What Can You Do With a Degree in Biology?
There are many career paths in biology, including scientist, educator, technician, and managing, to name a few. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment for biological technicians is expected to have a 10 percent employment increase between 2016 to 2026. Most career paths within the biology field require you to have a minimum degree of an associate. You develop skills and abilities that make you very marketable in a wide variety of jobs from conservation scientist to science education.
Brooklyn College alumni with a degree in biology work in health care services, education, hospitals, research, and many more.
Top Employers for Brooklyn College Biology Internships and Full-Time Jobs for Alumni (Based on LinkedIn)
- Brooklyn College
- Brooklyn Hospital Center
- CITYMD
- LifeSci NYC
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
- Memory and Cognition Lab
- Mount Sinai Hospital
- New York City Department of Education
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- New York Methodist Hospital
- New York Presbyterian
- NYU Langone Health
- Prospect Park Zoo
- Rang Technologies
- Research Foundation at CUNY
- SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- Weill Cornell Medicine
There is a lot of information available on LinkedIn, including profiles of more than 2,000 Brooklyn College alumni who graduated with a degree in biology. Join the Brooklyn College Alumni group and see where alumni are currently working, their skill sets, and their career progression. You can filter further based on employer, class year, etc.
Keep in mind, this list isn't inclusive of all the opportunities available to biology students. Use the Magner Career Center resources to your advantage to find opportunities that align with your interests!
Selected Alumni Profiles
Gail Jackson '18 M.S.
Nurse and Biology Instructor
Montgomery County Public School
M.S. Education / Biology
Career Guides and Articles
Here are some career guides and articles that share information on career options open to biology majors:
What Is the Average Salary for Those in the Biology Field?
There are several different aspects of the biology field that affect the average salary, such as education level, industry type, experience, and location. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary is $80,000 a year in May 2017. The best approach to determining possible salaries is to research them on websites like Indeed.com and Salary.com.
On-Campus Resources
There are a number of resources on campus that will help you learn more about biology career options. Attend events and keep current on the resources available to you.
Magner Career Center
The Magner Career Center has a wealth of information on everything you need to get started in your career, help with résumés, an internships database, job fairs, etc.
- They host frequent career events that may be of interest to you, which include Careers in Science: Health and Medicine, Show Me the Money: Paid Research Internships, etc.
- You can get matched with alumni who majored in biology at Brooklyn College to learn about their experiences, get career advice, and develop a professional relationship.
- Miriam Loyd is the liaison to the School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences with whom you can meet with for career guidance. For more information or to set up appointments, visit the center's website, call 718.951.5696, or visit 1303 James Hall.
Student Clubs
- Biology Club
- Society of Bioethics and Medicine
- The National Society of Leadership and Success
- American Medical Students Association
- Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS)
To find all clubs and the latest events, search for the names of clubs and sign in to RSVP for the events you would like to attend.
Off-Campus Resources
Learn How to Become
The Learn How to Become website provides detailed information on licensure requirements for those interested in going into the biology field. It is important to note that licensure requirements often vary by state, so if you are interested in living in another state you will want to see their licensing requirements.
Occupational Network (O*NET)
Occupational Network (O*NET) offers occupational statistics such as salaries and growth potential for all occupations. Additionally, you can search occupations by name or by your own interests, skills, abilities, etc.
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Occupational Outlook Handbook gives you information on the training and education needed for the job, earning potential, expected job prospects, what you would be doing on the job and what the working conditions are like.
Organizations
The National Academy of Sciences and the American Institute of Biological Sciences, amongst many are membership opportunity which provides a search engine for careers in the field, internships etc. The National Association of Biology Teachers also maintains an extensive list of professional organizations.
Meet Up
CUNY Meetups host various events throughout the semester that are open to all CUNY students and alumni.
