Natural Sciences
Types of Degrees Natural Sciences Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many natural sciences graduations there were for each degree level during the last year for which data was available.
| Education Level | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 898 |
| Undergraduate Certificate | 628 |
| Associate Degree | 607 |
| Master’s Degree | 67 |
| Basic Certificate | 53 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 15 |
| Graduate Certificate | 7 |
What Natural Sciences Majors Need to Know
O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to natural sciences 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 Natural Sciences Majors
Natural Sciences majors often go into careers in which the following 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
As a natural sciences major, you will find yourself needing the following abilities:
- 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?
Below is a list of occupations associated with natural sciences:
| 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 Bachelor’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 | 67 |
| Black or African American | 58 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 300 |
| White | 389 |
| International Students | 32 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 52 |
Geographic Diversity
Natural Sciences appeals to people across the globe. About 3.6% of those with this major are international students.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Natural Sciences
Some degrees associated with natural sciences may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. 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
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) | 12 | 4 |
| Certificate (2-4 Years) | 0 | 0 |
| Associate’s Degree | 37 | 5 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 | 0 |
| Post-Baccalaureate | 0 | 0 |
| Master’s Degree | 17 | 1 |
| Post-Master’s | 0 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 3 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
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Majors Related to Natural Sciences
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to natural sciences.
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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