Evolutionary Biology Graduate Programs

Evolutionary Biology Graduate Programs and Curriculum

Students in evolutionary biology graduate programs engage in an intensive program of didactic and seminar-style courses and faculty-supervised research. They are commonly required to complete a comprehensive exam and to work with a supervisor or committee to write and defend a thesis at the end of their programs.

Master’s degrees in evolutionary biology typically take two to three years to complete. Students with an MS in evolutionary biology may enter the workforce or into a PhD program. Some evolutionary biologists who have earned their master’s degree may continue their education in an MD program.

Evolutionary biology graduate curriculums vary according to the schools program. However, there are certain topics offered at most programs. Those subjects include:

• Theory, fundamentals, and principles
• Ecology (behavioral, community, and others)
• Population genetics
• Systematics
• Evolutionary physiology
• Systematics
• Biodiversity

Students can also select a discipline on which to focus their elective studies. Some of these areas include:

• Herpetology
• Ornithology
• Terrestrial arthropods
• Evolutionary developmental biology
• Plant ecology and evolution
• Evolutionary genomics
• Vertebrate paleontology
• Molecular evolution
• Morphology
• Animal behavior

The field and study of evolutionary biology is incredibly diverse. If it’s a biological entity and has participated in the process of evolution, it can be studied by an evolutionary biologist.

Evolutionary BiologyCareer Paths

Individuals who have earned a graduate degree in evolutionary biology may enjoy a variety of career options. Some pursue work in the fields of academia and research. Others work as managers in evolutionary biology-oriented fields. Still others choose to continue their education and earn a degree in medicine or pursue their M.D. or Ph.D. Students who earn their M.D may work as doctors or medical researchers. Evolutionary biologists who earn their Ph.D. could pursue careers as professors or academic researchers. Evolutionary biologists may also work as managers or supervisors in industries connected to evolutionary biology. Graduates may also pursue careers as anthropologists, sociologists, or psychologists.

Evolutionary Biology Salary andJob Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2010 Medical doctors earned a median income of $166,400, medical researchers, or medical scientists, earned a median income of $76,700, post-secondary educators, or professors, earned a median income of $62,600, managers earned a median income of $84,270, anthropologists earned a median income of $54,230, sociologists earned a median income of $72,360, and psychologists earned a median income of $68,640.

The professions mentioned above are expected to grow at an average or above average rate between 2010 and 2020. The employment of medical and health services managers is expected to grow by 22%; jobs for post-secondary teachers and researchers are expected to grow by 17%; the employment of medical doctors and surgeons is expected to grow by 24%; jobs for medical scientists are expected to grow by 36%; the employment of anthropologists is expected to grow by 21%; the employment of sociologists is expected to grow by 18%; and the employment of psychologists is expected to grow by 22%.

The chart below indicates the median salaries earned by researchers, doctors, post-secondary educators, managers, anthropologists, sociologists, and psychologists:

Data according to

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physicians-and-surgeons.htm

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Management/Medical-and-health-services-managers.htm

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Life-Physical-and-Social-Science/Psychologists.htm

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Education-Training-and-Library/Postsecondary-teachers.htm

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/medical-scientists.htm

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/anthropologists-and-archeologists.htm

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/sociologists.htm