What Can I Do With a Major In Biology?
UGA Specific Information for Biology
Biology encompasses the study of all living organisms, including microbes, plants, and animals. The study of biology includes various aspects of life, including basic organization (molecular, cellular, tissues, organs), how organisms function, their roles in the natural environment, how hereditary information is transferred, and development of biotechnology. Biology graduates are broadly trained and well prepared for admission into strong graduate programs in the biological sciences and professional schools (medical, dental, and veterinary). They may also directly assume positions in government, education, industry, or certain technical fields
Class of 2021 Career Outcomes for Biology*
** Includes Self-Employed
Campus Resources
- UGA Department of Biological Sciences Homepage (Franklin College)
- Student Organizations through Involvement Network
- Connect with your Career Consultant for help with job searching, resumes, interviewing skills, career options, applying to grad school, and much more
- Connect with your Academic Advisor
- Find research opportunities by reaching out via email to faculty in your department or outside of it based on your research interests; Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO) at UGA can help support you (off campus research opportunities: Research Experiences for Undergraduates)
- If you're interested in a healthcare career, connect with the UGA Pre-Health Advising Office to meet your pre-health advisor and for more information
Additional UGA Career Center Recommendations/Considerations
POSSIBLE CAREER PATHS IN BIOLOGY
Taken from American Institute for Biological Sciences
Research: Research biologists study the natural world, using the latest scientific tools and techniques in both laboratory settings and the natural environment, to understand how living systems work. Many work in exotic locations around the world, and what they discover increases our understanding of biology and may be put to practical use to find solutions to specific problems. Learn more about how biological research helps to inform societal issues on the AIBS Website actionbioscience.org. Learn more about the wide variety of research interests by visiting the websites of AIBS Member Societies and Organizations.
Health care: Biologists may develop public health campaigns to defeat illnesses such as tuberculosis, AIDS, cancer, and heart disease. Others work to prevent the spread of rare, deadly diseases, such as the now infamous Ebola virus. Veterinarians tend to sick and injured animals, and doctors, dentists, nurses, and other health care professionals maintain the general health and well being of their patients. Many of these careers require additional education and training past undergraduate college, but these positions are usually in high demand both in the US and abroad. Additionally, biologists in the health care field can choose to work for organizations like the Peace Corps and Doctors Without Borders, which help bring much-needed health care services to less developed and/or war-impacted regions.
Environmental management and conservation: Biologists in management and conservation careers are interested in solving environmental problems and conserving the natural world for future generations. Park rangers protect state and national parks, help preserve their natural resources, and educate the general public. Zoo and aquarium biologists carry out endangered species recovery programs and serve as a vital education conduit to the general public. In addition, management and conservation biologists often work with members of a community such as landowners and special interest groups to develop and implement management plans. Other potential employment opportunities may exist with state/federal natural resource agencies, not-for-profit conservation organizations, private ecological consulting firms, or wildlife rehabilitation centers.
Education: Life science educators enjoy working with people and encouraging them to learn new things, whether in a classroom, a research lab, the field, or a museum. You can gain insight into what biology education professionals are working toward and achieving by visiting the AIBS Education Programs Office, where you will find updates on institutional reform efforts, information on new and exciting ways of teaching biological concepts, and novel resources for biology classroom education. You can also learn about how biology professionals are connecting with each other to advance the public understanding of science by visiting the COPUS website.
Colleges and universities: Professors and lecturers teach introductory and advanced biology courses. They may also mentor students with projects and direct research programs. Many biology faculty at colleges and universities engage in their own research and serve as reviewers or editors for scientific journal publications, members of working groups and advisory boards, and as part of research collaborations with scientists from other institutions.
Primary and secondary schools: Teaching younger students requires a general knowledge of science and skill at working with different kinds of learners. High school teachers often specialize in biology and teach other courses of personal interest. There is a high demand for educators that are trained in biological sciences and have strong backgrounds in K-12 education, classroom management, and primary/secondary school administration.
Science museums, zoos, aquariums, parks, and nature centers: Educators in these settings may design exhibits and educational programs, in addition to teaching special classes or leading tours and nature hikes. Often, these professionals serve as an organization’s “front line” and are responsible for communicating complex biological information to the public, writing grant proposals to fund new programs and exhibits, and working with community partners to leverage resources and gain exposure on local and national levels.
Other directions in biological careers: There are many careers for biologists who want to combine their scientific training with interests in other fields. Here are some examples:
Biotechnology: Biologists apply scientific principles to develop and enhance products, tools, and technological advances in fields such as agriculture, food science, and medicine. Scientists in this field may work in genetic engineering, pharmaceutical development, or medical technologies (such as nanomedicine), or as a lab technician or technologist. You can learn more about biotechnology opportunities and issues by visiting actionbioscience.org Biotechnology and reading new articles, particularly those sponsored by the partnership between AIBS and the Northwest Association for Biomedical Research (NWABR).
Forensic science: Forensic biologists work with police departments and other law enforcement agencies using scientific methods to discover and process evidence that can be used to solve crimes. Biologists in forensic science often choose a specialty, such as forensic odontology, forensic anthropology, crime scene examination, or—with additional education and training—medical examiner.
Politics and policy: Science advisors work with lawmakers to create new legislation on topics such as biomedical research and environmental protection. Their input is essential, ensuring that decisions are based upon solid science. Professional biologists can serve as policy advocates for scientific organizations or non-profits, political advisors at the state or national level, or even as a representative serving on a political committee or working group. You can learn more about the interface between biology and politics by visiting the AIBS Public Policy Office, where you can find information on current legislative initiatives and how to advocate for science and research policy, as well as sign up to receive AIBS Action Alerts to help express your opinions on biology issues to political decisionmakers. You can also visit actionbioscience.org Science Policyfor detailed information about scientific collections, science education, and more.
Business and industry: Biologists work with drug companies and providers of scientific products and services to research and test new products. They may also work in sales, marketing, and public relations positions.
Economics: Trained professionals work with the government and other organizations to study and address the economic impacts of biological issues, such as species extinctions, forest protection, and environmental pollution. Biologists may also study the impacts of socio-economics on humans, environmental economics (an economic analysis of the environment with a focus on preserving natural capital), or ecological economics (the study of how human economies and natural ecosystems are linked in time and space).
Mathematics: Biologists in fields such as bioinformatics and computational biology apply mathematical techniques to solve biological problems, such as modeling ecosystem processes and gene sequencing. Mathematical and theoretical biology are two recent scientific fields that use mathematical representations and tools to both understand and model biological processes in other research areas, including cell biology, biotechnology, and ecosystem dynamics.
Science writing and communication: Journalists and writers with a science background inform the general public about relevant and emerging biological issues. Biologists with excellent writing and communication skills can be employed by high-profile journals—such as Nature and Science—as well as online magazines and science blogs or print/media networks (e.g., Discovery and National Geographic).
Art: All of the illustrations in your biology textbook, as well as in newspaper and magazine science articles, were created by talented artists with a thorough understanding of biology. Individuals in this field may be employed by magazines and journals (e.g., Scientific American), museums and aquaria, hospitals and medical training centers, or even state and local government agencies.
Supplemental Career Research Dashboard
Additional Career Research Resources
- O*NET - The O*NET database includes information on skills, abilities, knowledges, work activities, and interests associated with over 900 occupations (Login using your 810/811)
- Occupational Outlook Handbook - The OOH can help you find career information on duties, education and training, pay, and outlook for hundreds of occupations
- Firsthand -Explore a library of guides, articles, and other resources to help you explore careers, plan your job search, and learn about different work environments. Create a free account with your UGA email.
- Candid Career - Whether you are just beginning to explore career options, preparing for a job interview, or looking to change careers, CandidCareer.com can help by providing you with access to thousands of informational video interviews with real professionals through an easy to use website. We can all learn from the experiences of others and the Career Center makes this valuable resource available to UGA students so they may be informed and ready for what lies ahead. (Login using your 810/811)
- GoinGlobal - View jobs/internship in other countries and country career guides (Login using your 810/811)
- UGA Mentor Program- Networking with your Bulldog family can help you get ahead in life and career, but where do you even start? The UGA Mentor Program narrows down the world of possibilities to meaningful connections. The program connects students to alumni mentors for personal and professional development
- Glassdoor - Glassdoor is a free jobs and career community that offers the world an inside look at jobs and companies. What sets us apart is our "employee generated content" – anonymous salaries, company reviews, interview questions, and more – all posted by employees, job seekers, and sometimes the companies themselves. Now with nearly 3 million salaries and reviews, you have all the information you might need to make your next career decision.
- Portfolium - Your work and projects are undeniable proof of your skills – Portfolium will help you learn and allow you to display the top skills graduate schools and employers want. Portfolium is where you’ll upload your work, projects, presentations and more. The UGA Career Center has pre-loaded your profile to include the top skills graduate schools and employers seek in their candidates. Log-in to your profile to see how you can build your skills!
- Big Interview - Online practice interview platform. Practice basic interview questions or questions based on your industry interests or competencies! Also provides practice interview questions for graduate/professional schools. Just sign-up using your uga email address!
- Career Cornerstone Center - Career planning resources for STEM fields
- "Learn How to Become" Job Search and Career Resource Center- this source provides advice for the job search, networking, interviews, salary negotiation, tips for starting the position, and more!
Employment Websites
- Careers, American Institute of Biological Science
- SCA – Internships; Gap Years (room/board/stipend)
- Environmental Jobs & Careers
- USAJobs.gov (job board for federal agencies - consider visiting the "Students and Recent Graduates" portal)
- Top USA Jobs.Com-Microbiology
- Georgia Bio Job Board (Atlanta-area biotechnology group offering networking events and career resources)
- Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO) at UGA
- UGA iPAWS Job Board for Full-Time Opportunities on Campus (click "Search Postings" and then explore "Staff-Full Benefits" and "Temporary" listings for research-related and other campus opportunities)
Professional Associations/Resources
- American Institute of Biological Science
- American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- The Ecological Society of America (ESA)
- American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG)
- National Society of Genetic Counselors
- American Society for Microbiology
- Society of Integrative & Comparative Biology
- O*NET (click on Find Occupations)
- Occupational Outlook Handbook (type in general term for career of interest)
- Career Insider: Vault Guides (under the "Resources" tab and select "Online Resources")
- Candid Career (view professionals speaking about their careers under the "Resources" tab and select "Online Resources")
- My Next Move (search careers with key words)
- ExploreHealthCareers.org (great overview of healthcare-related career fields)
- Join LinkedIn groups that are relevant to your career interests. To search, select "groups" & type in your keywords.
- Review the groups that professionals in your field of interest have joined & consider joining those as well.
- To login, visit the LinkedIn main page.
Employers/Position Title Reported by Class of 2021 Biology majors
The information below represents employers and position titles from the Class of 2021 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.
Employer | Position Title(s) |
---|---|
Academy Sport | Cashier | Aerotek | Recruiter | AmeriCorps | Community Outreach VISTA | Athens Pulmonary, LLC | Medical Assistant | Athens Retina Center | Ophthalmic Assistant Intern | Athens Retina Center | Ophthalmic Assistant | ATL Colorectal Surgery, PC | Medical Assistant | Atlanta Women's Specialists | Medical Assistant | Augusta University | Research Assistant | Axion Spine and Neurosurgery | Medical Assistant | Blue Lake Biotechnology | Research Associate | Bodyworks | Trainer | Boehringer Ingelheim | Laboratory Technician | Brett Clementz | Research Coordinator | Brooksfield Country Club | Server | BWH | Research Technician | Carroll County | High School Science Teacher | CDC | ORISE Fellow | Children's Eye Care, Surgery of Georgia | Patient Ambassador | Children's Hospital Los Angeles | Clinical Research Assistant | CIEE | English Teacher | Cisco | Software Engineer | CL Laboratory, LLC | Research Associate | Concierge Contact Center | Scheduling Specialist | Concierge Contact Center | Scheduling Specialist | Concierge Contact Center | Scheduling Specialist | CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) | Program Associate | DC Medical, LLC | Associate Sales Consultant | Dekalb County Watershed Management | Laboratory Technician | Eastside Animal Medical Center | Veterinary Assistant | Eastside Hospital | Medical Assistant | Effingham Smiles Family Dentistry | Dental Assistant | Emory Healthcare | Medical Assistant | Emory University | Laboratory Assistant | ENT of Georgia | Medical Assistant | ESP, Inc. | Program Leader | Forward | Medical Assistant | Frontotemporal Degeneration Center | Neuroimaging Coordinator | General Motors | Software Developer | Georgia Bureau of Investigation | Forensic Biologist | Georgia Skin Cancer and Aesthetic Dermatology | Certified Clinical Medical Assistant | Georgia Skin Specialists | Medical Assistant | Goodman Dermatology, P.C. | Medical Assistant | Grady Memorial Hospital | EMT-B | Hartland Dental | Dental Assistant | Hydralive Therapy Athens | Technician | Immucor, Inc. | RBC Processing Technologist | Ingles Marketplace | Baker | Kaufmann Clinic | Medical Assistant | LendSure Mortgage Corp. | Account Executive | lululemon | Educator | Medline Industries, Inc. | Orthopedic Sales Representative | Method Medical | Associate Sales Representative | Mind and Body Wellness | Medical Assistant | Modern Obstetrics and Gynecology of North Atlanta | Medical Assistant | MUSC | Program Coordinator | National Institutes of Health | IRTA Post-baccalaureate Fellow | National Institutes of Health | Post-Baccalaureate Fellow | Nelson Elder Care Law, LLC | Client Happiness Specialist | Network for Effective Wellness Services | Medical Assistant | Noble Clay Fitness | Health Fitness Specialist | North Georgia Medical Transport | Emergency Medical Technician | Northeast Georgia Health System | ER Scribe | Northwestern Medicine | Patient Care Technician | NSC Cardiology | Medical Assistant | Ocher Technology Group | Manhattan WMOS Tester | Octapharma Plasma, Inc. | Training Coordinator | Office of Senator Jon Ossoff | Legislative Intern | OneDigital | Operations Specialist | Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine | Postdoctoral Associate | Physicians Express Care | Medical Assistant | Piedmont Hospital | Medical Assistant | ProScribe | Virtual Medical Scribe | RayBiotech Life | Laboratory Technician | Reformed University Fellowship | Intern | Rehabilitation Center of Louisiana | Case Manager/Care Coordinator | Robin Healthcare | Medical Scribe | ScribeAmerica | Medical Scribe | Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital | Patient Care Technician | Southeast Lung Associates | Medical Scribe | Southern Orthopaedics | Associate Medical Sales Representative | Stethoscope Magazine | Writer | StimLabs | Processing Technician | Subscribe | Medical Scribe | SuperScribe, LLC | Emergency Department Scribe | Terrapin Beer Co | Brewer | Therapy Partner Solutions | Physical Therapy Technician | Trapeze Pub | Server | Triage Consulting Group | Clinical Consultant | Tyrone Family Medicine | Medical Assistant | University Cancer & Blood Center | Medical Assistant | University Cancer and Blood Center | Phlebotomist | University of Georgia | Laboratory Technician | University of Georgia | Research Technician | University of Georgia | Para-Professional | University of Georgia | Lab Animal Care Tech I | University of Georgia | Research Tech I | University of Georgia | COVID-19 Diagnostic Technician | Varsity Tutors, a Nerdy Company | Academic Tutor | Veritas Collaborative, LLC | Tutor | Viral Solutions | Medical Assistant | Walgreens | Pharmacy Technician | Walmart | Pharmacy Technician | Wellstar Health System | Rehabilitation Aide | Wellstar North Fulton Hospital | Medical Assistant | West Jackson Family Dental | Dental Assistant | Wuxi Lab Tech | Sample Coordinator |
Graduate/Professional Schools attended by Class of 2021 Biology majors
The information below represents graduate/professional schools and programs reported through the Class of 2020 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.
Graduate School | Program(s) |
---|---|
Albany Technical College | Emergency Medical Technican, MS | Augusta University | Medicine, Master's | Augusta University | Medicine, MD | Augusta University | Medicine, MD | Augusta University | Medicine, MD | Augusta University | Dental Surgery, DDS | Augusta University | Medicine, MD | Augusta University | Medicine, MD | Augusta University | Medicine, MD | Augusta University | Medicine, MD | Augusta University | Medical, MD | Augusta University | CNL Program, MSN | Augusta University | Medicine, MD | Boston University | Clinical Phycology, MA | Case Western Reserve University | Science in Anesthesia, MSA | Case Western Reserve University | Dental Medicine, DMD | Clayton State University | Undeclared | Colorado School of Public Health | Epidemiology, MS | Dental College of Georgia | Dental Medicine, DMD | Duke University | Physical Therapy, DPT | Duke University | Environmental Management, MS | Emory University | Medicine, MD | Emory University | Divinity, MDiv | Emory University | Anesthesiology, MS | Faulkner University | Physician Assistant, MA | Florida International University | Medicine, MD | GA Institute of EMS | Paramedic Training, EMT | Gardner Webb University | Physician Assistant, Master's | Georgia Gwinnett College | Undeclared | Georgia Highlands College | General Studies, Not Specified | Georgia Institute of Technology | Operations Research, MS | Georgia Southern University | Nursing, BSN | Georgia Southern University | Physical Assistant, Post BA | Georgia State University | Physical Therapy, DPT | Georgia State University | Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology, MS | Georgia State University | Dental Hygienist, ASD | Georgia State University | Physical Therapy, DPT and PhD | Georgia State University | Undeclared | Georgia State University | Arts Anthropology, MA | Gwinnett Technical College | EMS Professions, MS | Kansas City University | Osteopathic Medicine, DO | Keck Graduate Institute | Community Medicine, MS | Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine | Dental Medicine, DMD | Lincoln Memorial University | Physician Assistant, MS | Lincoln Memorial University | Medical, MD | Louisiana State University | Medicine, MD | Louisiana State University | Medicine, MD | Louisiana State University New Orleans | Medicine, MD | Mercer University | Pharmacy, PharmD | Mercer University | Medicine, MD | Mercer University | Medicine, MD | Mercer University | Medicine, MD | Mercer University | Medicine, MD | Mercer University | Medicine, MD | Mercer University | Medicine, MD | Mercer University | Medicine, MD | New York University | Global Health, MPH | Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine | Osteopathic Medicine, DO | Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine | Osteopathic Medicine, DO | Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine | Osteopathic Medicine, DO | Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine | Osteopathic Medicine, DO | Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine | Osteopathic Medicine, DO | Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine | Biomedical Science, MS | Ross University | Endocrinology, PhD | Ross University | Medicine, MD | Royal Veterinary College | Veterinary Medicine, DVM | Saint Louis University | Medicine, MD | South University | Anesthesiologist Assistant, MMSc | Southern College of Optometry | Optometry, OD | St. Thomas University | Educational Psychology, MA | Stanford University | Medicine, MD | Temple University | Pre-Dentistry, Post BA | Tulane University | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, MS | University of Alabama Birmingham | Physician Assistant, MS | University of Alabama Birmingham | Dental Medicine, DMD | University of Alabama Birmingham | Dental Medicine, DMD | University of Central Florida | Medicine, MD | University of Cincinnati | Medicine, MD | University of Detroit | Dental Medicine, DMD | University of Florida | Medicine, MD | University of Georgia | Toxicology, MS | University of Georgia | Public Health, MPH | University of Georgia | Comparative Biomedical Sciences with an Emphasis on Integrative Biomedical Physiology, MS | University of Georgia | Pharmacy, PharmD | University of Georgia | Science Education, MAT | University of Georgia | Pharmacy, PharmD | University of Georgia | Pharmacy, PhD | University of Georgia | Pharmacy, PharmD | University of Georgia | Bio/MAT, MAT | University of Georgia | Pharmacy, PharmD | University of Georgia | Pharmacy, PharmD | University of Georgia | Bio Manufacturing and Bioprocessing, MBB | University of Georgia | Entomology, Master's | University of Georgia | Pharmacy, PharmD | University of Georgia | Clinical Psychology, PhD | University of Georgia | Veterinary Medicine, DVM | University of Georgia | Marine Science, MS | University of Georgia | Public Health, MPH | University of Georgia | Business Administration, MS | University of Georgia | Veterinary Medicine, DVM | University of Georgia | Veterinary Medicine, DVM | University of Georgia | Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Master's in Biomedical Sciences | University of Georgia | Pharmacy, PharmD | University of Georgia | Comparative Biomedical Sciences, MS | University of Georgia | Pharmacy, PharmD | University of Georgia | STEM Business Administration, MBA | University of Mercer | Preclinical Sciences, MA | University of Miami | Professional Science, MS | University of Miami | Tropical Marine Ecosystem Management, MS | University of Michigan | Molecular and Integrative Physiology, MS | University of Notre Dame | Business Administration, MBA | University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine | Dental Medicine, DMD | University of Tennessee | Medicine, MD | University of Virginia | Commerce, Marketing and Management Track, MSc | Wake Forest School of Medicine | Medicine, MD | Western Kentucky Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Associates | Biology, MS |