Breadcrumb
Careers
Our Biology, Botany, and Zoology majors are broadly based which allows latitude of choices when developing a program suitable to individual needs.
Favorable opportunities can be expected for biological scientists with advanced degrees and for bachelor's candidates with outstanding educational and experiential backgrounds. Employment in the life sciences is expected to grow due to recent advances in genetic research, advances in biological technology, and efforts to conserve the environment.
The employment outlook will vary by specialty. Those who have the ability to do research in areas related to the genetic, cellular, and biochemical areas of biology should experience better employment opportunities than those in other specialties. However, many persons with a bachelor's degree find jobs in occupations such as sciences or engineering technicians or medical laboratory technologists. There is a continuing demand for secondary and private school life science teachers.
Related Job Titles
The following list is not meant to be all-inclusive; many other job alternatives and titles may exist. Many of the job titles listed require further education.
Agriculture Inspector
Aquatic Biologist
Biological Technician
Biologist
Biotechnologist
Biotechnology Research Technician
Botanist
Conservation Officer
Ecotourism Specialist
Environ. Protection Specialist
Environmental Consultant
Environmental Educator
Environmental Health Sanitarian
Environmental Planner
Environmental Scientist
Horticulturist
Industrial Hygienist
Laboratory Asst/Tech.
Life Scientist
Marine Biologist
Marine Educator
Microbiologist (Public Health Micro.)
Museum Curator
Naturalist
Park Ranger
Pharmaceutical Sales Rep.
Plant Ecologist
Plant Geneticist
Plant Physiologist
Research Assistant
Science Teacher/Professor
Science Writers
Science Writers
Scientific Divers
Scientific Illustrator
Technical Writer
Water Quality Biologist
Zoologist
Marketable Skills
Communication
- Writing precise technical reports
- Working as part of a team
- Media, public relations, and public speaking
- Writing precise technical reports and research papers
- Designing and presenting scientific posters
Technical Skills
- Knowledge of plant and animal ecology
- Operating and maintaining specialized scientific equipment
- Conducting chemical analyses
- Culturing body fluids or tissue samples
Recording & Interpreting Data
- Categorizing specimens & experiments
- Studying & describing normal plant and animal physiological functions
- Observing and recording animal behavior or habits
- Observing, characterizing, and recording traits of microorganisms and eukaryotic cells
- capturing and analyzing microscopy data
- collecting and analyzing molecular markers from a wide range of sample types
- performing statistical analyses and reasoning
- bioinformatics analysis
Featured Alumni
Degrees in the Biological Sciences have given alumni opportunities to work in their fields around the world.
Some Biology, Botany, and Zoology alumni have gone on to graduate schools. Others are making a difference as teachers and professors, have documented rare insects in Patagonia, work in orchid conservation, and have become health care professionals.
Alumni Profiles - Biology B.S.
Alumni Profiles - Botany B.S.
Alumni Updates
Leigh-Ann King
Biological Sciences, 2005
Leigh-Ann King transferred after 2003 to Fresno State and majored in Natural Science with a teaching credential obtained from Fresno State. She is now teaching Biology, Honors Biology, and AP Biology at her old high school in the Central Valley of California.
Tim Kellison
Biological SciencesBotany, 2005
After a brief stint with the National Park Service, Kellison began working for the US Forest Service. He had spent the last 15 years working as a Botanist on the Lassen and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests. The past five years he has lived in Carson City, NV working as the Sierra Zone Botanist for the Humboldt-Toiyabe managing Rare Plants, Native Plant Community and Pollinator Habitat, and Native Plant Materials Program Development on the Bridgeport and Carson Ranger Districts.
Matthew Nelson
Biological SciencesB.S. in Zoology 2004, M.A. Biology 2009, 2004, 2009
Matthew Nelson ('04, Zoology, '09, M.S. Biology) has worked as a biological technician for Olympic National Park, a marine biologist for the City of San Diego, and is currently a Shellfish Biologist for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community in Washington. This position involves working closely with other state and tribal managers to maintain healthy and productive fisheries while ensuring that the resource will be around for the benefit of future generations.
Frances Boring
Botany, 2004
Frances is now 90 years old and retired. Frances loved college at HSU and sometimes wonders what has happened to classmates in Dr Walker's botany class and a lab mate in another class called Katz.
Crystal Schalmo
Biological Sciences, 2004
Crystal Schalmo, 2004 Biological Sciences, participated in Miami University’s Earth Expeditions global field course in Costa Rica during summer 2015. In Costa Rica, Schalmo studied biotic, physical, and cultural forces that affect tropical biodiversity at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and La Selva Biological Station. Schalmo, a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo Global in San Diego, Calif., took the graduate course in pursuit of her master’s degree from Miami University’s Global Field Program.
Carrie Vath
Biological SciencesMinor in Anthropology, 2003
I am currently a PhD Candidate at the University of Florida in the School of Natural Resources and Environment. My research focuses on primate conservation, forest management planning, and community development in Cross River State Nigeria
Jerre Winder Maurer
Biological SciencesBiological Sciences Teaching Credential , 2001 and 2002
Jerre would like to thank the Cal Poly Humboldt credential program and biological science department. Jerre just finished her 20th year teaching science for the Bret Harte Union High School District in Angels Camp, California, and continues to love it! Jerre teaches biology and anatomy/physiology. She is also the science department chair and the recycling coordinator. She says it has been a great place to work all these years with wonderful staff and students! The credential program ensured she was prepared to teach! Thank you, Humboldt!
Melissa Neufer
Biological Sciences, 2001
In summer 2019, Melissa Neufer, Biology, 2001, studied desert and marine landscapes through ecological and social field methods in Baja, Mexico. Melissa, a biology teacher at Roseland University Prep High School, lives in Santa Rosa, California, and is a graduate student in Miami University's Global Field Program.
Myshelle Charlon
Biological Sciences, 2000
Myshelle Charlon ('00, Biology, Zoology) is now leaving in the Bay Area with her family. She is working to develop effective, tolerable, and durable treatments to help patients with cancer thrive.
Katharine Goodenough
Biological Sciences, 2000
I won a two year NOAA NERR graduate fellowship to develop a project working on Gull-billed tern foraging movements and diet at The Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve.