Careers with a Biology Major
If you're interested in the science of how the human body works, a bachelor's degree in biology is perfect for you. With an undergraduate degree in biology, you can continue on to study medicine, cancer research, zoology or even evolutionary biology. Schools offering Clinical Laboratory Science degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
What Biology Programs are Available?
Undergraduate degree programs in biology are offered through many colleges. These programs prepare you for furthering your education at a professional level or for immediate work in a biology-related career. If you study biology, you will learn about the development of immunology, molecular biology, genetics and evolution.
Some of the subjects you may study in an undergraduate degree are molecular biology, microbiology, organic chemistry, anatomy, genetics and evolution. Some colleges offer degrees that specialize in marine biology, the study of animals and marine life. In these programs you may study zoology, larval ecology, oceanography and marine ecology.
What Careers Can I Consider?
A bachelor's degree in biology degree is a foundation for careers in medicine or the biosciences. This degree is perfect for pre-med study given the nature of the courses. Some other professions you can consider looking into are teaching, research, pharmacology, genetic counseling, marine biology, agriculture and biosciences. Most of these careers will require additional education beyond an undergraduate degree.
What Salary Can I Make?
Your salary will depend on what branch of biology you decide to specialize in. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2009 the mean annual salary for a physician in general practice was $168,550 (www.bls.gov). People who wanted to work in marine biology or zoology made $60,670 and microbiologists made $71,980 annually. In the other biosciences, biochemists earned a mean salary of $88,550 and biological scientists made $69,430 a year.
What is the Career Outlook for Jobs in the Biosciences?
According to the BLS, employment in the biosciences will grow by 21% between 2008 and 2018. This employment growth will be driven by increased research in these fields and advances in technology. Pharmaceuticals and gene research are expected to be at the forefront of this growth. Another field that you may want to consider is environmental biology. Increased public and government interest in environmental conservation and alternative energy sources will mean a significant rise in spending on research and development in these areas.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
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