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Paper Science & Engineering

Types of Degrees Paper Science & Engineering Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing Paper Science & Engineering can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	35
Master’s Degree	3
Doctor’s Degree	8

What Paper Science & Engineering Majors Need to Know

Studies in Paper Science & Engineering build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Paper Science & Engineering graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Paper Science & Engineering emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Engineering and Technology — Importance 4.7 / 5; level 5.9 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.4 / 7.
• Design — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a Paper Science & Engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Paper Science & Engineering careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Paper Science & Engineering graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.4 / 7
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.3 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.3 / 7
Processing Information	4.2 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.2 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.9 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Paper Science & Engineering professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
Python	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Autodesk AutoCAD	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
Dassault Systemes SolidWorks	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
Oracle Java	Object or component oriented development software	✓
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	✓
C++	Object or component oriented development software	✓
PTC Creo Parametric	Computer aided design CAD software	✓

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Paper Science & Engineering graduates include:

• Engineer
• Civil Engineering Professor
• Engineering Instructor
• Machine Design Teacher
• Agricultural Engineering Teacher
• Geological Engineering Teacher
• Ceramic Engineering Professor
• Heat Engineering Teacher
• Environmental Engineering Professor
• Drafting Teacher
• Marine Engineering Professor
• Adjunct Engineering Instructor
• Motion and Time Study Teacher
• Metallography Teacher
• Radar Engineering Teacher

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Paper Science & Engineering graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	33.3%
Doctoral degree	28.8%
Master’s degree	11.1%
Post-doctoral training	7.6%
Post-master’s certificate	7.3%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	3.5%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	2.7%
Postsecondary certificate	2.0%
Some college courses	1.5%
First professional degree	1.4%
High school diploma or equivalent	0.6%
Less than a high school diploma	0.2%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Paper Science & Engineering?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 67.4% of Paper Science & Engineering degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	15	32.6%
Men	31	67.4%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Paper Science & Engineering graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	31	67.4%
Asian	1	2.2%
Hispanic or Latino	1	2.2%
Two or More Races	2	4.3%
Race Unknown	1	2.2%
International Students	10	21.7%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Paper Science & Engineering Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Paper Science & Engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$86,401

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Engineering	197,615
Mechanical Engineering	42,939
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	26,760
Civil Engineering	20,005
Computer Engineering	19,986
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	13,914
Engineering, General	13,411
Chemical Engineering	10,939
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering	9,596
Industrial Engineering	8,533
Systems Engineering	3,956
Engineering, Other	3,529

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.