Natural Sciences
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Types of Degrees Natural Sciences Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many natural sciences graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.
| Education Level | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 80 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 7 |
| Graduate Certificate | 7 |
What Natural Sciences Majors Need to Know
In an O*NET survey, natural sciences majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.
Knowledge Areas for Natural Sciences Majors
This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Skills for Natural Sciences Majors
A major in natural sciences prepares you for careers in which the following skill-sets are crucial:
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- 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.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Abilities for Natural Sciences Majors
A major in natural sciences will prepare for your careers in which the following abilities are important:
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
What Can You Do With a Natural Sciences Major?
People with a natural sciences degree often go into the following careers:
| Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Life Scientists | 9.0% | $78,190 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 9.9% | $123,860 |
| Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists | 6.8% | $107,230 |
| Water Resource Specialists | 9.9% | $123,860 |
Who Is Getting a Master’s Degree in Natural Sciences?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of natural sciences majors is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 0 |
| Black or African American | 2 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 9 |
| White | 55 |
| International Students | 7 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 7 |
Geographic Diversity
Students from other countries are interested in Natural Sciences, too. About 8.8% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:
- China
- India
- South Korea
- Saudi Arabia
- Vietnam
How Much Do Natural Sciences Majors Make?
Salaries According to BLS
Natural Sciences majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $89,150 to $139,680 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.
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 Natural Sciences
Some careers associated with natural sciences require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.
How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to natural sciences have obtained the following education levels.
| Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| 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) | 1.2% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 40.1% |
| 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. | 6.1% |
| Master’s Degree | 32.1% |
| Doctoral Degree | 16.8% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 4.6% |
Online Natural Sciences Programs
In 2018-2019, 142 schools offered a natural sciences program of some type. 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) | 12 | 0 |
| Certificate (1-2 years) | 12 | 1 |
| Certificate (2-4 Years) | 0 | 0 |
| Associate’s Degree | 35 | 4 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 1 | 0 |
| Post-Baccalaureate | 12 | 0 |
| Master’s Degree | 16 | 0 |
| Post-Master’s | 0 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 3 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
Is a Degree in Natural Sciences Worth It?
The median salary for a natural sciences grad is $110,090 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
This is 176% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,403,800 after 20 years!
Top Ranking Lists for Natural Sciences
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Majors Related to Natural Sciences
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to natural sciences.
| Major | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Other Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | 2,661 |
| Nutrition Science | 1,439 |
| Sustainability Science | 1,184 |
| International Studies | 1,182 |
| Computational Science | 763 |
| Behavioral Science | 724 |
| Museum Studies | 710 |
| Gerontology | 645 |
| Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution | 630 |
| Biological & Physical Science | 611 |
| Human Computer Interaction | 562 |
| Dispute Resolution | 522 |
| Systems Theory | 460 |
| Historic Preservation | 292 |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | 213 |
| Mathematics & Computer Science | 189 |
| Science, Technology & Society | 187 |
| Cognitive Science | 152 |
| Multicultural & Diversity Studies | 131 |
| Marine Science | 92 |
| Cultural Studies & Analysis | 69 |
| Medieval Studies | 49 |
| Classical & Ancient Studies | 30 |
| Holocaust Studies | 30 |
| Maritime Studies | 20 |
| Accounting & Computer Science | 10 |
| Human Biology | 8 |
| Biopsychology | 1 |
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
- Image Credit: By Agsftw under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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