Biological Sciences
What can I do with this major?
Research and Development
Area
- Basic
- Applied
- Quality Control
- Administration
- Grant Writing
Employer
- Industry and laboratories:
- Pharmaceutical
- Healthcare
- Agriculture production
- Food processing and safety
- Environmental
- Private research institutions
- Public health departments
- State and federal government:
- National Science Foundation
- National Institutes of Health
- Food and Drug Administration
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Agriculture
- Armed Services
- Department of Homeland Security
- State and local government laboratories/agencies
- Colleges and universities
Information / Strategies
- Learn to set up, operate, maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, and monitor experiments.
- Select courses with laboratory components.
- Seek research experience with professors.
- Gain related experience through part-time jobs, internships, or volunteering.
- Complete a certificate training program, usually one year, to learn specialized laboratory techniques.
- Take a course in grant writing.
- A Bachelor's degree in biology qualifies one for laboratory technician or research assistant positions.
- Earn master's degree for better positions, advancement opportunities, more responsibility and higher pay.
- Obtain Ph.D. to direct research projects and lead research teams.
- Maintain a high grade point average and secure strong faculty recommendations to gain admittance into graduate school.
Organismal Biology
Area
- Some Areas of Specialization
- Botany and Plant sciences
- Ecology and Wildlife
- Marine and Aquatic
- Systematic (Taxonomy)
- Zoology
- Entomology
- Genetics
- Microbiology
- Bacteria
- Algae
- Fungi
- Molds
- Yeasts
- Viruses
- Protozoa
Employer
- Colleges and universities, especially colleges of agriculture and veterinary medicine
- Veterinary hospitals
- State and federal government:
- Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Health
- Independent laboratories:
- Food production
- Textiles
- Chemical
- Pharmaceutical
- Forestry products
- Zoos and aquariums
- Fish hatcheries
- Wildlife preserves and parks
- Conservation agencies
- Botanical gardens and arboretums
- Museums
- Agricultural experiment stations
- Inspection agencies and control boards
- National and international environmental organizations
- Private recreation organizations
Information / Strategies
- Seek related experience through coursework, part-time jobs, internships or volunteering.
- Conduct research or assist in research including the collection of information and samples of water, soil, plants, animals, etc.
- Join student chapters of professional organizations related to your area of interest.
- Obtain a Ph.D. for teaching and advanced research and management positions.
Biomedical Sciences
Area
- Biophysics
- Biochemistry
- Cellular and Molecular Biology
- Cytology
- Genetics
- Immunology
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
- Physiology
- Virology
Employer
- Colleges and universities
- Professional schools including colleges of pharmacy, dentistry, medicine, veterinary medicine, and agriculture
- Federal laboratories and regulatory agencies:
- National Institutes of Health
- Food and Drug Administration
- State and local public health departments
- Clinics and hospitals
- Private research foundations
- Independent laboratories
- Pharmaceutical companies
Information / Strategies
- Gain laboratory experience through coursework and/or research projects with professors.
- Learn to set up, operate, maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, and monitor experiments.
- Seek internships, part-time employment and volunteer opportunities in the biomedical field.
- Join student chapters of professional organizations related to your area of interest.
- Take courses in area(s) of specialization and/or consider an advanced degree.
- Obtain a Ph.D. for teaching and advanced research and management positions.
Healthcare
Area
- Medicine
- Dentistry
- Optometry
- Podiatry
- Pharmacy
- Veterinary Medicine
- Allied Health
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Medical Technology
- Nuclear Medicine
Employer
- Hospitals
- Medical centers and clinics
- Nursing homes
- Private practice
- Armed services
- Government agencies
Information / Strategies
- Plan on attending medical school or other related graduate program.
- Maintain an outstanding grade point average, particularly in the sciences.
- Secure strong faculty recommendations.
- Meet with a pre-health advisor periodically.
- Join related student organizations, and demonstrate leadership abilities.
- Seek experiences in hospital or healthcare settings through volunteering, shadowing, part-time positions, or internships.
- Develop a back up plan in case medical/graduate school admission is denied.
- Consider alternative but related careers such as physician assistants.
- Research all of the various fields within medicine to determine career goals.
Bioinformatics
Area
- Algorithm and Statistics Development
- Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Information Management
- Organization and Retrieval
Employer
- Colleges and universities
- Private research foundations
- Independent laboratories:
- Organic and agricultural chemicals
- Drug and pharmaceutical
- Medical device and equipment
- Research, testing, medical
- Federal laboratories and regulatory agencies:
- National Institutes of Health
- Food and Drug Administration
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Agriculture
- National Biological Information Infrastructure
Information / Strategies
- Develop multiple areas of specialization through coursework, minors, double-majors in molecular biology, mathematics, statistics, computer science, or machine learning.
- Develop strong programming and database management skills; fluency in several programming languages is helpful.
- Learn biological software systems.
- Complete an internship in area of interest.
- Seek master's degree for increased advancement opportunities.
Education
Area
- Teaching
- Elementary
- Secondary
- Post-Secondary
- Non-classroom Education
Employer
- Universities and colleges
- Medical and other professional schools
- Public and private schools, K-12
- Museums
- Zoos
- Nature centers and parks
Information / Strategies
- Gain experience working with students through tutoring, part-time employment, or volunteering.
- Learn to work well with all types of people.
- Develop excellent interpersonal and public speaking skills.
- Certification is required for K-12 school teachers and varies by state.
- Master's degrees may be sufficient for teaching at community or two-year institutions.
- Ph.D. is needed for teaching opportunities at colleges and universities.
Communication
Area
- Technical Writing
- Editing
- Illustrating
- Photography
Employer
- Publishing companies including scientific magazines, professional journals, periodicals, textbooks, and online publishers
- Newspapers
- Educational and scientific software companies
- Zoological and environmental societies
- Medical, dental and veterinary colleges
- Research centers
- Federal government agencies
- Related nonprofit organizations
- Museums
Information / Strategies
- Acquire thorough knowledge of photographic procedures and technology.
- Take specific courses in biological, medical, and ophthalmic photography; courses in illustration and printing are also helpful.
- Develop strong writing skills and command of the English language.
- Take advanced courses in technical writing or journalism classes or consider a minor in either.
- Join professional associations like the National Association of Science Writers.
- Seek related volunteer or paid experiences with student/local publications to increase marketability.
- Obtain an advanced degree in scientific journalism.
Legislation Law
Area
- Lobbying
- Regulatory Affairs
- Science Policy
- Patent Law
- Environmental Law
Employer
- Federal and state government
- Law firms
- Large corporations
Information / Strategies
- Develop excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Maintain current knowledge of industry-specific laws and policies.
- Acquire internships in federal or state government.
- Take courses in history, political science and/or legal studies.
- Acquire a Ph.D. for advanced positions.
- Earn a J.D. degree to practice law.
Business/Industry
Area
- Technical and Pharmaceutical Sales
- Management
- Consulting
- Marketing
Employer
- Manufacturing companies including:
- Pharmaceuticals
- Animal pharmaceuticals
- Laboratory equipment
- Medical supplies and prostheses
- Marketing firms
- Consulting firms
Information / Strategies
- Develop excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrate a high energy level.
- Take courses in anatomy, pharmacology, and chemistry.
- Obtain sales experience and/or a business minor.
- Join related student associations and hold leadership positions.
- Consider an MBA or Professional Science Master's for advanced management and consulting opportunities.
General Information and Strategies
- A Bachelor's degree will qualify one for work as a laboratory assistant, technician, technologist, or research assistant in education, industry, government, museums, parks, and gardens.
- An undergraduate degree can also be used for nontechnical work in writing, illustration, sales, photography, and legislation.
- Master's degrees allow for more opportunities in research and administration. Some community colleges will hire Master's level teachers.
- Doctoral degrees are necessary for advanced research and administrative positions, university teaching, and independent research.
- An advanced degree provides the opportunity to specialize in fields of interest.
- The biological sciences are good preparation for a career in healthcare such as medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science, but professional degrees and licenses are also necessary to practice in these fields.
- Learn laboratory procedures and become familiar with equipment.
- Obtain summer, part-time, volunteer, co-op, or internship experience to test the fields of interest and gain valuable experience. Take independent research classes if possible.
- Participate in summer research institutes. Submit research to local poster competitions or research symposiums.
- Develop strong analytical, computer, mathematics, and communications skills.
- Join professional associations and community organizations to stay abreast of current issues in the field and to develop networking contacts.
- Read scientific journals related to your area of interest.
- Maintain a high grade point average to improve chances of graduate and professional school admission.
- Become familiar with the specific entrance exam for graduate or professional schools in your area of interest.
- Secure strong relationships and personal recommendations from professors and/or employers.
- Consider completing a post doctoral experience after graduate school.
- Learn federal, state, and local government job application process. The federal government is the largest employer of biologists.
- Gain experience with grant writing and fundraising techniques. Often research must be funded in this manner.