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Vision Science/Physiological Optics

Types of Degrees Vision Science/Physiological Optics Majors Are Earning

Those studying Vision Science/Physiological Optics may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	206
Master’s Degree	44
Doctor’s Degree	19

What Vision Science/Physiological Optics Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Vision Science/Physiological Optics develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Vision Science/Physiological Optics graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Vision Science/Physiological Optics emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Biology — Importance 4.9 / 5; level 6.6 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 5.3 / 7.
• Chemistry — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.

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

Skills

Skills emphasized by a Vision Science/Physiological Optics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Science — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Active Learning — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Vision Science/Physiological Optics careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.5 / 5; level 5.4 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Vision Science/Physiological Optics graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.6 / 7
Working with Computers	4.5 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.4 / 7
Processing Information	4.4 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.4 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	4.3 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.3 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.3 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.3 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Vision Science/Physiological Optics professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	—
National Instruments LabVIEW	Development environment software	—
Spreadsheet software	Spreadsheet software	—
Statistical software	Analytical or scientific software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
SAS	Analytical or scientific software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
IBM SPSS Statistics	Analytical or scientific software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—

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

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Vision Science/Physiological Optics graduates include:

• Embryology Teacher
• Biology Teacher
• Protozoology Teacher
• Algology Teacher
• Adjunct Biology Professor
• Associate Professor
• College Instructor
• Adjunct Biology Instructor
• Parasitology Teacher
• Cytology Teacher
• Limnology Teacher
• Etiology Teacher
• Herpetology Teacher
• Phytopathology Teacher
• Professor

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Vision Science/Physiological Optics graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Doctoral degree	44.6%
Post-doctoral training	34.2%
Master’s degree	15.7%
Bachelor’s degree	2.6%
Post-master’s certificate	2.1%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	0.9%

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

Who Is Earning a Degree in Vision Science/Physiological Optics?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 73.6% of Vision Science/Physiological Optics degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	198	73.6%
Men	71	26.4%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Vision Science/Physiological Optics graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	99	36.8%
Asian	51	19.0%
Hispanic or Latino	47	17.5%
Black or African American	11	4.1%
Two or More Races	13	4.8%
Race Unknown	11	4.1%
International Students	37	13.8%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Vision Science/Physiological Optics Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Vision Science/Physiological Optics 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	$32,024
4 years	$53,598
5 years	$65,802

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $65,802 — roughly 105% above the 1-year mark.

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

Is a Degree in Vision Science/Physiological Optics Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Vision Science/Physiological Optics graduates earn a median of $53,598 four years after completion — roughly 41% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

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

Program	CIP Code
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences	26.09
Aerospace Physiology and Medicine	26.0912
Biomechanics	26.0913
Cardiovascular Science	26.0907
Cell Physiology	26.0903
Endocrinology	26.0904
Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology	26.0908
Molecular Physiology	26.0902
Oncology and Cancer Biology	26.0911
Pathology/Experimental Pathology	26.0910
Physiology, General	26.0901
Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences, Other	26.0999

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.