While there is no Biology major, they do offer a limited number of biology courses that you can take. They are mostly so that people that are attempting to commission into the Medical Corps can get prepared for med school further down the line.
While there is no selectable Biology major Chemistry majors can take a Biochem track. Contact the Chemistry Department directly for additional information: https://www.usna.edu/ChemDept/contact.php or try the Registrar's Office as the official recorder of all midshipman academic records.
There is no biology major but to echo Kayce's post, I've been told that they are moving towards developing a biochem major but its not quite there yet. Those who are interested in competing for a medical billet take biology as an elective during the summer.
I'm not sure if your reason for wanting biology was more med school related, or naturalist related. I can tell you that my Mid's interests have always been naturalist related. He is majoring in Oceanography, as it is a very hands-on major with lots of outdoor research opportunities. He can do biology electives to go with it. He has talked to some grads who are in biology related graduate programs from this major, so this was very encouraging for him. I hope this helps!
That actually sounds like a good major I will have to check it out. I just enjoy biology really.
At a civilian college, you select a major because you intend to pursue a career in that field. At USNA, the choice of major is generally unrelated to what specific service selection you eventually make. Service selection relates more to your class standing and the needs of the military in the year you graduate.
You need to further clarify your question in order for us to be of more assistance.
You need to further clarify your question in order for us to be of more assistance.
Old Navy BGO
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2012
- Messages
- 4,793
Absolutely true that major is unrelated to your Service Selection, you will get all the background course that you need to serve as part of the Core Curriculum (hence, a BS for Bull Majors). However, you should major in something that interests you. Case in point -- you don't have to be an Aero major to succeed in aviation.
There is no biology department or major. They tried to offer some biology classes in other departments but a creationist engineering department head forced them to put in creationism (bad science and violates the Constitution). There is a biochemistry track within the chemistry major but it is not biology; similarly, there is like one biological oceanographer in the oceanography department; there are currently no biology PhDs teaching at USNA. Due to covid the Biochemists had tried to get their major approved but USNA has delayed this again too (AY2021). It's like there's an institutional bias against biology, variously attributed to Rickover or to unwillingness to talk about evolution.
NextGen89x2
Member
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2021
- Messages
- 100
To echo what @Mom529 said, oceanography is a good lead-in to Marine Bio - which you could pursue in grad school eventually. And all the engineering/technical background you will get at USNA would make your job options in Marine Bio much better. It might be fun to consider while you are perusing majors at USNA.