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Preparation
Careers are available in Biology at all preparation levels, including bachelor's, master's, professional
science master's, and doctoral
degree), The nature of the jobs change with additional preparation. A
Ph.D. biologist usually conducts independent research, at least initially,
but may move on to administrative/management positions.
Preparation for such biologists usually includes not only
doctoral studies, but also a period of more specialized training as a
postdoctoral researcher. A master's degree biologist may conduct research
as well, but most likely is not as independent as a Ph.D. In addition,
careers are open as a high school teacher, museum educator, senior
laboratory technician, or laboratory manager, for example. Teaching usually
requires additional education courses for licensure. With a bachelor's
degree, a biologist may be a teacher/educator, a laboratory technician, or
be involved in technical sales or service. Many with a bachelor's degree in
biology go on to medical, dental, veterinary, or other health professions
schools. Policy or regulatory positions are open at all education levels,
but as for research, the degree of independent decision-making increases
with level of education.
Undergraduate coursework includes a broad range of sciences, not just
biology. Chemistry, mathematics, and physics courses are required for a biology major and may be prerequisites for advanced
biology courses. Computer skills are very important as well, but this may
be self-taught. For some fields (e.g., ecology, marine biology) geoscience
courses may be a useful adjunct. Some colleges and universities have one
biology department that offers a wide array of courses for students to
choose among; other schools have two or more biology-related departments,
each addressing a different area of specialization within biology (see the
list below for names of specialized biology departments). Many biology
courses involve not only classroom lectures but also laboratory and/or
field work. Usually broad preparation is important for an undergraduate and
detailed specialization occurs in graduate school.
Biologists should be able to work independently or as part of a team and be
able to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Those
in private industry, especially those who aspire to management or
administrative positions, should possess strong business and communication
skills and be familiar with regulatory issues and marketing and management
techniques. (Sometimes this involves coursework, but may also be on-the-job
training.) Those doing field research in remote areas must have physical
stamina. Biologists also must have patience and self-discipline to conduct
long and detailed research projects.
 Education
Options
There are over 1700 universities within the United States
offering BS degrees in biology and biology-related fields. It would
be uncommon for a university to not offer a degree in biology, but be sure
to check with your potential schools to confirm that they offer biology,
and also if they offer the specialty areas you are considering for a
career.
Professional Science Master's are also available for many biology areas.
A list of current programs is available here.
Specialty
Areas
According to Petersons.com,
degrees in the broad field of Biology may include any of the following
specialties.
- anatomy
- animal behavior and ethology
- animal genetics
- animal physiology
- aquatic biology/limnology
- biochemistry
- biochemistry, biophysics and
molecular biology related
- biochemistry/biophysics and
molecular biology
- bioinformatics
- biological and biomedical sciences
related
- biological specializations related
- biology/biological sciences
- biomathematics and bioinformatics
related
- biomedical sciences
- biometry/biometrics
- biophysics
- biostatistics
- biotechnology
- biotechnology research
- botany/plant biology
- botany/plant biology related
- cell and molecular biology
- cell biology and anatomical
sciences related
- cell biology and histology
- conservation biology
- ecology
- ecology, evolution, systematics and
population biology related
- entomology
- environmental biology
- environmental toxicology
- epidemiology
- evolutionary biology
- exercise physiology
- genetics
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- genetics related
- human ecology
- human/medical genetics
- immunology
- marine biology and biological
oceanography
- medical microbiology and
bacteriology
- microbiological sciences and
immunology related
- microbiology
- molecular biochemistry
- molecular biology
- molecular biophysics
- molecular genetics
- molecular pharmacology
- molecular physiology
- molecular toxicology
- mycology
- neurobiology and neurophysiology
- nutritional sciences
- pathology/experimental pathology
- pharmacology
- pharmacology
- pharmacology and toxicology
- pharmacology and toxicology related
- physiology
- plant genetics
- plant molecular biology
- plant pathology / phytopathology
- plant physiology
- radiation biology
- reproductive biology
- sociobiology
- toxicology
- wildlife biology
- zoology/animal biology
- zoology/animal biology related
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Education
Options
There are over 1700 universities within the United States
offering BS degrees in biology and biology-related fields. It would
be uncommon for a university to not offer a degree in biology, but be sure
to check with your potential schools to confirm that they offer biology,
and also if they offer the specialty areas you are considering for a
career. Professional Science Master's are also available
for many biology areas.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by JGPerpich, LLC
and the US Department of Labor, Bureau of
Labor Statistics.
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