sablefish
Registered
regarding where to focus your degree, do you intend to do field work or lab work? This should determine your course selection and where your specialty will lead to. I've found that field work is the most fun, but jobs like that are harder to come by and conditions are frequently cold, wet, and remote. Lab work usually means you can go home at the end of the day, and you can usually cross into biotechnology or medical work. A third fork that has been in vogue the past decade is the emergence of bioinformatics and GIS (basically, computer nerds) to manage large amounts of data. what type of marine biology research would you want to do?
I've been out of school for about 10 years now, and a specialized degree in a technical field (e.g. food science, inorganic chemistry, ecology) trumps a general BSc Bio, as long as the jobs you're applying for can overlap into your degree's specialty. In my experience, the majority of undergrads in the natural and applied sciences will end up with a general biology degree, although environmental studies is also similarly accessible. (i.e. it is what most people end up "switching" to) if you want to differentiate yourself in the crowd, experience (esp. in co-ops programs) is king, followed by a specialized undergraduate degree. you can still take courses in ecology, invertebrate zoology, and marine biology even if your degree says BSc. Biochemistry. definitely take courses that you're passionate about
use your time and the cheaper course fees in the community college to take a variety of courses, and move to a university when you're done "messing around" and want to get a degree. this will save money for you while you're sampling, and you'll be able to access graduate courses by going to uni. Out of school, the most important courses i've taken in my field are ones related to statistics, and courses with labs. an applied science course offered without lab component is almost worthless on a transcript.
the best thing about marine science is i don't have to wear a suit to work. (well, maybe a drysuit) in fact, i can wear whatever.
the worst thing about marine science is dry, cracked hands from all that saltwater.
best of luck.
I've been out of school for about 10 years now, and a specialized degree in a technical field (e.g. food science, inorganic chemistry, ecology) trumps a general BSc Bio, as long as the jobs you're applying for can overlap into your degree's specialty. In my experience, the majority of undergrads in the natural and applied sciences will end up with a general biology degree, although environmental studies is also similarly accessible. (i.e. it is what most people end up "switching" to) if you want to differentiate yourself in the crowd, experience (esp. in co-ops programs) is king, followed by a specialized undergraduate degree. you can still take courses in ecology, invertebrate zoology, and marine biology even if your degree says BSc. Biochemistry. definitely take courses that you're passionate about
use your time and the cheaper course fees in the community college to take a variety of courses, and move to a university when you're done "messing around" and want to get a degree. this will save money for you while you're sampling, and you'll be able to access graduate courses by going to uni. Out of school, the most important courses i've taken in my field are ones related to statistics, and courses with labs. an applied science course offered without lab component is almost worthless on a transcript.
the best thing about marine science is i don't have to wear a suit to work. (well, maybe a drysuit) in fact, i can wear whatever.
the worst thing about marine science is dry, cracked hands from all that saltwater.
best of luck.