Does anyone know if mathematics is essential for science majors.

[RogerRamjet]

I mean in terms of being on the job if you can't do maths, or atleast didn't major in maths how are you going to be able to correlate data to back up your conclusions. Or is most of it done using programs designed by mathematicians or outsourced to engineers ? or do you just learn it on your own. Confusing the hell out of me. So whats the point of a biology degree w.o a strong stats background ? thats like being an engineer who knows vaguely how and engine works.. but can't calculate anything precisely. Seems useless to me. Confusing for poor poor roger.

[annie24]

Yes, mathematics is essential for a science career. I am in science and use math and calculus every single day. I never thought i would, but I do!

 

Just because there are computer programs out there that calculate stuff for you doesn't mean you should solely rely on them. It's dangerous to use your computer as a "black box." And, yeah, you have to do statistical analysis all the time on your results.

[hosswhispra]

Science and math are basically intertwined. You need at the very least an understanding of math (I'd say up to algebra/trig) to be in science. Engineering etc. I would imagine would require an adequate understanding of math. There are stats programs out there that will run your statistics for you; but then you have to understand the result, too.

[annie24]

There are stats programs out there that will run your statistics for you; but then you have to understand the result, too.

 

Yeah, you certainly have to understand the results and the computations that the program is doing. Many programs out there have glitches and bugs, so you can't always rely on them to give you the correct answer.

[RogerRamjet]

I know people taking biology majors who do not do maths or statistics beyond first year university level. How far should you go ? I don't understand how this is possible.

[avman]

Mathematics is extremely important for most science and engineering careers. You don't necessarily have to major in math to be a scientist, but any science degree is going to include a lot of math work. Even if you have computers do the work you have to be able to interpret the results and draw conclusions based on it.

[annie24]

I know people taking biology majors who do not do maths or statistics beyond first year university level. How far should you go ? I don't understand how this is possible.

 

depends on what area of biology they go into, what their college requires, and what the professional organizations require (for example, like the American Chemical Society). Of course, if they get a job or further their studies and find they need some extra classes, they can always do that and enroll, or do an online course, or get some books.

 

A degree doesn't automatically mean you know everything necessary to be a biologist or whatever. It's expected that if there is an area you need to bone up on, you're going to go ahead and learn it, one way or another, either by teaching it to yourself, or by signing up for additional courses.

[RogerRamjet]

hhmm so if you don't take maths subjects you're still considered equipped for the workforce ? its not something frowned on by employers ?

 

can you bone up on math ? I thought it was more of a skill than knowledge.

[annie24]

hhmm so if you don't take maths subjects you're still considered equipped for the workforce ? its not something frowned on by employers ?

 

I don't think it is as simple as that. If you are a science major, you are certainly required to take some math courses or statistics courses. Just depends to what degree. Plus, an employer can be really excited about you because you have some other cool qualifications or job skills, so they may overlook the lack of math courses, hire you, and insist you take some more. Or if they know you are a fast learner, they know you will learn it along the way. I think it just depends. But at least as far as I know in the US, all science majors have to take some math.

[MissIndigo]

I knew a chemistry major (not from the US) who didn't take any math beyond the required pre-calculus or something like that. His specialty was synthetic chemistry which isn't so math-heavy beyond the algebra needed to balance chemical equations and calculate correct stoichiometry of reactions, but I have to wonder if he had taken higher maths if it would have helped him survive in the research environment in which I currently work. Not for the math really, but for the ability to apply knowledge of one field to another.

 

All of the bio majors I've known have had to take at least a year of calculus, and chemistry majors and biochemistry majors a year and half of calculus and a semester of differential equations. Even if you don't use that in your research ultimately, those classes really force abstract thinking that can be applied anywhere.

[Aleadragonhawk]

What you can do is go to your school and talk to the advisers there. They should be able to help you with planning your schedule. Usually, an adviser will have a good knowledge of the field and what you will need to concentrate in.

 

EDIT: Also, if you aren't already attending college, what you can do is go to the website of the college you are planning on attending. They should have details on the classes required for the major you are interested in.

[rocio]

or do you just learn it on your own. Confusing the hell out of me. So whats the point of a biology degree w.o a strong stats background ?

 

When you get your science degree they will require that you take the necessary math courses to perform you work. You don't need to be a math genius. Even if you struggle with the math/stats classes and don't get great marks, you should be able to come out with enough knowledge that you can adequately do your work.

[annie24]

So whats the point of a biology degree w.o a strong stats background ?

 

yes, like amber said, I don't know of a single university that doesn't require its biology majors to take at least one math or stats course.

 

Something else to think about..... there are many many things you can do with a biology degree. What additional courses you take depend heavily on what you want to do with your biology degree. If you want to be a science writer, you will want to take more journalism/writing classes. If you want to be a patent lawyer, you will take more pre-law classes. If you want to be a biophysicist, you will undoubtledly need more math classes than the bare minimum.

 

This is where electives come in. You have to take some electives within your major and outside your major, and you have to decide which ones will be best for your training you for your career.

[confused25]

I think Biology might be the one science major that doesn't require extensive math courses, but I know for sure if you want to go into chemistry, physics, mechanics and etc, you'll need to take higher levels of math courses. I graduated with an engineering major and a good chunk of the courses I took were related to math . . . calculus, statistics, etc. And there are programs/software out there that will help you derive the answers, but when you take those classes you'll need to learn how to calculate everthing by hand!!