Other Physical Science Major

Physical sciences (other) is a major that typically falls into the Physical Sciences category.

There are 4 programs available throughout the country that offer an associate’s degree in physical sciences (other), 40 that offer a bachelor’s degree, and 16 that offer a master’s degree. There are also at least 11 schools in the nation where you can get your doctorate degree in the field.

Who Is Getting an Other Physical Science Degree?

This is a less frequently chosen major. Only 300 students graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physical sciences (other) in 2017. This major attracts more men than women. About 63.6% of the graduates in this field are male.

Racial Distribution

At the countrywide level, the racial distribution of physical sciences (other) majors is as follows:

• Asian: 7.3%
• Black or African American: 4.8%
• Hispanic or Latino: 8%
• White: 68.1%
• Non-Resident Alien: 1.9%
• Other Races: 9.9%

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in physical sciences (other). About 1.9% of those graduating in 2017 were international students. The most popular countries sending physical sciences (other) majors to the U.S. are China, India and Saudi Arabia.

What Will You Learn as an Other Physical Science Major?

An O*NET survey asked people with careers related to physical sciences (other) 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 Other Physical Science Majors

A major in physical sciences (other) should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

Skills for Other Physical Science Majors

A major in physical sciences (other) prepares you for careers in which the following skill-sets are crucial:

Abilities for Other Physical Science Majors

Physical sciences (other) majors often go into careers where the following abilities are vital:

What Can You Do With an Other Physical Science Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with physical sciences (other):

Careers Related to Other Physical Science

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists	6.8%	$107,230
Natural Sciences Managers	9.9%	$123,860
Professors	9.4%	$65,660

Other Physical Science Major Salary

Physical sciences (other) majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $77,000 to $140,000. 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 Other Physical Science Major Jobs

Some careers associated with physical sciences (other) may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

Find out what the typical degree level is for physical sciences (other) careers below.

Education Levels for Careers Associated With Other Physical Science

Level of Education	Percentage of Workers
Less Than a High School Diploma	0%
High School Diploma or Equivalent	0%
Post-Secondary Certificate	1.9%
Some College Courses	0%
Associate's Degree or Equivalent	0%
Bachelor's Degree	31.9%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate	7.5%
Master's Degree	27.1%
Post-Master's Certificate	0%
First Professional Degree	0%
Doctoral Degree	25.9%
Post-Doctoral Training	7%

Online Other Physical Science Programs

There are 40 colleges that offer a bachelor’s degree in physical sciences (other), with 1 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 an Other Physical Science Major Worth It?

The median salary for a physical sciences (other) grad is $110,000 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 183% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,423,800 after 20 years!

Related Majors

• General Physical Sciences
• Astronomy & Astrophysics
• Atmospheric Sciences
• Chemistry
• Geological & Earth Sciences
• Physics
• Materials Sciences
• Other Physical Science

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
O*NET Online
Image Credit: NASA via License