Medical careers with biology majors represent an unsurpassed opportunity for degree-holders to apply their knowledge and skills in the healthcare arena. They provide students with a foundation for lucrative careers in such areas as pharmacology, biotechnology, research and development, nutrition, health promotion and disease prevention, among others.
Biology is one of the most popular majors at [university name], and it’s easy to see why. A degree in biology will open up a wide range of career paths, from research to administration to education.
Here are some of the possible jobs you could get with a biology degree:
Biologist: A biologist studies living things in their natural environment, or in the lab. They may work in research labs, or they might be field biologists who travel around the world studying animals or plants.
Forensic Scientist: Forensic scientists use their knowledge of biology and chemistry to help solve crimes. They often work for police departments, helping them investigate cases by looking at physical evidence like blood stains or fingerprints. They can also work for crime labs that test DNA samples found at crime scenes.
Medical Doctor: Medical doctors (MDs) diagnose diseases and prescribe treatments for illnesses using medical science as well as their clinical judgment about how best to treat each patient’s condition. They must attend medical school after earning their bachelor’s degree, but then they become licensed physicians who can practice medicine independently after graduation from medical school (or residency training).
Medical careers with a biology degree
Introduction
A degree in biology is a great choice for students who are passionate about science and aware of the importance of the life sciences in everyday life. The field of biology is broad, encompassing many areas that impact the lives of people around the world. In addition to having a profound understanding of this important science, biology majors tend to possess soft skills that are valued by employers and make them well-suited for a variety of careers. However, some careers require additional education beyond a bachelor’s degree. A master’s degree or doctoral program can open doors to jobs with greater research responsibilities or with more direct patient care.
Physician Assistant
If you’re interested in a career as a physician assistant (PA), then you will be trained to examine patients, diagnose injuries and illnesses, and provide treatment. PAs can also order and interpret tests, perform procedures and provide patient education.
Medical Assistant
As a medical assistant, you’re the first person to greet patients and collect their information. You also help doctors and nurses with a variety of tasks, such as taking vitals, administering immunizations and drawing blood. Medical assistants are essential for keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes at a hospital or clinic.
Medical assistants must complete training programs approved by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Most programs take about 1 year to complete and include classroom instruction as well as hands-on experience in clinics or hospitals. You can expect to spend anywhere from $15,000-$20,000 on tuition alone if you attend an AAMA-approved program.
Once you have your certificate in hand, it’s time to start looking for work! The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nearly half of all medical assistants worked in hospitals in 2014; however other healthcare settings may be more appropriate depending on your situation or preferences.
Registered Nurse
If you’re looking for a stable, flexible career that will allow you to work with people in need and make a difference in their lives, then becoming a registered nurse (RN) may be the perfect choice. RNs are trained professionals who provide direct patient care under the supervision of physicians and other healthcare practitioners. This career can be both rewarding and challenging, but it’s also one of the most popular possibilities for biology graduates.
Registered nurses receive extensive training on how to manage various medical conditions and perform procedures related to treatment of patients. They must complete an associate’s degree program or higher before receiving certification from either the American Nurses Association (ANA) or Canadian Nurses Association (CNA). There are several specialties within this field such as psychiatric nursing or pediatrics; these require additional training after receiving your initial degree depending on what type of nursing you’d like to specialize in.”
Healthcare Administrator
Healthcare administrators are responsible for managing and developing the healthcare systems of their facilities. They must have a high level of responsibility, as well as excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and problem-solving abilities. The job requires a very high level of job satisfaction because much of the time is spent with other people. Healthcare administrators need to have excellent organizational skills so that they can keep track of everything going on in their facility while also keeping accurate records.
Medical Laboratory Technologist
Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLT) are highly trained laboratory professionals who perform a wide variety of tests to detect and diagnose disease. They work in hospitals, clinics, physician offices and other healthcare facilities.
They collect blood samples from patients for analysis. The MLT analyzes the sample to determine if further testing or consultation is required. S/he then prepares reports based on the test results and provides these reports to physicians so they can treat patients appropriately.
The job duties vary by lab but usually include: collecting samples; preparing specimens for testing; running tests on specimens; interpreting test results; communicating with patients/physicians regarding test results; preparing samples for transport (e-mailing or faxing); maintaining equipment; supervising technicians/assistants; maintaining inventory databases
Audiology Assistant
You can become an audiology assistant. Audiology assistants work in hearing clinics or hospitals and assist audiologists in a variety of tasks, from diagnosing hearing problems to fitting patients with hearing aids.
Audiology assistants are trained to perform basic testing on the patient’s ear so that he or she can provide more accurate information to the doctor. They also help fit patients with hearing aids.
Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians work in retail pharmacies and help pharmacists fill prescriptions. Their duties include preparing prescription medication, stocking shelves and maintaining records. You don’t need formal education requirements to become a pharmacy technician, but certification is required in most states. Training for these positions can be completed in as little as 6 months through an accredited program, though some employers may require candidates to complete an internship first before hiring them full-time.
The median annual salary for pharmacy technicians was $33,950 in 2016.* With the aging population expected to increase demand for health care services over the next decade,* this job outlook is promising:* The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 9% growth between 2016 and 2026.*
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are health care professionals who focus on the safe and effective use of medication. They dispense medications to patients and provide information about those medications, as well as advise on their use. Pharmacists may also be involved in researching new medications, developing guidelines for drug use and policy development around pharmaceuticals.
Pharmacy school is a four-year program that requires an undergraduate degree in pharmacy (or a related field) prior to admission into the program – most candidates hold bachelor’s degrees prior to enrolling in pharmacy school.
Sonography Technician
A sonography technician is an allied health professional who performs diagnostic procedures through the use of ultrasound. Qualified sonographers must have a minimum of an associate’s degree, but some positions require a bachelor’s degree.
Sonography technicians are employed in many different settings, including hospitals and private clinics. They may work on their own or as part of teams that perform exams for patients with a wide range of conditions, including abdominal pain, infertility issues and cancer diagnoses. While the primary focus is on diagnostic testing using ultrasound images, sonographers also help physicians interpret results and make decisions about treatment options for patients.”
A biology degree can be used in many different medical careers.
A biology degree can be used in many different medical careers. The field of medicine is a broad category, and biology is a broad field within that category. When you study biology, you can specialize in ecology, genetics, zoology (the study of animals), botany (the study of plants), or marine biology. Studying these subjects will give you a better understanding of how living things work—an understanding that can help prepare you for many medical fields and the specific jobs that go along with those fields.
For instance, if you’re interested in becoming a doctor one day but aren’t sure which specialty to choose yet, studying ecology or zoology would be good preparation for working as an internist or pediatrician; studying genetics would be good preparation for working as an oncologist; while studying botany might lead to a career as an allergist or immunologist specializing in allergies or asthma respectively
Conclusion
If you’re planning on pursuing a career in medicine, we hope this article has been helpful in showing you all the options available to you with a biology degree. We’ve only listed six here, but there are many more opportunities out there! If none of these careers seem right for you, don’t give up hope-a career in medicine might just be waiting for someone like yourself somewhere else.
