Science Education
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Types of Degrees Science Education Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many science education graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Master’s Degree | 837 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 435 |
Graduate Certificate | 96 |
Doctor’s Degree | 47 |
Basic Certificate | 14 |
Associate’s Degree | 1 |
What Science Education Majors Need to Know
People with careers related to physical science education were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.
Knowledge Areas for Physical Science Education Majors
This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:

- 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.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Skills for Physical Science Education Majors
A major in physical science education prepares you for careers in which the following skill-sets are crucial:

- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
- 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.
- Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Abilities for Physical Science Education Majors
As you progress with your physical science education degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:

- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- 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.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
What Can You Do With a Science Education Major?
People with a physical science education degree often go into the following careers:
Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
---|---|---|
Agricultural Sciences Professors | 7.9% | $84,640 |
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Professors | 9.9% | $90,860 |
Biological Science Professors | 15.1% | $82,550 |
Chemistry Professors | 9.9% | $79,550 |
Education Professors | 10.3% | $64,780 |
Environmental Science Professors | 10.1% | $79,910 |
Forestry & Conservation Science Professors | 4.5% | $86,900 |
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 7.5% | $58,600 |
Physics Postsecondary Professors | 10.2% | $90,800 |
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 7.5% | $60,320 |
Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Science Education?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of physical science education majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 8 |
Black or African American | 6 |
Hispanic or Latino | 28 |
White | 360 |
International Students | 3 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 30 |
Geographic Diversity
Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in Physical Science Education. About 0.7% of those with this major are international students.
How Much Do Science Education Majors Make?
Salaries According to BLS
Physical Science Education majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $73,680 to $97,340 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.
To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Science Education
Some careers associated with physical science education require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.
Find out what the typical degree level is for physical science education careers below.

Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
---|---|
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) | 0.2% |
Some College Courses | 0.0% |
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 0.8% |
Bachelor’s Degree | 12.6% |
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. | 4.0% |
Master’s Degree | 20.3% |
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 | 41.3% |
Post-Doctoral Training | 20.4% |
Online Science Education Programs
In 2018-2019, 364 schools offered a physical science education program of some type. 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) | 3 | 0 |
Certificate (1-2 years) | 3 | 0 |
Certificate (2-4 Years) | 0 | 0 |
Associate’s Degree | 10 | 3 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 36 | 5 |
Post-Baccalaureate | 3 | 0 |
Master’s Degree | 129 | 23 |
Post-Master’s | 12 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 19 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
Is a Degree in Science Education Worth It?
The median salary for a physical science education grad is $91,330 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
This is 129% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,028,600 after 20 years!

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Majors Related to Science Education
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to physical science education.
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
- Image Credit: By Aparajita Datta under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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