What's the general view of a BISC?

College Majors Science Majors
1

<p>Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Sciences.</p>

<p>Right now, I’m a physics major/math minor. It’ll very more than likely stay that way. However, I could possibly graduate a semester earlier (Spring 2011) with a BISC. The two main options at my university are a major area or two concentration areas. Mine would of course be math and physics. Basically, I would have to take fewer physics courses (13 fewer hours) and more math classes (roughly 9 more hours).</p>

<p>So, I’m just wondering how these degrees are viewed out there and if they have any practical use in industry or preparation for graduate school in whatever concentration(s) one chooses.</p>

2

<p>So are you more into mathematical physics?
The questions are: what is your intended career path, and what do you want to study at graduate school?</p>

<p>If 9 more hours = 3 more courses - take 3 per class…
13 more hours = 4 more classes</p>

<p>The only disadvantage reflects on the two questions I ask above.</p>

3

<p>Well, the goal is to go into industry. I think I decided on an alternative. My university offers a B.S. Physics with a Geophysics Specialization. That would be a great degree to have down here in Houston. I decided against it in the past for some reason, but I think I should do that. Graduate school will not be pure science and definitely not math anything. Graduate school has a lot of opportunities to supplement a pure science undergrad in industry.</p>

4

<p>OP, I think you picked a great option careerwise.
[Introduction</a> to Geophysics Careers • Geophysics Forum](<a href=“Geophysics Forum - Index page”>Geophysics Forum - Index page)</p>

5

<p>Given that I’ll have a B.S. Physics with Geophysics Specialization, how will that help/hurt me in industry?</p>

6

<p>Well how will that hurt you in industry? Again, “industry” is very broad. Generally speaking the ability to solve problems is the only thing that people care about. Even if you earn your PhD and you still can’t solve some simple geophysics problem, where an undergraduate can (given some times), then obviously you worth nothing in the eyes of the industry.</p>

<p>A specialization is good when your career path relates to that area. But again, once you enter the work foce, either you can’t find a position in that field, say you can’t find a job in geophysics, but you are offer a job in aerospace, that’s fine. Or you decide to leave the science industry and join the finance!?</p>