Discover your options for choosing a science major that suits your personal and professional goals.
When you major in science, you can build a broad base of knowledge to draw from across various subjects, including biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, psychology, medicine, engineering, computing, and many others. Depending on which subject you choose, you could work in areas like health care, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, food production, environmental protection, energy, manufacturing, IT, education, law, finance, marketing, management, and more.
Explore the common science majors, what they do, and some careers related to each major.听
While the exact list of available science majors will typically vary from one university to the next, you鈥檙e likely to find some common majors at most four-year universities. Some of the most common science majors include:聽聽
Agriculture: Study of growing crops and raising livestock聽
Astronomy:聽 Study of celestial objects and the physical universe聽
Biology: Study of life聽
Biochemistry: Study of chemistry as it relates to living organisms
Biophysics: Study of physics as it relates to biological phenomena
Cellular biology: Study of cells聽
Chemistry: Study of matter
Earth science: Study of the planet Earth聽聽
Ecology: Study of the relationship between organisms and their environments
Genetics: Study of genes and heredity in living organisms
Kinesiology and exercise physiology: Study of human movement
Meteorology: Study of the atmosphere and weather forecasting
Microbiology: Study of microscopic organisms聽
Physical science: Study of nonliving materials聽聽
Physics: Study of matter and its motion and behavior聽
Zoology: Study of animals聽聽
Majoring in science can open you up to hundreds of careers across all industries. Some of the most common science majors [] and the types of jobs you could pursue with a degree in the field include the following.听聽
*All salary data represents the median annual base pay in the United States according to Glassdoor as of December 2024.
As a biology major, your career options include becoming a biologist, going to medical school, and the following roles:聽
Medical manager: $66,932
Food scientist: $81,856听
High school teacher: $72,234听
Forensic science technician: $50,281听听
Clinical laboratory technician: $54,919
Health educator: $56,092
Biological technician: $48,513
If you鈥檙e interested in a career where you can help people reach their potential or improve their quality of life, a kinesiology and exercise science degree could be a good fit. As you learn more about the movement of the human body, you鈥檒l build a foundation for careers like:
Health services manager: $83,546听
Exercise physiologist: $59,794
Physical therapist assistant: $79,631
Athletic trainer: $64,131听
Health education specialist: $54,704
Recreational therapist: $65,849听
Massage therapist: $111,743
We鈥檙e surrounded by matter, so studying chemistry opens up a world of possibilities for career options, both inside and outside of a lab environment. Careers you might pursue as a chemistry major include:聽聽
Chemical engineer: $95,845
Toxicologist: $165,665
Chemist: $70,512
Chemical technician: $53,345
Environmental science and protection technician: $48,442
These days, as more and more focus shifts to the environment, you may find that one of these potential careers for earth science majors interests you:聽
Atmospheric scientist: $82,871听
Geoscientist: $94,837
Environmental engineer: $85,671听
Hydrologist: $88,898
Environmental scientist: $73,350听
Seismologist: $71,695
Conservation scientist: $77,158
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that careers in life, physical, and social science will grow by 148,400 openings annually between 2023 and 2033 []. Careers in biomedical research and environmental protection will remain in high demand.听聽
According to the BLS, health care jobs, which often require a science degree, will also likely be in high demand. The United States is expected to add almost 2 million new health care positions between 2023 and 2033, more than any other industry [闭.听
Studying a science major is an important first step in getting a job in one of the many science fields. Take a course from a top university to experience firsthand if it鈥檚 a good fit. Once you sign up for 糖心vlog官网观看, you can explore more than 7,000 courses, many of which are free to audit. Consider these popular courses to get you started:
The Science of Well-Being from Yale
Introduction to Genetics and Evolution from Duke University
Chemistry from the University of Kentucky
National Center for Education Statistics. 鈥, 聽 https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d21/tables/dt21_318.30.asp.鈥 Accessed February 26, 2025.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. ", 聽 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/home.htm.鈥 Accessed February 26, 2025.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. ", 聽 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm.鈥 Accessed February 26, 2025.
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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.