Master's Degree or Triple Major?

[omagdon7]

I am currently a Chemical engineering student who is interested in pharmaceutical research. I planned on double majoring in biochemistry to help supplement my knowledge and after falling in love with math this year I begun to consider a triple major in math.

However a triple major takes the same amount of time as a combined BS/MS so which will be more useful to me as I would like to spend a minimum of time in school and begin my PhD work.

 

[JasonJo]

do they even allow you to triple major?

dont do it, a master's is more valuable than a triple major.

 

[neurocomp2003]

depends on what you want to spend your career on...and whether you care about the money you spend in university...as said above a MSc is vary valauble but if your going into some sort of mathematical modelling in Chem/Biochem then the math major/minor will help...So unless you see yourself in using math to model in chem/biochem then it is useless(go do your MSc and perhaps sit in on math courses)
but if your going to want to use math then go for the extra major/minor then go do your Msc in the joint interdisplinary.

 

[semidevil]

if you want to learn for the heck of learning, then go ahead and triple major. If you want to have a degree that will give you an edge in getting a good job once you graduate, then get the masters.

 

[cronxeh]

The math in Chemical Engineering is all inclusive - once you study on a graduate level you will take a course in Math methods for ChemE's and that will cover all the math you will ever want to learn.

Go for BS/MS in ChemE, and as far as Biochem is concerned you would only need 2-3 classes from that area for a Chemical (and Biological) Engineer

 

[omagdon7]

Well my actual goal is to design drugs and/or drug delivery mechanisms. So now I am wondering if Chemical Engineering is even the right field?

What do you all feel would be the best major for this area of research? Also for a math minor I must do linear algebra and then the courses I was considering if I did only a minor were partial differential equations and numerical analysis plus something else.

I am also definitely going for a PhD if this affects anyones opinions.

 

[cronxeh]

Best area would be PhD in Computational Biophysics/Biochemistry. Chemical Engineering is not even remotely appropriate for drug design - its for drug production, in large quantities and cheaply

 

[omagdon7]

My other interests however include, nanoparticles and renewable energy.

Perhaps for my undergraduate studies Biochemistry and Material Sciences and Engineering would be best?

 

[cronxeh]

Well its really all Physics+Math with just a few courses from Bio dept.. (Biochemistry, Microbiology, Physiology, Genetics, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry)

 

[theCandyman]

You really have no clue what you want to do, do you?

My math porfessor was a triple major in chemistry, math, and economics and he went to CalTech and finished in 4 years, so it is possible to finish in the normal amount of time and from there you could pursue a doctorate in the area that most interestes you.

 

[cronxeh]

You really have no clue what you want to do, do you?

But then again, who does?

 

[neurocomp2003]

chemistry/math/economics? in 4 years? is that including summer school?
cuz i can't see how that is possible unless 2 of those are minors.

 

[so-crates]

I know someone else who triple majored, in Math/physics/computer science and finished in 4 years. He had a lot of APs and was able to get the introductory/general ed courses out of the way. I think he took 18 credits/semester and attended summer sessions as well, so it is doable.

 

[gravenewworld]

i am doing a chemisty and math major w/ a econ minor. i have to take 1 extra semester, so i will not be graduating until the dec. this year. my school has extremely rigorous liberal arts program which is why it is taking forever to get my degrees.

 

[notmuch]

Wow! This forum truly makes me feel at home.
This is my 3rd semester at the University. I had originally planned to concentrate on Chemistry, but I've been considering more and more dual majoring in Math. Plus, since I am pretty far ahead in my Chemistry requirements, my school has a dual BS/MS program for Chemistry or Math. I was thinking about BS Chem/Math and working on MS Chem at the same time. I'd really be interested to hear anyone's feedback on this or omagdon7's situation.

 

[gravenewworld]

What do you all feel would be the best major for this area of research? Also for a math minor I must do linear algebra and then the courses I was considering if I did only a minor were partial differential equations and numerical analysis plus something else.

Definitely do a semester on abstract/modern algebra to get an intro to group theory.