What Can I Do with a Science Degree?

Your science degree opens up many career options. To choose a career, you need to consider the extent to which you would like to use your scientific knowledge in your future career. You may choose to work in pure science, applied science, an alternative career requiring an understanding of science or use the general skills you have acquired while studying.

Also, you have gained a high level of technical ability alongside general skills which will make you more employable.

Careers for science graduates fall into three main categories:

· Careers using your specialist science knowledge

· Careers where an understanding of science is an advantage

· Careers using your other skills

Those of you who have thoroughly enjoyed studying your major* at the university may like to continue to work in science. Science is a diversifying industry with new doors opening all the time. If you want to find work in a specialized area related to your major, you may find that you need more than a pass degree*. Professional scientists usually have at least an honours degree but more likely a PhD, particularly if working in research areas.

Occupations which would allow you to work with your expertise include:

Research -university academic, environmental researcher, agricultural researcher, marine scientist, biotechnologist, physicist, research scientist, laboratory research technician, etc.

Analysis and investigation - forensic investigator, IT systems analyst, statistician, clinical research associate in pharmaceutical industry, nutritionist and/or dietitian, analytical chemist, geophysical technician, etc.

Consultancy - environmental information consultant, agricultural consultant, IT consultant, IT systems developer, information services officer, geoscientist, etc.

Quality control - clinical research associate, environmental health officer, resource manager, toxicology consultant, water treatment consultant, quality assurance officer, quality control area of manufacturing company, etc.

Product and process development - pharmacologist, industrial chemist, product designer, process mapping assistant, etc.

Scientists are found in such industries as biotechnology, telecommunications, IT, electronic-design-automation as well as in academic institutions, hospitals, pharmaceutical and utility companies and research organizations.

The industry you choose will have an effect on the type of work you do. Many industries require the application of scientific knowledge to solve practical problems such as utilising resources, developing new products or ensuring safe use for humans.

(Abridged from:http://www.careers.usyd.edu.au/students/careeropt/degree_science.shtml)

-------------------------------

major – здесь специализация

pass degree – здесь степень, присуждаемая после сдачи выпускных экзаменов в университете по облегчённой программе

 

Discuss

Ø When choosing a career what does a graduate with a science degree should take into account?

Ø What are the career opportunities for science students in your country?

Ø Which field/area of science should you choose as your major in order to get the job you like?

Ø Which jobs mentioned in the text would you like to do most? Give reasons for your choice.

Ø What kind of skills do you think are necessary for the job you would like to do most?

 

Listening

1. Listen to the interview with two young scientists describing their attitude to the jobs they are doing. Complete the chart below:

	Hours	Job satisfaction	Teamwork and competition
Speaker 1
Speaker 2

 

Discuss

Agree or disagree with the following:

Ø Being a scientist means to be ‘slaving’ in the lab 24 hours a day as it is the only way to be a success.

Ø Mega things happen once in a lifetime, so a really ambitious researcher won’t get any job satisfaction discovering new things in a small way.

Ø To make an outstanding discovery or invention you should have the intellectual freedom.

Ø It’s not a good idea to co-operate and share the results of your research with other scientists if you want to be the first person to make that all-important discovery.

 

Get Real

Study help A Curriculum Vitae, commonly referred to as CV (AmE resume) is a written record of your education and the jobs you have done, that you send when you are applying for a job. It is a detailed summary not only of your academic backgrounds but also teaching and research experience, publications, presentations, awards, honors and other details.

Search the Internet to find some tips and/or rules on writing a CV. Discuss them as a class and create a Class File on CV writing rules.

 

Writing

1. Write your CV for a job of your choice (say what it is). Use your own details and qualifications and work experience which you hope to get in the future.

2. With the partner exchange your CVs and check out if your CVs follow the rules on CV writing.

 

Roleplay

 

 

In the Realm of Jobs

We all have certain skills which will be useful to employers. Some of the words listed below are ideal "active words" for you to use when describing yourself in your resume and in the job application process. For each skill on these lists, state whether you:

· have that skill already (put a V)

· don't have it yet but have the potential to develop it (put a?)

· will never have that skill (put a X)

People Skills   guiding listening to negotiating with instructing supervising understanding persuading speaking to serving helping encouraging leading motivating disciplining organizing directing evaluating coaching/teaching

Word Skills   coordinating processing organising classifying copying typing proof reading editing composing communicating writing reading imagining researching compiling comparing

Figure Skills   counting calculating timing recording compiling comparing correcting analysing graphing problem solving planning

Skills with things driving operating installing making repairing adjusting producing changing adapting creating classifying using improving collecting selling growing

 

Unit 2. Progress Monitoring In this Unit you have worked on the vocabulary related to the topic “Job and career Options” to choose a science career   to use specialist science knowledge   a research vacancy   to work in research areas   lab or research culture/experience   to gain high-level technical ability or general skills   to try out an alternative career   to apply scientific knowledge to solve practical problems   to achieve a dream job   to have a passion for research   the cutting-edge research   to work in pure/applied science   to hire someone as a full/part-time employee   to share one’s research results with colleagues   to make valuable contacts   to get job satisfaction   to acquire skills/knowledge   team work and competition     Tick (V) the points you are confident about and cross (X) the ones you need to revise.

 

 

Unit 3 Review

1. Rewrite the sentences in reported speech. Use various verbs of speaking.

a) I’m afraid I can’t take the job before January. (She explained …)

b) Paul Smith has just come back from his yearlong expedition around the globe.

c) Now, if you look at this graph you will see the temperature changes in this region over 50 years.

d) I’m sure in 2050 thousands of people will be living in giant space stations.

e) Studying the dolphins’ behavior was the most exciting thing I’ve ever done.

f) No, you are wrong! The course starting date is next week, not tomorrow!

g) Peter is so absent-minded! Last week he had an accident in our chemistry lab. He broke a test tube with some toxic substance in it!

h) Hello, everybody! Let me introduce Mia Travis to you. She is a new member of the ‘Whale Programme’ team.

i) Sorry, I can’t take your point.

j) Why don’t we do a summer internship?

 

2. Continue the sentences with the most suitable phrasal verb in the box. Be sure to use the correct form of the verb.

 

 

 

a) I’m a member of three university clubs so I __________ every other day.

b) She started a degree but __________ after only a year.

c) I agree, this problem is difficult but I’ve __________ a new way of doing it!

d) In my job I often __________ meeting deadlines.

e) I’m sure we need __________ a society for dealing with environmental issues in you city.

f) Look, Peter, I can’t ___________ your being so inaccurate in measurements. You should ___________ the numbers you’ve got.

g) This test tube is very fragile so ___________ very carefully or it’ll break down.

h) I’ve recently __________ one more explanation of this theorem.

i) If you want __________ your class you need to practise a lot of programming.

 

3. Within 1 minute complete the word web for the noun job.

 

4. From the words below make nouns describing people by adding suffixes –er, -or, -ist, -ar, -ant/ent -tian/cian. Make any necessary spelling changes.

teach	research	science	experiment	mathematics
assist	direct	geography	technical	environment
analysis	consult	develop	part-time	design

 

5. Explain the difference between these pairs.

job career

industry academia

perks bonuses

manual work paper work

job experience job skills

challenging rewarding

dream job holiday job

 

6. Read the letter of application and fill in the gaps with the words in the box.

degree skills suited Career Search team needs benefit responsibilities application contact position background qualifications

 

 

December 12, 2007 Mr. Robert Burns President, Template Division MEGATEK Corporation 9845 Technical Way Arlington, VA 22207 [e-mail] Dear Mr. Burns, I learned of MEGATEK through online research using the a) -------------- database through Career Services at Virginia Tech where I am completing my Master's b) ------------ in Mechanical Engineering. From my research on your web site, I believe there would be a good fit between my c) --------------- and interests and your d) ---------------. I am interested in a software engineering e) --------------- upon completion of my degree in May 2010. As a graduate student, I am one of six members on a software development f) ---------- where we are writing a computer aided aircraft design program for NASA. My g) -------------- include designing, coding, and testing of a graphical portion of the program which requires the use of GIARO for graphics input and output. I have a strong h) --------------- in computer aided design, software development and engineering, and believe that these skills would i) ------------- the designing and manufacturing aspects of Template software. Enclosed is my resume which further outlines my j) ----------------------. My qualifications make me well k) --------------- to the project areas in which your division of MEGATEK is expanding its efforts. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss a position with you, and will l) -------------- you in a week or ten days to answer any questions you may have and to see if you need any other information from me such as a company m) ------------ form or transcripts. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, William Stevens 123 Ascot Lane Blacksburg, VA 24060 [phone] [e-mail] Resume attached as MS Word document

 

7. Read these sayings. Comment on the one you like most.

Ø “Real success is finding your lifework in the work that you love.” David McCullough

Ø “The secret of greatness is simple: do better work than any other man in your field - and keep on doing it.” Wilfred A. Peterson

Ø “No problem is insurmountable. With a little courage, teamwork and determination a person can overcome anything.” B. Dodge

Ø “Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven't planted.” David Bly

 

8. Game: Guess the job

Work in teams. One of you should think about a job in your subject area and the others in the group must try to guess what the job is by asking “Yes” and “No” questions about it. Make sure everyone asks the same number of questions.

Example: In your job…

 

 

Do you work… outside? inside? in a lab? etc.		Do you have to be … ambitious? imaginative? good with numbers?
Do you have to … · have special qualifications? · work under supervision? · wear a uniform?		Do you … work on your own? use any kind of tool? instruct other people?

 

Each one teach one

 

Write down a short vocabulary list (10 items) on the topic “Job” and compare your lists with the partner. Cross out the items you have on both lists and explain the meaning of the rest of the words and phrases.

 

Scripts

Module 1 Unit 1

The first speaker

As languages have grammar rules, I need to learn grammatical terms to understand the system of a language. I like studying grammar, working with vocabulary. I think learning goes better if you are systematic about how you go about it. So

grammar and vocabulary exercises are a major part of my learning English.

The second speaker

Well, languages have grammar rules, but native speakers don’t know them, so you

don’t need to bother about them very much. I try hard to communicate no matter how many mistakes I may be making. Of course, the teacher can help, but learning is your problem. The best way to learn a language is to pretend to be a native speaker, and then act out a situation. I personally enjoy real-world activities like ordering food in a real restaurant and so on.

The third speaker

The best way to learn a language for me is learning in the country where it is spoken, because I easily absorb it, pick up new words and phrases. If I make a mistake and someone corrects it, I just memorize without really trying to analyze it. I also enjoy listening to the radio or watching TV. The more - the better. When I hear a new word, I am trying to remember it like children do.

The fourth speaker

When I learn a language I feel I need the support of a person who I am sure knows the subject better than I. Before I say something I feel I need the approval whether I am using the language correctly or not. It could be just a nod. As for mistakes I want them corrected at once.

The fifth speaker

When I hear a new word I prefer looking it up in the dictionary and writing it down. I need to translate everything into my own language to fully understand what it means or how it works.

The sixth speaker

Before I really grasp any material (words, grammar rules, a story) I need to read.

Module 1 Unit 2

Tick, tick, tick... It's time moving on. College students often report that their inability to manage their time is the biggest problem they face in college. Time management is a skill few people master, but it is one that most people need.

You have so many competing demands on your time: friends, movies, studying lectures, home, relationships and on and on. How can you come to grips with all of it? Most time management experts say that one of the first things people

need to do to manage their time is to determine how they spend their time now.

Did you catch that? Time really can't be managed. You can't slow it down or speed it up or manufacture it. It just IS. Time management is MANAGING YOURSELF when following some basic time management principles.

TIME MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES

Everyone has high and low periods of attention and concentration. Are you a "morning person" or a "night person". Use your power times to study; use the down times for routines such as laundry and household tasks.

Then, when you are fresh, you can process information more quickly and save time as a result.

Another important thing is studying in shorter time blocks with short breaks between. This keeps you from getting tired and "wasting time." This type of studying is efficient because while you are taking a break, the brain is still processing the information.

You will also need to reduce distractions which can "waste time." If there are times in the residence halls or your apartment when you know there will be noise and commotion, use that time for mindless tasks.

Don’t forget college is more than studying. You need to have a social life, yet, you need to have a balance in your life.

Sleep is often an activity (or lack of activity) that students use as their time management "bank." When they need a few extra hours for studying or socializing, they withdraw a few hours of sleep. Doing this makes the time they spend studying less effective because they will need a couple hours of clock time to get an hour of

productive time. This is not a good way to manage yourself in relation to time.

And one more helpful thing - if you are spending time at the laundromat, bring your psychology notes to study. If you are waiting in line for tickets to the REM concert, bring your biology flashcards to memorize.

These are some ideas to get you started. Most students think that success in studying is to do with how brilliantly clever and original they are; you’ll be surprised to discover that one of the central challenges of adult life is time management. Get a headstart and learn how to manage yourself in respect to … time NOW.

(http://www.d.umn.edu/kmc/student/loon/acad/strat/time_manage.html)

 

Module 2 Unit 1

Listen to James Couzin, Education Consultant at Universities UK speaking on the changes British system of higher education is experiencing.

Nowadays many institutions are changing the way in which their courses are structured. The new modular schemes offer you the opportunity to design a programme of study which suits your interests. First of all let me explain what a modular scheme is.

Technically speaking a modular course is made up of a number of self-contained units of study. These units, or modules, count towards your final qualification – whether it is a first degree, a postgraduate award or a Higher National Diploma. The final qualification is of the same value as one which has a traditional structure, but the way in which the course is organized and assessed is different. In a full-time programme the students will study between 9 and 12 modules each year. Some of them may run for more than one term or semester. The work will be assessed at the end of each module, and each module a student successfully passes will give credit points which have a common value within the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme, or CATS for short.

The next important thing is how a student can choose a course. In most modular courses you still choose the main field of study. This may take the form of a single subject degree in business studies, for examples, or a joint degree in biology and information technology. A student has to take a number of compulsory or “core” modules from a list of optional subjects, either within the specialist subject(s) or in an associated field. A student may also be able to choose modules from completely different subject areas. These are called “elective” subjects and can provide you with additional employment skills, or an opportunity to broaden your academic interests. Options range from language to computer skills, from accounting to fine art courses. In some institutions you start with a broader choice of subjects, decide which modules to take as you move through the course, and the title of the degree is decided during the final year. In order to gain professional qualifications, it is important to cover the necessary modules. Most institutions specify in their prospectuses the routes you should go.

You might ask where you can study for a modular degree. In fact, modular courses are offered by all kinds of institutions: the “new” universities (formerly polytechnics), colleges of higher education and, increasingly, the more traditional universities. Institutions vary a great deal in the way in which they are developing their courses. Some have changed all their courses to the modular structure, others offer modular options only within a combined degree.

To cap it all I’d like to point out the advantages of this system. The modular scheme enables students to choose the topics of professional or general interest and to take modules outside the normal range of studies. Also the end-of-module assessment makes it easier for a student to monitor the progress.

However, there are some difficulties in studying on a modular course. With a new choice of modules each term or semester a student will have more decisions to make. The assessment process means that tutors for different modules may require a lot of planning. Nevertheless, modular courses are very flexible. Through CATS scheme, a student can transfer credit points from one institution to another, and study in more than one country.

(Adapted from http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/)

Module 2 Unit 2

Speaker 1 John Doa, Chemist

Well, popular wisdom says too much television isn't good for children, but this is not the case with me. My interest in science was stimulated by the educational TV shows I saw as a youngster. Stories about dinosaurs got me captivated. I saw that everything 'cool' involved learning more, and that science was all about learning. Reading science fiction books was also great fun and introduced me to a number of interesting concepts. Actually, Isaac Asimov was one of my favorites. Besides, my parents are both teachers and they were very helpful in explaining things to me and learning about science. I chose to specialize in Chemistry because it’s a hands-on science and I love getting more and more familiar with lab procedures and equipment. I haven't yet decided what I plan to do in the future. At the moment I’m considering two possibilities: becoming a research chemist or going to medical school. But whatever I decide, there are plenty of opportunities to be involved in science in Canada. As far as I know, the job market for Chemistry graduates is very promising, with opportunities in industry and government, both in Canada and abroad. So I’m sure, my interest in science has led me to a future full of choices.