarkable human beings.
:lol: Seriously? You think too highly of science students (I hold a B.Sc btw).

Noble = people pursuing their passion, whether it be arts, science, engineering or even business.

There are a boatload of science students without any passion whatsoever.

I find your post strange, considering your background and career goals: http://forums.redflagdeals.com/advice-needed-3-year-4-year-bachelor-degree-choose-1116518/

[windforcexx28]

Noble = people pursuing their passion, whether it be arts, science, engineering or even business.

There are a boatload of science students without any passion whatsoever.


I have to agree with this. I've only met a couple people throughout my undergrad who was passionate about what they study, especially in science.

[bsteave]

in my perspective, any undergraduate degree in pure science (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology) will not get you anywhere unless you build on it with a MSc or Phd. On the other hand, with an undergraduate degree in business for example, you can put you foot on the door someplace and move your way up in a reasonable period of time. However, if you are really passionate about bio, I would say go ahead and experience it for awhile and decide if you would want to continue doing graduate studies in that field. If you didn't like it, then, you can always transfer between faculties and/or universities.

[DaSciGuy]

Being a biology graduate I can tell that yes a degree in biology is useless. This wasnt always the case, but over the last several years the opportunities for people with BSc's in biology has vanished greatly. A lot of university, college and research labs would look for bio majors to come on board as research/lab assistants/associates, but this too has gone bye bye.

The majority are now looking for MLT's (medical lab technologists/technicians) or RVT's (registered veterinary technologists/technicians) and almost all now want you to be certified with the CSMSL and other MLT bodies. Which means bio degrees are useless since you cant even get into that, no matter how much lab work you've done in school, without at least several years of working experience in a lab, while MLT grads get automatic membership with a test.

Private sector companies like bio-tech companies used to hire a lot of bio grads, and they too have shifted to MLT or BT (biotech technologists/technicians) for hires.

Masters degrees have also begun losing ground in the working world. Very few positions are offered as compared to before. So they too will end up losing ground to the MLT, BT, and RVT grads.