Science, Technology & Society Major

Science, technology and society is a major that typically falls into the Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies category.

There are 6 programs available throughout the country that offer an associate’s degree in science, tech and society, 44 that offer a bachelor’s degree, and 20 that offer a master’s degree. There are also at least 10 schools in the nation where you can get your doctorate degree in the field.

Who Is Getting a Science, Tech & Society Degree?

Science, technology and society is one of the least chosen majors in the country, ranked #167 in popularity. About 900 students graduated with a bachelor’s degree in the field in 2017. According to recent stats this major attracts about equal numbers of men and women. Roughly 49.7% of the graduates are women, and 50.3% are men.

Racial Distribution

At the countrywide level, the racial distribution of science, tech and society majors is as follows:

• Asian: 7.8%
• Black or African American: 9.7%
• Hispanic or Latino: 12.2%
• White: 60.6%
• Non-Resident Alien: 1.8%
• Other Races: 7.8%

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in science, tech and society. About 1.8% of those graduating in 2017 were international students. The most popular countries sending science, tech and society majors to the U.S. are China, India and South Korea.

What Will You Learn as a Science, Technology & Society Major?

An O*NET survey asked people with careers related to science, tech and society to rate how important certain subject areas were to their job. The following are some of the results of that survey. Importance was rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for Science, Tech & Society Majors

A major in science, tech and society should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

Skills for Science, Tech & Society Majors

When studying science, tech and society, you’ll learn many skills that will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs - even those that do not require a degree in the field. The following is a list of some of the most common skills needed for careers associated with this major:

Abilities for Science, Tech & Society Majors

As a science, tech and society major, you will find yourself needing the following abilities:

What Can You Do With a Science, Tech & Society Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with science, tech and society:

Careers Related to Science, Technology & Society

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Natural Sciences Managers	9.9%	$123,860
Clinical Research Coordinators	9.9%	$123,860

Science, Technology & Society Major Salary

Average salaries range from $140,000 to $140,000 for careers related to science, tech and society. This range includes 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, the typical high school graduate makes between $29,000 and $57,000 a year. The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $44,000 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,000 and $120,000.

Your salary will be largely dependent on the career path you follow and what area of the country (or world) you work. Getting a graduate degree may open up more options with higher salary potential.

Amount of Education Required for Science, Technology & Society Major Jobs

Some careers associated with science, tech and society 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 education do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to science, tech and society have obtained the following education levels.

Education Levels for Careers Associated With Science, Technology & Society

Level of Education	Percentage of Workers
Less Than a High School Diploma	0%
High School Diploma or Equivalent	4.2%
Post-Secondary Certificate	4.3%
Some College Courses	0%
Associate's Degree or Equivalent	5.2%
Bachelor's Degree	49.1%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate	3.3%
Master's Degree	14.2%
Post-Master's Certificate	0%
First Professional Degree	0%
Doctoral Degree	11.4%
Post-Doctoral Training	7.1%

Online Science, Technology & Society Programs

There are 44 colleges that offer a bachelor’s degree in science, technology and society, with 2 of them offering at least some courses online.

Online learners must listen or watch video lectures, participate in group chats or forums, submit papers and assignments electronically, take tests, and meet deadlines.

Many learners are drawn to online programs due to the ease of use and flexibility. Students should be warned that those who enroll in online programs can take longer to graduate than average and are more likely to drop out.

Is a Science, Technology & Society Major Worth It?

The median salary for a science, tech and society grad is $140,000 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 259% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $2,015,600 after 20 years!

Related Majors

• Interdisciplinary Studies
• Biological & Physical Science
• Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution
• Systems Theory
• Mathematics & Computer Science
• Biopsychology
• Gerontology
• Historic Preservation
• Medieval Studies
• Museum Studies
• Science, Technology & Society
• Accounting & Computer Science
• Behavioral Science
• Natural Sciences
• Nutrition Science
• International Studies
• Holocaust Studies
• Classical & Ancient Studies
• Multicultural & Diversity Studies
• Cognitive Science
• Cultural Studies & Analysis
• Human Biology
• Dispute Resolution
• Maritime Studies
• Computational Science
• Human Computer Interaction
• Marine Science
• Sustainability Science
• Other Interdisciplinary Studies

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
O*NET Online
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