What can you do with a Human Biology degree from University of California, Merced?

First, some facts. Of the Human Biology graduates from University of California, Merced we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 16 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 84%, Human Biology graduates from University of California, Merced have a much higher likelihood (+17%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 84%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 50% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Human Biology graduate.

See the details:

View a random Human Biology graduate from University of California, Merced and our analysis:


Relevance score: 57%

We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2020 from University of California, Merced with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Human Biology. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Outreach Specialist
California Farmworkers Foundation
Sep 2020 - Apr 2021
The role of Outreach Specialist may involve some understanding of human biology related to health outreach, but it does not primarily require in-depth knowledge or skills from the Human Biology degree.

Medical Scribe
ScribeAmerica
Feb 2021 - Oct 2022
As a Medical Scribe, this job directly involves medical documentation and understanding of biological concepts, making it highly relevant to the Human Biology degree.

Swing Shift Lead
CAMBRIDGE ACADEMIES
Mar 2021 - Dec 2022
The position of Swing Shift Lead involves managing staff and operations, which doesn't utilize specific skills or knowledge from Human Biology.

Case Manger
CAMBRIDGE ACADEMIES
Sep 2021 - May 2023
The Case Manager role may indirectly relate to human biology through understanding of health-related needs, but it is not fundamentally centered around the core skillset of the degree.

Nursing Student
CPMC Davies Campus
May 2023 - Aug 2023
Being a Nursing Student requires extensive knowledge from the Human Biology degree and directly applies biological concepts in clinical settings.

Nursing Student
John Muir Health
Aug 2023 - Dec 2023
This Nursing Student position also demands the application of human biology knowledge in healthcare, making it directly relevant to the degree.

Nursing Student
CPMC Davies Campus
Jan 2024 - Present
As another Nursing Student, this role utilizes knowledge and skills from the Human Biology degree in a healthcare context, reinforcing its relevance.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master Entry - Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
University of San Francisco
2023 - 2025
ABOUT

It has always been my dream to contribute and give back to my community and other communities. As a registered nurse (RN), I will acquire the skills and knowledge needed to treat and care for patients in an efficient and compassionate manner. I am a graduate student and aspiring clinical nurse leader from the Masters of Science in Nursing program from University of San Francisco, School of Nursing and Health Professions. Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology from UC Merced. My goal is to obtain a job as a registered nurse at a facility that provides medical treatment to under served communities and populations surrounding it. The communities are mainly composed of undocumented, immigrant, mixed status families, farm workers and the homeless population. I am passionate about working with an interdisciplinary team to provide quality, person-centered, and equitable care to patients and their families within a diverse patient population.I want to be a nurse who patients can trust and feel comfortable communicating with. I will also have the ability to educate and inform patients about their conditions in order for them to maintain their health and make educated decisions about their health.

What jobs can you get with a Human Biology degree from University of California, Merced?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


After analyzing the LinkedIn profiles of graduates from UC Merced with a degree in Human Biology, it seems that many of them have gravitated toward roles in healthcare, particularly in pharmacy and medical settings. A significant number of graduates have found positions as pharmacists or in pharmacy-related roles, like PGY-1 and PGY-2 residents. These jobs show a clear link to Human Biology since they require a solid understanding of biological processes and pharmacology. Others have taken on roles like Resident Physician or medical assistant positions, which directly apply their biological education to patient care and medical practices. Even volunteer roles in healthcare settings, like working at hospices or PICUs, highlight strong connections to their degree.

However, not all roles are closely related to Human Biology. Some graduates have ventured into areas like sales, marketing, and even logistical jobs, which don't leverage their specific skill set from their Human Biology degree. For instance, jobs in fitness sales or delivery driving lack the biological focus and are more about customer service or operations. That said, many roles that do directly engage with healthcare or biological sciences have remained a strong suit for these graduates, proving that, overall, a Human Biology degree from UC Merced can definitely lead to relevant opportunities in the medical field.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Human Biology graduates (this is across all Human Biology graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of California, Merced):

What kind of career trajectories do Human Biology graduates from University of California, Merced have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates from the University of California, Merced with a degree in Human Biology tend to have pretty diverse career paths, but many find their way into healthcare or science-related roles. For those who graduated a decade ago, like in 2012 or 2013, we see several trending toward roles in pharmacy, medical practice, or laboratory settings. For instance, one graduate transitioned from being a Pharmacy Technician to a Cardiovascular Pharmacy Specialist and even took on a teaching role at a university. Others have entered the medical field as resident physicians, focusing on patient care—a solid and promising trajectory in the health sector.

However, the first jobs out of college can be a mixed bag. Some graduates started with roles that seem a bit disconnected from their degree, like working as delivery drivers or sales consultants, which isn't atypical for recent grads figuring things out. But many transitioned to roles in health-related fields within a few years. Fast-forward five years or so, and you often find graduates in more specialized roles, especially in healthcare, research, or pharmaceuticals. Overall, while some graduates have taken longer routes and ended up in unrelated jobs initially, many seem to carve out successful and meaningful careers in line with their Human Biology degree over time. So, if you're wondering about your own future, there's a good chance you can find a path that’s right for you, even if it takes a few twists and turns along the way!

How hard is a Human Biology degree from University of California, Merced?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology can be pretty challenging, especially if you’re not super into science. At UC Merced, you'll dive into topics like anatomy, physiology, and genetics, so if lab work and heavy reading aren't your things, it might feel a bit overwhelming. The coursework often involves a fair amount of memorization and critical thinking, which can be tough. However, if you’re passionate about the subject and stay organized, you can totally handle it! Generally, it’s considered about average in terms of difficulty among science degrees, but what really matters is your interest in the material. If you love learning about how the human body works, you might find it more engaging than hard!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Human Biology.

Do Human Biology graduates from University of California, Merced tend to make good money?

So, looking at these UC Merced grads, it feels like some are really cashing in on their degrees while others are still grinding through entry-level gigs. For example, the ones who went into pharmacy or healthcare seem to be doing pretty well—positions like Cardiovascular Pharmacy Specialist and Associate Director at Gilead Sciences usually pay quite a bit, reflecting the rigorous training they went through. On the flip side, those who started out as delivery drivers or lab assistants might not have seen the same money right off the bat, but hey, it seems many of them are climbing the ladder in their respective fields. Overall, while some are rolling in the dough, others are probably still working to get there, but with experience, most likely on the right track to decent pay in the future!

What buzzwords do Human Biology graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Human Biology (this is across all Human Biology graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of California, Merced). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Human Biology?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Human Biology (ordered by the average relevance score of their Human Biology graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Indiana University Bloomington 95 10
University of California San Diego 89 20
UC San Diego 89 18
University of California, San Diego 86 16
Stanford University 84 10
University of California, Merced 84 16
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay 79 10
North Carolina State University 75 31
Michigan State University 71 48
The University of Texas at Austin 69 17
University at Albany, SUNY 69 15
Hunter College 60 14
University of Southern California 58 16