What Can I Do With a Major In Plant Biology?
Plant Biology prepares students for ecologically or biotechnology oriented careers focusing on the plants that are foundational to the earth's biota and essential for supplying the world with food, fuel, and fiber. Careers in Plant Sciences include research at universities, government laboratories, and at biotechnology companies; teaching at the high school, college or university level; management and interpretation as staff biologist with state and federal agencies; and administration and sales with plant and plant product-related industries. An undergraduate major in plant biology also provides a strong background for graduate-level study in plant biology and other biological sciences.
** Includes Self-Employed
CAMPUS CONNECTIONS
- Department of Plant Biology
- Student Organizations through Involvement Network (try Plant Biology Graduate Students Association, SEEDS, Society of Aspiring Plant Pathologists, Developmental Biology Graduate Student Association, Plant Breeding Genetics and Genomics Graduate Student Association)
- Connect with your Career Consultant for help with job searching, resumes, interviewing skills, career options, applying to grad school, and much more.
FINDING RESEARCH
- On-Campus: use the UGA Career Guide for templates and guidance on reaching out to faculty to gain research experience, the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO) at UGA can also support you in finding research opportunities.
- Off-Campus: Research Experiences for Undergraduates offered through the National Science Foundation and ORISE Fellowships offered through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education are great options. The Career Center can help you prepare your materials for research fellowship applications. You can also search for research internships and full and part-time positions in Handshake.
PRE-HEALTH STUDENTS: The UGA Career Center offers support specifically for you through Pre-Health Appointments, which can be scheduled through Handshake.
The Career Center can help you:
- explore roles in healthcare
- prepare application materials
- prepare for interviews
- navigate growth years.
You can self-enroll in our Career Development Resources eLC for Pre-Health Students for helpful information that you can access from anywhere at any point. If you have questions specifically about GPA, application walkthroughs, and prerequisite course requirements for professional programs, schedule an appointment with the Pre-Professional Advising Office.
Career Spotlights from My Next Move:
- O*NET Online – The O*NET database includes information on skills, abilities, knowledge, work activities, and interests associated with over 900 occupations.
- My Next Move – An interactive tool for students and job seekers to learn more about their career options.
- Occupational Outlook Handbook – The OOH is a career resource offering information on the hundreds of occupations that provide most of jobs in the United States.
- Vault – Vault.com provides in-depth intelligence on what it’s really like to work in an industry, company, or profession – and how to position yourself to land that job.
- Candid Career – This resource provides you with access to thousands of informational video interviews with real professionals through an easy-to-use website.
- UGA Mentor Program – Connect with a mentor (alumni, faculty, staff) to research and explore industries and careers. Research industries and careers by connecting with a mentor for a quick chat or formal 16-week mentorship through the UGA Mentor Program.
- Interstride - Interstride is an interactive tool for both international and domestic students to enhance their international experience and employment potential. The platform consists of job-listings, hiring trends, employer information, self-assessments, and up-to-date immigration guidance.
- Glassdoor - Glassdoor is a free jobs and career community that offers an inside look at jobs and companies through "employee generated content" – anonymous salaries, company reviews, interview questions, and more – all posted by employees and job seekers.
- Steppingblocks - Research your future career with real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with career and education searches designed to find your best path based on millions of others.
GENERAL
- Handshake (job board for UGA students to apply to full-time, part-time, and internship opportunities)
- LinkedIn (networking platform with a public job board)
- Idealist (non-profit jobs)
- USAJobs (federal jobs)
MAJOR/INDUSTRY SPECIFIC
- Agriculture Future of America
- American Institute of Biological Sciences
- American Society of Naturalists
- American Society of Plant Biologists
- ExploreHealthCareers.org
- Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
- The Garden Club of Georgia
- National Science Foundation
- The Nature Conservancy
- Society for Developmental Biology
The information below represents employers and position titles from the Class of 2024 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) |
|---|---|
| * | * |
The information below represents graduate/professional schools and programs reported through the Class of 2024 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) |
|---|---|
| Michigan State University | Genetics and Genome Sciences/Molecular Plant Sciences, PhD |