Biologists study living organisms and their relationship to the environment. Most specialize in fields such as anatomy, botany, embryology, genetics, oceanography, pathology, etc.
Before you begin to look at the different types of opportunities available to Biology majors, you must look at yourself and ask yourself a few basic questions:
What am I good at?
Understand your major strengths, skills and accomplishments.
What do I like to do?
Examine your interests. What kind of life style do I want to lead? Examine your values...is money what you're after, job security, challenging work?
If you are having trouble answering these questions, you are not alone. Make an appointment an advisors in the Career Center. We want to help you!
Opportunities
Once you know yourself, you are ready to decide where and how you want to apply this knowledge.
With a bachelor's degree in Biology you are qualified to:
- Perform testing and inspecting in labs
- Work in technical sales or service
- Work in research
- Obtain employment with the government
Many people with a bachelor's degree in Biology enter medical, dental, veterinary, or other health professional schools to obtain their doctoral degrees. Some also choose positions unrelated to the field.
A master's degree could lead to positions in applied research, management, inspection, sales and service.
For information on graduate schools, consult Peterson's.
Positions
There are a variety of job titles associated with the field of Biology such as:
Biochemists
Botanists
Dietitians
Food and drug inspectors
Hospital administrators
Laboratory assistants
Writers/Technical, Scientific
Employment
Government
Federal, State, County and City opportunities are typically available with the:
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Defense department
Energy department
Environmental Protection Agency
Food and Drug Administration
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Drug Enforcement Administration
New York City Department of Health
Central Park Conservatory
Environmental Health Services
New York State parks
Recycling facilities
Sanitation departments, etc.
Industry
With a degree in Biology you can find employment in research, sales, etc. in a variety of companies that produce:
Chemicals
Dietary supplements
Food
Cosmetics
Pharmaceutical products
Textiles
Laboratory equipment
Other areas in industry that employ people with a background in Biology are:
Public utilities
Publishers in scientific writing
Independent research labs
Botanical gardens
Zoos
Museums of natural history
Hospitals
Medical services - HMO's, clinics
Insurance companies - health insurance
Teaching opportunities are available as High school
biology teachers and college professors
Learn More
To help you decide which area to pursue you must do in-depth research into each area of specialization and/or industry you have an interest in.
St. John's University Department of Biology
Biology Career and Job Resources on the Internet
Places to Begin
Join the Career Centers COACH Program
The Occupational Outlook Handbook
Talk to people in the field, talk to your professors, write to and/or join one of the following associations:
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
9650 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 530 - 7145
www.faseb.org/asbmb
American Institute of Biological Sciences
730 11th Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 - 4521
(202) 628 - 1500
www.aibs.org
For additional lists of Associations consult the Encyclopedia of Associations.