The University of Vermont has a sterling reputation among medical schools, graduate schools, and private industry (in part because our graduates hold many executive positions in these organizations). This strong reputation makes our graduates welcome additions to professional organizations, and our seniors by graduation day typically have one to several offers of employment or admission to graduate or medical schools.

The Biology major is one of the most general courses of study at the university. To complete the major our students take courses in humanities, the physical sciences, mathematics, and every specialty in life science. This broad background prepares Biology majors for a great range of careers. Our graduates over the past decade have pursued careers in medicine (as physicians and a diversity of other health care fields), dentistry, biomedical and environmental research, pharmaceutical production and quality control, government service, law, finance, wildlife conservation and rehabilitation, zoo management, veterinary practice, public health, and business.

Because biology is such an enormous discipline, the department offers several academic tracks that help students in organizing their choice of courses and finding internships, apprenticeships, and research sponsors. Faculty advisors help students select a track, and to shape their entire academic program. These tracks are: Environmental Biology, Forensics, Molecular Biology, Neurobiology, and Preprofessional (human and animal medicine and dentistry). Students who wish to remain very generalized in their academics, may choose the General Biology track.

One example of the tracks available to Biology majors is our new track in Forensic Biology. The new concentration for Biology majors is in the fast growing discipline of Forensic Biology. This concentration will fill an important niche that is in high demand, as evidenced by the increasing number of inquiries we receive from prospective students. The concentration will give the student a strong background in the theory and experimental techniques that are required for a position as a biological analyst in a crime laboratory. The concentration will prepare the student for admission to a master’s degree program in forensic science by fulfilling common pre-requirements of many advanced degree programs. Students that pursue this concentration will find employment opportunities in state, local and county crime laboratories and federal forensic laboratories (e.g., FBI, Armed Forces).

So, what will you do with the Environmental Sciences degree after you graduate? You can choose among many options, but you will be best prepared if, with your advisor, you shape your upper class work with your career goals in mind. For example, you could enter technical jobs in industry, government, or academia, including state or national laboratories (EPA) or university research projects. Other options include science writing for newspapers or agencies. You may find graduate training at the Ph.D. level appealing if you would like to do research and teach in a university or four year college setting. A graduate M.S. degree may be what you need to enter government service, such as National Park Service or Forest Service, technical work for industry or the state or federal governments, or to teach at the high school or community college levels.