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Biological Sciences

 

Occupational Possibilities

A major in biology provides a basis for many types of careers in business, medicine, government, and the environmental fields. For some careers, advanced study or field or laboratory experience may be required. Additional graduate study is expected for those occupations preceded by a * on the following list.

Business and Industry

  • *Biochemist
  • Pharmaceutical sales representative
  • *Industrial hygienist
  • Retail manager
  • *Bioengineer
  • Trainer
  • *Molecular biologist
  • Food technician/technologist
  • Pest control consultant
  • Technical writer
  • Journalist:Science magazine editor/Wildlife photographer







Medicine and Health

  • *Toxicologist
  • *Veterinarian
  • Biological researcher
  • *Biostatistician
  • *Bacteriologist
  • *Physician
  • Medical illustrator
  • *Epidemiologist
  • *Genetic engineer
  • *Health policy consultant
  • *Data analyst
  • *Administrator, HMO
  • *Medical librarian
  • *Medical technologist
  • *Dentist
  • *Optometrist
  • *Pharmacist
  • *Physiologist
  • *Dental hygienist

Environmental

  • Park naturalist
  • Ecologist
  • *Marine biologist
  • *Botanist
  • *Zoologist
  • *Ichthyologist
  • Fundraiser, environmental organization
  • Entomologist
  • Conservationist
  • Curator, botanical gardens



Government and Public Sector

  • Environmental protection specialist
  • *Public health officer
  • Hunger policy analyst
  • Water quality inspector
  • Aquarist
  • Park ranger
  • *Food and drug inspector
  • *Parasitologist
  • *City recycling manager
  • *Administrator, nuclear waste program
  • Teacher
  • *Professor

 

 

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Skills and Abilities

Skills acquired in a biology major fall into four categories: investigative, research-oriented, quantitative, and analytical. Students with biological science majors develop the ability to formulate concepts allowing them to solve practical problems and to find better ways of meeting world needs.

Such skills are applicable to job responsibilities in a variety of fields such as the sciences, business, government, and education. For example, the ability to conduct investigations and to perform analyses may be employed differently on a daily basis by a college administrator, a director of biomedical communications, a genetic engineer, a curator of a natural history museum, and a teacher. The following list presents some examples of the skills developed and used by students in the biological sciences.

Research

  • Defining problems
  • Organizing ideas/information
  • Conducting studies
  • Designing experiments
  • Recording observations
  • Using computers for computation/simulation

Investigation

  • Inspecting specimens
  • Assessing risks
  • Defining expected/potential results
  • Identifying problems
  • Cataloging information

Analysis

  • Evaluating effects of phenomena
  • Making projections from data
  • Examining components of problems/ideas
  • Reasoning logically
  • Categorizing data

Quantitative

  • Preparing statistical reports
  • Utilizing statistical tests to predict outcomes
  • Determining probabilities
  • Applying scientific concepts to problems
  • Interpreting results
  • Utilizing laboratory equipment

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Career Planning and Resources

Internships

Job Search

 

Professional Associations

 

For More Information

...about careers, graduate and professional schools, internships, professional associations, or job descriptions contact:

University Career Center
110 Burge Union
(785) 864-3624

For information about majors and concentrations in biological science:

Division of Biological Sciences
2045 Haworth Hall
(785) 864-4301

Microbiology Department
7042 Haworth Hall
(785) 864-4311

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