Explore
FSU students have designed a variety of blueprints to design their careers when engaging in the Biological Sciences major. There are some commonalities with career design blueprints, which are the foundation building blocks of Self-Knowledge and Options Knowledge. Whether you are just beginning to design your career or updating your design, the information, tools, and materials below will provide you with a solid foundation to design your career.
Self-Knowledge
To help you explore, here are interests, values, and skills commonly associated with common career fields related to Biological Sciences. This list is not exhaustive yet gives you a starting point for your Career Design.
Interests
Investigative
Realistic
Social
Values
Key Transferrable Skills
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Research & Innovation
Active Learning
Instructing
Reading Comprehension
Key Technical Skills
Analytical Software
Medical Software
Spreadsheets
Documentation & Recording
Mathematics
Data Analysis
Learn More about You
The Career Center provides assessments that can help you explore and identify your interests, values, and skills. Utilize the Computer Assisted Career Guidance Systems and virtual values activity to see how your interest, values, and skills match those that are closely correlated with this major and compare occupation options that develop from your assessment results to those found in this blueprint.
Options Knowledge
General Information and Resources
Access valid and reliable occupation information through the resources below and compare the occupations you explore to your self-knowledge.
Sample Occupations
Agronomist/Agriculturalist, Bacteriologist, Behavioral Neuroscientist, Biochemist, Bioengineer, Biologist, Biomedical Engineer, Biophysicist, Botanist, Clinical Neuroscientist, Cognitive Neuroscientist, Coroner, Cytotechnologist, Dental Hygienist, Dentist, Developmental Neuroscientist, Electroneurodiagnostic Technician, Entomologist, Environmental Analyst, Environmental Attorney, Environmental Ecologist, Epidemiologist, Food Scientist, Forester, General Practitioner, Genetic Counselor, Geneticist, Histologist, Horticulturist, Laboratory Technician, Limnologist, Marine Biologist, Medical Examiner, Medical Illustrator, Microbiologist, Mycologist, Neuroanatomist, Neurobiologist, Neurochemist, Neurological Surgeon, Neurologist, Neuropathologist, Neuropharmacologist, Neurophysiologist, Nurse, Oceanographer, Ornithologist, Pathologist, Parasitologist, Pharmacist, Pharmacologist, Physical Therapist, Physician’s Assistant, Physiological Psychologist, Physiologist, Psychiatrist, Psychobiologist, Psychophysicist, Soil Conservationist, Sports Nutritionist, Surgeon, Teacher, Toxicologist, Veterinarian, Zoologist
Salary Range Based on Sample Occupations
Introductory Range: $32,430 - $58,870
Mid-Career Range: $45,980 - $100,730
Experienced Range: $89,800 - $208,000+
Additional salary information:
FSU Graduating Senior Survey Dashboard
Board of Governors Dashboard
Explore the FSU Community to Find Opportunities that Match You
Explore the FSU Community to Find Opportunities that Match You
Connect with The Career Center
Drop-in to Career Advising with the Career Center and meet with a Career Advisor to explore and build your Individual Action Plan.
Drop-in Career Advising Options
Connect with your Career Liaison who specializes in supporting students in this major and related industries.
Sample Registered Student Organizations
Connecting Experimental Lab and Life Sciences, Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society, Sustainable Campus, Plant Club at FSU, Pre-Medical American Medical Student Association, Florida-Georgia Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, Gift of Life at FSU, American Society for Microbiology, SiSTEM Society, AAA Health, Health Occupations Students of America, Fundamentals of Observational Research and Career Experience, Strategies for Ecology Education Diversity and Sustainability, American Medical Student Association, FSUCOM Chapter, Alpha Epsilon Delta, Undergraduate American Medical Women’s Association, Dental and Medical Services of Leon County, Black Women in Medicine, Black Men in Medicine, Health Occupations Students of America, Pre-Optometry Club, Pre Dental Society at FSU, Pre-Pharmacy Informational Leadership and Learning Society, Pre-Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy at FSU, Pre-Physician Assistant Club of FSU, Pre-Veterinary Club at FSU
Explore NoleCentral for Additional Options
Research Graduate and Professional School Options
Depending on your long-term goals, graduate school might be part of you career design. Utilize these resources using the keyword "Biological Sciences" to research your options.
Career Cornerstone Petersons US News & World Report Grad Schools.com Study.com
Career, Internship and Graduate School Fairs
Each year the Career Center hosts career, internship and graduate school fairs to help students connect with employers. These events and more can be found in NoleNetwork, the centralized job board and connection to career events and opportunities at FSU.
Engage
Engage with the people and opportunities to learn more about yourself and career options. Career Advisors, Career Liaisons, Alumni, ProfessioNole Mentors, employers and other people you meet through involvement on and off campus will help you refine your career design.
After finding a Registered Student Organization to engage with, engage with Career Center and FSU Campus events and Programs to help you connect and build your network while also developing ProfessioNole Competencies.
Career Center Events and Programs
Connect with professionals and FSU Alumni who are in careers that you want to learn more about or tryout a career to see how it matches your interest, values, and skills.
FSU Events and Programs
Division of Student Affairs Programs
At FSU there is a program for everyone. Engage with one of the many programs that will help you develop, academically, personally, socially, and help you design your career.
Build Your Skills and Earn Badges
Earn badges and develop your ProfessioNole Competencies. From Financial Success options to learning how to build an App, there is a badging pathway for you. Pathways allow you to enhance your skills while working autonomously and alongside your peers, industry experts, and other ProfessioNoles. While you are earning badges, be sure to engage in ProfessioNole Ready so you are prepared to seek new experiences that will help you in your career design.
Prepare to Connect
As you design your career, the Career Center can help you prepare to connect with employers and graduate and professional school programs through services, programs, and events.
Services
Programs
Events
Build Your Network
FSU is here to help you build your network. However, you can also get engaged with opportunities and groups outside of the FSU community by getting involved with professional associations and engaging in or following groups on LinkedIn.
Engage in Professional Organizations
American Association of the Advancement of Science
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
The American Society for Cell Biology
American Society for Microbiology
American Academy of Family Physicians
Association of American Medical Colleges
American Association of Zoo Keepers
American Society of Mammalogists
Engage in LinkedIn Groups
To search for LinkedIn Groups you can use the names of the associations above in the linked in search box and set your filter to groups or companies. You can then generate a list of LinkedIn Groups to explore and join or connect. Additionally, try some of the following keywords:
Biology Biological Sciences Research Medicine Conservation Sustainability Physicians
Experience
Experiences like internships, leadership, research, creative works and global engagement, also known as experiential learning or formative experience, are a key part of determining your interests, values, and skills and developing competencies for career success. Experiential learning provides the opportunity to apply the knowledge you have gained in the classroom to a real-world experience while enhancing your transferrable and industry specific skills. By engaging in these types of experiences, you can “try on” the various work environments within your aspirational career field.
Experience Essentials
Many FSU Students engage in experiences throughout the year, however it is important to know when application deadlines occur and that majority of employer recruit heavily in the Fall semester to hire interns for the upcoming summer. Below are some sample of possible experiences related to this major.
Types of Experiences
Internships
National Institutes of Health, Training Programs, Summer Internship Program in BioMedical Research
FSU Dept of Biological Science Undergraduate Research Opportunities
FSU Robert K Godfrey Herbarium
Shadowing Resource, Tallahassee Magazine Medical Services Directory
Research
FSU Department of Biology website
FSU Department of Biological Science Research and Support Facilities
National Science Foundation REU Database
FSU Department of Biological Science Greenhouse Facilities
Association of American Medical Colleges Summer Undergraduate Research Programs List
Virginia Tech Fralin Biomedical Research Institute - neuroSURF
Find Experiences
FSU provides or connects students with experiences every day. For internships, the Career Center's NoleNetwork connects students to internship opportunities on campus, across the country, and even globally. The Career Center's "Gain Experience" webpage also connects you with opportunities and other FSU departments. Other departments and programs on campus can also help connect with an experience that matches your career design.
Experiences Through FSU
Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement
The Center for Global Engagement
The Center for Leadership and Social Change
Sample Employers
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection
- Harris Corporation
- ScribeAmerica
- Capital Regional Medical
- Center
- DaVita
- Duval County Public Schools
- Florida State University
- SeaWorld
- The Student Conservation
- Association
Sample Work Settings
- Educational Institutions
- Environmental Consulting Firms
- Fisheries
- Pharmaceutical Firms/Co.
- Public Health Departments
- Research Organizations
- State & National Parks
- Wildlife Preserves & Zoological/Botanical Gardens
Earn Recognition for Your Experience
Get recognized for your experiences. Whether it is one experience or a combination of various types of experiences that you engage in and complete during your time at FSU, there is a recognition program for you. Checkout the Experience Recognition Program options through the FSU Career Center and the Garnet and Gold Scholar Society, which is the highest experience recognition and honor offered at FSU.
Construct Your Blueprint
Now that you have the tools and basic concepts to being building your career. Start designing your custom blueprint.
Individual Learning Plan
As you design your career and build your blueprint create overarching goals with smaller smart goals that create the building blocks of your blueprint. Revisit and revise your plan as you meet your goals. If you get stuck, visit the FSU Career Center.
