Astrophysical Sciences
Types of Degrees Astrophysical Sciences Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many astrophysics graduations there were for each degree level during the last year for which data was available.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Bachelor’s Degree | 332 |
Doctor’s Degree | 64 |
Master’s Degree | 48 |
What Astrophysical Sciences Majors Need to Know
O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to astrophysical 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 Astrophysical Sciences Majors
According to O*NET survey takers, a major in astrophysical sciences should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:
- 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.
- Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Skills for Astrophysical Sciences Majors
astrophysical sciences majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- 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.
Abilities for Astrophysical Sciences Majors
As a astrophysical sciences major, you will find yourself needing the following abilities:
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- 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.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
What Can You Do With a Astrophysical Sciences Major?
Below is a list of occupations associated with astrophysical sciences:
Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
---|---|---|
Astronomers | 10.0% | $105,680 |
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Professors | 9.9% | $90,860 |
Natural Sciences Managers | 9.9% | $123,860 |
Physicists | 14.5% | $120,950 |
Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Astrophysical Sciences?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of astrophysical sciences majors is as follows:
Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 42 |
Black or African American | 10 |
Hispanic or Latino | 40 |
White | 173 |
International Students | 34 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 33 |
Geographic Diversity
Students from other countries are interested in Astrophysical Sciences, too. About 10.2% of those with this major are international students.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Astrophysical Sciences
Some degrees associated with astrophysical 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 astrophysical sciences have obtained the following education levels.
Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
---|---|
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) | 0.3% |
Some College Courses | 0.2% |
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 0.6% |
Bachelor’s Degree | 12.5% |
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. | 3.6% |
Master’s Degree | 25.3% |
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level. | 1.1% |
Doctoral Degree | 27.9% |
Post-Doctoral Training | 29.1% |
Online Astrophysical 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) | 0 | 0 |
Certificate (2-4 Years) | 0 | 0 |
Associate’s Degree | 0 | 0 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 1 | 0 |
Post-Baccalaureate | 0 | 0 |
Master’s Degree | 11 | 0 |
Post-Master’s | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 14 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
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Majors Related to Astrophysical Sciences
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to astrophysical sciences.
Major | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Astronomy | 908 |
Other Astronomy & Astrophysics | 131 |
Planetary Astronomy & Science | 90 |
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.