Biology Career Pathways

Career Prospects

Wondering what you can do with a Biology degree? The answer is probably broader than you think. Biology career pathways are shaped by your interests, specialization and the impact you want to make. Our graduates work in medicine, research, healthcare, environmental science, biotechnology, education and beyond — and many pursue paths that combine more than one of these areas.

About 60% of our majors go on to pursue medical careers, and another 20% enter dental or veterinary fields. But a Biology degree is also the foundation for research science, public health, conservation, biotechnology and science education — fields where demand is growing and where the work matters.

What comes next depends on where your curiosity leads. Explore the career directions our graduates have pursued and see where your own passion for life science might take you.

Medicine and Health Professions

Medicine is the most common destination for biology graduates, and for good reason. A biology degree provides the scientific foundation that medical, physician assistant and nursing programs require. Healthcare and social assistance is the fastest-growing industry sector in the U.S. economy, projected to add roughly 2 million jobs through 2034, with healthcare occupations generating approximately 1.9 million job openings per year over that decade.

Common career pathways include:

• Physician or Surgeon (MD or DO)*
• Physician Assistant*
• Nurse Practitioner*
• Pharmacist*
• Physical or Occupational Therapist*
• Registered Nurse
• Physician Assistant or Surgical Technologist

Most physician, PA, NP and pharmacy roles require graduate or professional school following the bachelor's degree.

Some roles may require additional certification, licensure or graduate study depending on the position and employer.

Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine

Dentistry and veterinary medicine are two of the most direct professional pathways from a biology degree, and both require the rigorous scientific preparation that a biology curriculum provides. Dental school applicants consistently demonstrate strength in biological sciences, and biology majors are well-positioned for veterinary programs that emphasize anatomy, physiology and biochemistry.

Common career pathways include:

• Dentist (DDS or DMD)*
• Dental Hygienist
• Dental Public Health Specialist*
• Veterinarian (DVM)*
• Veterinary Technician or Technologist
• Animal Research Scientist
• Wildlife Veterinarian or Conservation Specialist*

Dentist and veterinarian roles require professional doctoral degrees following the bachelor's degree.

Biological and Medical Research

Research is where biology majors become the people asking the questions that change medicine, agriculture and environmental science. Medical scientists — who typically hold a PhD or MD — conduct research aimed at improving human health, and the field is projected to grow 9% through 2034, much faster than the national average. Biochemists and biophysicists are projected to grow 6% over the same period.

Common career pathways include:

• Medical Scientist or Biomedical Researcher*
• Biochemist or Biophysicist*
• Microbiologist
• Cell Biologist or Molecular Biologist*
• Genetic Counselor*
• Laboratory Research Associate
• Clinical Research Coordinator

Senior research roles typically require graduate-level training (MS or PhD). Entry-level laboratory and coordinator positions are available at the bachelor's level.

Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals and Industry

The biotech and pharmaceutical industries are major employers of biology graduates, hiring for roles that span laboratory research, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, sales, and product development. Biology's core skills — attention to detail, data literacy, experimental design and scientific communication — translate directly into this fast-moving sector.

Common career pathways include:

• Biological Technician
• Quality Assurance Analyst or Regulatory Affairs Specialist
• Clinical Data Coordinator
• Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
• Bioinformatics Analyst*
• Product Development Scientist
• Biomedical or Research Lab Manager

Biological technicians are projected to generate approximately 9,100 job openings per year through 2034. Bioengineers and biomedical engineers — a field open to biology graduates with additional engineering coursework — are projected to grow 5% over the same period.

Some roles require additional training or graduate-level credentials. Bioinformatics typically requires coursework in statistics and computational methods.

Healthcare and Clinical Roles

Not all healthcare careers require medical school. Biology graduates enter a wide range of clinical, diagnostic and health management roles that are essential to patient care and the healthcare system. Healthcare support occupations are the fastest-growing occupational group in the U.S., projected to grow 12.4% from 2024 to 2034.

Common career pathways include:

• Registered Nurse*
• Radiation Therapist
• Respiratory Therapist
• Clinical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Technologist*
• Health Education Specialist
• Medical and Health Services Manager
• Epidemiologist*

Registered nurses are projected to generate approximately 189,100 job openings per year through 2034. Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations as a group are projected to grow 7.2% over the decade.

Some roles require additional certification, licensure or graduate study depending on the position and employer.

Environmental and Conservation Science

Biology provides the scientific grounding for environmental careers that protect ecosystems, manage natural resources and address challenges like biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution. Environmental scientists and specialists are projected to generate approximately 8,500 job openings per year through 2034, and zoologists and wildlife biologists are expected to see approximately 1,400 annual openings.

Common career pathways include:

• Environmental Scientist or Specialist
• Conservation Scientist or Wildlife Biologist
• Zoologist or Marine Biologist
• Ecologist or Field Biologist
• Environmental Health and Safety Specialist
• Natural Resource Manager
• Park Naturalist or Environmental Educator

Graduate study strengthens competitiveness for senior research and government science positions. Many entry-level field and technician roles are available at the bachelor's level.

Science Education

Biology graduates who are passionate about teaching play a vital role in preparing the next generation of scientists. Postsecondary teachers are projected to grow 7% through 2034, much faster than average, and secondary science teachers remain in consistent demand across the country.

Common career pathways include:

• High School Biology or Science Teacher*
• Community College Instructor*
• University Professor or Lecturer*
• Curriculum Developer or Instructional Designer
• Science Museum Educator or Naturalist
• Science Writer or Science Communicator
• Educational Program Coordinator

Secondary teaching requires state licensure and education coursework or certification in addition to the biology degree. Postsecondary teaching typically requires graduate-level credentials.

Preparing You for What's Next

A Biology degree from the University of Louisville builds the foundation for wherever your scientific curiosity leads. You'll graduate with hands-on laboratory experience, a rigorous understanding of living systems and the analytical skills that medical schools, graduate programs and employers consistently seek.

Whether you're entering the workforce, applying to professional school or pursuing graduate research, your biology training is a foundation that grows with you.

Career outcomes vary based on role, industry, experience, location and additional education. Career pathways listed reflect common directions pursued by graduates and are informed by national labor and education data, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (bls.gov/ooh) and Employment Projections 2024–2034.