What Can You Do With a Biology Degree?

If you’ve always had an interest in life science, studying biology in college is a path you should consider. 

Due to its nature of being such a broad field, there are numerous paths you can study, including:

• Botany
• Conservation
• Ecology
• Evolution 
• Genetics
• Marine biology
• Medicine
• Microbiology
• Molecular biology
• Physiology
• Zoology

We know, there are a lot of options, right?

Thanks to biological research, humankind has made essential advancements in medicine, agriculture, biotechnology, and quality of life. It’s allowed us to understand humankind’s past to help us shape the future and taught us what we could do to protect biodiversity. 

With Raleigh ranked #5 in the nation in the life science industry, studying at Meredith College will give you an edge in launching and maintaining successful careers in biology while. In this blog post, we’ll highlight a few of the many career paths our previous biology majors have taken so you can see what jobs you can pursue with your degree in biology.

Research Laboratory Jobs

Research technicians, also known as lab assistants, are essential to every scientific laboratory. They set up, operate, and maintain lab equipment and test logs of experiments. As a research technician, it is your job to gather, interpret, and record relevant research and data. Some of the data you work on may be life-saving.

There are many different lab assistant careers, including

• Clinical Lab Technician/Medical Lab Technician
• Cytogenetic Technician
• Molecular Genetics Lab Technician
• Medical Equipment Repair Technician 
• Histotechnician
• Radiation Protection Technician
• And plenty more!

 

Every research technician job requires you to communicate effectively, manage your time properly, be detail-oriented, and have a love for science.  

Here are just a few examples of where our strong graduates are working as research technicians:

• Research Technician, Bayer CropScience
• Cytogenetics Technician, LabCorp of America
• Molecular Genetics Lab Tech, LabCorp of America
• Lab Technologist, American Red Cross
• Research Technician, Nicholas School for the Environment, Duke University

 

Check out one of our Strong Stories about alumna Taylor Keyes, ‘19, who works as a lab research technician at Duke Health.

Healthcare

Biology plays a vital role in healthcare. Biological sciences in healthcare focus on the underlying causes of health and infectious and chronic diseases. Those who have a career as a biologist in public health identify the causes of diseases, how they are transmitted, and how they can be controlled. 

Those who study biology are not confined to exploring the underlying causes of health problems in humans but for any life as well.

Here are examples of Meredith biology graduates who are working in the medical field:

• Registered Nurse, Duke University Medical Center, Baptist Hospital
• Animal Care Tech and Customer Service Tech, Care First Animal Hospitals
• Chiropractic Assistant, Triangle Spine Center
• MSPH Climate Change Epidemiologist, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Public Health NC Dept of Health and Human Services

 

Hear from one of our students, Joselyn Marroquin Aparicio, ’22, who discovered her passion for biology and public health at Meredith.

Teaching

You can inspire future generations of science lovers by becoming a biology teacher. Think about the person who encouraged you to pursue your passion for science and how much of an impact they made on your life. Now you have the opportunity to be that person for someone else. 

At Meredith, you can gain your North Carolina teacher licensure to teach grades 6-9 science or comprehensive science for grades 9-12. As a biology teacher, you’ll teach your students about the creation of life, plants, the earth, anatomy, cells, and more. 

Here’s what some of our graduates are up to:

• Science Education Center, Museum of Life and Science
• Comprehensive Science Teacher 9-12, Apex High School
• Science Teacher 9-12, Wake County Public Schools
• Life Science and Anatomy & Physiology Teacher, Hampton Roads Academy

Further your education

Many biology students further their education through professional programs, such as medical school, dental school, veterinary school, law school, pharmacy school, nursing school, Ph.D. programs, master of science programs, and more.

Here’s what our recent graduates have gone to further their education:

Medical School

• Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
• Edward Via VA College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Podiatric Medicine at Midwestern University
• VCOM – South Carolina
• Wake Forest University Medical School
• Yale Medical School

 

Dental School

• Ohio State University College of Dentistry

 

Veterinary School

• North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine

 

Law School

• North Carolina Central University School of Law

 

Pharmacy School

• Campbell University
• Medical University of South Carolina
• University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
• University of Kentucky

 

Nursing School

• Duke University
• East Carolina University
• Georgia Southern University
• University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

 

Physical Therapy Programs

• East Carolina University
• Touro College

 

Physicians Assistant Programs

• Duke University
• East Carolina University
• Methodist University
• Graduate Programs

 

Ph.D. Programs

• Food Science – Cornell University
• Biomedical Engineering – University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
• Biochemistry – Wake Forest University
• Chemistry – North Carolina State University
• Education – University of Tennessee
• Microbiology – North Carolina State University

 

Master of Science Programs

• Biology – East Carolina University
• Food Science – North Carolina State University
• Genetics – North Carolina State University
• Microbiology – Virginia Commonwealth University, North Carolina State University
• Molecular Diagnostics – University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
• Zoology – North Carolina State University
• Ecology – Virginia Commonwealth University

 

Masters in Clinical Research Program

• Campbell University

 

Masters of Public Health Programs

• East Carolina University
• Eastern Virginia Medical School
• London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
• University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
• Professional Masters in Microbial Biotechnology Programs
• North Carolina State University
• Master of Education
• Meredith College

 

Why study biology at Meredith? Not only do we have a stellar track record, but our biology curriculum is designed to meet the needs of students interested in a wide variety of career areas related to biological sciences. 

Our small class sizes and the opportunity for one-on-one work with faculty on research projects provide a personalized learning environment where you will get to know faculty and your peers. The biology program emphasizes professional development, making our graduates sought after in STEM fields.

Want to learn more about Meredith’s biology program? Visit meredith.edu/biology or contact the Office of Admissions today!