What Can You Do with a Biology Degree?

Most students entering college believe that the only reason to major in biology is to go to medical or veterinary school. Nothing could be further from the truth! There is an incredible diversity of career paths to choose from with an undergraduate background as a biology major. The following are lists of possible job titles, possible private sector employers, and possible government agencies available to a person with a biology degree. None of the lists are all encompassing.

Job Titles

Air-pollution analyst Anatomist Animal ecologist Animal scientist
Biochemist Biological photographer Biologist Biomedical engineer
Biophysicist Botanist Chiropractor Criminologist
Curator Curator/medical museum Curator/ zoological museum Cytologist
Cytotechnologists Dentist Dietitian Dietitian/research
Editor (scientific and technical publications) Entomologist Environmental analyst Environmental scientist
Food-and-drugs inspector Forensic pathologist Forester Geneticist
Histopathologist Hospital administrator Hydrologist Industrial hygienist
Information scientist Laboratory assistant Lawyer Marine biologist
Medical illustrator Medical librarian Medical technologist Microbiologist
Museum technician Mycologist Nematologist Nuclear medical technologist
Occupational health and safety inspector Oceanographer Optometrist Osteopath
Parasitologist Pathologist Pharmaceutical detailer Pharmacist
Pharmacologist Physical therapist Physician Plant pathologist
Plant physiologist Podiatrist Psychologist Public health educator
Safety inspector Safety manager Sales representative (chemicals and drugs) Sanitarian
Social worker Soil scientist Taxidermist Teacher/college
Teacher/ high school Veterinarian Veterinarian/ laboratory animal care Writer/scientific, technical
Zoologist      

Private Sector Employers

Advertising agencies Aquariums Arboretums Beverage companies
Botanical gardens Chemical industries Colleges and schools Consulting firms
Cosmetic companies Doctors' offices Educational institutions Fish hatcheries
Food processors Hospitals Libraries Lumber companies
Medical clinics Medical laboratories Medical supply companies Museums
Nurseries Pharmaceutical companies Professional and technical journals Publishers
Research and development firms Textile manufacturers Zoological parks  

National, State, and Local GovernmentAgencies

Agriculture Department Energy Department Environmental Protection Agency Fish & Wildlife Service
Health & Human Services Department National and State Parks National Institutes of Health National Science Foundation
Patent Office Peace Corps US Army Corps of Engineers  Vista

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