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Outcomes and Careers

You'll be prepared for anything

You'll Be Prepared for Anything

Biology majors are among the most general courses of study in the university. To complete a major in biology, zoology, or environmental science, students take courses in humanities, the physical sciences, mathematics and every specialty in life science. This broad background prepares our majors for a great range of careers. What can you do with a biology, zoology, or environmental science major? We answer: What can't you do? Our graduates over the past decades have pursued careers in medicine (as physicians and a diversity of other health care fields), dentistry, veterinary medicine, biochemical and environmental research, pharmaceutical production and quality control, governmental service, law, journalism, governmental service, finance, wildlife conservation and rehabilitation, teaching, zoo management, public health, and business.

Hands-on Experience: The Key to Starting a Successful Career

Our majors are strongly encouraged to take our available courses called Research Apprenticeship (BIOL 191/192), Internship (BIOL 193/194), or Undergraduate Research (BIOL 197/198 or 297/298). Students in the Honors College also complete a senior honors project in their chosen special interests (HON 208/209). These opportunities allow students to work with researchers in laboratories across the campus, the field, or off-campus organizations. Many professional and graduate schools require such experience for admission. Our research students publish their results in the finest international journals, and present posters and talks at national meetings.

Early Acceptance Tufts Veterinary Medicine Program

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All of the majors offered by the biology department prepare students for entry into the finest schools of veterinary medicine. Each major provides a strong general education, and is flexible enough for students to pursue specialty courses suitable for pre-veterinary students. This is especially true for the zoology major, which was designed to offer the basic science courses along with a high degree of flexibility in choice of advanced courses.

The has an agreement with ¶¶Òõ̽̽ for our majors to apply for admission in the spring of the student’s sophomore year. Successful applicants are then offered admission with a guarantee of a slot in the Tuft’s entering class once the student graduates.  Tuft’s is one of the finest veterinary schools in the world, and is especially appropriate for students interested in wildlife or zoo medicine.

The agreement allows students a streamlined admission procedure that saves the time and expense that is typical for applying to schools of veterinary medicine, and insures the student by the end of sophomore year that there is a reserved seat waiting at Tufts.

Requirements and Applying

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  • Students must be sophomores pursuing the bachelors degree in one of our majors
  • The student must keep at least a 3.4 GPA throughout the four years here at ¶¶Òõ̽̽
  • Pre-requisite courses must be completed and a degree awarded from ¶¶Òõ̽̽
  • Students must have completed a series of science courses to apply; these courses are exactly those required of majors in the biology department in the first three semesters of our programs
  • By graduation, students must complete a series of courses listed on the Tufts website which also match those required of our Biology, Biological Science, and Zoology majors
  • Students apply by March 1 of the sophomore year. 
  • No GRE exam is required; the SAT exam results will be used instead
  • Top applicants will visit the Tufts campus for an interview in April, and offers of admission are given by May 1

Preparing to Apply

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Students should pursue one of the Biology Department majors (especially Zoology and Biological Science), finishing 3 semesters of Biology, 3 semesters of Chemistry, and 2 semesters of Mathematics by the end of the third semester.  Experience working with animals, such as in a veterinary clinic, is highly recommended. Students should also become involved in research in the laboratory or field (BIOL 191/192, Research Apprenticeship) to demonstrate hands-on skills.

Find out more about .

After ¶¶Òõ̽̽

Meg Sodano
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Before becoming a natural science illustrator, Meg Sodano '01 spent her undergraduate years focused on pre-veterinary studies at ¶¶Òõ̽̽. Years later, seeking a way to weave biology into her artistic roots, she received illustration training and a certificate in natural science illustration at Rhode Island School of Design. Now she spends her time drawing animals and their environments. â€œI am reminded daily that I couldn’t be the illustrator I am now had I not first learned how the process of science. I cannot imagine a more rewarding way to make my contribution to science.â€

Lucas Bernacki
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Dr. Bernacki works as an assistant professor of biology at St. Joseph’s College in Maine, where he was awarded the 2015 Excellence in Teaching Award. Lucas Bernacki’s research interests are primarily in molecular ecology, and his research has focused on conservation genetics for the purpose of managing populations of both threatened species as well as game species. “The training I received and experiences I had at ¶¶Òõ̽̽ have certainly contributed to my early successes in gaining employment and being recognized for my teaching.â€

Marion Weir
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After graduating in 2016, Marion Weir landed in Boston, MA and started a position as a Product Scientist at Cell Signaling Technology. "I work in Production making new lots of the antibodies, testing material and development samples, as well as working with customers that are having issues with our products. The work that I did in the biology department at ¶¶Òõ̽̽ aided in not only the skills needed for the position at Cell Signaling Technology, but my degree also helped get me the job!"

Carly Brown
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After graduation, Carly Brown worked for the Northwest Service Academy AmeriCorps program and as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya. Afterwards, she returned to ¶¶Òõ̽̽ to earn an M.S. in the university’s field naturalist program. Selected from a pool of more than 180 applicants, Brown was named as a Knowles Science Teaching Foundation Fellow in 2014. She now teaches at Harwood High School in Moretown, VT. “As a grad student, I had the opportunity to facilitate several undergraduate lab courses...which is what encouraged me to get my teaching certificate."

More Alumni Careers
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  • Professor Colaborador, Institute of Biosciences - UFMT, Cuiaba, Mata Grosso, Brazil
  • Post Doc Associate, University of Massachusetts Medical School
  • GIS Analyst, Molecular Biologist, Field Scientist, NY City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  • Senior Data Scientist at Apple Computer
  • Emergency Medicine physician
  • Animal hospital owner
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Career Success

The biology department has a strong reputation with medical, dental, and veterinary schools, as well as private industry. By graduation, our seniors typically receive multiple offers for jobs or postgraduate education.

Explore ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Career Center