What can I do with my degree?

What do most students do after they graduate from this program?

BAS graduates go on to accomplish pretty much anything that other students are accomplishing from other programs. Many students plan to pursue some additional professional education – the faculties of education, medical school, and physiotherapy school are examples that current students hope to pursue. You will be able to complete all of the specific subject requirements for professional school while in the BAS program. The choices available after graduation will certainly depend on what students decided to minor in their BAS degree and what they learned. Students in the BAS program have the same opportunities as students in other degree programs.

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Careers & Opportunities

We are often asked: “What can I do with this degree? Could you provide us with examples of career and academic options pursued by graduates from this degree program?”

Students are equally attracted to this degree for what it affords them while in university – the chance to pursue more than one discipline – and for the diverse paths to which it may lead upon graduation. BAS students have the opportunity to seek their choice of advanced degrees including MA and M.Sc programs, or professional degrees such as medicine, education, law, veterinary medicine etc. These students also have the options to combine both of their minors and pursue graduate education in interdisciplinary programs. Students interested in pursuing a “traditional” graduate education (e.g., MA English) may need to complete more course work to earn the “equivalent” of a major in the subject area of choice.

Two of our fourth year students with unique combinations – minors in Physics and Music – successfully applied to B. Ed programs and both felt the BAS program afforded them the opportunity to explore these seemingly diverse disciplines while also encouraging them to make strong connections between the two. They credit the program for giving them opportunities they may not have thought to explore within a traditional BA or BSc program.

Another student, enrolled in Studio Art and Biology, is now studying medical illustration and yet another is working with a faculty member in OAC’s Herbarium putting her minors, Anthropology and Ecology, into practice through the study of the Aboriginal taxonomy.

Some examples of careers that could be pursued after completing an Arts and Sciences degree are:

Zoology + Studio Art → Medical Illustration          

Computing + Psychology → Gaming Research

Ecology + International Development → Environmental Policy Analysis

Chemistry + Criminal Justice and Public Policy → Forensic Science

Physics + Theatre Studies → Teaching or Lighting Technician

Molecular Biology & Genetics + Psychology   → Genetic Counselling

Here are some more examples of what some of our graduates are actually pursuing right now:

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College (OVC)
• Law degree (Queen's University & McGill University)
• Medical School (University of Ottawa)
• Chiropractic College
• Employed in the Pharmaceutical Industry as a Quality Assurance Manager
• Employed by the Ontario Provincial Government
• College of Naturopathic Medicine
• Master’s (MA) program in Museum Studies
• Program Manager, Greater Boys and Girls Club of Vancouver
• PhD program in the History and Philosophy of Science
• Master’s (MA) program in Environmental Studies (UK)
• Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degrees completed and teaching Biology, English, & Drama
• Enrolled in B,Ed programs to teach: Art and Biology, Physics and Music, Physics and History, Biology and History, French and Biology, Drama and Biology
• Communications for Canadian Sports Hall of Fame
• Graduate diploma in Communication of Science
• Master’s in Public Health Policy and Administration (Dalhousie) (minors in Nutrition and Political Science)
• Master’s in Toxicology and Pharmacology (U. of Toronto) (minors in Biomed and Political Science)
• Master’s of Landscape Architecture (U. of Toronto) (minors in Art History and Mathematics)
• Graduate Diploma program in Forest Ecology (Niagara College, US)
• Intern with the Ontario Provincial Government

Students not interested in pursuing further education have the same broad range of opportunities open to them as other graduates, depending on their own experiences, interests and skills.
 

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 Potential Skills to be gained in the Arts & Sciences program:

 (Dependent on minors chosen)

• Ability to write scientific reports
• Ability to collect and preserve field organisms
• Ability to dissect preserved or euthanized specimens
• Ability to memorize large amounts of information
• Ability to analyze and evaluate information
• Use of computer programs
• Ability to perform laboratory procedures
• Ability to analyze data for trends
• Observe and make measurements on organisms
• Interpretation of trends from results
• Ability to manage time effectively, set priorities, meet deadlines and think creatively
• Administration of biological tests
• Attention to detail
• Oral and written communication skills
• Working in a team
• Ability to conduct research, gather and access data
• Ability to oversee, supervise and contribute to a project

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Career Related Websites:

• Science Careers [1]
• Work available on campus [2]
• Med Hunter [3]
• Experience Guelph [4]
• National Research Council Canada [5]
• Charity Village [6]
• Cultural Careers Council Ontario [7]

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See Also:

Individual pages for the minors in which you are interested.