2020 Physical Sciences Degree Guide

The Physical Sciences field is multi-disciplinary, allowing students to take classes in mathematics, physics, chemistry, geology, astronomy, meteorology, and more in order to learn the laws of nature, the chemical makeup of rocks and soil and much more. Graduates learn math and science skills that prepare them for careers in a variety of industries.

Physical Sciences is a large field with several possible choices for majors. Students can major in General Physical Sciences for a broad education in all topics. If they are more interested in space and space travel, the may choose a major in Astronomy and Astrophysics, while those interested in weather can major in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology. Other majors include Chemistry, Geological and Earth Sciences, Physics and Material Sciences.

Physical Sciences Degrees On The Rise

In 2017-2018, physical sciences was the 23rd most popular major nationwide with 53,768 degrees awarded. This is a difference of 1,339 over the prior year, a growth of 2.5%.

Approximately 1,156 colleges in the U.S. offer a physical sciences degree of some kind. This year's Best Colleges for Physical Sciences ranking compares 479 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of physical sciences programs later in this article.

Physical Sciences Degree Requirements

Students who pursue a degree in Physical Sciences have a strong background in math and science, specifically chemistry and physics. Other necessary skills for a successful career in this field include analytical and critical thinking, communication, problem solving, and teamwork skills. Scientists often work together to solve problems making it important for accurate information to be spread efficiently and project requirements to be thoroughly explained.

Bachelor's degrees in this field may allow for an entry-level position, but a master's or Ph.D. is required for advancement. These additional degrees also give graduates the ability to conduct research, pursue fulltime positions, and lead projects.

Getting Accepted Into a Physical Sciences Program

New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific physical sciences careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.

Types of Physical Sciences Degrees

There are many different physical sciences degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a research / scholarship based doctorate's in physical sciences to something that takes less time like a first year certificate. How long it takes to complete some common physical sciences degree levels is shown below.

Degree	Credit Requirements	Typical Program Length
Associate Degree	60-70 credits	2 years
Bachelor’s Degree	120 credits	4 years
Master’s Degree	50-70 credits	1-3 years
Doctorate	Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation	At least 4 years

A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to physical sciences, with approximately 32.9% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to physical sciences tend obtained the following education levels.

Level of Education	Percentage of Workers
Bachelor’s Degree	33.0%
Master’s Degree	25.7%
Doctoral Degree	19.5%
Post-Doctoral Training	11.8%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate	3.5%

58.4% of physical sciences workers have at least a master's. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in physical sciences careers have.

This of course varies depending on which physical sciences career you choose.

Career Opportunities for A Degree In Physical Sciences Graduate

Students who graduate with a degree in the Physical Sciences often pursue careers that allow them to work closely with the natural world. Graduates have gone on to find jobs as meteorologists, geologists, chemists, physicists, and astronomers. Their advanced knowledge in math and science fields have allowed graduates to find jobs at research and development firms, with NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, and at the National Weather Service.

Solid Growth Projected for Physical Sciences Careers

Want a job when you graduate with your physical sciences degree? Physical Sciences careers are expected to grow 8.3% between 2016 and 2026.

The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to physical sciences.

Occupation Name	Projected Jobs	Expected Growth
High School Teachers	1,095,500	7.5%
Professors	258,700	9.4%
Architectural and Engineering Managers	190,000	5.5%
Environmental Scientists and Specialists	99,400	11.1%
Chemists	94,000	6.5%

Physical Sciences Degree Salary Potential

Recently graduated physical sciences students earned an average of $38,122 in 2017-2018. Earnings can range from as low as $11,100 to as high as $117,200. As you might expect, salaries for physical sciences graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.

High Paying Careers for Physical Sciences Majors

Salaries for physical sciences graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top 5 highest paying careers physical sciences grads often go into.

Occupation Name	Median Average Salary
Architectural and Engineering Managers	$148,970
Natural Sciences Managers	$139,680
Physicists	$125,280
Engineering Professors	$113,680
Astronomers	$111,090

Getting Your Physical Sciences Degree

With over 6,438 different physical sciences degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased physical sciences school rankings to help you with this.

Study Areas in Physical Sciences

Physical Sciences Majors to Study

Major	Annual Graduates
Chemistry	22,389
Physics	13,815
Geological & Earth Sciences	9,816
General Physical Sciences	4,387
Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology	1,188

View All Physical Sciences Related Majors >

Majors Similar to Physical Sciences

Related Major	Annual Graduates
Computer & Information Sciences	209,723
Engineering	197,582
Biological & Biomedical Sciences	157,997
Engineering Technologies	92,253
Mathematics & Statistics	47,138

View All Physical Sciences Related Majors >

References

• National Center for Education Statistics

• O*NET Online

• Image Credit: By NASA under License