Curriculum Question

[Chorg]

Hi Everybody,

Hope you are all doing well. I'm off to another interview tomorrow. This is getting tiring.

So, I have a question about paths of study in graduate school. I've been fortunate to been accepted to a number of good biology programs already. All of these programs are general bio or cell bio.

I'm finding that as I learn more about biology my interests are shifting more towards the realm of bioengineering/systems bio/ biophysics, but it's too late to apply to any other programs.

So, I guess my question is largely focused on curriculum. I've noticed most bio graduate programs have two semesters of required classes, generally a cell bio and genetics course. Do you think it would be possible to work in a lot of the bioengineering curriculum if the department allows open course registration, or will this be looked down upon?

My thinking is that the big difference between these two curriculums is the quantity of required courses. Bioengineers tend to take similar cell/molecular courses but with a lot more mathematics/physics/engineering tacked on while doing the same lab work.

[dzk]

Can you be more specific about your research interests? The three fields you listed together are actually very, very different.

First, you need to find a school who has a large number of electives relative to core classes. You can usually take pretty much anything you want for those electives. However, I think you'd have a difficult time jamming most biomedical engineering courses in there without an engineering background... but biophysics and systems biology would be no problem.

[Genomic Repairman]

Most programs have a predefined set of courses that you must take but they usually give you some space for some electives. But depending upon your program getting the bioengineering classes may be tough, if at all possible. You might be able to take extra electives than what you need to gain the experience you want but Program directors, and your boss usually want you to get done with classes ASAP and not dilly dally around. They want you producing results and you cannot do that sitting in on extra classes. And honestly you learn a lot about subjects when you approach those subjects through your research. I've picked up more knowledge through my research than I ever got sitting through a 3 hour lecture.