Career Information
Biology is the science of living matter. It is composed of a variety of branches or specialties and has applications in agriculture, forestry, and health science. Some of the specialties include:
- Biochemistry—the study of the effects of foods, hormones, drugs and toxins on plants, animals, and single cells
- Botany—the study of plants
- Ecology—the study of the interrelationship of organisms and their environments
- Ethology—the study of animal behavior
- Genetics—the study of heredity
- Immunology—the study of how the body defends itself against invasion by foreign substances
- Microbiology—the study of microorganisms, bacteria, yeasts, fungi, protozoa, and one-celled algae
- Pharmacology—the study of how drugs work
- Physiology—the study of how organisms work and how they respond to changes in their external and internal environments
- Zoology—the scientific study of animals
Marketable Skills of Biology Majors
- Ability to make critical observations and appropriate decisions
- Ability to operate scientific equipment
- Ability to concentrate for long periods of time
- Proficiency for accurate details
- Ability to conduct and interpret scientific research
- Ability to organize and maintain accurate records
- Proficiency in reading, writing, thinking, analyzing, and problem solving
Related Careers and Hiring Institutions
About one-third of all life scientists work in research and development in business and industry, in government labs, or on college campuses. About one-fifth teach in college and universities. One-fourth are managers and administrators, running research programs. The rest are inspectors of foods and drugs, consultants to business and government, technical writers, and technical sales and service representatives.
A bachelor's degree qualifies you for some technician positions, for sales and service jobs, and for support positions such as technical writer. A master's qualifies you for some jobs in applied research such as research assistant of field technician. A doctorate is essential for most positions in college teaching, independent research and management.
The following is a partial list of organizations / institutions that hire biology graduates:
- Aquariums
- Arboretums
- Botanical gardens
- Chemical industries
- Colleges and schools
- Consulting firms
- Cosmetic companies
- Food processors
- Government agencies
- Hospitals
- Lumber companies
- Medical clinics
- Medical laboratories
- Museums
- National and state parks
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Publishers
- Research and development firms
- Zoological parks
- Agriculture Department Health and Human Services Department
- Energy Department National Institutes of Health
- Environment Protection Agency National Science Foundation
- Fish and Wildlife Service Vista
- Food and Drug Administration Peace Corps
More Information
For more information concerning career options for biology majors, visit the Magner Career Center.
