Why Study Biology? | College Majors | College Degrees | Study Hall
Summary
TLDRThis video script from Fast Guides introduces biology as the science of all living things, highlighting its broad scope and diverse career paths. It covers various subfields, the importance of acquiring knowledge, and the potential for making significant discoveries. The script emphasizes the need for analytical skills, perseverance, and a clear career vision, showcasing the potential of a biology major to lead to impactful work in understanding life.
Takeaways
- 🔬 Biology is the study of all living things, encompassing a vast array of topics from the origin of life to the intricacies of plant reproduction and animal behavior.
- 🏫 A degree in biology involves acquiring extensive knowledge about life and applying this knowledge to solve new problems and answer new questions.
- 🌿 Studying biology helps in understanding human needs, developing medicine, and exploring the molecular basis of life and environmental impacts on organisms.
- 🔍 Biology offers a wide range of subfields, including anatomy, astrobiology, biochemistry, bioclimatology, bioengineering, botany, evolutionary biology, genetics, marine biology, microbiology, physiology, and zoology.
- 🎓 A biology degree typically includes coursework in genetics, biochemistry, ecology, cell structure, molecular biology, and anatomy and physiology, building a strong foundation in understanding life at various scales.
- 🧪 Students in biology programs often engage in lab work and research, which is crucial for building practical skills and contributing to scientific advancements.
- 📈 Biology majors may also take math-related courses like calculus, physics, or biostatistics, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of biological studies.
- 🌐 The broad scope of biology allows for diverse career paths, from medical technology to studying insects, and the flexibility to pursue further education in specialized fields.
- 💼 Challenges in biology include the philosophical nature of deep questions in the field, which can lead to more questions than answers, and the demanding nature of lab and science courses.
- 🏥 Post-graduation opportunities for biology majors are diverse, ranging from immediate entry into careers like biological technician or health communications specialist to further education for roles in genetic counseling, biochemistry, or teaching.
Q & A
What is the primary focus of the video?
-The primary focus of the video is to provide an overview of the field of Biology, its various subfields, and the career paths it can lead to.
What is Biology in the context of this video?
-Biology, as described in the video, is the science that studies all living things, including the origin of life, how our bodies work, how plants reproduce, and why some animals are social.
What are some of the subfields of Biology mentioned in the video?
-Some of the subfields of Biology mentioned include Anatomy, Astrobiology, Biochemistry, Bioclimatology, Bioengineering, Botany, Evolutionary Biology, Genetics, Marine Biology, Microbiology, Physiology, and Zoology.
What are some of the skills a Biology major might acquire during their studies?
-A Biology major might acquire skills such as designing and conducting experiments, scientific fluency, time management, research skills, and the ability to communicate findings.
Why is it important to study Biology?
-Studying Biology is important as it helps in understanding human needs, developing medicine, understanding the molecular basis for life, and how environmental changes affect living organisms.
What are some potential career paths for Biology majors?
-Potential career paths for Biology majors include becoming a Biological Technician, Health Communications Specialist, Genetic Counselor, Biochemist, high school biology teacher, or pursuing further education to become a doctor or dentist.
What are some challenges that Biology majors might face?
-Some challenges Biology majors might face include the philosophical nature of biological questions that often result in more questions than answers, the time-consuming nature of science and lab courses, and the need for a clear idea of post-graduation plans.
What is the role of mathematical models in Biology?
-Mathematical models are used frequently in Biology, particularly in genetics, ecology, and other scientific fields, to estimate things like population sizes based on behavioral patterns.
Why might a Biology major consider a double major or minor in a related field?
-A double major or minor in a related field can help a Biology major understand humans better, such as Psychology or Sociology for those interested in medicine, or deepen their scientific knowledge with Chemistry.
What is the significance of Katalin Karikó's research mentioned in the video?
-Katalin Karikó's research, which took over 40 years, eventually contributed to the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, highlighting the importance of perseverance and collaboration in scientific research.
What are some additional skills or knowledge areas that can complement a Biology major?
-Additional skills or knowledge areas that can complement a Biology major include learning a common language like Chinese or Spanish, or studying fields like Computer Science, Statistics, or Chemistry to deepen scientific knowledge and enhance data analysis skills.
Outlines
🔬 Introduction to the Diverse World of Biology
The script introduces the field of Biology as the science of all living things, encompassing a vast array of topics from the origin of life to the intricacies of bodily functions. It dispels the myth of biology being about creating monsters, instead highlighting the potential for significant discoveries like vaccines and new species. The paragraph emphasizes the shared goal among biologists to enhance our understanding of life, including human biology. Hank Green welcomes viewers to the Fast Guides series, presented in partnership with Arizona State University and Crash Course, focusing on the study of Biology, which is both broad and deep, with much known and yet much to discover. The importance of formal education in biology for acquiring knowledge and applying it to solve new problems is underscored, along with the mention of various subfields such as anatomy, astrobiology, biochemistry, and more, indicating the wide range of interests one can pursue within biology.
🎓 The Journey Through a Biology Degree and Career Prospects
This paragraph delves into the academic aspects of pursuing a degree in Biology, which may go by different names like 'Life Sciences' or 'Biological Sciences'. It outlines the typical curriculum, including courses in genetics, biochemistry, ecology, and more, designed to build a strong foundation in understanding life at various scales. The paragraph also touches on the development of essential skills such as experimental design and the application of mathematical models in biological research. Challenges faced by biology students, such as the philosophical complexities of unanswered questions and the time-consuming nature of lab work, are acknowledged. The script also provides insights into potential career paths post-graduation, ranging from biological technicians and health communications specialists to advanced roles in medical and scientific fields. The importance of perseverance, as illustrated by the story of biochemist Katalin Karikó, is highlighted, emphasizing the long-term rewards of dedication in the field of biology.
🌐 The Impact of a Biology Career and Continuing Education
The final paragraph of the script discusses the diverse career opportunities available to biology majors, from immediate entry into the workforce in roles like biological technicians or health communications specialists to pursuing further education for careers in genetic counseling or biochemistry. It also mentions the potential to enter teaching or undertake a PhD for college-level instruction and research. The paragraph underscores the transferable skills acquired through a biology degree, such as time management, research publication, and scientific communication. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of biologists in advancing our understanding of life and society, encouraging viewers to explore various degrees through the Study Hall program and reflecting on their own educational journey or challenges in choosing a degree.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Genetic Experiments
💡Biologist
💡Career Paths
💡Life-Saving Vaccines
💡Subfields
💡Anatomy
💡Biochemistry
💡Ecology
💡Molecular Biology
💡Homeostasis
💡Research
💡Double Major
💡Challenges
💡Biological Technician
💡Genetic Counselor
💡Transferable Skills
Highlights
Biology is the science of all living things, encompassing a wide range of topics from the origin of life to how plants reproduce and why some animals are social.
A career in Biology can lead to exciting professional discoveries, such as life-saving vaccines or the discovery of new species.
Studying biology helps us understand important aspects of human needs, such as what a healthy lifestyle means for different people and how to develop medicine.
Biology degrees involve acquiring knowledge from centuries of scientific research and applying it to solve new problems and answer new questions.
Biology is a broad field with subfields such as anatomy, astrobiology, biochemistry, bioclimatology, bioengineering, botany, evolutionary biology, genetics, marine biology, microbiology, physiology, and zoology.
Biology majors learn to draw conclusions between all kinds of living things, which can be applied in various career paths or advanced degrees.
Biology courses typically include subjects like Genetics, Biochemistry, Ecology, Cell Structure, Molecular Biology, and Anatomy and Physiology.
Studying biology involves learning about concepts like homeostasis, which is the idea that living things maintain a stable internal environment.
Biology students gain important skills such as designing and conducting experiments, which are crucial for their future careers in science.
Biology majors often take math-related courses like Calculus, Physics, or Biostatistics, which are essential for understanding and modeling biological phenomena.
Many biology programs include a lab and research requirement or provide opportunities for science-based internships.
Biology is a great major for students interested in science and wanting to understand the human body or other living organisms more deeply.
Biology majors can face challenges such as the philosophical nature of deep biological questions that often result in more questions than answers.
Persistence and collaboration with other scientists can lead to significant work in biology, as exemplified by Katalin Karikó's contribution to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Biology majors often take more science and lab courses, which can be demanding and may limit personal time.
Biology graduates can pursue a variety of careers, such as Biological Technician, Health Communications Specialist, forest ranger, zoo worker, or botanist.
Further education after a Biology degree can lead to careers like Genetic Counselor or Biochemist, with median salaries around $81,000 and $94,000 per year, respectively.
Biology majors learn transferable skills such as time management, research publication, communication of findings, scientific fluency, and awareness of industry trends.
Biologists often love their work due to the many options available, leading to careers that can involve fieldwork, lab work, desk work, or conferences.
Biology is crucial for understanding ourselves and growing as a society, with biologists making an impact through their work and research.
Transcripts
It feels like just another day in the lab, when all of the sudden
the cells you’re doing genetic experiments on turn into a MONSTER, grow TEN THOUSAND TIMES bigger,
and start to TERRORIZE the city you live in – and it’s up to you
to save the world. This is the life of a biologist… in maybe a movie.
Alas, a career in Biology will not have you accidentally creating monsters in a lab,
but it can lead to exciting professional discoveries, like life-saving vaccines or
new species. Even though there are many different career paths, people who are interested in Biology
share a similar goal: helping us understand more about living things, including ourselves.
Hi, I’m Hank Green, and welcome to Fast Guides, a Study Hall series presented in partnership
with Arizona State University and Crash Course. In this episode, we’ll be focusing on Biology.
Biology is the science of all living things, which includes a lot of stuff: the origin of life,
how our bodies work, how plants reproduce, why some animals are social and some aren’t… and I’m
just barely scratching the surface here. Life is an extremely broad topic,
and one that we have been studying for a long time and so we know a LOT about it.
We know so much! Way more than you think we know. Which is why you need
to go to school if you want to learn about it. But there is also a lot we DON’T know about life.
Getting a degree in biology is both about acquiring all of that knowledge that people
have worked for centuries to attain, and then APPLYING that knowledge to
solve new problems and answer new questions. Studying biology also helps us understand
important things about our human needs, like what a healthy lifestyle means for different people,
or how to develop medicine to help us recover from illness and injury.
It also paves the way for fundamental answers about the Earth (and our universe),
like the molecular basis for life and how changes to the environment affect living organisms.
You can take your pick of subfields depending on what part of life you’re
most interested in, from anatomy to zoology. I’ll run through some options, rapid-fire: Anatomy
is the study of body structure, astrobiology is the study of how life could exist off of Earth,
biochemistry is about chemical processes and living things at the cellular and molecular
level, bioclimatology is about the effect of climate on living things and the environment,
and bioengineering is about applying engineering design ideas to living things to make new
technologies. Botany is the study of plants, evolutionary biology studies how species change
across generations, genetics is about how things are inherited and all that DNA and RNA stuff,
marine biology studies life in salt water, microbiology is about tiny life,
physiology is how bodies work, and zoology is about how animals work.
And I could keep going. Many of the fields I mentioned are even
whole majors in their own right. Because there is just so much to learn about life!
Even if you don’t think you’re a science person, biology can be a great way to test the waters
because there is seriously something for everyone. You’ll learn the skills to talk about and draw
conclusions between all kinds of living things – and can use this foundational knowledge in a
lot of different career paths or advanced degrees. Now while earning your degree in Biology -- which
might have a slightly different name at your school like “Life
Sciences” or “Biological Sciences” -- you can expect to take plenty of science
classes like Genetics, Biochemistry, Ecology,
Cell Structure, Molecular Biology, and Anatomy and Physiology.
All these classes help build your vocabulary to learn and talk about living things,
from a huge scale like ecosystems to a tiny scale like knowing what goes on inside cells.
Sometimes you’ll learn about concepts, like homeostasis,
which is the idea that living things generally maintain a stable internal environment, like
how humans maintain a normal body temperature. But you’ll also gain important skills that you’ll
need for the rest of your career in science, like how to design and conduct experiments.
You can also expect to take other math-related courses like Calculus,
Physics, or Biostatistics. Even though some Biology classes can involve memorizing lists of
muscles and how they’re connected to each other, others involve calculating probability
or modeling chemical reactions. Mathematical models are used
frequently in genetics, ecology, and many other scientific fields. For example, you might use
data about a species’ behavioral patterns to estimate its population in a designated area.
Many programs include a lab and research requirement, or provide
opportunities for a science-based internship. After all, college isn’t just about learning how
to learn, it’s building upon past research and using what we know
about life to ask more questions about it – and that often involves lab experiments. Plus,
the relationships you make along the way can only be helpful later in your career.
So overall, biology is a great major for students who are interested in science
and want to understand the human body or other living organisms more deeply.
Typically students who have strong analytical skills, are able to handle long hours and a wide
variety of subjects, and embrace adventure are especially well suited for this major.
(And depending on the lab component, since some schools include dissection as part of
the curriculum or research, it can help to have something of a strong stomach.)
And like I mentioned earlier, Biology is a broad topic with lots of specializations
you can choose from, which your program might offer as concentration options or upper-level
courses like Microbiology, Cellular and Molecular Biology, or Marine Biology.
So because the study of life can take you down a lot of different career paths,
biology can be a good major for people who want to keep their options open.
Maybe you’ll head into a program thinking you want to learn about medical technology,
but find a hidden passion in studying insects! And if you choose to take on a double major or
minor, you might consider one that helps you understand humans better such as Psychology or
Sociology – especially if you hope to go into a field like medicine that focuses on people,
rather than non-human animals or plants. Or you might want to learn a common language
such as Chinese or Spanish to help you communicate with more people in the future.
Or something like Chemistry can deepen your scientific knowledge,
especially since many of the course requirements and topics will likely overlap.
Or you can go in a direction that helps with data analysis like Computer Science or Statistics.
There are a lot of opportunities with a Biology major!
But of course, there are also challenges. A major challenge that
Biology majors face is more philosophical. Like a lot of the big or deepest questions
in biology often result in more questions than answers – from how to treat a single disease or
even generally understand how brains work. It can be hard to pick specific biological
questions that you devote your work to, and it can be tough to stay persistent and
not take no for an answer as you’re doing experiment after experiment.
Hungarian-American biochemist Katalin Karikó spent over 40 years on her research before it
eventually contributed to the COVID-19 vaccine, saving millions of lives.
It’s a prime example of how answers can seem elusive and daunting at times,
but how perseverance – and collaboration with other scientists – can result
in some pretty important work. Another challenge might be that students
majoring in biology are going to take a lot more science and lab courses than someone majoring in
something like business or even psychology. These classes can take up more time, and some
students claim that the demands of a biology degree can limit your personal time. So it’s
good to be prepared for that ahead of time. And because the paths after graduation vary
so greatly, it’s important to have or to form along the way a clear idea of what you would
like to do after graduation, or else you might not be able to strategically plan your course
load over your four-year education or might struggle with choosing what internship you’d
like to explore during your time in school. And depending on the career path you choose,
you can be in for a very long, sometimes expensive road, if it involves more school, like becoming a
doctor or other medical professional. So if you start Biology and find that
it’s not the major for you, and it’s not too late in your program to switch,
you might consider another major in the sciences such as Chemistry or Psychology.
You might even be able to transfer some credits over, but be sure to check the specifics of your
programs before you make the leap. As far as after college goes,
Biology majors can enter the workforce right away with a variety of different careers.
For example, you can become a Biological Technician where the median salary is around
$45,000 per year, and you can help out in a variety of labs or other research facilities.
Or you could become a Health Communications Specialist and help others better understand
their health and treatment while making about $63,000 per year -- though there’s a huge variety
of salaries as a health communications specialist. But these are just two examples. There are
also tons of other jobs you could take on depending on your interests and experiences,
like a forest ranger, or zoo worker, or botanist. Many students who graduate with a Biology degree
go on to further education, which can prepare you to be a Genetic Counselor who makes around
$81,000 per year and assesses the risk of hereditary birth defects and genetic disorders.
Or you might be a Biochemist where the median salary is $94,000 per year
and study chemistry as it relates to biology. Biology majors can also go into teaching, usually
after getting some sort of teaching certification -- though it depends on the state and school.
High school biology teachers make about $45,000 per year.
Or you might pursue education, like a PhD, and teach at a college or university.
With more education, you might also perform your own research, have it published,
or become recognized in your field in other ways. Biology is also a popular major for people who
hope to one day become doctors or dentists and go onto medical school after graduation.
No matter what career path you choose, biology graduates also learn skills that can be
transferred to whatever they decide to do next. They learn skills like time management,
how to publish research, how to communicate findings, scientific fluency, awareness of
industry trends, and research skills. Not to mention that biologists tend to
love what they do, because you have so many options that you’ll probably
find something you’ll enjoy eventually. Some of these careers will require longer
hours in labs or communicating with people, but most people feel that it’s worthwhile.
So while you might not be fighting giant monsters or curing the zombie apocalypse,
a career in Biology could lead you to some of the most interesting and critical work
that you can imagine, from working with animals to helping us learn how to take care of our bodies.
Depending on your career, you may spend time in the field, in the lab, behind a desk,
or at conferences, but it will all be towards learning about life on (and potentially off of)
Earth and making an impact on humanity through your work and research.
Ultimately, we need biologists to understand ourselves and continue to grow as a society.
Thank you for watching. If you want to investigate
more degrees before you choose a major (like we all should!),
check out our other videos to look into more majors to find the one that’s right for you!
This series is part of the Study Hall program, a partnership between
Arizona State University and Crash Course. If you liked this video, or found it helpful,
give it a like and comment and let us know how you chose your degree, or how you’re
struggling to choose a degree, or what you wish you’d known before you started your degree.
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