Student Info & Guide
Courses and careers in biology
by StudyMalaysia.com on June 13, 2020 | Top Stories, Career Guide
From analysing a microscopic process to understanding a complex ecosystem, studying biology will allow you to learn about living things in the world around you. If you’re interested in a career in biology, you’d be pleased to know that your options are wide ranging. You could work solo or be involved in a team project; your job could be outdoors in the ocean or jungle or indoors in a laboratory.
The variety of specialisations will also enable you to study what you’re passionate about—plants, animals, people and more! What’s your life calling? Would you like to help fight disease, conserve and protect the environment or find solutions to sustain a growing population?
These days, studies in biology is combined with techniques in other fields such as chemistry, physics, engineering and maths. If you are excited about what you can do in the field of biology, read on to find out which course is best for you.
Important skills for a career in biology
- Numeracy and maths skills
- Critical thinking and drawing conclusions
- Investigation
- Experimental design
- Observation
- Asking questions
- Team work and collaboration
- Communication skills
- IT skills and computer literacy
- Time management and planning
- Innovation and creative thinking
| Course | Biology or Biological Sciences |
|---|---|
| Description |
Biology and Biological Sciences is a wide-ranging field that involves the study of life and living organisms and their environment. Depending on the course you may focus on molecular study, physiological processes, evolution, genetics, or even the study of the environment, ecosystems and biodiversity. It is common for bachelor degree programmes to offer specialisations like microbiology, zoology or ecology. Nonetheless, a degree in biological sciences gives a student flexibility in choosing a particular area of interest, or in exploring opportunities in a wide portfolio of biological careers. |
| Possible careers |
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| Examples of degree programmes |
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| Course | Biochemistry |
|---|---|
| Description |
Biochemistry is the application of chemistry to the study of biological processes at the cellular and molecular level. Students will learn and use the methods of chemistry, physics, molecular biology, and immunology to study the structure and behaviour of the complex molecules found in biological material and the ways these molecules interact to form cells, tissues, and whole organisms. Methods in biochemistry are used to investigate the mechanisms of brain function, cellular multiplication and differentiation, communication within and between cells and organs, and the chemical bases of inheritance and disease. |
| Possible careers |
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| Examples of degree programmes | Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry) |
| Course | Biotechnology |
|---|---|
| Description | Biotechnology covers many different disciplines, e.g. genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology and is used to develop solutions to problems in medicine and healthcare, agriculture, environmental management, forensics, industrial processing, and more. You will learn subjects like general chemistry, cell biology, microbiology, biological chemistry, DNA technology and molecular biology. Your course may also include business management and entrepreneurial skills that enable you to explore opportunities within a competitive environment. |
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| Examples of degree programmes |
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| Course | Biophysics |
|---|---|
| Description | Biophysics is the application of the theories and methods of physics to understand how biological systems work. It uses mathematical language and computation to describe biology in quantitative terms. In biophysics, you will learn the mechanics of how the molecules of life are made, how different parts of a cell move and function, and how complex systems in our bodies—the brain, circulation, immune system, and others— work. The knowledge you gain in biophysics can be used to develop methods to overcome disease, produce renewable energy sources, design medical technologies, and other solutions that impact our daily life. |
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| Examples of degree programmes | Bachelor of Science in Biophysics |
| Course | Bioengineering and biomedical engineering |
|---|---|
| Description | Bioengineering, sometimes known as biomedical engineering, involves using the principles of engineering to develop solutions for medical problems and biological systems that improve our quality of life. For example, bioengineering has played an important role in the development of artificial limbs and joints, and equipment like pacemakers, dialysis machines, ultrasound, MRI and more. Students will be equipped with a strong engineering foundation that may include biology, chemistry, physics, and math before moving to a specific focus like biotechnology, biomechanics, biomaterials or biomedical instrumentation. |
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| Examples of degree programmes |
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| Course | Biomedical science |
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| Description | A degree in biomedical science will develop your understanding of the human body and prepare you to conduct scientific and laboratory research to support diagnosis and treatment of human disease. You may study subjects like anatomy, physiology, genetics, microbiology, mathematics and psychology to equip you with the knowledge to develop new treatments and therapies for illnesses and disabilities. You may choose to focus on a specific medical condition like cancer, diabetes, ageing, stress, or emerging diseases. |
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| Examples of degree programmes |
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| Course | Computational Biology |
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| Description | Computational biology is the combined application of math, statistics and computer science to solve biology-based problems. In computational biology, you will learn to build models for diverse types of experimental data and biological systems. You will also learn how to interpret biological phenomena using mathematical and statistical models, computational tools and algorithms. Using the knowledge you’ve built in your knowledge in biology, mathematics and computer science, you’ll integrate what you’ve learned to solve problems in fields such as genomics, evolution, ecology, epidemiology and systems biology. |
| Possible careers |
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| Examples of degree programmes | Bachelor of Science (Computational Biology) |
| Course | Bioinformatics |
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| Description | A degree in bioinformatics is sometimes offered together with computational biology but the two fields are slightly different. While computational biology uses algorithms, mathematical modeling, and statistical evaluation to make inferences from complicated data sets, in contrast, bioinformatics uses computational tools and approaches (e.g. software development, database development and management) to expand the use of these data and convey information contained within data sets. In a bioinformatics degree, you will need to build a strong foundation in mathematical techniques and physics, and you may learn subjects like anatomy, biochemistry, genomics, computer programming, database design and management, data mining and others. |
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| Examples of degree programmes |
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Some of the popular biological related courses at Bachelor degree level featured in StudyMalaysia.com
Biology
Biotechnology
Biomedical
Bioinformatics
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