Science Tech

Types of Degrees Science Tech Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many science technologies / technicians graduations there were for each degree level during the last year for which data was available.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Associate Degree	3,674
Basic Certificate	1,765
Undergraduate Certificate	826
Bachelor’s Degree	408
Master’s Degree	93
Graduate Certificate	5

What Science Tech Majors Need to Know

In an O*NET survey, science tech majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.

Knowledge Areas for Science Tech Majors

This major prepares you for careers in which these 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.
• Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Skills for Science Tech Majors

A major in science tech prepares you for careers in which the following skill-sets are crucial:

• 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.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Abilities for Science Tech Majors

As you progress with your science tech degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:

• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

What Can You Do With a Science Tech Major?

People with a science tech degree often go into the following careers:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Biological Technicians	10.1%	$44,500
Chemical Technicians	4.0%	$48,160
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health	12.1%	$46,170
Industrial Engineering Technicians	0.6%	$55,460
Precision Agriculture Technicians	9.7%	$49,670
Quality Control Analysts	9.7%	$49,670
Remote Sensing Technicians	9.7%	$49,670

Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Science Tech?

Roughly 52% of the graduates are women, and 48% are men.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of science tech majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	19
Black or African American	36
Hispanic or Latino	94
White	207
International Students	10
Other Races/Ethnicities	42

Geographic Diversity

Science Tech appeals to people across the globe. About 2.5% of those with this major are international students.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Science Tech

Some careers associated with science tech require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. 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 science tech careers below.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	1.1%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	25.4%
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)	7.0%
Some College Courses	10.0%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	18.7%
Bachelor’s Degree	31.3%
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.	2.5%
Master’s Degree	3.9%
Doctoral Degree	0.5%
Post-Doctoral Training	0.1%

Online Science Tech 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)	182	8
Certificate (2-4 Years)	2	0
Associate’s Degree	456	24
Bachelor’s Degree	20	2
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	26	2
Post-Master’s	2	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	2	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Majors Related to Science Tech

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to science tech.

Major	Number of Grads
Engineering	198,720
Biological & Biomedical Sciences	180,784
Engineering Technologies	86,188
Agriculture & Agriculture Operations	51,081
Mathematics & Statistics	49,970
Physical Sciences	47,709
Natural Resources & Conservation	32,106
Architecture & Related Services	19,716
Military Technologies & Applied Sciences	4,568

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.