Biology & Society

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
Care Coordinator

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