Theology vs Biological Sciences

flufferknutter · 2023-10-05T15:08:23+00:00

Ds2 is autistic (Asperger's) and may struggle to work full time in the future. He would like to go to university starting next year and we assumed he'd be studying biosciences with a view to becoming a lab assistant - possibly only part time though. He's interested in science and obtained very good marks in his Applied Science Btec. The trouble is, he'd really love to do a Theology degree and is very motivated, but we don't think he'd have as many job opportunities after doing it. He's absolutely not suited to teaching, social work, counselling etc. He would probably be better off in a quiet lab environment, but we also want him to study something he loves. Are future job prospects more important? He has a good chance of being accepted onto either course.

Ellmau · 05/10/2023 18:44

Theology is something he could study for fun later.

Chchchanging · 05/10/2023 18:48

Does he need a degree to be a lab assistant? Peobablt not. If not then why not do theology.... if he will be motivated to do so.

OneMoreStepAlongTheRoadIGo · 05/10/2023 18:52

I'd do whatever he is motivated to do.

I knew friends who studied theology and one ended up working for IBM. It "counts" for any graduate job and perhaps is similar to an English or history degree in terms of looking at texts, analysis etc.

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 05/10/2023 18:56

I did theology!

Now, I will confess that I’m an RE teacher but, out of my 5 best friends on my course:

one is a lawyer
one works for the Holocaust Memorial Trust
one is a social worker
one is a window dresser for Ikea
one is a builder

i would let him do whatever he is motivated to do. It’s a very well respected, analytic degree and will carry him far. He can be a lab assistant with a theology degree!

DisforDarkChocolate · 05/10/2023 19:01

Half my last year at university was theology, including my dissertation. It gives you a great understanding of society, teaches you critical thinking and it should broaden your mind.

Could he look at a combined or joint honours degree? I don't think both of the subjects you mentioned would work together but there might be subjects that do he would enjoy.

titchy · 05/10/2023 19:01

Chchchanging · 05/10/2023 18:48

Does he need a degree to be a lab assistant? Peobablt not. If not then why not do theology.... if he will be motivated to do so.

He probably would tbh. Most lab techs in universities and research institutes have a degree at least, many a Masters. School lab techs may not need a degree, NHS band 2-4 won't, but often grads take non grad NHS lab jobs while they look for better paid work, or build up experience to work as accredited biomeds.

CurlewKate · 05/10/2023 19:14

My dd did theology. She's a project manager for a well known company. It's just like any other arts degree. She's an atheist, by the way!

Original poster

flufferknutter · 05/10/2023 20:41

We figured that he'd have a better chance of finding reasonably paid lab work if he had a degree than if he went in at a low grade.

I suppose he could study theology at a later date. We're really concerned about his job prospects and it's a shame that he's being dictated to by his autism.

OP posts:

EwwSprouts · 05/10/2023 22:03

Read some of the other threads in Higher Education. Going to university is a huge change for all and many who are neurodiverse struggle more. Let him follow his passion and study with others who share it.

Also how long do you think lab jobs are going to be around AI? I say that with DS currently studying biology.

titchy · 05/10/2023 22:55

EwwSprouts · 05/10/2023 22:03

Read some of the other threads in Higher Education. Going to university is a huge change for all and many who are neurodiverse struggle more. Let him follow his passion and study with others who share it.

Also how long do you think lab jobs are going to be around AI? I say that with DS currently studying biology.

I don't think AI is going to be so advanced as to physically be able
To prepare stuff/pipette stuff etc. maybe to read and interpret samples, but a human will need to prepare the sample in the first place.

EwwSprouts · 06/10/2023 08:44

@titchy The pace of change is increasing IMO. https://www.sptlabtech.com/automated-pipetting-the-complete-guide#whats-automated-pipetting

ShadowsontheHill · 06/10/2023 09:45

My DS GF graduated with a bioscience degree and got a first this year. Lab based jobs started at about 18k, she is helping run a dept in a large business and is already on 26k per year. Lab based work is not as well paid as you think it is just as a heads up.

poetryandwine · 06/10/2023 09:53

Hi, OP -

I think this is a bit subtle. Ad his parents, you do want to help set DS up for the future.

It’s fantastic that he has this passion for Theology. I am normally one to suggest that students follow their passion, but the reality is that the success stories above depend on transferrable skills and personality traits — flexibility, verbal fluency and multitasking chief amongst them — that may or may not possess, or wish to develop.

I agree with @titchy that if he envisages taking a job in science a relevant degree will be very useful. I also wonder whether he has realised how much writing he will need to do for a Theology degree? Amongst my autistic personal tutees (I am in STEM) essay based elective modules have sometimes been a source of great anxiety as the assignments and exams are inherently less structured than ours. And my students are just doing one such module at a time!

Does DS have the qualifications to apply for Theology? I almost hope not, because the need to do an essay based A level or two would be a first sample of whether the Theology degree is right for him. If he has already done this, of course that’s a big first step taken.

If upon reflection and perhaps further effort DS remains committed to Theology, I would hate to discourage him completely. I don’t know what type of university he is aiming for, but ideally I would suggest a Joint Honours degree. At Exeter he can design his own. At Glasgow, one of the great hidden gems of UK HE, Chemistry and Theology are two of the subjects you can combine for a Joint Hons degree. Also, Year 1 in Scotland is fairly broad, not specialised, so DS would have a chance to come up to speed in the areas where he is less experienced.

I hope there are other places DS could combine Theology with prep for a laboratory job. Sorry this is so long! But I think his situation is really very complex.

BTW if DS did well in his BTEC and is of a calibre to gain a Theology degree, perhaps he could aspire to more than being a lab assistant? I understand that he may only be able to work part time, in certain environments. He will face challenges. But his educational and career aims can still be rough matches. Best wishes to him.

Original poster

flufferknutter · 06/10/2023 14:08

ShadowsontheHill · 06/10/2023 09:45

My DS GF graduated with a bioscience degree and got a first this year. Lab based jobs started at about 18k, she is helping run a dept in a large business and is already on 26k per year. Lab based work is not as well paid as you think it is just as a heads up.

He's not going to be able to earn very much anyway whatever job he does 😢 we just want to help him avoid minimum wage stuff and things which would involve him working with the public.

OP posts:

Original poster

flufferknutter · 06/10/2023 14:14

poetryandwine · 06/10/2023 09:53

Hi, OP -

I think this is a bit subtle. Ad his parents, you do want to help set DS up for the future.

It’s fantastic that he has this passion for Theology. I am normally one to suggest that students follow their passion, but the reality is that the success stories above depend on transferrable skills and personality traits — flexibility, verbal fluency and multitasking chief amongst them — that may or may not possess, or wish to develop.

I agree with @titchy that if he envisages taking a job in science a relevant degree will be very useful. I also wonder whether he has realised how much writing he will need to do for a Theology degree? Amongst my autistic personal tutees (I am in STEM) essay based elective modules have sometimes been a source of great anxiety as the assignments and exams are inherently less structured than ours. And my students are just doing one such module at a time!

Does DS have the qualifications to apply for Theology? I almost hope not, because the need to do an essay based A level or two would be a first sample of whether the Theology degree is right for him. If he has already done this, of course that’s a big first step taken.

If upon reflection and perhaps further effort DS remains committed to Theology, I would hate to discourage him completely. I don’t know what type of university he is aiming for, but ideally I would suggest a Joint Honours degree. At Exeter he can design his own. At Glasgow, one of the great hidden gems of UK HE, Chemistry and Theology are two of the subjects you can combine for a Joint Hons degree. Also, Year 1 in Scotland is fairly broad, not specialised, so DS would have a chance to come up to speed in the areas where he is less experienced.

I hope there are other places DS could combine Theology with prep for a laboratory job. Sorry this is so long! But I think his situation is really very complex.

BTW if DS did well in his BTEC and is of a calibre to gain a Theology degree, perhaps he could aspire to more than being a lab assistant? I understand that he may only be able to work part time, in certain environments. He will face challenges. But his educational and career aims can still be rough matches. Best wishes to him.

Thanks. He is somewhat restricted because he's going to have to attend a university within travelling distance of home because he wouldn't cope living away. We have four that he could attend, so it's probably okay.

My instincts tell me that science will probably be a better choice job wise.

OP posts:

PinkGrapefruitSorbet · 06/10/2023 17:07

@flufferknutter Has your DS thought about anthropology at all? At my institution, that would be the discipline that best brings together elements of what he likes about Biology and Theology into a single department, which might be the best of both worlds?

DisforDarkChocolate · 06/10/2023 17:15

PinkGrapefruitSorbet · 06/10/2023 17:07

@flufferknutter Has your DS thought about anthropology at all? At my institution, that would be the discipline that best brings together elements of what he likes about Biology and Theology into a single department, which might be the best of both worlds?

That is such a great suggestion. I loved anthropology. Biological and social anthropology, graduates normally do well too.

Lovestodrinkmilk · 06/10/2023 18:10

Some unis have 'broadening options' so it's possible to take a small number of courses in a totally different area. So maybe a possibility to do biosciences plus a bit of theology on the side.

If he has not actually done any lab tech type work experience, I would make that a priority, to check that he really does like it (even if less than theology). Would a gap year working in a lab be a possibility? Even if it's just unpaid work experience. But if he has a realistic idea of what lab work entails and thinks he can cope, I think your instincts towards that are correct. Humanities degrees do tend to lead to jobs requiring communication and people skills rather than specific technical knowledge.

But if it turns out he can't cope with lab work, he may as well do theology.

poetryandwine · 06/10/2023 18:16

OP,

How academically able is your DS? Your comments on his employment prospects make it difficult to tell. Theology is a fairly demanding degree. It isn’t really commensurate with the professional goal you’ve described. For that reason alone (to say nothing about the question of suitable preparation) I am either concerned about the ability of DS to do Theology, or concerned that you’re underestimating his professional abilities - even though he may need to work part time in certain environments.

I don’t mean to suggest you need to discuss this publicly, but if you are accurate about what DS should expect in the world of work then quite possibly a Theology degree isn’t for him, at least in the first instance. Ad PP have said, he could pursue this at leisure once he’s got a job.

PikachuChickenRice · 06/10/2023 18:49

Could he become a monk?
https://www.belmontabbey.org.uk/becoming-a-benedictine
https://ealingmonks.org.uk/what-is-a-monk/
Limited interaction with 'the public', strict routine, everything else provided for,

I'm not joking - but with a degree like that sadly you are going to find most professions it leads to are very 'people'. Which, as an aside, 90% of jobs are anyway even things hyped up as for 'awkward introverts' like programming.

If he has an interest in religion what's wrong with considering it as a vocation?

Becoming a Benedictine Monk

What it is like to set upon a path to the Monastic way of life at a Benedictine Monk

https://www.belmontabbey.org.uk/becoming-a-benedictine

poetryandwine · 06/10/2023 19:23

That’s very interesting, @PikachuChickenRice . We don’t know whether DS’s interest in Theology is rooted in religious belief, which could make your suggestion very good, or whether it is just his way of getting at The Big Questions intellectually. OP does, however.