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
(Allen) Kent Willis
Biological Sciences, 1969
I teach Algebra I and physical science in 8th grade at Fortuna Middle School. I have coached soccer, track, and basketball and have also served as Vice Principal and Athletic Director. I received an MA in elementary education from the University of San Francisco, and an MA in educational technology leadership from The George Washington University in Washington D.C. I have just finished a doctorate re: the relationship of multiplication tables and fraction skills to learning algebra. My wife and I have two children and enjoy dancing, skiing, softball, and coaching basketball.
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
Gordon Dennis Wogan
Biological SciencesMS Plant physiology & Horticulture, UC Davis, 1975, 1970
After graduation, 3 years in the Coast Guard, an MS degree from UC Davis and work as a technician with the University of Idaho's horticulture program I was hired as a horticulturist with the Oregon Dept. of Agriculture's Nursery and Christmas Tree program. I retired after 29 years with the ODA. I married Patricia Hatfield nine years ago. Together we have 5 children (2 mine, 3 hers) and 3 grandsons. We're enjoying retirement, traveling wood woorking, birdwatching, gardening and anything eles that looks interesting.
Douglas Vogt
Biological Sciences, 1989
Since graduating from HSU in 1989 with a BS Degree in Biology I have had several jobs, with only one being remotely related to biology (a one year stint at molecular biology lab). Most of my jobs have been in the clinical and immunochemistry chemistry field. For the last 5 years my job as a lab technician and fluid analyst at John Deere in my hometown of Waterloo, Iowa, has been perhaps the most challenging. What I learned at HSU has provided me with the skills to adapt not only changing jobs, but also to jobs as they change. I recently was promoted to Program Manager so I will be given yet another chance to see what other skills I may have learned in college will be called upon to provide me with the ability to perform my new position to the best of my abilities. Just goes to show that a college education can provide you not only with the ability to perform specific jobs, but also the ability to perform many different types of jobs.
Thank You HSU!
Michael E. Walker
Biological Sciences, 1962
Nearing the end of my real estate career in the greater Sacramento area. I live on two acres in Auburn with my wife and two Collies. I visited the HSU campus in May 2010, and I participate with the TKE alumni group. College days at HSU were some of the best of my lifetime.
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.