Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology

Types of Degrees Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many cell/cellular & molecular biology graduations there were for each degree level during the last year for which data was available.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Bachelor’s Degree	3,528
Doctor’s Degree	470
Master’s Degree	271
Graduate Certificate	55
Basic Certificate	36
Associate Degree	2

What Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology Majors Need to Know

People with careers related to cell/cellular and molecular biology were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.

Knowledge Areas for Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology Majors

This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:

• Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
• Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Skills for Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology Majors

cell/cellular and molecular biology majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:

• Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Abilities for Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology Majors

Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology majors often go into careers where the following abilities are vital:

• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

What Can You Do With a Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with cell/cellular and molecular biology:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Molecular and Cellular Biologists	8.0%	$79,590

Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology?

This major is dominated by women with about 64% of recent graduates being female.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of cell/cellular and molecular biology majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	1,100
Black or African American	133
Hispanic or Latino	463
White	1,317
International Students	229
Other Races/Ethnicities	286

Geographic Diversity

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology. About 6.5% of those with this major are international students.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology

Some degrees associated with cell/cellular and molecular biology may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to cell/cellular and molecular biology have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	4.4%
Bachelor’s Degree	30.4%
Master’s Degree	13.0%
Doctoral Degree	21.7%
Post-Doctoral Training	30.4%

Online Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology Programs

The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	0	0
Certificate (2-4 Years)	0	0
Associate’s Degree	1	0
Bachelor’s Degree	2	0
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	55	0
Post-Master’s	3	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	58	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Majors Related to Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to cell/cellular and molecular biology.

Major	Number of Grads
Anatomy	875
Cell/Cellular Biology & Histology	510
Other Cell/Cellular Biology & Anatomical Sciences	282
Cell Biology & Anatomy	173
Developmental Biology & Embryology	72

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
• Image Credit: By Kelvin Song under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.