Key Features of a Biology Major. Career Options and Salaries with a Biology Major

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1 Biology 2227 Biology-Psychology Building (301) Key Features of a Biology Major Partnerships with a number of government institutions, including the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, the Smithsonian Institution, and the National Fish and Wildlife Service Numerous opportunities to participate in research with faculty members, gaining valuable experience for careers and graduate school Training and experience in fields that directly impact everyone s lives and the planet on which we live Emphasis upon interdisciplinary education, allowing for extraordinary depth and breadth of experience Career Options and Salaries with a Biology Major Simply put, biologists study living organisms and their relationship to the environment. Their research provides greater understanding of life processes and applies that knowledge to develop new products, solve health problems, and improve the environment. While many Biology majors pursue the health professions (medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy), others focus upon a particular organism or activity. For example, you may wish to become a zoologist and study animals or wildlife creatures. Botanists study plants, while Microbiologists examine the smallest organisms that make up life (bacteria, algae, fungi). Biochemists conduct research into the chemical makeup of organisms. Ecologists study the ways in which organisms interact with one another and with their environment. Biology majors may also use their knowledge to design prostheses (Bioengineering) or to study the impact of biology upon historical events and populations (Science Historians). Salaries vary widely for the different biology specialties. Median salaries as of May 2010: Zoologists $57,430 Microbiologists $65,920 Biochemists $79,390 For the Federal Government in May 2010, the average salary of a microbiologist was $94,960; for an ecologist, $71,100; for a botanist, $72,792; for a physiologist, $109,323; and for a geneticist, $99,752. *All career and salary information taken from Occupational Outlook Handbook, (

2 Advising If you are considering a Biology major, you can easily meet with a peer advisor in the Biological Sciences Department to answer any questions you may have. These advisors are undergraduate students with majors in the College of Chemical and Life Sciences. They will assist you with general questions, scheduling, creating a four-year plan, and questions about course content Symons Hall (301) peermentorsumd@gmail.edu Walk-in hours are 10 a.m. 4 p.m.; no appointment is necessary. Declaring a Biology Major Beginning in Fall 2010, all majors within the College of Computer, Mathematical, & Natural Sciences including Biology are Limited Enrollment Programs (LEP). Students beyond their first semester at the University of Maryland will now have to fulfill a series of Gateway requirements in order to declare a Biology major. The Gateways are as follows: 1) Completion of Fundamental Studies English 2) Completion of MATH 130 and 131 (or 140 and 141) with a minimum grade of 2.0 3) Completion of BSCI 105 and 106 with a minimum grade of 2.0 4) Completion of CHEM 131/132 and CHEM 231/232 (or CHEM 146/147 and CHEM 237) with a minimum grade of 2.0 5) A minimum grade point average of 2.7 in all courses taken at the University of Maryland and all other institutions is required for internal and external transfer students. If you have AP or IB credits, the following guidelines will apply: AP/IB placement out of BSCI 105 only students must complete BSCI 106 and BSCI 207 as part of gateway review AP/IB placement out of BSCI 105 and 106 students must complete BSCI 207 only as a part of gateway review. In order to formally declare a Biology major, you must: Fulfill the requirements on Contact LEP coordinator (Admissions) at lep@umd.edu. Include in the 1) Your wish to apply to CLFS 2) The specialization you re interested in (CEBG, ECEV, GENB, MICB, PHNB, BIVS, BCHM, CHEM, ENSP-Biodiversity & Conservation) 3) Your name 4) UID 5) Date of Birth If you have any questions, please contact the LEP coordinator (Admissions).

3 Four-Year Plan General Biology (General Education) First Year: ENGL 101 (AW) 3 BSCI 105 (NS) 4 BSCI 106 (NS) 4 CHEM CHEM CHEM CHEM MATH MATH OC 3 UNIV credits Second Year: BSCI BSCI CHEM CHEM CHEM CHEM HU 3 HU 3 HS 3 HS 3 UP 3 14 credits Third Year: PHYS PHYS BCHM 463* 3 Advanced Program Courses 6-8 Advanced Program Course 3-4 PW 3 Elective credits credits Fourth Year: BIOM Advanced Program Courses 6-8 Advanced Program Course/s 3-5 SP 3 UP/CC 3 Elective 3 Elective 3 Elective 3 Elective credits credits Total = 120 credits *Or other approved quantitative/statistical course

4 Four Year Plan General Biology (CORE) First Year BSCI BSCI CHEM CHEM CHEM CHEM MATH MATH ENGL HL 3 UNIV credits Second Year BSCI BSCI CHEM CHEM CHEM CHEM HA 3 HO 3 SB 3 SB 3 SH 3 14 credits Third Year PHYS PHYS BCHM 463 or Adv. Prog. Courses 6-8 Adv. Prog. Courses 3-4 ENGL 39x 3 Elective credits credits Fourth Year BIOM 301* 3 Adv. Prog. Courses 6-8 Adv. Prog. Course/s 3-5 Advanced Studies 3 Advanced Studies 3 Electives 5-6 Electives credits 14- TOTAL = 123 credits *Or other approved quantitative/statistical course

5 Q & A Is General Biology the only major available within the Biological Sciences Major? No. You may narrow your interest via four specialties: 1) Cell Biology & Genetics -- CEBG allows students to focus their studies on the molecular and cellular processes that support all life. 2) Ecology & Evolution -- ECEV brings students to the study of organisms interacting with their environment in more complex biological systems. 3) Microbiology -- Microbiology is the study of microorganisms including their distribution and role in the environment, their relationship to other living organisms in health and disease, and their use in biotechnology. An understanding of the basic nature and molecular structure of microbes has contributed to the advancement of modern molecular biology. 4) Physiology & Neurobiology -- PHNB provides a foundation in the molecular and cellular processes of life, but allows students to study how these processes are organized into systems in whole organisms. There is also an Individualized Studies option which combines Biological Sciences with interdisciplinary studies. Working with an advisor, you may incorporate classes from a variety of fields such as mathematics, physics, linguistics, or psychology with the requirements for a Biology degree. This option requires careful planning and approval from the Associate Director of Undergraduate Academic Programs. I ve heard there s a new math requirement for Biology. I ve already taken MATH 220. Will that be accepted for the Biology major? It depends upon when you took MATH 220. If you took the course prior to Fall 2009, then it will be accepted for the major. If you took the class after Fall 2009, you will have to take MATH (Calculus for the Life Sciences I and II) and lose the credits for 220. (You cannot get credit for both MATH 130 and 220.) In order to register for either MATH 130 or 131, you will need to get an electronic stamp from the Biological Sciences Department. Your Letters and Sciences advisor can assist you with this. Is there a minor in Biology? At this time, there is no minor in Biology. However, there is a minor in Neuroscience offered jointly with the Department of Psychology. For more information on this program, please see How can I get information on jobs and internships within the Biological Sciences? The College of Chemical and Life Sciences website contains a wealth of information regarding job and internship opportunities. Some of these involve on-campus research, working with a faculty member on his or her own research project. You might also look for opportunities off-campus, with one of the various government agencies in Washington, D.C. Some internships may count towards your graduation credits; others simply offer valuable field experience. For information on these opportunities and many others, see the Research and Internships portion of the CLFS website: