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Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in biological sciences. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Other titles employers use
Anatomy Instructor · Assistant Professor · Associate Professor · Biological Sciences Professor · Biology Instructor · Biology Professor · Instructor · Lecturer
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as molecular biology, marine biology, and botany.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
- Prepare materials for laboratory activities and course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Supervise students' laboratory work.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, analytical and practical work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Speaking
- Learning Strategies
- Instructing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
Subjects to know
- Biology
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Education and Training
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Speech Clarity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.9 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 3.0 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.9 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.3 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a doctorate or a professional degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A doctorate or professional degree 87%
- A master's degree 12%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Analytical or scientific software
- Word processing software
- Electronic mail software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Operating system software
- Computer based training software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 5,570
- Job openings each year
- 100
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 21.1%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 5,570 | 100 | 21.1% |
| California | 5,100 | 430 | 10.9% |
| Texas | 4,670 | 400 | 14.7% |
| Florida | 4,560 | 400 | 17.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 2,740 | 220 | 7.0% |
| Virginia | 2,690 | 220 | 8.0% |
| New Jersey | 2,270 | 190 | 12.9% |
| Illinois | 1,990 | 160 | 5.9% |
| Alabama | 1,840 | 160 | 12.2% |
| North Carolina | 1,810 | 160 | 16.0% |
| Michigan | 1,600 | 130 | 8.1% |
| Tennessee | 1,600 | 140 | 24.0% |
| Maryland | 1,470 | 130 | 18.5% |
| Ohio | 1,440 | 120 | 6.7% |
| Wisconsin | 1,330 | 110 | 12.7% |
| Massachusetts | 1,320 | 120 | 17.9% |
| Missouri | 1,230 | 100 | 7.9% |
| Connecticut | 1,180 | 100 | 15.7% |
| Colorado | 1,170 | 110 | 24.5% |
| Indiana | 1,130 | 90 | 10.8% |
| Washington | 1,050 | 100 | 12.9% |
| Georgia | 950 | 80 | 13.1% |
| Arizona | 890 | 80 | 11.3% |
| Iowa | 810 | 70 | 15.7% |
| Utah | 760 | 70 | 28.8% |
| South Carolina | 730 | 60 | 17.7% |
| Mississippi | 620 | 50 | 12.7% |
| Nebraska | 620 | 50 | 3.3% |
| Minnesota | 610 | 50 | 7.0% |
| Oklahoma | 500 | 40 | 4.2% |
| Oregon | 480 | 40 | 11.6% |
| Kansas | 460 | 40 | 9.5% |
| Kentucky | 460 | 40 | 9.5% |
| Arkansas | 450 | 40 | 7.1% |
| District of Columbia | 390 | 30 | 11.4% |
| Puerto Rico | 340 | 30 | 17.2% |
| Maine | 310 | 30 | 3.3% |
| Louisiana | 280 | 20 | 12.0% |
| Idaho | 260 | 20 | 18.2% |
| New Hampshire | 250 | 20 | 8.7% |
| Nevada | 220 | 20 | 10.0% |
| Delaware | 210 | 20 | 16.7% |
| Montana | 210 | 20 | 10.5% |
| West Virginia | 210 | 20 | 5.0% |
| Rhode Island | 190 | 20 | 11.8% |
| New Mexico | 180 | 20 | 12.5% |
| South Dakota | 160 | 10 | 6.7% |
| Vermont | 150 | 10 | 7.1% |
| Wyoming | 140 | 10 | 16.7% |
| North Dakota | 100 | 10 | — |
| Alaska | 80 | 10 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
University of California-Los Angeles
- Degrees each year
- 1,666
- Admit rate
- 9%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of California-San Diego
- Degrees each year
- 1,650
- Admit rate
- 25%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of Colorado Boulder
- Degrees each year
- 920
- Admit rate
- 83%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
University of California-Davis
- Degrees each year
- 1,619
- Admit rate
- 42%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
Brigham Young University
- Degrees each year
- 1,040
- Admit rate
- 69%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
- Degrees each year
- 1,277
- Admit rate
- 43%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
- Degrees each year
- 1,014
- Admit rate
- 77%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Michigan State University
- Degrees each year
- 1,333
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Compare every college offering physiology, pathology and related sciences