Physical Science Degrees and Careers

Students interested in a degree in physical science can begin (or restart) their college experiences with a year or two at Chemeketa. The Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree and the new Oregon Transfer Module are inexpensive and effective beginnings to a bachelor's degree and beyond.

Students pursuing degrees in physical science should not fear for their financial futures. According to a 2003 NSF survey of bachelor's and master's physical science degree recipients, the median annual salaries for recent graduates are $35000 and $49000 respectively. Median annual salaries for physicists, chemists, and geoscientists stand at $87450, $56060, and $68730 as of 2004. Many students use a bachelor's degree in physical science as a springboard to degrees oriented towards other careers. Fully 40% of physical science bachelor's degree holders pursue an additional degree in a lucrative field outside of physical science, such as medicine, law, or engineering.

If you are interested in pursuing a degree or career in physical science, please contact a member of our faculty.

I am tired of this thing called science... We have spent millions on that sort of thing for the last few years, and it is time it should be stopped.
— Simon Cameron (U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, 1861)

Updated February 2007 by Erik Jensen