Biological Science
Types of Degrees Biological Science Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many biological & physical science graduations there were for each degree level during the last year for which data was available.
| Education Level | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 23,920 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 2,426 |
| Basic Certificate | 1,342 |
| Master’s Degree | 551 |
| Graduate Certificate | 112 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 83 |
| Undergraduate Certificate | 35 |
What Biological Science Majors Need to Know
People with careers related to biological science 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 Biological Science Majors
According to O*NET survey takers, a major in biological science should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Skills for Biological Science Majors
The following list of skills has been highlighted as some of the most essential for careers related to biological science:
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- 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.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Abilities for Biological Science Majors
As you progress with your biological science degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
What Can You Do With a Biological Science Major?
Below is a list of occupations associated with biological science:
| Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 9.9% | $123,860 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 9.9% | $123,860 |
Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Science?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of biological science majors is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 207 |
| Black or African American | 193 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 674 |
| White | 1,094 |
| International Students | 75 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 183 |
Geographic Diversity
Biological Science appeals to people across the globe. About 3.1% of those with this major are international students.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Biological Science
Some careers associated with biological science require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. 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.
Find out what the typical degree level is for biological science careers below.
| Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) | 4.2% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) | 4.3% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 5.2% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 49.1% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. | 3.3% |
| Master’s Degree | 14.2% |
| Doctoral Degree | 11.4% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 7.1% |
Online Biological Science 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) | 6 | 0 |
| Certificate (2-4 Years) | 1 | 0 |
| Associate’s Degree | 193 | 14 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 12 | 4 |
| Post-Baccalaureate | 0 | 0 |
| Master’s Degree | 48 | 2 |
| Post-Master’s | 1 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 18 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
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Majors Related to Biological Science
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to biological science.
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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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