Biological & Physical Science
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Types of Degrees Biological & Physical Science Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many biological and physical science graduations there were in 2020-2021 for each degree level.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Master’s Degree | 496 |
Doctor’s Degree | 72 |
Graduate Certificate | 71 |
What Biological & Physical Science Majors Need to Know
O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to biological science and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.
Knowledge Areas for Biological Science Majors
Biological Science majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Skills for Biological Science Majors
A major in biological science prepares you for careers in which the following skill-sets are crucial:
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Abilities for Biological Science Majors
As you progress with your biological science degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
What Can You Do With a Biological & Physical Science Major?
People with a biological science degree often go into the following careers:
Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
---|---|---|
Clinical Research Coordinators | 9.9% | $123,860 |
Natural Sciences Managers | 9.9% | $123,860 |
Who Is Getting a Master’s Degree in Biological & Physical Science?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of biological science majors is as follows:
Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 100 |
Black or African American | 54 |
Hispanic or Latino | 53 |
White | 180 |
International Students | 69 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 40 |
Geographic Diversity
Biological Science appeals to people across the globe. About 13.9% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:
- China
- India
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Canada
How Much Do Biological & Physical Science Majors Make?
Master’s Degree Starting Salary
The median starting salary of students who graduated in 2017-2019 with a master’s degree in biological science was $72,133 per year. These stats come from the U.S. Department of Education. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $50,183 (25th percentile) and $74,298 (75th percentile).
It is possible that some of these people may have taken positions that were not related to biological science.
Salaries According to BLS
Biological Science majors often go into careers with median salaries of $139,680. This median refers to all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.
To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Biological & Physical Science
Some careers associated with biological science require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.
How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to biological science have obtained the following education levels.
Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
---|---|
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) | 4.2% |
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) | 4.3% |
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 5.2% |
Bachelor’s Degree | 49.1% |
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. | 3.3% |
Master’s Degree | 14.2% |
Doctoral Degree | 11.4% |
Post-Doctoral Training | 7.1% |
Online Biological & Physical Science Programs
In the 2020-2021 academic year, 370 schools offered some type of biological and physical science program. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.
Degree Level | Colleges Offering Programs | Colleges Offering Online Classes |
---|---|---|
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) | 0 | 0 |
Certificate (1-2 years) | 6 | 0 |
Certificate (2-4 Years) | 1 | 0 |
Associate’s Degree | 195 | 10 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 10 | 1 |
Post-Baccalaureate | 0 | 0 |
Master’s Degree | 47 | 2 |
Post-Master’s | 2 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 17 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
Is a Degree in Biological & Physical Science Worth It?
The median salary for a biological science grad is $139,680 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
This is 250% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,995,600 after 20 years!
Top Ranking Lists for Biological & Physical Science
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Majors Related to Biological & Physical Science
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to biological science.
References
*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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