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16 Science Majors (and Related Careers) to Consider

Considering a science degree? 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 a wide variety of subjects, including biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, psychology, medicine, engineering, computing, and many others. Depending on which subject you choose, you could end up working in areas like health care, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, food production, environmental protection, energy, manufacturing, IT, education, law, finance, marketing, management, and more.

Common science majors

While the exact list of available science majors will typically vary from one university to the next, you’re likely to find some common majors at most four-year universities. Some of the most common science majors include:  

Agriculture: Study of growing crops and raising livestock 

Astronomy:  Study of celestial objects and the physical universe 

Biology: Study of life 

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 

Chemistry: Study of matter

Earth science: Study of the planet Earth  

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 

Physical science: Study of nonliving materials  

Physics: Study of matter and its motion and behavior 

Zoology: Study of animals  

Read more: What Is a STEM Degree? And What Can You Do With One? What types of jobs can I get with a science major? 

Majoring in science can open you up to hundreds of careers across all industries. Here are some of the most common science majors [ 1 ] and the types of jobs you could pursue with a degree in the field:  

*All salary data represents average salaries (base pay + additional compensation) in the United States according to Glassdoor, June 2023.

As a biology major, your career options include becoming a biologist, going to medical school, and the following roles: 

Medical manager: $92,467

Food scientist: $57,620

High school teacher: $53,414

Forensic science technician: $42,920  

Clinical laboratory technician: $52,098

Health educator: $51,540

Biological technician: $42,047

Kinesiology and exercise science

If you’re interested in a career where you get to help people reach their potential or improve their quality of life, a degree in kinesiology and exercise science could be a good fit. As you learn more about the movement of the human body, you’ll build a foundation for careers like:

Health services manager: $86,776

Exercise physiologist: $56,800

Physical therapist assistant: $68,696

Athletic trainer: $58,801 

Health education specialist: $55,376

Recreational therapist: $48,875

Massage therapist: $53,564

We’re surrounded by matter, so studying chemistry quite literally 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:  

Chemical engineer: $100,737

Toxicologist: $118,147

Chemist: $63,593

Brewmaster: $121,280

Chemical technician: $45,782

Environmental science and protection technician: $45,287

Earth science  

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: 

Atmospheric scientist: $63,877 

Geoscientist: $84,535

Environmental engineer: $101,304

Hydrologists: $106,290

Environmental scientist: $86,832

Seismologist: $53,234

Conservation scientist: $74,782

Read more: 5 Jobs That Help Fight Climate Change

Outlook for jobs in science 

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that careers in life, physical, and social science will grow at a rate of 7 percent between 2021 and 2031 [ 2 ]. Careers in biomedical research and environmental protection are expected to be in high demand.  

Health care jobs, which often require a science degree, will also likely be in high demand, according to the BLS. It's expected that the United States will add 2 million new health care positions between 2021 and 2031, more than any other industry [ 3 ]. 

Next steps 

Considering a degree in science? Take a course from a top university to experience firsthand if it’s a good fit. Once you sign up for Coursera , you can explore more than 7,000 courses, many of which are free to audit. Here are a few popular courses to get you started:

The Science of Well-Being from Yale

Genes and the Human Condition (from Behavior to Biotechnology) from the University of Maryland

Chemistry from the University of Kentucky

Article sources

National Center for Education Statistics. “ Bachelor’s, masters, and doctoral degrees conferred by postsecondary institutions ,   https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d21/tables/dt21_318.30.asp.” Accessed June 2, 2023.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics. " Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations ,   https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/home.htm.” Accessed June 2, 2023.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics. " Healthcare Occupations ,   https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm.” Accessed June 2, 2023.

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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.

Introductory Science and Math

Some of OCW’s most widely used courses are introductions to science and math, which together form MIT’s Science Core . These foundational subjects in calculus, physics, chemistry, and biology are a key part of MIT’s General Institute Requirements (GIR) for all undergraduate students.

MIT offers several related but varied treatments of each subject, in order to match the learner’s particular interests and level of preparation. There is more than one way to learn these key concepts, for instance with differing emphasis on theory or on real-world applications, and so OCW shares some of the varied treatments offered at MIT.

Mathematics

The Mathematics GIR is a sequence of two subjects, Single Variable Calculus and Multivariable Calculus, as described in the following video. (This video is from MIT Department of Mathematics on YouTube and is not covered by our Creative Commons license .)

Most MIT students take the standard versions of these subjects, 18.01 and 18.02, such as the following:

• 18.01SC Single Variable Calculus
• 18.02SC Multivariable Calculus

Other versions of Single Variable Calculus and Multivariable Calculus are also available on OCW. 

The Physics GIR is a sequence of two subjects, Classical Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism, as described in the following video. (This video is from MIT Department of Physics on YouTube and is not covered by our Creative Commons license .)

Most MIT students take the standard versions of these courses, 8.01 and 8.02, such as the following:

• 8.01SC Physics I: Classical Mechanics
• 8.02 Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism

Other versions of Classical Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism are also available on OCW.

Any one of three subjects satisfies the Chemistry GIR, as described in the following video. (This video is from MIT Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE) on YouTube and is not covered by our Creative Commons license .)

The Department of Chemistry offers two subjects:

• 5.111SC Principles of Chemical Science
• 5.112 Principles of Chemical Science for students with more advanced background (e.g., two years of high school chemistry)

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering offers this subject: 

• 3.091 Introduction to Solid State Chemistry , which assumes some background in high school chemistry and emphasizes the application of chemistry in materials.

Other versions of Principles of Chemical Science and Introduction to Solid State Chemistry are also available on OCW.

The Biology GIR, Introductory Biology, is described in the following video.  (This video is from MIT Department of Biology on YouTube and is not covered by our Creative Commons license .)

Introductory Biology comes in several versions numbered 7.012 through 7.016. All versions cover a common core of topics, as well as distinctive material in each version as described in the Biology GIR subject options list .

• 7.01SC Fundamentals of Biology is a single course representation created by OCW using selections from several Biology GIR versions.

Other versions of Introductory Biology are also available on OCW.

Incoming students may prepare for Introductory Biology with the online non-credit course Pre-7.01: Getting up to Speed in Biology .

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