What Can I Do With A Major In...? Career Development Office offers insight into jobs available to you after you graduate.

Biology


What Can I Do With A Major In Biology?

Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines. It is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. The work of biologists increases our understanding about the natural world in which we live and helps us address issues of personal well being and worldwide concern, such as environmental depletion, threats to human health, and maintaining viable and abundant food supplies.

Biology is often considered a foundation for a variety of careers. Graduates of this field possess a solid understanding of the basic principles and concepts of the core disciplines of biology (cellular biology, genetics, evolution, ecology and diversity of form and function) and are able to apply basic concepts of mathematics, chemistry, and physics to biology. Additionally, biologists can manipulate standard laboratory and field equipment. They can propose a research problem, place it in the context of previous knowledge and design and implement a research project. Graduates can think critically and independently, evaluate scientific information, and collect, organize and present data using appropriate technologies.

Graduates can find career opportunities in industry, education and local, state and federal governments or are prepared to pursue advanced studies in medicine, dentistry or veterinary science. Still, others might work as consultants to business firms, sell chemicals or laboratory instruments, or write for technical publications. Work is often performed in a laboratory or outdoor field setting.

Visit CCSU's Biology Department webpage here.


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Explore Industries in your major

Explore this site to discover a number of resources, career options, and school recommendations for your major!

Sample of Related Occupations

Biologist

Biology Professor

Biological Technician

Botanist

Dentist

Ecologist

Environmental Analyst

Food & Drug Inspector

Forester

High School Biology Teacher

Industrial Hygienist

Laboratory Technician

Marine Biologist

Medical Assistant

Medical Doctor

Medical Technician

Natural Resources Manager

Pharmacologist

Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

Physician Assistant

Quality Control Manager

Research Associate

Technical Writer

Veterinarian

Wildlife Biologist 

For additional information on each occupation or any others you may be considering, please visit the Occupational Outlook Handbook, a nationally recognized source of career information, put together by the U.S. Department of Labor.


Professional Associations & Additional Career Information

American Dental Association

American Society for Cell Biology

American Society for Microbiology

American Society of Plant Biologists

American Institute of Biological Sciences

Association of American Medical Colleges

Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges

Biotechnology Industry Organization

Biospace

CCSU Pre-Health Advisory Committee

Connecticut Association of Biology Teachers

Council for the Advancement of Science Writing

Ecological Society of America

Explore Health Careers

National Human Genome Research Institute

National Institute of Health

Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology


Internships, Co-ops and Employment Opportunities

Biology majors may find experiential opportunities or employment in a number of areas depending on your skills, abilities and experience. Career-related internships and co-op placements are a great avenue to establishing yourself as a qualified candidate for full-time, professional-level career opportunities after graduation.

The following list of employers and job titles shows opportunities where the employer was specifically looking for biology majors. This list is meant to be a resource for further career-related investigation and DOES NOT REFLECT current openings. To look for current openings, please visit College Central Network, CCSU's online job, internship, and co-op database, on the Career Success Center website here.

Clean Water Action - Global Warming & Clean Energy Internship

Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station - Summer Research Assistant

Connecticut Department of Public Health - Careers Trainee: Epidemiologist

Monte Saino Conservation Center - Conservation Volunteer

NASA - NASA Undergraduate Student Research Program

New Britain Health Department - Bioterrorism/Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Coordinator

Northeast Laboratories - Laboratory Technician

Plum Island Animal Disease Center - Research Participation Program

Quest Diagnostics - Paramedical Sales Internship, Medical Technologist, Summer Camp Counselor, Habitat Restoration Internship

Save The Bay - Exploration Center Education Assistant

Schreiber Foods - Production Team Advisor, Quality Assurance Team Advisor

Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary - Education Intern

U.S. Department of Agriculture - Plant Protection Aid/Technician

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Research Assistant, Data Management/Analyst

University of Connecticut Health Center - Special Payroll Research