by our College Data Analytics TeamPathology and Physiology are both subjects that focus on cells and the body and so are often studied together. In Pathology you will learn about the causes and progress of disease or injury in people. In Physiology you will learn about mechanical and biochemical process of the body and can focus on one specific body part or system. Studying both of these topics has exciting implications. As you dive deeper into the material you will learn valuable information about how to prevent disease and improve human life.
Courses that you will take to increase your knowledge are: biology, chemistry, physiology, pathology, advanced mathematics, microbiology, genetics, reproduction, and molecular biology. There will be a lot of labs in your coursework, allowing you to gain hands-on experience and participate in experiments.
he ability to choose a concentration is available at some schools. Some of these concentrations are: General Physiology, Molecular Physiology, Cell Physiology, Endocrinology, Reproductive Biology, Cardiovascular Science, Exercise Physiology, Vision Science, Pathology, Oncology and Cancer Biology, and Aerospace Physiology and Medicine.
In 2020-2021, physiology and pathology sciences was the 88th most popular major nationwide with 8,813 degrees awarded. This represents a 4.9% increase in physiology degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 8,385.
Our 2023 Best Physiology & Pathology Sciences Schools ranking analyzes 146 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for physiology and pathology sciences students. Explore this or one of our many other custom physiology rankings further below.
A passion for your topic of study will help you through difficult coursework. Be confident with your skills, but ready to ask for help if you get stuck. Work on your time management skills in order to juggle multiple science and math classes and labs at the same time. This is a rewarding and exciting topic when you master it.
Classes and lab work will teach you how to analyze data and information. Students will be required to memorize formulas and then put them into practice through experiments. You will be spending a lot of time in lab often working closely with a lab partner. Interpersonal skills are helpful when working with your peers and your professors.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most physiology degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific physiology careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different physiology degree levels. You can get anything from a in physiology and pathology sciences to the highest physiology degree, a . The time it takes to complete a physiology degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to physiology, with approximately 29.0% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for physiology workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 28.8% |
| Master’s Degree | 25.3% |
| Doctoral Degree | 19.2% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 19.1% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 2.8% |
Most workers in physiology have at least a master's degree. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in physiology and pathology sciences careers have.
This of course varies depending on which physiology career you choose.
Some graduates continue their education to receive Medical degrees or another advanced degree. However, there are also options for grads who want to go straight into a career. Those more interested in physiology could easily do research for a drug company or become an exercise physiologist and work with people to help improve their health. Your skills in the field of pathology will enable you to work in medical fields as a researcher or medical writer. Graduates could also find work in government, education or private businesses.
Want a job when you graduate with your physiology degree? Physiology & Pathology Sciences careers are expected to grow 18.4% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to physiology and pathology sciences.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Professors | 294,000 | 25.9% |
| Medical Scientists | 136,100 | 13.4% |
| Biological Science Professors | 71,700 | 15.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 62,300 | 9.9% |
| Biological Scientists | 41,800 | 8.0% |
Recently graduated physiology and pathology sciences students earned an average of $29,932 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $8,836 to as high as $96,471. As you might expect, salaries for physiology graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for physiology and pathology sciences graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers physiology grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $139,680 |
| Health Specialties Professors | $122,320 |
| Biological Science Professors | $97,340 |
| Medical Scientists | $96,420 |
| Biological Scientists | $83,600 |
With over 565 different physiology degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased physiology school rankings to help you with this.
Physiology & Pathology Sciences is one of 14 different types of Biological & Biomedical Sciences programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology | 4,933 |
| General Physiology | 2,993 |
| Pathology/Experimental Pathology | 264 |
| Vision Science/Physiological Optics | 155 |
| Oncology & Cancer Biology | 150 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Biology | 107,165 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology | 14,535 |
| Neurobiology & Neurosciences | 11,615 |
| Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology | 7,247 |
| Cell Biology & Anatomical Sciences | 6,206 |
