Biology is the study of living things and it deals with everything from earliest evolution to the environmental protection of our world. It examines the physical and biological processes that affect the life and death of genes, cells, individuals, populations, species and ecosystems.
Career opportunities
While there is a significant interest the “pure science” aspects of biology, there is also a strong emphasis in the study of biological principles as they relate to practical matters in fields such as aquaculture, fisheries and wildlife forestry and agriculture in positions such as:
- Lab technician
- Park guide, ranger, or interpreter
- Museum or aquarium worker
- Research technician
- Naturalist or educator
- Scientific writer, journalist, or researcher
- Marketing manager
- Public relations professional
Work opportunities
A bachelor in biology allows you to work in a lab, the outdoors, in sales, marketing, writing and more. For example:
- Hospitals or veterinary clinics
- Conservation authorities
- Environmental consulting firms
- Pharmaceutical firms
- Agricultural organizations
- Food industry
- Bioinformatics
- Federal and provincial government agencies and departments
- Research institutes
- Universities, colleges, schools
- Non-profit organizations
- Science museums
- Zoos
- Parks
- Nature centres
- Aquarium
Chemistry provides the strong background needed to research and develop discoveries in countless real-world materials, from plastics to foodstuffs to modern materials used in housing, transportation, and computer technology.
Career opportunities
Some examples of the positions you can hold with an education in chemistry.
- Policy analyst
- Publicist
- Consultant
- Science or technical writer
- Occupational health & safety professional
- Hazardous waste manager
- Lab technician/assistant
- Crime lab analyst
- Product development manager
- Product tester
- Quality controller
- Science museum curator
- Pharmaceutical sales representative
- Pharmacy technician
Work opportunities
The chemical fields are vast and varied and expand into almost every discipline.
- Rubber industry
- Plastics industry
- Manufacturing: paint and coatings, pigments and colorants, adhesives
- Alcoholic beverage industry
- Textile industries
- Forestry companies
- Water companies
- Fireworks companies
- Agriculture
- Investment banks
- Science-related publications
- Science museums
- Federal or provincial police departments
- Pharmacies
- Military
Geology is the natural science that deals with earth, the interior make-up, and surficial features, its formative and destructive processes, its age, history and development through time. Many geologists do field work and others spend their time in laboratories, classrooms or offices.
Because of the upcoming vast amounts of retirements, it is estimated that over 50,000 positions will open up within the next ten years.
Career opportunities
Examples of some the careers you may want to consider pursuing with your geology major:
- Exploration geologist
- Mine geologist
- Hydrogeologist
- Environmental geologist
- Geophysicist
- Environmental advocate
- Policy analyst
- Science journalist
Work opportunities
Careers in geology offer opportunities in many areas of the world, often in places that few people ever get to visit. Experience this in fields such as:
- Natural resource companies
- Environmental consulting companies
- Government agencies
- Non-profit organizations
- Universities
- Oil and gas industries
- Mineral industry
- Engineering firms and organizations
- Stock and investment exchanges
- Legal firms
- Jewellery companies
- Museums
- Professional and popular science publications
Environmental biology is an interdisciplinary science because the solutions to environmental problems lie at the intersection of human behavior, technology and the biology of living organisms.
There is a growing need to understand the natural world and manage our impact on it. As result, there has been a substantial a growth in job opportunities for people with ecological/environmental biology backgrounds. Employment opportunities are predicted to grow substantially in the near future.
Career opportunities
Potential careers environmental biologist include:
- Research technician
- Park naturalist
- Outdoor educator
- Wildlife biologist
- Forester
- Environmental consultant
- Entomologist
- Water quality control technician
- Environmental planner
- Teacher
- Natural resource manager
- Field ecologist
- Researcher
- Environmental impact analyst
- Toxicologist, museum, or zoo curator
- Conservation biologist
- Fisheries biologist
Work opportunities
Examples of the fields you will find yourself in include:
- Government agencies
- Non-profit organizations
- Resource
- Schools
- Private consulting firms
- Corporations
- Law firms
- Conservation institutes
This option provides geology students who have an interest in environmental science with a background to pursue careers or graduate studies in environmentally related geoscience fields, especially in areas related to water resources, contamination and remediation.
Geochemists spend most of their time in the field, collecting data and analyzing samples on site.
Career opportunities
Examples of jobs you can attain as an environmental geochemist:
- Environmental consultant
- Environmental geologist
- Hydrogeologist
- Instructor
- Research scientist
- Geoscience technician
- Environmental remediation expert
- Mining geochemist
Work opportunities
As a geochemist, you will work in all types of fields including:
- All levels of government agencies
- Universities
- Research institutes
- Geochemical companies,
- Petroleum and mining companies
- Geology, geophysics and engineering consulting firms
- Private consultants
- Suppliers for geological and geochemical expeditions
A bachelor’s degree in mathematics is excellent preparation for diverse fields in the sciences, as well as in mathematics and statistics.
The demand for scientists, engineers and technicians is projected to increase by 36 per cent and the demand for mathematical scientists by 29 per cent. The dominant criteria for new jobs are higher skills and adaptability– in short, more education, especially in mathematics.
Mathematics option
The mathematics major degree is designed to prepare students for careers in industry, government or education. Mathematics students are urged to obtain some expertise in an area of application such as the physical sciences, computer science, engineering or business.
Statistics option
The statistics major degree is designed to prepare students for careers in industry or government as well as to provide a background for graduate study. Statistics students are urged to obtain some expertise in an area of applications such as the physical sciences, forestry, or computer science.
Career opportunities
- Computer systems analyst
- Computer programmer
- Data analyst
- Industrial designer
- Information technologist
- Researcher
- Statistician
- Risk analyst
- Actuarial analyst
- Staff systems analyst
- Consultant
- Manager/administrator
- Management consultant
- Executive
- Entrepreneur
Work opportunities
Mathematicians have an opportunity to make a lasting contribution to society in fields as diverse as:
- Management
- Manufacturing
- Marketing
- Mathematics modeling
- Pharmacology
- Physics
- Political science
- Psychology
- Public health
- Real estate
- Safety
- Securities
- Sociology
- Software development
- Sports
- Telecommunications
- Zoology
- Agriculture
- Cryptography
- Demography
- Ecology
- Economics
- Education
- Engineering firms
- Epidemiology
- Finance
- Genetics
- Government
- Health Science
- Insurance/actuarial Science
- Law
Physicists want to really understand how the world works, in every detail and at the deepest level. Physicists study questions facing today’s science and technology and are at the forefront of solutions for instrumentation, measurement techniques, and model development in many areas.
Several recent national surveys have indicated that there is a shortage of physicists in almost all parts of Canada. This situation will become even more acute in the next decade and thus physicists will be great in demand.
Career opportunities
Physics graduates are highly sought after employees. Examples of the careers you may want to consider pursuing with your major:
- Laboratory technician
- Research technician
- Field researcher
- Production assistant
- Technical writer
- Operations management
- Photographer
- Sales representative for technical products
- Educational television producer
- Laser technician
- Instrument technician
Work opportunities
Physics graduates can find employment in a wide range of areas, including:
- Astronomy
- Meteorology
- Marine science
- Biophysics
- Geophysics
- Product development
- Consulting
- Sales and marketing
- Research and development
- Teaching
- Computing
- Education
- Finance
- Journalism
- Health sciences
- Management and administration
- Industrial science
Areas of research range widely and include human sexuality, depression, feminist perspectives, autism, women's studies, problem gambling, gender and laterality, pain assessment and management, infant and adolescent development, cultural psychology, self-concept and identity, bilingualism and cognitive neuroscience. It should be noted that some areas pertain to experimental and applied psychology and others to clinical psychology.
Career opportunities
A major does not dictate your career; it provides you with invaluable skills and knowledge that you can apply to many areas of life and work. Examples of the careers you may want to consider pursuing with your major:
- Human services worker
- Youth home manager
- Advertising executive (media, planners, and buyer)
- Mental health assistant
- Psychometrist
- Social worker
- University professor
- Mental health counsellor
- Psychologist
- Forensics specialist
Work opportunities
With a degree in psychology, you may find yourself in fields such as:
- Mental health organizations
- Group homes
- Research institutions
- Non-Profit organizations
- Public relations firms
- Hospitals
