2021 Biological & Biomedical Sciences Degree Guide
Biological and Biomedical Sciences is all about studying life. You will learn how molecules become cells and how cells become organisms. With many options for majors and concentrations, this is a great field for students who love math, science, nature and the environment.
During your classes you will be required to collect data from the lab and the field. This involves getting outdoors into forests and rivers, as well as examining specimens in the laboratory and under the microscope. You will get very intimate with all different kinds of organisms and explore their populations and their environment. This major is for a student who is ready to work hard in order to gain a strong foundation in biology with strong content knowledge in chemistry, physics, and mathematics.
Students can major in General Biology. However, you also have the opportunity to pick a more specialized major. Ecology involves learning about interactions of living and nonliving things in all sorts of ecosystems. Neurobiology and Neuroscience allows you to study the way the brain functions and the importance of the nervous system as well as the evolution of the brain. If you are more interested in exploring the animal kingdom you may choose to major in Zoology. Students with a more medical bent might be interested in Microbiology Sciences and Immunology, where they will get the chance to study bacteria and infectious disease.
Explore additional the majors in this field of study to see what peaks your interests.
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An Increase in Biological & Biomedical Sciences Degrees
In 2018-2019, biological and biomedical sciences was the 9th most popular major nationwide with 160,242 degrees awarded. This represents a 2.7% increase in biological and biomedical sciences degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 155,953.
The United States has 1,720 different schools where you can get a degree in biological and biomedical sciences. Our 2021 Best Colleges for Biological & Biomedical Sciences ranking analyzes 651 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for biological and biomedical sciences students. Explore this or one of our many other custom biological and biomedical sciences rankings further below.
What Are The Requirements For a Degree in Biological & Biomedical Sciences
Biology is a great field for curious students who love learning about how living organisms grow, adapt and survive. Many of the fields can be quite rigorous and competitive. Be prepared for long hours in the lab doing research, analyzing results and writing lab reports.
Completing your coursework will help you develop critical thinking and analytic skills. You will need to read and evaluate scientific material, learn terminology and memorize formulas. Problem solving skills will help you work through difficult scenarios. Accuracy and attention to detail are absolutely necessary when performing experiments and recording results.
Students will often work with partners or in groups, making communication and collaboration important. You need to be a team player as well as leader. Don't be afraid to listen to theories and perspectives that may challenge your opinions. Work on your writing and speaking skills in order to present information clearly and accurately.
Some programs may require field experience or allow students to pursue internships or independent research. This experience is valuable and will make you more competitive in the workplace.
Prior Education for a Biological & Biomedical Sciences Program
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific biological and biomedical sciences careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Types of Biological & Biomedical Sciences Degrees
Biological & Biomedical Sciences degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in biological and biomedical sciences to the highest biological and biomedical sciences degree, a . How long it takes to complete some common biological and biomedical sciences degree levels is shown below.
| 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 biological and biomedical sciences, with approximately 36.2% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for biological and biomedical sciences workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 35.9% |
| Master’s Degree | 25.1% |
| Doctoral Degree | 16.7% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 13.9% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 3.7% |
56.5% of biological and biomedical sciences workers have at least a master's. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in biological and biomedical sciences careers have.
This of course varies depending on which biological and biomedical sciences career you choose.
Career Opportunities for Biological & Biomedical Sciences Majors
With a strong academic background, graduates with a degree in biology will have the ability to enter many different occupations. Many become lab scientists working for a variety of medical, health or environmental industries. There are many opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry to work as a researcher, developer, sales person, marketer, or medical laboratory assistant.
Some careers in biology will require a minimum of a master's degree. Some careers that biology majors have gone into are professor, biotechnologist, biomedical engineer, lawyer, forensic scientist, or zoologist. Many grads also eventually become doctors, nurses, pharmacists or veterinarians.
High Growth Projected for Biological & Biomedical Sciences Careers
Want a job when you graduate with your biological and biomedical sciences degree? Biological & Biomedical Sciences careers are expected to grow 17.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to biological and biomedical sciences.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| High School Teachers | 1,095,500 | 7.5% |
| Software Applications Developers | 1,086,600 | 30.7% |
| Computer Workers | 313,800 | 9.3% |
| Health Specialties Professors | 294,000 | 25.9% |
| Medical Scientists | 136,100 | 13.4% |
Biological & Biomedical Sciences Degree Salary Potential
Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates between 2015-2017 reported earning an average of $30,065 in the 2017-2018 timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $9,400 to as high as $168,000. As you might expect, salaries for biological and biomedical sciences graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
High Paying Careers for Biological & Biomedical Sciences Majors
Salaries for biological and biomedical sciences graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top 5 highest paying careers biological and biomedical sciences grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $139,680 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $123,850 |
| Health Specialties Professors | $122,320 |
| Software Applications Developers | $108,080 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $105,940 |
Getting Your Biological & Biomedical Sciences Degree
With over 8,961 different biological and biomedical sciences 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 biological and biomedical sciences school rankings to help you with this.
Top Ranking Lists for Biological & Biomedical Sciences
Study Areas in Biological & Biomedical Sciences
Biological & Biomedical Sciences Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Biology | 97,804 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology | 13,799 |
| Neurobiology & Neurosciences | 9,408 |
| Physiology & Pathology Sciences | 7,840 |
| Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology | 6,811 |
View All Biological & Biomedical Sciences Related Majors >
Majors Similar to Biological & Biomedical Sciences
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Engineering | 196,678 |
| Computer & Information Sciences | 173,112 |
| Physical Sciences | 53,214 |
| Engineering Technologies | 52,780 |
| Mathematics & Statistics | 49,071 |
View All Biological & Biomedical Sciences Related Majors >
References
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