Biometrics is a dynamic and challenging career that is projected to be one of the fastest growing jobs in the next decade. A degree in biometrics offers opportunities in a variety of different industries. Employers currently seeking biometrics professionals include government agencies, the military, banks, health care organizations, and technology companies. The pay is great and the employers seeking candidates in this field typically offer generous benefits. What’s the catch? To obtain a degree in biometrics, you will need a solid academic record with a strong aptitude for math, science, and computer technology.
So how will you spend your time in a career in biometrics? Biometrics is the study of how to authentic people using their biological features, such as fingerprints, irises, retina, face or voice. Biometrics systems developers, project managers, test engineers, and security consultants work on the design and implementation of biometric systems for government agencies and private companies that need systems, programs, and technology in areas such as law enforcement, security, health care, banking, and e-commerce. The FBI is one of the largest employers of biometrics graduates.
A degree in biometrics combines skills from biology, computer science, computer engineering, statistics, and electrical engineering. Due to the small number of candidates with education in this field, combined with the rapidly growing demand for this technology, candidates who are able to master this subject matter usually have their pick of job offers, including opportunities to work internationally.
Biometrics also has one of the best job growth prospects of any career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computer systems design and related services is expected to increase by 45 percent from 2008 to 2018, and computer and mathematical science occupations are projected to grow more than twice as fast as the average for all occupations in our economy.
Salaries for those with biometrics expertise vary by employer and position. Average annual salaries in biometrics positions range from $50,000 to more than $100,000. Individuals graduating with a bachelor’s degree typically start at the lower end of the range, while those with an advanced degree or several years of work experience often receive salaries at the higher end of the range.
To gain admission to a biometrics degree program, you need high school or college preparatory courses in biology, chemistry, algebra, calculus, physics, and trigonometry. A solid SAT score and high school G.P.A. are also required for admission. In a biometrics degree program, you will be able to study a wide array of topics including computer programming, data mining, artificial intelligence, computer security, digital image processing, project management, data structures, privacy laws, applied physics, and finite mathematics.
The number of universities offering a degree in this field is extremely limited, so admission standards are highly competitive. In 1998, West Virginia University (WVU) became the first university in the world to offer an undergraduate degree in forensic and biometric identification. WVU also offers a certificate program in biometrics and information assurance for students at the graduate level. Davenport University offers a bachelor’s degree in biometric security. More universities are likely to begin offering degrees in biometrics as the technology continues to evolve. For those willing to engage in thorough research, careful planning, and a lot of hard work, biometrics promises to be one of the hottest careers of the future.
