A good deal of research is also conducted outside of the laboratory, working directly with the animals they study in their natural environment. The Ph.D. degree is generally required for teaching, independent research and advancement in administrative positions. A master's degree is sufficient for some jobs in applied research and for jobs in management, inspections, sales and service. The bachelor's degree is adequate for some non-research jobs. Some graduates with a bachelor's degree start as biological scientists in testing and inspection.
Most schools offer bachelor's degrees in biological sciences.
Washington University in St. Louis offers graduate programs in biological and environmental sciences. These programs are also offered at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and Iowa State University of Science and Technology. The employment outlook for aquaculturists is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2006. Most growth will be private industry. The trend towards preserving the environment will also contribute to growth in this industry.