Many UMBC Biological Sciences graduates continue their training in biology toward a graduate degree, either Ph.D. or M.S. Such training is appropriate for a variety of careers such as research scientist (either in an academic, government or corporate setting), government regulatory officer (at the Patent Office, National Science Foundation, or Environmental Protection Agency, for example),or college or secondary school level teacher among others.

The requirements for admission to graduate schools vary dramatically among universities. The most prestigious universities will require a combination of high GPA and significant evidence of aptitude for and involvement in scientific research as an undergraduate. Less selective programs in general will require a GPA above 3.0 and will look for evidence of a sincere interest and commitment to a science career. All graduate programs will look for a broad training in the biological sciences with an emphasis on laboratory training in addition to lecture courses.

The B.S. degree has been designed with the needs of students interested in graduate training. It is more intensive, requiring a more credits of course work in the sciences and mathematics than does the B.A. It also requires more laboratory courses, especially important for most graduate training, which will usually be research-intensive. It is true that the flexibility provided by the B.A. may be preferable for some types of post-graduate training. For example, someone interested in training at the intersection of biological and environmental sciences might benefit from combining course work in the Biological Sciences and Geography & Environmental Systems program. Someone interested in study at the intersection of biological sciences and psychology might want to combine a BIOL B.A. with a minor in Psychology.

For students who intend to continue in a field in the biological sciences, however, the B.S. degree provides the depth of study and has the flexibility to allow you to concentrate in the areas of your greatest interest.

Many BIOL students become involved in research in faculty laboratories, often leading to authoring research articles in scientific journals during their undergraduate career. The BIOL B.S. provides opportunities for intensive involvement in research of this kind. A mechanism for integrating scientific research with your BIOL B.S. degree is to enroll in BIOL 499 Undergraduate Laboratory & Field Research. Students in BIOL 499 pursue their own research project in a faculty laboratory, usually collaborating with other undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. The experience provides a "real world" view of scientific research that will provide evidence to graduate schools of your interest and aptitude for research science.

BIOL 499 can be used as one of the two Junior-level elective laboratory courses. Students who wish to do this will be required to complete at least two semesters of BIOL 499 and complete a new course, BIOL 499S Undergraduate Research Seminar. Students in the BIOL B.A. program are free to participate in BIOL 499 and BIOL 499S but cannot use that experience to fulfill their Junior-level laboratory elective.