Black Intelligentsia Libraries
The New Way Of Thinking
Biologist
To a curious child, our world of plants and animals is one of unquellable mystery and intrigue.  And, to them, the human body holds just as many unanswered questions as the world that surrounds it.  If you are fascinated with the plants and animals around you, those you see on television, or the human body and if you love Science and Math, then you should consider becoming a Biologist.

Biologists are Scientists who study all different life forms (animals, plants, etc.), all living organisms, their relationship to their environment, and all important processes thereof in an effort to increase our overall knowledge and understanding of the environment, genetics, and animal and plant biology.  They often work as inspectors or in Research and Development (which usually requires a Ph.D.) and are typically employed by:  drug, chemical, and food processing companies; colleges and universities; government agencies; research centers; and publishing firms.

The duties of a Biologist include but are not limited to:  developing methods and apparatus for extracting plant, animal, aquatic, and soil samples; collecting biological data and programming and using computers to store, process, and analyze it; conducting experiments with animals and plants; studying reactions of plants and animals to parasites; developing pest management and control measures; studying structure, behavior, ecology, physiology, nutrition, culture, and distribution of plant and animal species and the environmental conditions affecting them (radioactivity, pollution, etc.); measuring salinity, acidity, light, oxygen content, and temperature of water to determine their relationship to aquatic life; increasing productivity in livestock and crops (agriculture); improving environmental conditions (cleaning polluted rivers); preserving plants and animals in their natural environment (conservation); developing new methods to diagnose, monitor, and treat disease (medicine); preventing food contamination; creating ways to safely dispose of waste (industry); studying heredity, traits, and hereditary diseases passed from one generation to another; managing wild animal populations and renewable resources; cultivating, breeding, and growing aquatic life; making new products (biofuels, drugs, etc.); conducting research and presenting results and environmental impact reports (land and water areas) to industry, government agencies, and the general public; and teaching at universities.

High school students interested in becoming a Biologist benefit from taking Biology, Anatomy, Botany, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus, Computer Applications, Health, and Statistics.  Students entering Biology Bachelor's of Science programs from high school with no previous Biology training should expect a period of four years to complete said program.  Graduates pursue either a master’s degree (one to two additional years) or a doctoral degree (two to four additional years) to work, conduct research, or teach as a Biologist.  Fields, such as Pathology and Pharmacology, require a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree plus residency. 

Specialties in biology include but are not limited to:  Microbiologists (microscopic plant and animal life, bacteria, fungi, viruses); Geneticists (develop new breeds of animals); Ecologists (relationship of plants and animals to their environment); Marine Biologists (ocean organisms); Physiologists (life functions—growth, respiration, reproduction—of plants and animals); Pharmacologists (effects of drugs, poisons, dusts, etc. on living organisms); Botanists (plants); Zoologists (animals); Nutritionists (food conversion to energy); and Immunologist (effects of diseases on plant and animal cells, tissues, and organs).

Due to advancements in biology, genetics, and biotechnology, employment of Biologists (in its purest form) is expected to grow 5% over the next decade.  But because the majority of Biology majors go on to pursue careers as Doctors, Dentists, Veterinarians, Pharmacists, Therapists, and other science-related professionals, the job outlook for Biology graduates is practically boundless. 
Job Description
Median Salary & Range
​Median Salary:  $72,700

Salary Range:  ~$36,250 - $118,600+
College Majors & Attainment Routes
​The​ normal routes to becoming a Biologist have been to major in Biology, Biological Sciences, Life Sciences, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Forensic Biology, Marine Biology, Fisheries Biology, Biomedical Science, Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, Biotechnology, Forensic Science, Pharmaceutical Science, Health Sciences, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Biomedical Engineering, and Bioinformatics. 

A bachelor's degree is qualification for teaching Biology in high school.  A master's degree qualifies one for some jobs in teaching and applied research.  A doctoral degree (Ph.D.) is required for teaching and research positions at universities or jobs as administrators.  Biology graduates often go on to become Doctors, Dentists, Veterinarians, Pharmacists, Therapists, and other medical professionals.
Colleges That Provide Above Majors
Colleges and universities that have Biology and related majors are:  Bowie State University (Bowie, Maryland); Morgan State University (Baltimore, Maryland); University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Princess Anne, Maryland); Coppin State University (Baltimore, Maryland); Jackson State University (Jackson, Mississippi); Mississippi Valley State University (Itta Bena, Mississippi); Rust College (Holly Springs, Mississippi); Tougaloo College (Jackson, Mississippi); North Carolina A&T State University (Greensboro, North Carolina); Lincoln University (Jefferson City, Missouri); Elizabeth City State University (Elizabeth City, North Carolina); Alcorn State University (Lorman, Mississippi); Harris-Stowe State University (St. Louis, Missouri); Fayetteville State University (Fayetteville, North Carolina); Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, North Carolina); North Carolina Central University (Durham, North Carolina); Saint Augustine's University (Raleigh, North Carolina); Shaw University (Raleigh, North Carolina); Winston Salem State University (Winston Salem, North Carolina); Central State University (Wilberforce, Ohio); Bennett College (Greensboro, North Carolina); Wilberforce University (Wilberforce, Ohio); Langston University (Langston, Oklahoma); Livingstone College (Salisbury, North Carolina); South Carolina State University (Orangeburg, South Carolina); Lincoln University (Lincoln University, Pennsylvania); Benedict College (Columbia, South Carolina); Claflin University (Orangeburg, South Carolina); Southern University and A&M College (Baton Rouge, Louisiana); Cheyney University (Cheyney, Pennsylvania); Alabama A&M University (Huntsville, Alabama); Tuskegee University (Tuskegee, Alabama); University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (Pine Bluff, Arkansas); Alabama State University (Montgomery, Alabama); Grambling State University (Grambling, Louisiana); Voorhees College (Denmark, South Carolina); Miles College (Fairfield, Alabama); Oakwood University (Huntsville, Alabama); Stillman College (Tuscaloosa, Alabama); Talladega College (Talladega, Alabama); Philander Smith College (Little Rock, Arkansas); University of the District of Columbia (Washington, DC); Howard University (Washington, DC); Bethune-Cookman University (Daytona Beach, Florida); Delaware State University (Dover, Delaware); Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View, Texas); Florida A&M University (Tallahassee, Florida); Florida Memorial University (Miami Gardens, Florida); Edward Waters College (Jacksonville, Florida); Albany State University (Albany, Georgia); Clark Atlanta University (Atlanta, Georgia); Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia); Paine College (Augusta, Georgia); Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia); Kentucky State University (Frankfort, Kentucky); Dillard University (New Orleans, Louisiana); Xavier University (New Orleans, Louisiana); Tennessee State University (Nashville, Tennessee); Allen University (Columbia, South Carolina); ​Fisk University (Nashville, Tennessee); Fort Valley State University (Fort Valley, Georgia); LeMoyne-Owen College (Memphis, Tennessee); Huston-Tillotson University (Austin, Texas); Jarvis Christian College (Hawkins, Texas); Texas College (Tyler, Texas); Texas Southern University (Houston, Texas); Virginia Union University (Richmond, Virginia); Wiley College (Marshall, Texas); Hampton University (Hampton, Virginia); Lane College (Jackson, Tennessee); Norfolk State University (Norfolk, Virginia); Saint Paul's College (Lawrenceville, Virginia); Virginia State University (Petersburg, Virginia); West Virginia State University (Charleston, West Virginia); and Charles R. Drew University (Los Angeles, California).
Available Scholarships