Department of Biology

Jumpstart your career
in biology / biotechnology

The Department of Biology offers opportunities for a superior education that provides a pathway to careers in the medical professions, research, and more. Here are some key national statistics for biology/biotech careers from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and PayScale.

Starting Salary
$38,782-$75,457

Average Starting Salaries in Biology/Biotech Fields (NACE)

Noteworthy Biology/Biotech Jobs and Mid-Career Salaries (PayScale)

Veterinarian $104,000 Research Scientist $80,900 Biotech Research Associate $68,400 Quality Control Analyst $65,800 Microbiologist $60,000
Six months out of graduation
87%

Alumni in science and health employed or in graduate school within 6 months after graduation

Get Prepared to Succeed

The biology major is the most popular and straight­forward (no extra coursework required) route to gaining admission to all medically related profes­sional schools to pursue a degree as a doctor, dentist, veterinarian, pharmacist, physician’s assistant, physical therapist (PT), or medical perfusionist. The biotechnology major prepares students for careers in academic, clinical, industrial, or government research labs, and for graduate study in biotechnology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and related fields.

What You'll Learn

In our biology and biotechnology programs, students gain in-demand skills that employers have identified as critical for job candidates, including:

  • Knowledge of living organisms, structure and behavioral interactions, and molecular processes.
  • Collecting, organizing, interpreting and evaluating scientific information.
  • Critically analyzing biological information, including experimental data.
  • Drawing valid conclusions from experiments, among others..

Key Skills for
Careers in
Biology/Biotech

as indicated by Employers
and Alumni on LinkedIn

Analytical Skills

Cell Culture

Clinical Research

Complex Problem Solving

Critical Thinking

Laboratory Skills

Scientific Management

*LinkedIn Workplace
Learning Report 2021