Biophysics Majors: When Your School Doesn't Offer One

[DBTS]

My school does not have a "biophysics" major and I wanted to major in biophysics as that is a field I want to head into. With only about 8 more classes to complete a major in physics (from PSEO to college courses, I took more physics classes than not), should I just tack that on with my biology major?

I am not trying to impress anyone, just that the school does not offer the interdisciplinary program as a major.

 

[Pengwuino]

So you want to double major in physics and biology because you want to get into the biophysics field? Sounds like you put 2 and 2 together quite nicely.

 

[DBTS]

I mean, if I have taken a lot of physics classes and am majoring in biology, would I necessarily have to also major in physics in order to be accepted into graduate school under that program (biophysics)?

 

[Pengwuino]

You should contact universities you are interested in attending for questions like that. The biomedical undergraduate program at our university seems more heavily focused on the biology so if I had to guess, I would say the biology degree + physics courses by themselves are good enough. Though a second degree certainly won't hurt. Contact programs you are interested in though to see what they want

 

[eri]

The biophysics program at my university was in the physics dept; you didn't need any biology background to get into it, only physics. That's not the case at other schools. You should look up programs you're interested in at schools you're interested in and find out what they require.

 

[Stan Marsh]

I mean, if I have taken a lot of physics classes and am majoring in biology, would I necessarily have to also major in physics in order to be accepted into graduate school under that program (biophysics)?

If possible, double major in physics and biology + research experience in a biophy group may be the best.

I know an undergrad who major in physics, and did his research in a biophysics group. It seems there is no problem for him to get a top 20 grad school. Of course, he has good GPA and so on.

 

[Choppy]

Biophysics is usually a physics sub-field and if you want to go to graduate school for physics, you will more than likely need to have completed an undergradute physics degree.

Check out the admission requirements to the programs you're interested in though. It would be a shame to waste a year on something you don't need.