Career options - What's out there in science and science-related careers?

Science is, above all, a way of thinking.

A bachelor's degree in biology - a concentration in science buttressed by exposure to the humanities and behavioral and social sciences - is a most effective foundation for a wide range of rewarding careers because the skills fostered by science training - critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, research design and experimentation, communication and the ability to work effectively in groups - are highly valued by employers in any field.

There is therefore an almost limitless variety of career options open to you. The only real limits are those that are imposed by your own interests and imagination.

There are careers for both professional scientists and for science-trained professionals. In some careers, you will be deeply immersed in research and development. In others, you may use your science background in teaching, business, industry or government. You should investigate both kinds of career pathways.

Whatever you think you want to do now, remember that most people change their career at least once in their lifetime. You will serve yourself best if you approach your undergraduate experience not as narrow training for a specific perfectly defined career, but rather as preparation for a lifetime of creative problem solving.

With a BA/BS in Biological Sciences

You can enter many science and science-related careers with only a bachelor's degree in biology. Jobs in the technical workforce are available in the academic world (e.g., research technician, teaching laboratory coordinator, greenhouse facilities coordinator), in government, (e.g., research technician, regulatory agency field agent) and in industry (e.g., research technician, product design and development specialist, technical product information specialist, quality control specialist, product sales).

"We need people in all parts of our society who understand science - in federal and state government, in the media, in business, in law and in all of our schools."
Bruce Alberts, former president,
National Academy of Sciences

Science-related careers that may require some limited additional study in another field include: science journalism (writers and editors), elementary and secondary education, medical technology, environmental regulation, pharmaceutical or agrichemical marketing/advertising, economic development, bioinformatics, and museum or field station curation.

With an advanced degree

With a masters (MA) degree in the appropriate field you can become one of a group of science-trained professionals upon whom business, industry, government and education increasingly depend. Careers include: genetic counseling, health care for the aged, public science and technology policy development and analysis, health policy development and analysis, environmental affairs, development of science curricula and creation of educational materials for schools and museums and nature centers, development of new computer software applications and internet resources for medicine, education and industry.

"The 'gold collar' worker of tomorrow will have an undergraduate degree in science plus graduate training in another discipline, such as engineering or business."
Sheila Tobias
author and consultant

You can combine an undergraduate degree in biology with a professional degree outside science (e.g., MBA, JD) for a career in business or hospital management, stock/financial analysis, patent or technology transfer or environmental law, or environmental engineering.

If you want to teach at the college or university level, or direct research projects in academia, government or industry, you will almost always need a doctoral (PhD) degree. An MD will occasionally suffice in the medical research arena.

If you are interested in research, be sure you seriously consider a career in industry. The number of life scientists with a PhD employed in business and industry has been increasing steadily with over half of the new PhDs employed outside academia. Of the senior scientists in business and industry, slightly over one-third have moved into management. Many individuals now routinely move back and forth between industry and academic careers.

Biological Sciences | 105 Tucker Hall | Columbia, MO 65211-7400 | phone: 573-882-6659 | email: blairjo@missouri.edu

© 2000 Curators of the University of Missouri | equal opportunity/ADA institution | last modified: 07-Aug-2008