Problems choosing Level 3 Breadth...

[chid]

Hi,

I'm studying the Bachelor of Biomedicine and I'm not sure how I can fulfil the requirements of studying at least one Level 3 Breadth subject.

At the moment in first year I'm studying Genetics, Health and Society and Finance 1. I'm more interested in studying Finance subjects with an emphasis on investments/returns (practical) rather than accounting (which I don't really enjoy). However, all the Level 3 Finance subjects seem to want Business Finance (not Finance 1) and a Probability/Statistics/Econometrics subject as a prerequisite.

I don't all my breadth subjects to be related to Finance over 3 years and this is probably what's making it harder for me.


Thanks guys.

[brendan]

I don't see the problem. Investments require Business finance and a quantitative subject. That's that. There's no way you can get around that requirement

[brendan]

and is ur Major in Bioengineering Systems?

Since the default course plan for Biomed students include, Experimental Design and Data Analysis
all you would need is to do [b]316-205 Introductory Econometrics[/b] in second yr, second sem. and business finance in your 2nd yr (either first sem or 2nd sem).

that makes a total of four breadth subjects, finance 1, bus fi, intro econometrics, investments.

you still need two more.

[chid]

But doesn't the quantitative subject have to be one of the ones listed?

Biomed students already do Experimental Data Analysis and Design but can't do many other Quantitative subjects as Breadth.

Nah probably will major in Physiology or something similar, not Bioeng

[brendan]

Biomed students already do Experimental Data Analysis and Design but can't do many other Quantitative subjects as Breadth.

yeah you can, [b]316-205 Introductory Econometrics[/b]

and what have you decided for the other two breadth subjects?

i'd recommend taking Introductory Microeconomics, everything in finance will make a lot more sense after you have done it.

[chid]

Well as far as breadth goes nothing is really 'decided' yet

There's quite a few which seem interesting but I haven't really been able to get 6 which I think I would really enjoy doing.

Health Economics looks interesting...would it actually be useful for a health professional though? (as general knowledge)

[brendan]

no it wouldnt

[chid]

what makes you say that....the overview makes it seem useful but then again a lot of the overviews appear misleading in hindsight

[brendan]

because health economics, is more useful for people who to look at the impacts of health on society as a whole. so it looks at health from a public policy perspective, so for a health professional concerned with patient welfare, it doesn't help very much. if you are actually concerned with public policy, and policy making in general then go for it. but as I said, for a health professional there are better subjects out there. you'd be better off taking subjects like critical thinking with data

[chid]

i understand why health economics would be of negligible relevance if it was mainly a mathematical/statistical treatment of public health, but if it does discuss health policy i think it would be useful information for a health professional. i guess to a health professional it would be more useful than investments would be.

hmm initially i was interested in critical thinking with data but feedback from most people was that it was just a stats subject with case studies.. what makes you say its useful?

also when you say there are better for subjects for aspiring health professionals do you have some examples?

thanks again Brendan i appreciate your advice.

[brendan]

For the purpose of policy making, I think
any of these would be better:
316-313 Microeconomics
316-317 Econometrics or 316-205 Introductory Econometrics
316-326 Economic Analysis and Policy

particularly the bolded ones.

It might seem odd that I didn't highly 316-326 instead. But I'm taking into account the fact that you can really only do so many breadth in your third yr. And that to understand much of the research on health economics out there requires you to have an understanding of Econometrics and 316-313 Microeconomics.


For developing yourself as a health professional, I think
any of these would be better:
316-317 Econometrics or 316-205 Introductory Econometrics
Critical Thinking With Data

[brendan]

http://www.nber.org/programs/he/he.html