2nd Bachelors Degree in Biology Wanted

[Sacricolist]

Dear Forum Members:

I am new to this forum and am seeking your guidance on acquiring a second bachelors degree in biology. My first degree is a BA in Psychology. I also have an AAS in Nursing and work as a registered nurse.

I have become interested in working as a Patent Agent due to the growing explosions happening in medical research and development. Per the requirements to sit for the qualifying examination with the United States Patent and Trademark Office a qualifying degree and/or coursework is needed. I am seeking to qualify under the USPTO Category A which accepts certain science majors/degrees. An undergraduate degree in biology satisfies this requirement as long as the transcript specifically states the degree was awarded in biology. I would also be interested in the Comprehensive Science/Natural Science/Biological Science majors as well; these degrees would allow me to qualify under USPTO Category B - Option 2 or 4

Which one of the Big 3 would be most appropriate to pursue in obtaining the biology degree? Listed below are all of the science course I have previously taken:

Community College Science Courses Taken:

Biology 1100 Intro to Biological Chemistry - 3 credit hours
Biology 2330 Anatomy and Physiology I - 4 credit hours
Biology 2340 Anatomy and Physiology II - 4 credit hours
Biology 2600 Pathophysiology - 3 credit hours
Biology 2500 Microbiology - 4 credit hours

Math 1141 Applied Algebra/Math Reasoning - 3 credit hours


University Science Courses Taken:

Biology 211 General Biology I - 4 credit hours
Biology 214 General Biology Lab I - 2 credit hours
Biology 213 General Biology III - 3 credit hours
Biology 216 General Biology Lab III - 2 credit hours
Biology 460 Vertebrate Embryology - 5 credt hours
Biology 481 Developmental Plant Biology Lab - 2 credit hours

Chemistry 370 Organic Chemistry I - 3 credit hours

Physics 211 College Physics I - 5 credit hours
Physics 212 College Physics II - 5 credit hours
Physics 213 College Physics III - 5 credit hours


Thanks in advance for your help!

[mednat]

A large challenge you may find with the big 3 (and other schools) is that for a second bachelors you typically have to have a minimum of 30 new credits in your AoS from classes after your first bachelors was awarded. That means that although your previously earned credits fit, they would likely need to be redone.


TESU's policy is here (requires 24 credits): The Secret to Earning a Second Degree | Thomas Edison State University

COSC's policy (requires 30 new credits): https://www.charteroak.edu/prospective/a...degree.cfm

Excelsior's policy is a bit harder to find, but i believe it's in their student handbook. If i recall they require 30 new credits.

Are there any other ways to meet this requirement? At the big three you're looking at a minimum of 8 classes, and you've already taken most of the credits traditionally available from alternative sources.

If you have to take 30 credits of actual courses (online or otherwise), I'd suggest looking for an online masters program.

[dfrecore]

I just looked it up, and I think you would be better off just getting the hours required rather than the 2nd Bio degree (which as mednat says, will be fairly difficult to get). It looks like you are fairly close to having the Option 2 completed.

You will also need to read through the section regarding your transcripts and proof of the coursework.

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

B. CATEGORY B: Bachelor's Degree in Another Subject. An applicant with a Bachelor'sdegree in a subject other than one of those listed in Category A, must establish to thesatisfaction of the OED Director that he or she possesses scientific and technical trainingequivalent to that received at an accredited U.S. college or university for a Bachelor'sdegree in one of the subjects listed in Category A. To establish such equivalence to thesatisfaction of the OED Director, an applicant can satisfy one of the following fouroptions, other training, or other education listed below. The applicant must submit thenecessary documentation and objective evidence showing satisfaction of one of theoptions or other means of qualifying.

i. Option 1: 24 semester hours in physics. Only physics courses for physics majors willbe accepted.

ii. Option 2: 32 semester hours in a combination consisting of the following:8 semester hours of chemistry or 8 semester hours of physics, and 24 semester hours inbiology, botany, microbiology, or molecular biology.

The 8 semester hours in chemistry or 8 semester hours of physics must be obtained intwo sequential courses, each course including a lab. Only courses for science orengineering majors will be accepted.

iii. Option 3: 30 semester hours in chemistry. Only chemistry courses for chemistrymajors will be accepted.

iv. Option 4: 40 semester hours in a combination consisting of the following:8 semester hours of chemistry or 8 semester hours of physics, and32 semester hours of chemistry, physics, biology, botany, microbiology, molecularbiology, or engineering. (For Computer Science, see other acceptable course work.)

The 8 semester hours of chemistry or 8 semester hours of physics must be obtained intwo sequential courses, each course including a lab. Only courses for science orengineering majors will be accepted. For Computer Science, see other "OtherAcceptable Course Work."All acceptable coursework for Options 2 and 4 must be for science or engineeringmajors.

[cookderosa]

well let me ask, are all of those classes INSIDE your psych degree or were they post-bac? If they were post-bac you can absolutely use them toward your biology degree.

[sanantone]

Unless TESU changes the program to a BA in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Biology, it's the only one of the Big 3 that offers a major in biology. COSC and Excelsior offer concentrations in biology. Category B will allow you to sit for the test, but you have to think beyond that. Patent agent jobs normally ask for a specific bachelor's degree. The most common degrees I see asked for are engineering and computer science. If you want to do something related to medical research, then chemistry, biology, microbiology, biochemistry, and related degrees will likely be desired. So, I would recommend looking at the jobs you want to see what they require or prefer.

[Sacricolist]

The community college courses were ALL taken after my BA degree in Psych. I took those BIO courses as part of my AAS in Nursing. Looking at the previous suggestions, qualifying under USPTO Category B - Option 4 may be the best option to qualify to take the Patent exam. However after looking at some LinkedIn profiles of Patent Agents everyone basically has some type of science degree. If I qualified via USPTO Category B AND had say the BA in Natural Science and Mathematics (which may be less coursework redundant than a Biology degree) my credentials would look more appropriate for the profession. Thoughts?

[sanantone]

The community college courses were ALL taken after my BA degree in Psych. I took those BIO courses as part of my AAS in Nursing. Looking at the previous suggestions, qualifying under USPTO Category B - Option 4 may be the best option to qualify to take the Patent exam. However after looking at some LinkedIn profiles of Patent Agents everyone basically has some type of science degree. If I qualified via USPTO Category B AND had say the BA in Natural Science and Mathematics (which may be less coursework redundant than a Biology degree) my credentials would look more appropriate for the profession. Thoughts?

I posted a minute before you did addressing this issue.

[dfrecore]

Since the courses won't be redundant, I think I would apply to TESU and see what they do with your eval. If those courses all come into the Bio degree towards your AOS, and you're close to getting the Bio degree, then you should definitely consider doing it.

[Lindagerr]

The main problem I see at TESU would be not enough of your courses are upper level and it is difficult to find them without in seat classes. The TESU 6 credit Global Environmental change was upper level, but that was a while ago I don't know if that is still so. I was lucky my Organic Chemistry I & II with lab were given as 10 upper level credits before they changed their CC policy. Things are harder now.

[sanantone]

There are enough upper level credits for the natural science and mathematics degree, but the biology degree would require expensive courses from other colleges. They can be found online, though. Excelsior offers all of the courses for its Natural Science degree with a concentration in Biology. But, if you're just going to get a concentration in biology, you might as well get the cheaper natural science and mathematics degree at TESU.