Biology

Career and Major Information
Related Career Titles
Web Sites
Salary Information

The Associate of Science Degree in Biology at Walters State Community College is intended to fulfill the freshman and sophomore requirements of a bachelor’s degree in Biology. The curriculum in the WSCC catalog is not designed for transfer to any specific school. Students will need to talk with a faculty advisor about a particular college or university’s courses and transfer. The link for the Natural Science Division at Walters State is: http://www.ws.edu/science/default.asp

Career and Major Information:

Biological scientists often obtain the baccalaureate, masters and doctorate degrees. Some will work in a laboratory or in the field doing research and development; some will teach. Governmental and private donors fund research projects, and the application processes for funds are competitive. Further classification of biological scientists may occur according to the types of organisms they study or the types of activities they perform.

Aquatic biologists study plants and animals living in water.

Biochemists study the chemical composition of living things.

Botanists study plants and their growing conditions.

Microbiologists study the growth and characteristics of microscopic organisms like algae, fungi and bacteria.

Physiologists study the life functions of plants and animals.

Biophysicists study the application of physics to living things.

Zoologists and wildlife biologists study the life processes of animals.

Ecologists study the relationships among organisms and their environments.

The Ph.D. degree is usually necessary for independent research. The baccalaureate degree may be adequate for nonresearch jobs. A masters degree is sufficient for some applied research positions and for management, sales, and inspections careers.

Related Career Titles:

Aquarium and Museum Worker	Medical Illustrator
Barrier Beach Manager	Microbiologist
Aquaculture Farmer	Pharmaceutical Sales Person
Botanist	Zoologist
Coastal Researcher Worker	Salt Marsh Manager
Ecologist	Technical Writer
Environmental Health Specialist	State Parks and Recreation
Fisheries Conservationist	Toxicologist
Genetic Engineering Research	Wildlife Biologist
Health Officer	Water Quality Technician
Marine Biologist	Wildlife Resources Agent

Web Sites:

*The American Society of Forensic Sciences www.aafs.org

*Life Sciences World http://www.lifesciencesworld.com/

*BioMedScientist jobs www.BiomedScientistJobs.com

*BioSpace www.biospace.com

*Careers in Forensic Science www.aafs.org

*Careers in Genetic Counseling http://www.nsgc.org/careers/index.asp

*Careers in Biology http://www.sicb.org/cib/

*Biology Careers Page http://www.furman.edu/~snyder/careers/careers.html

*Healthcare Career Resource Center: Site includes short history of medical careers, healthcare career information, and information on schools & scholarships http://library.thinkquest.org/15569/index.html

*Resource guide on careers in biotechnology http://www.bio.org/career/career1.html

*Biological and Medical Scientists Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Dept of Labor http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos047.htm

Salary Information:

Median annual earnings of biochemists and biophysicists were $60,390 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $43,110 and $82,080. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $33,930, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $102,930. Median annual earnings of microbiologists were $51,020 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $39,100 and $67,420. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $31,250, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $87,060. Median annual earnings of zoologists and wildlife biologists were $47,740 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $37,100 and $58,040. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,260, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $71,270. Median annual earnings of biochemists and biophysicists employed in scientific research and development services were $64,390 in 2002.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, beginning salary offers in 2003 averaged $29,456 a year for bachelor’s degree recipients in biological and life sciences; $33,600 for master’s degree recipients; and $42,244 for doctoral degree recipients.

In the Federal Government in 2003, general biological scientists in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions earned an average salary of $66,262; microbiologists, $73,513; ecologists, $65,207; physiologists, $85,181; geneticists, $78,652; zoologists, $90,178; and botanists, $55,727.

Salary figures quoted are based on national figures. Local or regional salaries may be lower.

Citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition, Biological Scientists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos047.htm