Unlocking Possibilities: How can Bio Students apply for IT?
Information technology is growing at a rapid pace and it seems it won’t slow down anytime soon. With immensely growing career opportunities, it is not surprising that IT is attracting most students to pursue a career in it. Even many students from other faculty backgrounds, including from the science sector, are considering switching their studies to the IT field.
If you are also attracted to an IT career but being from a Biology background is holding you back from your interest, then we no need to worry anymore. The good news is that bio students can apply for IT too.
The IT field in Nepal is open to all students no matter their previous educational backgrounds, and biology is not an omission. However, to pursue a career in IT, students with a biology background may require extra effort to grasp skills such as mathematics, database, and programming language as the terms are new to them.
In this article, we will guide you on a step-by-step approach to – how can bio students apply for IT. Additionally, we will also explore the best career options for bioscience students after studying Information Technology.
Keep on reading as the article is going to be a great aid for you to thrive in IT, though you formerly belong to a biology background.
Skills that Bio students already have that translate well to IT
It is not like that, when you make a switch from Bio to IT, all your previous knowledge and skills dissipate. Many skills that you learned during your bio study can be translated deftly into Information Technology. In fact, those skills can be advantageous to smoothen your IT career paths to grow fast in specific IT roles. Here we look at some common transferable skills to pursue an IT career for bio students after 12.
i. Analytical thinking
During your biology class, you learn to interpret big data to determine the final result after identifying the trends and patterns. This develops your analytical skills greatly. The same analytical skills can help you greatly in the IT fields that have data analysis as an integral part.
ii. Attention to detail
As a bio student, you learn to analyze biological samples by observing the organisms and their structures in depth. While doing so, a high level of attention is required to ensure accurate results from the experiment. So, attention to detail is one of the key skills that you will gain during your bio classes, which is also beneficial upon switching to the IT field. This is because the numerous positions in Information Technology highly require you to have this particular skill. Attention to detail plays a crucial role in IT career paths such as Software Development, Quality Assurance, Project Management, Cyber Security, etc.
iii. Problem-solving skills
During your biology classes, you are required to solve complex biological problems systematically following scientific fundamentals and processes. This develops your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
As numerous IT roles such as Data Scientist, Business Analyst, Project Manager, and IT technician require problem-solving skills, you can benefit hugely from the problem-solving skill you learned in bio courses.
iv. Research Skill
Biology includes a lot of research. For instance, you are required to critically evaluate numerous articles to support your argument while conducting a literature review during your courses. To do so, you require to do a lot of research which contributes to developing exceptional research skills. Those research skills also play a big role in growing a career in IT as they will help you to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in the field.
Steps for transitioning from Bio to IT
The above-mentioned transferable skills smoothen the path for IT career options for bio-students students to some extent. So, reflect on those skills before transforming your study to build a fulfilling career in IT. Afterward, consider the following useful steps to make a complete transition.
1. Start with research on the IT field
Detailed research on the field is important as you are moving to a completely new field. The IT field is broad and includes numerous areas of work such as website development, application development, software development, data analytics, cyber security, and so on. So, research every field to select the one that interests you the most.
2. Developing the programming skills
To build a career in the IT sector, you may want to learn programming languages as it is relevant in most evolving IT roles such as Data Science, website development, software development, UX design, UI design, and many more. You can develop these skills by enrolling in different computer science or IT courses. You may now wonder, can bio students do computer science?
Well, they certainly can. There are numerous courses that not only help you to gain programming skills, but provide you with the opportunity to build foundational knowledge that is of utmost importance in the field. So, look for the courses in the IT fields of your interest and get enrolled. This could be in-person or online.
3. Gain practical experience
It can be challenging to get a job right away after the completion of the course as most companies prioritize hiring experienced professionals. So, practical experience is key. For this, you can start by building your own projects. Begin by developing simple websites, software, or mobile applications, publish them on Github, and provide the link to your portfolio.
4. Enroll in internships
An internship is a great opportunity to gain experience working in a real-life experience. The awesome news is that many companies provide opportunities to freshers. So, look for the opportunity by going through job portal sites, company websites, or networking events to initiate your first steps toward a career in IT.
IT career paths that are a good fit for Bio Students
So, now you are aware of what you can do after studying biology to make a successful switch to the IT field. Though there are vast IT career options to switch to, IT professionals with a biology background may thrive especially in certain IT roles. Let’s find out some IT career paths that are ideal for you to consider previously studying biology.
i. Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics refers to the IT field where you combine computer science and statistics to apply to molecular biology. The primary function includes analyzing biological data by employing computer resources to study and research the biological process.
As bio students already know about molecular biology and genetics, you can make the most from the role of bioinformatics.
ii. Biomedical IT
Working in the fields of Biomedical IT, you will develop software applications, mobile programs, or prosthetics to aid better healthcare in medical organizations. Therefore, biology students can benefit from this role as they already have acquired knowledge of medical biology.
iii. Data analysis and management
As we discussed earlier, bio students develop exceptional analytical skills during their study as they regularly interpret big data to determine outcomes after identifying trends and patterns. They also have great skills for attention to detail. These skills can be very useful working in the role of data analysis and management. This is because data analysis and management require you to draw out insights from data for decision-making.
iv. Biotech IT Manager
As a Biotech IT Manager, you are responsible for looking after the IT and computer systems of pharmaceutical companies. When working in pharmaceutical companies, the knowledge of biology is definitely a bonus point. It provides great help for the Biotech IT manager when he is required to develop IT solutions for the organization’s research on various biological terminologies.
Conclusion
Therefore, students from a biology background can actually gain extra benefits in numerous IT roles as mentioned above. However, you will be required to develop the essential skills including computer programming language, web or app development, and database management to start with. To learn these skills, bio students can apply for IT courses and certification programs in Nepal.
So, do not hold yourself back to jump to what interests you the most although you are previously from different faculty. To help you start the new journey, Softwarica College presents you with pre-eminent IT courses that open a gateway to exciting IT career options for Bio students. Enroll now if you are dreaming of an ever-growing IT career while making the switch from a Bio background.
FAQ’s
Can Biology students do BSC IT?
Yes, biology students can do BSC IT in Nepal. Numerous colleges in Nepal offer BSc IT courses and admission requirements may vary from one to another. So, research the colleges that find you eligible for the program and get enrolled.
In the beginning, it may be challenging, but different transferable skills such as problem-solving skills, attention to detail, analytical thinking, and research skills from biology courses can benefit you to smoothen your path as you continue your course.
Can a biology student study BSc Computer Science?
Yes, biology students can study BSc Computer Science. However, be aware that computer science requires distinctive technical skills and knowledge more than biology, though some transferable skills may be useful. Thus, you may want to make sure that you build a strong foundation on skills such as mathematics, data structures, statistics, and algorithms to pursue BSc in Computer Science.
Which B.Sc course is best for Biology students?
If you are looking to pursue a career in the Information Technology sector as a biology student, there are several career options for B.Sc courses – B.Sc in Bioinformatics, B.Sc in Computer Science, B.Sc in Information Technology, and B.Sc in Biomedical engineering are to name a few. The best B.Sc course for you depends on your goal as an IT professional. Therefore, it is important that you make a detailed research on each available option considering your strengths and interests. You may also want to consult with academic professors or advisors before getting enrolled in any program.
Can a biology student do IT engineering?
Yes, biology students can do IT engineering even though they are not from a computer science background. However, most institutes may require you to have studied mathematics in grade 12th or acquire extra technical skills through further training or certification courses such as bridge courses or prerequisite courses for IT engineering programs.
Can I become a Software Engineer with a biology background?
Yes, you can become a software engineer with biology. However, you may require to grasp additional technical knowledge and skills which you can achieve by getting enrolled in several IT engineering courses such as certification or degree in software engineering, IT engineering, or computer science. So, a biology degree directly will not land you directly in the role of Software Engineer, but further education and training certification certainly will.
What are the benefits of a career in IT with a biology background?
A career in IT with a biology background may offer multiple benefits, especially in IT roles relevant to the medical sector. For instance, in the field of Biomedical IT, you are required to build software applications, mobile programs, or prosthetics to aid service in healthcare organizations. In this role, having knowledge of medical terminology benefits can make your job efficient and effective.