Ohio’s bioscience strength is bolstered by its higher education depth and breadth. Two-year, four-year, graduate, and advanced degree programs produce an education and workforce pipeline necessary to build a bioscience organization, and to continue Ohio’s bioscience industry growth.
Ohio has 478 post-secondary institutions serving all industries and walks of life, from universities and community colleges to specialized job training centers and vocational schools. BioOhio has reviewed thousands of degrees and programs offered at these institutions to identify a subset directly related to bioscience employment preparation or advancement.
Ohio graduation data for these programs was studied for the 2006-2009 period, during which 103 of the 478 Ohio institutions awarded a bioscience-related degree or certificate. The number of bioscience graduates was 7,693 in 2009, up nearly 20% since 2006.
Degrees awarded in 2009 included 1,085 certificates or associates degrees, 4,818 bachelor’s degrees, and 1,790 post-BA, master’s or doctoral degrees. In 2009, the top five bioscience-pipeline degrees were: biology/biological sciences; pharmacy; chemistry; zoology/animal biology; and chemical engineering. The top 15 awarding institutions included Ohio State, U. of Cincinnati, U. of Toledo, Case Western Reserve University, Miami University, Kent State, Wright State, Ohio University, and Cleveland State. A complete list of bioscience-related degrees and programs can be found in the appendix of the Ohio Bioscience Growth Report.
Ohio’s pipeline of future bioscience college students looks promising as well.
According to National Assessment of Educational Progress science results, Ohio’s educators and students are among the top in the nation. Also known as The Nation’s Report Card, the 2009 science assessment measures students’ knowledge of physical science, life science, and earth and space sciences. Four out of ten 4th-graders and 35% of 8th-graders rated proficient, comparing favorably to national averages of 32% and 28%, respectively. About 1% of students are performing at an “advanced†level nationwide and in Ohio.
In the 2009 report “Taking the Pulse of Bioscience Education in America,†prepared by Battelle in cooperation with BIO, Ohio and seven other states were recognized in the “Leaders of the Pack†category. Based on patterns of student performance, the report was the first ever comprehensive study of middle and high school bioscience education in the U.S.
Ohio middle and high schools regularly place highly at the National Science Olympiad Tournament, and the state boasts strong Science Olympiad connections. In October 2010, Centerville High School and Solon Middle School Science Olympiad teams and coaches were invited by President Obama to the inaugural White House Science Fair, in honor of the teams’ national championships earlier in the year.
For more state and regional bioscience economic, employment, innovation, investment, and workforce data, access the full Ohio Bioscience Growth Report.
