Biological Sciences
What could be more fascinating than studying living things, how they evolve, and how they interact with the world around them? Whether you’re interested in human health, the environment and sustainability, food security, or nearly any topic that affects life on this planet, you’ll find students and faculty at UB who are just as excited as you are. This major is ideal for anyone who wants a major that covers a variety of disciplines to prepare for a career in life sciences.
What will I learn?
At UB you’ll supplement time in the classroom with invaluable lab time, thanks to our "lead with the lab" approach focused on practical experience and training. After your core classes in biology, chemistry and other foundational topics, it's time to choose what to study next. Plants or animals? Genes or ecosystems? The biochemical basis of disease or the chemistry of antiviral drugs in our bodies? These are just a few of the areas that our biological sciences students have explored.
Biological Sciences BA vs. BS
- The BA is a flexible major that offers a broad-based education.
- The BS is designed for more in-depth study within specific areas.
What can I do with a biological sciences degree?
Many students choose this major because they want to be a physician, dentist, pharmacist or other type of health care practitioner—which is a pretty smart choice, since biological sciences is an excellent foundation for these areas.
But there's more—much more—you can do with this degree, including:
- Research. Get a job with a biotech or pharmaceutical company, a university or government agency (like the CDC or NIH).
- Teaching. Be a biology teacher or curriculum specialist in a secondary school, college or university.
- Other careers. Work for a museum, media company, nonprofit institution or any organization that hires grads who understand science.
Want to be a teacher?
Be prepared to teach grades 5-12 by getting your bachelor's and master's in just five years through our UB Teach program.
- Save time and money.
- No need to apply to graduate school.
- Be eligible for New York State professional teaching certification.
Visit the department website (at the top of this page) for more details, or see the UB Teach website for a list of all available majors.
By the Numbers
Check out salary ranges and career outlooks straight from the U.S. Department of Labor to see the return on investment for your degree.
| Occupation Title | Mean Annual Wage | Mean Hourly Wage | Future Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $173,500.00 | $83.41 | |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $100,440.00 | $48.29 | |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $101,940.00 | $49.01 | |
| Agricultural Technicians | $49,680.00 | $23.88 | |
| Food Science Technicians | $54,400.00 | $26.15 | Rapid Growth |
| Biological Technicians | $58,020.00 | $27.89 | |
| Forensic Science Technicians | $75,260.00 | $36.18 | Rapid Growth |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $101,340.00 | N/A | Rapid Growth |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $73,700.00 | N/A |
Data provided by the United States Department of Labor (DOL) and O*NET. DOL data from 2024.