The Biology & Society major is an interdisciplinary major that allows students to combine the study of the biological sciences with courses that explore the social and ethical aspects of modern biology. In addition to gaining a foundation in biology, students in the major acquire background in the social dimensions of modern biology and in the biological dimensions of contemporary social issues. The major is open to students in two colleges: Arts & Sciences and Agriculture and Life Sciences. The major is suitable for students seeking careers in law, medicine, public health, public policy, business, research and academia.
Sample classes
- Ethical Issues in Health and Medicine
- Introduction to the History of Medicine
- Ethics and Environment
- Plagues and People
Outcomes
All information below is based on the 2014-2018 First-Destination Post-Graduate Survey. Lists are not exhaustive; rather, they are a sampling of the data. "Other" includes time off, travel, volunteer experiences, and/or preparing for graduate school. If you would like more information, please email as_careers@cornell.edu
54% Employed
25% Attending Grad School
8% Seeking Employment
12% Other
64% of the Class of 2014-2018 Biology & Society graduates completed the survey. n = 118
Below, you will find:
- Top Employment Sectors
- Where Graduates Work
- Top Graduate Fields
- Where Graduates Study
Top Employment Sectors
- Health and Human Services (23%)
- Nonprofit Organization (23%)
- Consulting/Prof. Practice (17%)
- Education (16%)
- Government (5%)
- Biotech/Pharma/Life Sciences (3%), Communications & Media (3%), Law (3%), Manufacturing (3%), Business - Other (3%), Insurance (3%), Technology (3%)
Where 2014-2018 Biology & Society Graduates Work
| Employer | Job Titles |
|---|---|
| Act Blue | Marketing Assistant |
| Advisory Board Company | Analyst |
| Alternative Behavior Strategies | Behavioral Interventionist |
| Avalere Health | Associate |
| Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence | Institutional Giving Associate |
| Center for Disease Control & Prevention | Research Fellow |
| City of Hope National Medical Center | Research Associate |
| CityYear | Americorps Memeber Team Member |
| CityMD | Medical Scribe |
| Collective Health | Member Advocate Operations Associate |
| Columbia University Medical Center | Medical Assistant |
| Compass Professional Health Services | Associate Health Professional |
| Cornell University | Educational Outreach Assistant |
| Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | Research Data Specialist Research Asssitant |
| Deloitte Consulting | Strategy Consulting Analyst |
| Emergency Medical Associates | Clinical Information Manager |
| FCBHealth | Assistant Account Executive |
| GoButler | Operations Associate |
| Hospital for Sick Children | Research Associate |
| Hospital for Special Surgery | Research Assistant |
| Imagen Technologies | Clinical Operations Associate |
| Ipsos | Research Analyst |
| Labella Associates | Environmental Scientist |
| Massachusetts General Hospital | Clinical Research Coordinator (2) |
| Mathematica Policy Research | Program Associate |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center |
Session Assistant I |
| Mount Sinai Medical Center | Clinical Research Coordinator Clinical Research Assistant |
| Navigant Consulting | Strategic Healthcare Consultant |
| NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services | NYC Urban Fellow |
| NYU Langone Medical Center | Clinical Research Coordinator (2) |
| Northwestern University | Research Assistant |
| NYC Service | City Service Corps Member |
| Partners Healthcare | Associate Application Coordinator |
| Peace Corps | Peace Corps Volunteer |
| Putnam Associates | Associate Consultant (2) |
| Sitka Performing Arts Center | Program Coordinator |
| Student Conservation Association | Conservation Corps Member |
| Teach for America | Grade 11 Biology Teacher |
| Tisch MS Research Center of New York | Research Scholar |
| United Nations Foundation | Intern |
| University of Michigan | Research Assistant |
| University of Minnesota | Research Technician |
| Urban Health Plan, Inc. | Health Educator |
| Weill Cornell Medicine | Research Assistant Research Technician |
| Wilkie Farr & Gallagher | Conflicts Analyst |
| World Vision | Child Development & Protection Intern |
Top Graduate Fields Pursued
- Medicine (28%)
- Law (14%)
- Hosp & Health Services (10%)
- Public Health (10%)
- International Nutrition (7%)
- Nursing (7%)
- Biochemistry, Molecular & Cell Biology (3%), Biology (3%), Biomedical Engineering (3%), Epidemiology (3%), General Studies (3%), Genetic Counseling (3%), Healthcare Administration (3%)
Graduate Degrees Pursued
- MD (21%)
- MS (18%)
- JD (14%)
- MPH (14%)
- MHA (7%)
- DO (4%), MEng (4%), MGC (4%), MSN (4%), PhD (4%), Post-Bacc (4%), Certification/License (4%)
Where 2014-2018 Biology & Society Graduatess Study
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Arizona State University At The Tempe Campus
- Boston University
- Columbia University in the City of New York
- Cornell University
- Dartmouth College
- George Washington University
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Johns Hopkins University
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- New York University
- Sackler School of Medicine
- SUNY Downstate Medical College
- Tufts University
- University of Colorado at Boulder
- University of Miami
- University of North Carolina
- University of Southern California
- Vanderbilt University
- Weill Cornell Medical College
