After completing the Pathology major, you’ll be well placed to move into the workforce, further study, or graduate research.

Career outcomes

With a major in Pathology you could pursue careers in biomedical research or as a hospital or industry-based scientist.

With an understanding of the mechanisms of disease you would also be well positioned to pursue careers in bioinformatics, public health, occupational health and safety, sales or consulting.

Employers include hospitals and research institutes such as the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, and WEHI; diagnostic laboratories such as Dorevitch Pathology, and companies supporting health and research.

Further study

You can complete an honours year in Pathology as part of your bachelors degree, or you can immediately move into graduate studies.

GRADUATE DEGREES

If you wish to continue your studies at graduate level, this major is a great lead-in to many specialist science and health degrees. Graduate degrees you could consider include:

• Doctor of Dental Surgery
• Doctor of Medicine
• Doctor of Optometry
• Doctor of Physiotherapy
• Master of Biomedical Science
• Master of Public Health
• Master of Science (BioSciences)
• Master of Science (Epidemiology).

Depending on the subjects you take in your undergraduate degree, a range of other graduate degrees may be possible – in fields as diverse as science and technology, health sciences, teaching, law, business, humanities and more.

To work as a pathologist, you’ll first need to qualify as a medical doctor by completing a Doctor of Medicine, then complete several years of specialist training in pathology while working in a hospital.

GRADUATE RESEARCH

If you complete an honours year or a masters course with a significant research component, you can go on to study a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), or another graduate research program.

This will set you up for a rewarding career in research with a university, research institute, hospital or biotechnology company.