Bakery Science is more complex than its name may suggest. If you major in it, you’ll learn all about the intricate chemical processes involved in baking just about everything. You’ll learn about production processes, the functions of various ingredients, and nutrition. This new knowledge will be important as you work on developing new baked products and perfecting your baking skills, which you’ll be able to do in your university’s Bakery Science laboratories. A Bakery Science major also involves study of the business side of baking. You’ll study government regulations for food products and production. You’ll learn about management and other business concepts. You’ll look at economic trends and changes that may affect your career. And you’ll learn the maintenance and engineering skills you’ll need to run your own successful bakery operation.

Preparation

You can build a solid foundation for Bakery Science by taking courses in math, biology, chemistry, and English. A business course could be useful, if one is available at your high school. And embrace home economics—you might find more useful information here than you’d expect. Hands-on experience (and experiments) with your own baking will give you a taste—literally—of what you’re in for.

Do you love chemistry? Do you go all soft and squishy in your biology class? Do you wish you could somehow take them both at once? (Are you out of your mind?) Well, you can if you major in Biochemistry. Biochemistry majors study the chemistry of living things—the molecular compounds, substances, and physiology that make them tick. You can think of it as teeny biology. Biochemists study the minute, discrete characteristics of every organism and biological process. You’ll be the envy of pre-med majors everywhere because since you’ll probably like it, you will actually understand organic chemistry. This major is also good preparation if you are considering medical school as a possibility. Remember that most college science classes require extensive lab time. Be prepared to do more bonding with your lab partner than with your roommate or significant other. (Unless, of course, your lab partner is your roommate or significant other.)

Preparation

Do we even need to say it? Take chemistry and biology. Advanced math and physics are usually a part of the Biochemistry curriculum as well, so classes in these areas will help.

They focus on the living world, on everything from microscopic organisms to the human body. They look at all of the elements and questions surrounding life, from questions about reproduction, to the ways in which our physical environment influences the way we grow and develop. Given the nature and scope of Biology, the field is often divided into sub-categories such as molecular biology, which studies the exchange and transfer of chemicals within living organisms, and cell biology, which examines the basic building blocks of living organisms.
Biology majors have at their disposal a vast array of skills and tools that can lead to careers and professions in a wide variety of fields. In addition to being a stepping stone to a career in medicine, Biology majors have the opportunity to explore careers in some of the hottest and most rapidly developing fields such as genetics (think Human Genome Project), biotechnology, and medical research.

Preparation

Immerse yourself as fully as possible in all of the sciences available to you in high school. General biology, physics, and chemistry classes are a good starting point, as is a background in math. Advanced placement courses in any of these subjects will certainly help you build a strong foundation before starting college.

Some people love to say, “At least you have your health.” And biomedical science majors want to make sure it stays that way. Biomedical science combines the fields of biology and medicine in order to focus on the health of both animals and humans. As a biomedical science major, you’ll study biochemical and physiological functions, anatomical and histological structures, epidemiology, and pharmacology. You’ll learn how to both maintain and promote health in humans and animals with knowledge in the basics of nutrition, diseases, and immunology. Delve into fields such as cell and molecular biology, parasitology, and toxicology, and emerge with hands-on experience through laboratory work and research. Majors in biomedical science are poised to make valuable contributions to the fields of both biology and medicine—and many move on to make discoveries in the field of biology that have important effects in the medical world. While there are copious careers available to students who obtain a Bachelor of Science degree, many students choose to pursue additional education in professional or graduate school. As a biomedical science major, you may go on to make advancements in the study of cancer or AIDS, become involved in the research of infectious diseases, or propel science toward improving the human condition in any of hundreds of other ways. Get set to make a scientifically sound difference in the health of living beings.

Preparation

Bulk up on as many science and math courses as you can handle: biology, chemistry, physics, calculus, and trigonometry. The more you can learn now, the better. Scientists must also be good communicators, so be sure to take classes such as English, history, and languages that will help polish your reading and writing skills. And of course, you should take advantage of any science courses or clubs that offer laboratory experience.

So, you have your biology major, and then you have your chemistry major, and your biochemistry major, and your molecular biology major, and maybe someday your biochemicalmolecular major, but until then what you have is a Biotechnology major. It’s the best of all four worlds, that is, of course, assuming you believe in a best world when you’re talking about analyzing and figuring out the genetic structure of everything from the human heart to the soybean.
Biotechnology is a new and very, very hot field. Building on the advancements made through molecular biology and biochemistry, biotechnology is centered on the ways we can manipulate and exploit genes (not the faded, slightly tight ones that make you look skinny, but the really tight ones that hang out on chromosomes). You’ll learn about how genes operate and how those operations can be altered. By combining just about every science known to man (chemistry, biology, food science, animal science, earth science, and plant science, for starters) this major is perfect for the student who wants to know how every living thing—everything—works. Whether you dream of spending thousands of hours researching as an academic, or want to help figure out how to clone a monkey’s heart, a Biotechnology major is sure to keep you on your toes with rapid advancements and a world of opportunities to which you can apply your knowledge. (Note: trying to clone yourself in your basement is still illegal, so don’t get any fancy ideas.)

Preparation

If you’re interested in studying Biotechnology, it’s important to immerse yourself as fully as possible in all of the sciences available to you in high school. General biology, physics, and chemistry classes are good starting points, as is a deep and solid background in math. If you want to hit the ground running as a Biotechnology major, AP courses in these subjects aren’t optional—they’re a requirement.

Be the boss’s boss. Or, at least, be a boss. And while you may not be the boss’s boss on day one, organizational gurus with stellar people skills and a head for business will flourish in business administration/management. Creating and perpetuating a successful business has always been a challenge. And in the only-the-strong-survive world of modern business—rampant with new, ever-advancing technology—managers need unshakable knowledge, top-notch training, and a serious set of skills. Management, according to Penn State University, involves “the coordination of human, material, and financial resources to accomplish organizational goals.” A major in business administration/management will provide that goal—focused training. You’ll get a thorough grounding in the theories and principles of accounting, finance, marketing, economics, statistics, human resources functions, and decision-making. You’ll come away a whiz on how to budget, organize, plan, hire, direct, control, and otherwise manage various organizations. As a major in business administration/management, expect to work in small groups—no room for wallflowers here. Count on problem-solving, theorizing, and math-heavy number-crunching, too. You’ll have your choice of areas in which to concentrate; many colleges and universities require you to focus on one, while others allow you to sample several. Options might include operations management, human resources management, and general management. This major will also get you thinking about issues such as diversity, ethics, politics, and other dynamics that play a role in every work environment. As a manager-to-be, you’ll also be required to develop a balance between sensitivity and fairness. You’ll need to be innovative, creative, and a good problem-solver. These qualities (and your winning personality) will put you on a path to successful management in any number of fields.

Preparation

Good businesspeople have great communication skills, so take your English courses seriously. You should also try to take as many advanced math and computer courses as you can. If your high school offers any business-related courses (such as business law) you should take them, too. Keeping up with a foreign language will also help, particularly for a career in international business.

If you’re fascinated by the business world, but not the business dress code and late hours at the office, picture yourself in front of classroom. Business education majors learn the fundamentals of business, such as macroeconomics, microeconomics, accounting, and marketing, while also studying the fundamentals of education, such as the history and philosophy of education, and some psychology. They’re prepped to teach business classes to those who want in on the rat race. Student teaching gets you a dose of real life, and computer experience is emphasized. Business teachers will often teach computer courses, too. Some schools offer regular business majors an opportunity to become certified to teach after they’ve acquired their bachelor’s degree in business. Usually, this will require an additional three semesters to complete education courses, student teaching, and additional business courses. This extra work can take the form of a second bachelor’s degree or a certificate, depending on the program. Business education majors have an important role in teaching high school and post-secondary students the fundamentals of business that will, perhaps, lead to business careers of their own—or at least some savvy business know-how. After completing most Business Education programs, you’ll be qualified to teach courses including accounting, computer applications, word processing, business economics, keyboarding, and other subjects.

Preparation

If your school offers business courses, you might take one or two to get an overall feel for the business world. Since any education major requires a solid background in a variety of fields, try to take courses in English, science, history, and languages, in as great a depth as you can. Math courses are especially important to business majors. The more you know in all these fields, the more you’ll feel prepared as a teacher.