WhatcanIdowithaMajorin Biology

WhatisBiology?
ThewordbiologyisderivedfromtheGreekwordsbiosmeaninglifeandlogosmean ingstudyandisdefinedasthescienceoflifeandlivingorganisms.Anorganismisaliving entityconsistingofonecelle.g.bacteria,orseveralcellse.g.animals,plantsandfungi.As pectsofbiologicalsciencerangefromthestudyofmolecularmechanismsincells,tothe classificationandbehavioroforganisms,howspeciesevolveandinteractionbetweeneco systems.

WhatisBiologyatUofL?
TheDepartmentofBiology,intheCollegeofArtsandSciences,inadditiontotheun dergraduateprogramsoffersworkleadingtothedegreesofMasterofScienceinBiology andDoctorofPhilosophyinEnvironmentalBiology.Programsgenerallyincludeabroadbase offundamentalsinBiology,andeachstudenthastheopportunityfordirectionbyspecialists inaquaticecology,behavioralecology,cellularbiology,plantandanimalecology,entomol ogy,genetics,ichthyology,insectdevelopment,invertebrateecology,microbiology,molecu larbiology,ornithology,plantphysiology,plantgrowthanddevelopment,phycology,sys tematicsandevolutionofplantsandanimals,vertebratephysiologyandcommunityand ecosystemecologyoflargerivers,smallstreamsandwetlands.

DegreesinBiologyatUofL:
BachelorofArtsinBiology
TheB.A.Biologydegreeisaliberalartsdegreedesignedforthosestudentswhodesireabroadeduca tioninavarietyofdisciplines.Thisdegreerequiresforeignlanguageandmoresocialscienceand/orhumanities thantheB.S.degree.Therearealsomorehoursoffreeelectivesthatcanbeusedtotailoraprogramtofitindi vidualneeds,desires,andinterests.ThetotalnumberofcredithoursrequiredfortheB.A.degreeis121of whichaminimumof38hoursarebiologymajorcourses.(Nomorethan40hoursinBiologymaybeincludedin thismajor.)

BachelorofScienceinBiology
TheB.S.Biologydegreeisanintensescientificdegreeprogramwiththreedifferentspecialtytracks available.Thisprogramrequireshasfewerhoursinsocialscienceand/orhumanitiesthantheB.A.degreeand therearefewerfreeelectivesavailablewithinthe121hourprogram.TheB.S.degreeisstronglyrecommended forthosestudentsplanningtoapplyforpostbaccalaureateprofessionalstudy.

GraduateStudiesinBiology
ThegraduateprogramofthedepartmentofferstheM.S.andPh.D.DegreesinBiology.Abroadrange ofcoursesaretaughtinmostbiologicaldisciplines,althoughtheDepartmentisfocusedintwomajordirec tions.TheDivisionsofMolecular,Cellular,andDevelopmentalBiology(MCD)andEvolution,EcologyandBa havioralBiology(EEB)incorporatecurrentareasofspecialinterestinenvironmentalmicrobiology,population andmicrobialgenetics,developmentalbiology,plantandanimalphysiology,metabolism,phycology,plantand animalecology,behavioralecology,invertebratezoology,entomology,andcommunityandecosystemecology oflargerivers,smallstreams,andwetlands.

WhatcanIdowithaMajorin Biology
TheM.S.Programissufficientlyflexibletomeetvirtuallyanyprofessionalneedandconsistsofboth thesisandnonthesistracksaswellasanEducationtrackforthosestudentsseekingteachercertification.The Ph.D.ProgramisuniqueinthatallstudentsarerequiredtocompleteaflexiblecoreprograminBiology.This programincludesonecoursefromeachofthefollowingareas:statistics,genetics,physiology/biochemistry, evolution/systematics,andecology,aswellasawidechoiceofelectivesinenvironmentalbiology.Researchfor thePh.D.DissertationortheM.S.Thesismaybeconductedunderthesupervisionofanymemberofthede partment'sfacultywhoisalsoamemberoftheUniversity'sGraduateFaculty. StudentsseekingthePh.D.DegreeinBiologytraditionallyhaveamaster'sdegreeoritsequivalent; however,studentsmayentertheprogramwithonlythebaccalaureatedegree.Generally,thefirstyearortwo isspentincoursework,researchisbegunbythesecondyear,andthethesis/dissertationcompletedinthefinal year.Onaverage,studentstake21/2yearstoearntheM.S.and5yearstoearnthePh.D.

OccupationalOverview
Researchandstudyofprinciplesofplantandanimallifeincludingbutnotlimitedtoorigin, relationship,development,anatomy,andfunctions.

EmploymentRequirements
Abachelor'sdegreeistheminimumformaleducationrequired.However,many employersalsorequiregraduateschool.Forexample,theymayrequireamas ter'sdegree,andsomerequireaPh.D.,M.D.,orJ.D.(lawdegree).

CareerOpportunitiesinBiology:
AquariumandMuseumWorker MedicalIllustrator BarrierBeachManager Microbiologist AquacultureFarmer PharmaceuticalSalesPerson Botanist Zoologist CoastalResearcherWorker SaltMarshManager Ecologist TechnicalWriter EnvironmentalHealthSpecialist StateParksandRecreation FisheriesConservationist Toxicologist GeneticEngineeringResearch WildlifeBiologist HealthOfficer WaterQualityTechnician MarineBiologist WildlifeResourcesAgent

Employers/IndustriesandSuccessStrategies:

WhatcanIdowithaMajorin Biology
Botany:BotanicalgardensandarboretumsCollegesanduniversitiesIndustriesandlaboratoriesinvolvedin productionoffood,textiles,chemical,andforestryproductsMedicalandprivateresearchlaboratoriesPhar maceuticalindustryStateandfederalgovernment:DepartmentsofAgriculture,Interior,andHealth SuggestedStrategy:Conductundergraduateresearchwithprofessors.Joinrelatedprofessionalorganizations. Takecoursesinorganicchemistry,biochemistry,andphysics.ObtainaPh.D.forteachingandadvancedposi tionsinresearchandmanagement.Completearelatedinternshipwithanorganizationintheareaofyourin terest. Bioinformatics:BiotechnologyindustryGovernmentresearchlaboratoriesPharmaceuticalcompaniesUni versities/colleges SuggestedStrategy:Doublemajororminorincomputerscience.Developindepthprogrammingandrelational databaseskills.Learnmolecularbiologypackages,webdesign,andprogrammingskills.Completeaninternship inyourareaofinterest. Microbiology: AgriculturalexperimentstationsCollegesanduniversitiesEnvironmentalandpollutioncon trol agencies Food,chemical, pharmaceutical, andcosmetic companies Government research laboratories andserviceagenciesHospitalsandpublichealthfacilitiesPrivateresearchfoundations Suggested Strategy: ObtainaPh.D.forteachingandadvancedresearchandmanagementpositions.Develop additionalcompetenciesinchemistry,mathematics,andphysics.Takecoursesrelatedtoyourfieldofinterest orconsideranadvanceddegreetospecialize.Findarelatedinternshipwithanorganizationintheareaofyour interest.Completeanundergraduateresearchprojectwithaprofessor.Developstrongskillsusinglaboratory equipmentandcomputers. SystematicBiology:BotanicalgardensandarboretumsColleges,universities,andagriculturalcollegesFed eral agencies Hospitals Museums Private research foundations Public health laboratories Zoos and aquariums SuggestedStrategy:EarnaPh.D.forcollegeanduniversityteachingandadvancedresearchandmanagement positions.Getinvolvedwithundergraduateresearchwithprofessors.Completeaninternshipwithanorganiza tionintheareaofyourinterest. Zoology: ClinicsandhospitalsCollegesanduniversitiesMuseumsPharmaceutical,agriculturalservicein dustriesResearchorganizationsVeterinaryhospitalsWildlifepreservesandparksZoos,aquariums,and othercollectionsofanimals SuggestedStrategy:Obtainexperienceworkingwithanimalsandvariousrelatedlaboratoryequipment.De velopabroadbackgroundinbiologyandotherrelatedsubjectssuchaschemistry,physics,mathematics,and statistics.Completearelatedinternshipwithanorganizationintheareaofyourinterest.Azoologicalback groundisgoodpreparationforacareerinveterinaryscienceormedicine,butanadvanceddegreeisalsore quiredtopractice.

RelatedLinksintheBiologyDiscipline:
ProfessionalAssociationLinks
TheEuropeanFederationofBiophysicsOrganisation TheAmericanSocietyforCellBiology AmericanAssociationofZooKeepers AmericanAquariumandZooAssociation TheAmericanInstituteofBiologicalSciences InternationalBiometricSociety TheCompanyofBiologistsLimited USGeologicalSurveyBiologicalResources

CareerPlanningLinks
CareersinGeneticCounseling WhatisanAnimalBehaviorist? http://www.animalbehavior.org/ABS/Guides/Careers.pdf

WhatcanIdowithaMajorin Biology
OR http://www.animalbehavior.org/ABS/Education/careers_brochure.html ScienceCareersWebHealthManagementCareers CareersinForensicScience CareersinGeneticCounseling Medical/HealthExploration CenterforHealthCareers HealthcareCareerResourceCenter:Siteincludesshorthistoryofmedicalcareers,healthcarecareerinforma tion,andinformationonschools&scholarships BiologicalandMedicalScientistsOccupationalOutlookHandbook,U.S.DeptofLabor CareersinBiologyfromEmporiaStateUniversity

IdeasforVolunteer/Internship/Coop
HireBio HireHealth Medzilla Naturejobs TinyTechJobs TheSciWebBiotechnologyCareerCenter ClinicalScienceCareers TheAmericanAcademyofForensicSciences BioMedScientistJobs CDCjobs PreMedInternshipOpportunities CareerswiththeAgriculturalResearchService LifeSciencesWorld BioSpace BIOTECHCareerCenter Sciencejobs.com:thebestjobsfromtheleadersinbioscience BiologyJobsandothersciencejobs BiologyJobSearchLinks BioViewcompanyinformationanddailyindustrynews,biotechnology&pharmaceuticalemploymentsite, joblistings ScienceCareersandjobhunting MaritimeEmploymentOpportunities InternshipHotspots Publish&Perish:GuidetoOnlineEmploymentandCareerLinksfortheBiomedicalStudent BiologyJobsU.S.DeptofHealth&HumanServiceswww.hhs.gov/jobs NationalInstituteofHealth Forinternshipsgotohttp://www.training.nih.gov

Salary/OutlookInfo INFORMATIONALWEBSITES:

http://online.onetcenter.org

http://www.bls.gov/oco/