What it’s about:

Biology is the study of the structure, function, heredity, and evolution of all living things-microorganism, fungi, plants, and animals. These life forms are studied at the levels of molecule, cell, organism, and population. Through lab work and fieldwork, you acquire a basic understanding of organisms, their habitats, and the processes that govern their life activities.

What study of this major is like: 

As biology major, you’ll focus on the way organisms solve the problems they face in their environments. In addition, you’ll seek answers to the question most biology programs ask: How have ecological and hereditary factors contributed to the evolution of plants, animals, and microbes? 

Generally, biology courses are taught through a combination of lectures and coordinated labs. Some professors provide opportunities for collaborative activities and online assignments as well. In the lab, hands-on experiences include observational exercises and open-ended experiments; for both types of work, you analyze data and then write reports. 

After the intro courses, which stress the primary concepts, processes, and vocabulary of biology, you’ll examine many of the subjects in greater depth. In cell biology and physiology, for instance, you analyse the link between the structure and function of cells-how they divide and then differentiate (take on new forms and new tasks). You’ll observe cell through the microscope and do data-gathering experiments on different kinds of cells. 

In genetics, you identify the molecular and cellular aspects of heredity in animals and in plants. You may also cover topics such as human hereditary disorders and DNA technology. Labs usually require you to work independently on fruit files, molds, bacteria, and viruses. In ecology, you study the relation of plants and animals to their environment. Most likely, you’ll follow up fieldwork with data analysis based on varied computational and statistical methods. 

Courses beyond the intro level may include botany and more-specialized courses in seed plants, algae, fungi; invertebrate zoology and more-specialized classes in entomology (insects), protozoology (amoebas and other one-celled forms); and vertebrate zoology and more-specialized courses in ornithology (birds), ichthyology (fish), and so on. 

Again, as you observe the relationship between function and structure, you’ll consider how evolution has led to the diversity of the animal and plant kingdoms. In labs, you dissect fresh and preserved material, and sometimes apply culture techniques. Micro-biology concentrates on the structure, function, genetics, and ecology of bacteria and viruses. Molecular biology and biochemistry are concerned with the substances that help regulate living systems. In these and other advanced courses, you read, analyze, and discuss current biology literature and often conduct independent research. Some advanced courses offer extended fieldwork. 

The greatest challenge for biology majors is to deal with the large amount of information you must learn. Also, in most semesters you have to take two or even three lab courses. The most successful majors keep up-to-date with their assignments and learn to manage their time effectively. An upside of the workload, though, is that you often do lab projects with a partner or a small team of students, so you have the benefit of a support group and a chance to develop friendships with other majors. 

Although most biology programs cover all aspects of the field, programs may emphasize different areas of biology. For example, one department might focus on cellular and molecular biology, while another emphasizes the organism or environmental studies. Some programs feature extended field trips to unique habitats, such as rain forests, mountains, or deserts. Another difference among programs is the amount of emphasis placed on undergrad research. Requirements for the major may also very from college to college, particularly in the number of chemistry, physics, and math courses you must complete before you graduate.

Career options and trends:

Teacher*; naturalist; industrial or university researcher*; lab technician; state or federal government biologist; health care professional (physician, dentist, vet, nurse)*; health care administrator; sales/marketing representative (pharmaceutical/biotech).

You will need to go on to graduate or professional school for a career in research or medicine, or to teach at the college level. Additional education credits and certification is usually needed to teach in high school as well as.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 40 percent of all biologists work for federal, state, and local government agencies (environmental, agricultural, health), and most of the other work in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Job growth in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Job growth in the biotech field continues to be strong but is expected to slow down after rapid expansion in the biotechnology industry. Biologists with diverse knowledge and training, particularly in math and computer science, will enjoy the best prospects and demand.

Source: CollegeBoard 2012 Book of Majors