Geometric line pattern of red, black, and yellow.
Black serif text reads "Careers in Biological Sciences."

Biological Sciences alumni have diverse career paths.

Our students are skilled, broadly trained, and have been found working in…

Three UMD students in corresponding sweaters colored in black, yellow, and red.

—laboratories, zoos, government agencies, aquariums, hospitals, schools, companies, nature, non-profits, and elsewhere. Many of our students pursue additional studies at either graduate or professional schools after earning their degree.

For illustrated career paths, explore the resources on this webpage. If you have more questions about career opportunities, connect with your academic advisor or meet a CMNS Career Advisor.

CMNS Career Services

  • Login via umd.joinhandshake.com and click Career Center on the left side of the landing page. Then, click Resources.

    LinkedIn Learning

    • Develop new skills to make you more marketable to the types of employers you are seeking out.

    PathwayU

    • Pathway U is a platform that acts as a career compass that guides you in discovering education and career pathways that fit your unique interests and values.

    GoinGlobal

    • GoinGlobal is a premier database service providing students and professionals the resources to find career opportunities domestically and internationally.

    Terrapins Connect

    • UMD Alumni Networking Database, Terrapins Connect, has discussion groups, job postings, and other networking tools to conduct informational interviews with alums. 

    Big Interview

    • Practice your virtual interviewing skills with industry-specific interview questions or popular questions that have a tendency to make an appearance during an interview.

    Mentra

    • Job search platform specially designed for neurodivergent job seekers with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurological differences. Access hundreds of jobs with one application. Attend office hours for help completing your candidate profile.

    Vault

    • Gain helpful insight on a variety of industries and career paths through guides, blogs, and videos.

    What can I do with this Major?

    • Whether you’re exploring majors or searching for information about your chosen field, What Can I Do With This Major? will help you connect majors to careers. Learn about typical career areas and types of employers that hire people with each major, as well as strategies to make you a more marketable candidate. 

    Focus2

    • Focus2 helps UMD students and alumni identify their natural strengths by taking personality and work preference self-assessments.  Register and create a free account.

    • Access code: goterps

  • This brief career assessment takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Created by a national nonprofit called American Student Assistance, the ASA Futurescape ® is a free resource intended to help students figure out their career and education plans.

    • Results for any career assessment are not prescriptive, and should be further discussed with a professional career advisor.

  • United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

    The Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is an online resource that documents hundreds of occupations across the labor spectrum.

    Each profile includes a job outlook of the occupation’s projected growth in the near future, as well as earning potential. The site also features a section on the fastest-growing occupations.

    Read more about job trends in the Biological Sciences and other majors via the University Career Center (UCC).

  • The Terrapin Teachers program allows students to complete a double major in Biological Sciences and secondary education all within four years.

    There is a high demand for STEM teachers across Maryland and throughout the nation. Loan forgiveness and scholarship programs are available for science and math teachers.

  • The Reed-Yorke Health Professions Advising Office (HPAO) uses a holistic approach to support students in their development as future healthcare professionals.

    Their mission is to prepare students for a successful application to professional school and a life-long career in the health professions.

    • All new students must watch or attend one of the HPAO workshops in order to schedule any pre-health advising session

  • Terrapins Connect is the University's virtual platform with the goal of connecting Terps from across the world with one another for mentoring, networking and professional opportunities.

    Whether you are looking to give or receive advice, Terrapins Connect provides a way to get involved. By joining the platform, you gain access to connect with thousands of fellow Terps, lively affinity and professional groups, formal and informal mentoring programs, access to career development resources and programs, and so much more.

    Setting up your account is quick and easy.

    1. Go to the Terrapins Connect homepage.

    2. Click the "Join Your Community" button.

    3. Select a signup method (ex. LinkedIn, Email, SSO)

    4. Choose your User Type (ex. "Student, Alumni, Faculty/Staff)

    5. Fill out your background info (if you use LinkedIn, your information will auto-populate!)

    You may need to wait for an admin to approve your account. If that's the case, you’ll receive an email once your account has been approved.

  • *Resources from UMD peer institutions offer valuable information.

    While most of the information can be used by any student regardless of where they are enrolled, mind that some webpages may provide contact information and resources that are only available to students at that particular institution. Special thanks to our peer institutions.

Black serif logo for the College of CMNS with a red sub-header for Biological Sciences.