Careers and Degree Options in Biology
Want to see what you have in store for your future? Our innovative program with in-depth coursework and hands-on lab interaction with faculty and classmates has prepared students like you for fulfilling careers all over the world. The Biological Sciences encompass a diverse range of subjects in the fields of human and veterinary medicine, natural history, and teaching. If you want to experience the world through studies in the life sciences, the Department of Biological Sciences is the place to be. As a biology student, you will enjoy the opportunity to work in the lab or outside beginning with your first year. Feel free to contact us to talk with a faculty member about the many educational options and career opportunities that await you with a degree in biology.
The Department of Biological Sciences offers 2 undergraduate degrees: the Bachelor of Science in Biology and the Bachelor of Science in General Science. Or, if you are majoring in another subject area, you can work toward a Minor in Biology. In addition, the department offers a graduate degree: a Master of Science in Biology. Work with your biology advisor to tailor your degree to fit your needs by choosing from one of the options outlined below.
Career Paths and Undergraduate Programs in Biological Sciences
Wondering what you can study in biology? At FHSU, we have more than a dozen options you can choose from, or you can work with your biology advisor to design your own specialty. Each option listed below includes a printable pdf file of courses you would take in biology, as well as related courses in science, math, and other cognates.
Natural Resources
Th Natural Resources degree option will help you pursue a career in conservation and natural resource management, such as conservation biology, fisheries management, range management, or wildlife management. These options are geared toward students who want to work for conservation agencies or zoos, for example, or who want to pursue advanced degrees.
- Conservation Biology
- Fisheries Biology
- Wildlife Biology
- Range Conservation
Health Professions
The Health Professions degree option will prepare you for a career in a medical field, such as medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and veterinary medicine. Our pre-professional option is designed to prepare you for additional education in medical school, veterinary school, and similar programs.
- Medical Technology
- Pre-Physical Therapy
- Pre-Medicine
- Pre-Occupational Therapy
- Cellular / Molecular Biology
- Pre-Veterinary Medicine
Biology and Secondary Education
You can earn a dual major with a single B.S. degree in Biology and Secondary Education to prepare for a career teaching in a high school. The curriculum provides you with a thorough background in biology, and professionals in the Department of Teacher Education will help you achieve certification as a high school biology teacher. The GPA requirements for education majors are higher than for the other biology degrees. Both the overall GPA and the content GPA (required biology courses) must be 2.75 or higher. Students in their junior and senior years are eligible to compete for a Noyce Teacher-Leader scholarship of $13,000 per year.
General Biology
If your career goals do not align with the options in conservation, health, or secondary education, the General Biology degree option will provide you with a broad background in biology and other subjects to help you prepare for a variety of careers or advanced degrees in biology.
- Botany
- Zoology
- Environmental Biology
Bachelor of Science in General Science - Concentration in Biology
The B.S. in General Science offers you a flexible, broad-based education in the core disciplines of biology, chemistry, geosciences, and physics, while allowing you to deepen your knowledge and skills in one or more of those concentration areas. This degree program is ideal for students who have wide-ranging interests in the physical and life sciences who wish to pursue a variety of career fields, such as lab assistant, pharmaceutical representative, medical equipment sales, or manager in a technical field. This degree is not recommended for students interested in pre-medicine, pre-veterinary, or pre-pharmacy majors, but may be appropriate for pre-dental, pre-OT, or pre-PT majors.
Learn more about the courses available for the B.S. in General Science - Concentration in Biology.
Minor in Biology
You can earn a minor in biology to complement your degree from another department at FHSU. The minor consists of at least 20 credit hours of biology coursework as outlined below:
- BIOL 180/180L, Principles of Biology/Lab (4 hours)
- Your choice of 2 of the following 3 courses:
-
- BIOL 250/250L, Botany/Lab (4 hours)
- BIOL 260/260L, Zoology/Lab (4 hours)
- BIOL 490/490L, General Microbiology/Lab (4 hours; chemistry prerequisites)
- BIOL 300+, Upper-division biology electives (8 hours) that you choose in consultation with your biology advisor.