General Physiology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
General Physiology explores the fundamental mechanisms that govern life at every level of biological organization—from cellular processes to whole-organism function. This interdisciplinary field investigates how living systems maintain stability, respond to internal and external stimuli, and adapt across evolutionary time. Students gain a deep understanding of physiological systems through rigorous scientific inquiry and analytical study.
- Reproduction and Growth: Examines the biological processes underlying development, cellular division, and the progression of organisms from conception to maturity.
- Hormonal Action: Investigates how chemical messengers regulate metabolic activity, behavior, and physiological responses across organ systems.
- Vascular Function: Focuses on the mechanics and regulation of blood flow, pressure dynamics, and the role of circulatory systems in nutrient and gas exchange.
- Respiration and Gas Exchange: Studies the physiological mechanisms of oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide elimination in both aquatic and terrestrial organisms.
- Digestion and Nutrient Metabolism: Explores the breakdown, absorption, and utilization of food components within the gastrointestinal tract and beyond.
- Sensory Perception and Processing: Analyzes how organisms detect and interpret environmental stimuli through specialized receptors and neural pathways.
- Sensorimotor Integration: Investigates the coordination between sensory input and motor output to produce adaptive behaviors and movement.
- Signal Encoding and Conveyance: Delves into the electrical and chemical signaling systems that enable communication within and between cells and tissues.
- Homeostasis: Addresses the physiological principles that maintain internal stability despite fluctuating external conditions.
- Physical Function and Malfunction: Studies normal physiological performance as well as the mechanisms underlying disease states and physiological failure.
- Evolutionary Physiology: Explores how physiological traits have evolved in response to environmental pressures and selective forces.
- Disease Processes: Investigates the physiological disruptions associated with pathology, including cellular, systemic, and organismal responses to illness.
General Physiology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
General Physiology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with General Physiology degrees, including Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists and Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 209,550 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists 19-1042 | $100,590 | $61,860 - $168,210 | 156,300 | $48.36 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1042 | $83,460 | $50,760 - $169,560 | 53,250 | N/A |
General Physiology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $58,090 in Mississippi to $128,550 in California—a 121% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 209,550 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for General Physiology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 72 institutions offering General Physiology programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in General Physiology is found at University of Colorado Boulder (CU) (357 graduates), University of Arizona (300 graduates), University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles (228 graduates), University of Oregon (UO) (211 graduates), and Georgetown University (GU) (145 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,816 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
357 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
300 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
228 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
211 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Master's
|
145 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| Golden West College (GWC) |
Other Award
|
130 | Huntington Beach, California | Public | goldenwestcollege.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
125 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
119 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
103 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
99 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
80 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Master's
|
79 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Associate's
|
76 | Glendale, California | Public | glendale.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
64 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Other Award
|
58 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
|
57 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| University of Wyoming (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
46 | Laramie, Wyoming | Public | uwyo.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
37 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| Seattle Pacific University (SPU) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Seattle, Washington | Private | spu.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
26 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Public | uccs.edu |
| Wright State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
25 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | wright.edu |
| Benedictine University (BenU) |
Master's
|
23 | Lisle, Illinois | Private | ben.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
22 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | mcw.edu |
| Chapman University |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Orange, California | Private | chapman.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Southern Illinois University |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Carbondale, Illinois | Public | siu.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Master's
|
17 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Master's
|
13 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
12 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Augusta University (AU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
12 | Augusta, Georgia | Public | augusta.edu |
| Mt San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) |
Other Award
|
11 | Walnut, California | Public | mtsac.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
11 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Louisiana State University (LSUS) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Shreveport, Louisiana | Public | lsus.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Master's
|
10 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Marquette University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | marquette.edu |
| Taylor University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Upland, Indiana | Private | taylor.edu |
| Weill Medical College of Cornell University (WCMC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | New York, New York | Private | weill.cornell.edu |
| University of Scranton |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Scranton, Pennsylvania | Private | scranton.edu |
| Yale University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| University of California (UCSB) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | ucsb.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) |
Master's
|
7 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unmc.edu |
| Wake Forest University (WFC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Private | wfu.edu |
| Emmanuel College |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | emmanuel.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Master's
|
4 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ucdenver.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OUHSC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | ouhsc.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gatech.edu |
| Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC-NO) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Public | lsuhsc.edu |
| SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University |
Master's
|
2 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | downstate.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| Loma Linda University (LLU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Loma Linda, California | Private | llu.edu |
| Howard University (HU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | howard.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Master's
|
1 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| Kent State University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPR‑MSC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | rcm.upr.edu |
| Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC-S) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Shreveport, Louisiana | Public | lsuhs.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about General Physiology programs
How much can I earn with a General Physiology degree?
Salaries for General Physiology graduates vary by role and location. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists earn a median of $100,590 annually, while Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $83,460. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $128,550 compared to $58,090 in Mississippi. Approximately 209,550 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest General Physiology programs?
Currently 72 accredited institutions offer General Physiology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Colorado Boulder (CU) (357 graduates), University of Arizona (300 graduates), and University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles (228 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in General Physiology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 1,868 in 2010 to 2,816 in 2023-24. This represents a 51% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a General Physiology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists, Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary, . Related occupations employ approximately 209,550 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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