undergradly.
Major · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Science across two domains, before you commit to one

Biological and Physical Sciences is an interdisciplinary major that draws from both life sciences and physical sciences without narrowing into either. Offered at 341 colleges — most of them community colleges — it produces about 25,374 completions and functions most often as a transfer-ready science foundation rather than a standalone terminal credential.

Schools offering
341
Annual completions
25,374
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$55k

About this major

Biological and Physical Sciences occupies an unusual corner of the science curriculum — it draws from both life sciences and physical sciences rather than committing to either. The CIP definition describes it as either a general synthesis of biological and physical sciences or a specialization that pulls from both domains, with astrobiology as one of the more specific examples. In practice, programs under this designation range considerably: at community colleges, where the bulk of the 25,374 recorded completions are earned, the curriculum typically functions as a structured foundation for transferring into a more specialized four-year program. At bachelor's-granting institutions, coursework may span ecology, environmental science, astronomy, and other areas that sit at the boundary between living systems and physical forces.

The major is offered at 341 colleges, and the institutional pattern is distinctive. Nine of the ten highest-completing schools are California community colleges — Pasadena City College alone accounts for 1,021 completions. That concentration reflects the major's predominant function: students use it to satisfy lower-division science requirements before moving into biology, chemistry, earth sciences, or health professions programs at four-year universities. The curriculum's breadth is precisely what makes it useful for that purpose.

Career outcomes from the undergraduate degree alone are modest. Five-year median earnings run about $55,282 across degree levels; bachelor's completers land around $63,583. The three careers most commonly mapped to this field — secondary school teachers ($64,580 median), postsecondary teachers ($78,490), and natural sciences managers ($161,180) — each require either further credentials or accumulated field experience before the higher earnings become accessible. For students whose real destination is graduate school, medicine, or a science-adjacent professional program, the major functions as a vehicle. What happens after the degree shapes the earnings trajectory far more than the degree itself.

Section 3 · Careers

Where this major leads

Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.

Occupation Median wage Job growth Typical education
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $65k -1.6% Bachelor's degree
Postsecondary teachers, all other $78k +1.8% Doctoral or professional degree
Natural sciences managers $161k +3.7% Bachelor's degree
Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.

Median 5-year earnings

$55k

Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings

Associate's

$52k

Bachelor's

$64k

Who this major is for

You may thrive here if you're drawn to science across multiple domains and aren't yet ready to narrow your focus — or if you're enrolled at a community college and need a structured science framework that satisfies transfer requirements while preserving flexibility. The major fits students who plan to continue: graduate programs in environmental science, science education, or professional schools that accept a broad science foundation will recognize this credential. If you're working toward medicine, dentistry, or pharmacy, this program's lower-division coursework often maps cleanly to prerequisite lists. The five-year earnings figures ($55,282 overall, $63,583 for bachelor's completers) reflect a realistic picture for someone stopping here — the major pays off most for students who treat it as a foundation, not a destination.

Think twice if you already know you want to specialize in biology, chemistry, or physics — those disciplinary majors provide sharper preparation for graduate school applications and more direct credentialing for competitive career paths. Biology/Biological Sciences, General serves roughly 83,027 students per year in part because it offers clearer pipelines into medical and graduate programs. Think twice also if teaching is your near-term plan: secondary school teaching is the most accessible near-term occupation for completers of this major, but it carries a -1.6% projected growth rate — the field is contracting, not expanding. And if breadth without depth feels uncomfortable rather than liberating, one of the more defined science disciplines will give you a clearer trajectory from day one.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Biological and Physical Sciences

Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
Pasadena City College Pasadena, CA 1,021 0 1,021
Los Angeles Pierce College Woodland Hills, CA 837 0 837
Mt San Jacinto Community College District San Jacinto, CA 652 0 652
Victor Valley College Victorville, CA 552 0 552
Shasta College Redding, CA 510 0 510
Allan Hancock College Santa Maria, CA 457 0 457
Sierra College Rocklin, CA 456 0 456
San Joaquin Delta College Stockton, CA 414 0 414
William Rainey Harper College Palatine, IL 401 0 401
Oxnard College Oxnard, CA 384 0 384
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Biology/Biological Sciences, General

83,027 completions/yr

Mathematics, General

18,758 completions/yr

Chemistry, General

12,173 completions/yr

Physics, General

7,501 completions/yr

Cognitive Science, General

2,642 completions/yr

Physical Sciences, General

2,589 completions/yr

Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other

2,089 completions/yr

Data Science, General

2,068 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What do Biological and Physical Sciences majors actually study day-to-day?
The curriculum pulls from two broad scientific domains without fully committing to either. Expect introductory biology, chemistry, and physics courses alongside standard general education — the exact mix varies by institution. At community colleges, which account for the vast majority of the 25,374 recorded completions, coursework is typically structured to satisfy lower-division science transfer requirements for four-year programs. At bachelor's-level programs, upper-division work may include environmental science, astronomy, or other areas at the boundary of living and physical systems. Astrobiology is one of the more specific specializations cited in the CIP definition. The defining characteristic across all versions of this major is breadth: you develop working familiarity with multiple disciplines rather than deep expertise in one.
Do I need a bachelor's, or is an associate's enough in this field?
The earnings gap by degree level is measurable but narrower than in more specialized science fields. Associate's completers report median five-year earnings around $52,060, while bachelor's completers reach about $63,583 — a gap of roughly $11,500. The careers mapped to this major, including secondary school teachers at a $64,580 median and natural sciences managers at $161,180, both list a bachelor's as the typical entry credential. The associate's version is most often designed as a stepping stone — many students use it to fulfill lower-division science requirements before transferring to a four-year program rather than entering the workforce directly.
What kinds of jobs do graduates in this field end up in?
The career map reflects the major's generalist character. Secondary school teachers are the most commonly matched occupation at a $64,580 median wage, though with a -1.6% projected growth rate that signals mild contraction. Postsecondary teachers sit at $78,490 median with 1.8% growth, but that path typically requires a doctoral degree to enter competitively. Natural sciences managers are the highest-earning destination at a $161,180 median and 3.7% projected growth, but the role requires significant field experience and often additional graduate education to reach. Students who pursue a specific science career usually supplement this degree with further specialization.
How competitive is the job market for Biological and Physical Sciences graduates?
The picture is mixed. Natural sciences managers post 3.7% projected growth and a $161,180 median — the strongest signal in the data — but that role is not an entry-level destination for most undergraduates. Postsecondary teaching shows 1.8% growth, but the realistic path runs through doctoral study. Secondary school teaching, the most accessible near-term occupation for bachelor's completers, posts -1.6% projected growth — slight contraction rather than expansion. None of those signals are alarming, but none justify choosing this major primarily for job market reasons. Graduates who want strong market outcomes typically use this degree as a launchpad into graduate school or professional programs.
Should I pick this major or a related discipline instead?
If you have a clear scientific interest, a disciplinary major will typically serve you better. Biology/Biological Sciences, General is the most popular adjacent field at roughly 83,027 completions and connects to broader graduate and professional school pipelines. Chemistry, General (about 12,173 completions) and Physics, General (about 7,501 completions) are more targeted and easier to build a graduate application around. Mathematics, General (about 18,758 completions) overlaps in career destinations while providing stronger analytical credentials. Biological and Physical Sciences makes the most sense for students who genuinely want interdisciplinary breadth or who are using the associate's as a transfer vehicle before committing to a four-year specialization.
What are realistic earnings expectations after this degree?
Five-year median earnings across degree levels run about $55,282; bachelor's completers land around $63,583. Both figures sit below the national median for bachelor's graduates broadly, reflecting the reality that this major does not directly qualify holders for the higher-paying science careers — natural sciences management at $161,180 and postsecondary teaching at $78,490 both require additional credentials or substantial field experience. Students who use this degree as a gateway to graduate school, medicine, or professional programs typically see earnings trajectories that diverge substantially from the five-year snapshot. As a standalone terminal bachelor's, the earnings outlook is modest.