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Major · Physical Sciences

A wide door into the physical sciences

Physical Sciences, General is the umbrella CIP for the entire 40.xx family — chemistry, physics, geology, astronomy, atmospheric science. It works as a transfer-friendly gateway and a hedge for students still choosing among named tracks, but most research roles want a single-discipline degree on top.

Schools offering
196
Annual completions
2,589
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$54k

About this major

Physical Sciences, General is the umbrella CIP code (40.0101) for an undergraduate program that focuses on the major topics, concepts, processes, and interrelationships of physical phenomena studied across more than one physical science discipline. In practice, that means a curriculum threaded through chemistry, physics, geology, astronomy, atmospheric science, and oceanography rather than a deep dive into one field. Coursework usually covers calculus, general and organic chemistry, classical and modern physics, earth or planetary science, and a sequence of laboratory methods, with electives that let students lean toward whichever discipline catches them.

The major fits two main audiences. The first is the explorer — a student who knows they want a science degree but isn’t ready to commit to chemistry, physics, or geology in their first year. The second is the transfer student starting at a community college; the data shows this clearly, with 9 of the 10 highest-producing institutions being two-year colleges. Middlesex College tops the list with 169 associate completions and zero bachelor’s degrees, while UC Santa Cruz is the only top-10 school awarding bachelor’s in this CIP. Total completions across 196 colleges sit at 2,589 — a small footprint that reflects routing into named majors at four-year institutions, not weak demand for physical science training overall.

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
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

$54k

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

Associate's

$51k

Bachelor's

$71k

Who this major is for

Green flags cluster around students who genuinely don’t know which physical science they want yet, or who are starting at a community college and plan to transfer. The associate-to-bachelor’s pipeline is the dominant pattern in this CIP — Middlesex College alone produced 169 associate completions, and the top nine schools are two-year institutions feeding transfer students into named bachelor’s tracks elsewhere. The bachelor-level earnings figure of $71,180 at five years out also suggests this works as a launching pad toward teaching certification, lab technical work, or graduate study in chemistry, physics, geology, or astronomy.

Red flags show up for students who already know they want to be a chemist, a physicist, or a geologist. The named CIPs — Chemistry, General (12,173 completions) and Physics, General (7,501) — give clearer hiring and graduate admissions signals than the umbrella. A second red flag: if you’re aiming at industry research roles without graduate plans, the realistic entry door from this degree is often lab technician work or sales support, not the principal-investigator path. Students set on PhD-level research should probably pick a named discipline and stack a research-heavy senior project.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Physical Sciences, General

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

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
Middlesex College Edison, NJ 169 0 169
Richard Bland College South Prince George, VA 151 0 151
Western Nevada College Carson City, NV 136 0 136
Tulsa Community College Tulsa, OK 121 0 121
American River College Sacramento, CA 116 0 116
CUNY Medgar Evers College Brooklyn, NY 111 0 111
El Camino Community College District Torrance, CA 86 0 86
College of Staten Island CUNY Staten Island, NY 77 0 77
Seattle Central College Seattle, WA 76 0 76
University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA 0 65 65
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Biology/Biological Sciences, General

83,027 completions/yr

Biological and Physical Sciences

25,374 completions/yr

Mathematics, General

18,758 completions/yr

Social Sciences, General

14,846 completions/yr

Chemistry, General

12,173 completions/yr

Physics, General

7,501 completions/yr

Animal Sciences, General

6,799 completions/yr

Biomedical Sciences, General

6,553 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

Is Physical Sciences, General the same as a chemistry or physics degree?
No. CIP 40.0101 is a broad umbrella covering chemistry, physics, geology, astronomy, atmospheric science, and oceanography in combination. Most employers and graduate programs read it as a generalist signal, where Chemistry (40.0501, 12,173 completions) or Physics (40.0801, 7,501 completions) sit higher on filtering screens. The general degree is most useful as a transfer base, a teaching path, or a stepping stone to a master’s or PhD in one chosen science.
Why do so few colleges award bachelor’s degrees in this CIP?
Of the 2,589 completions tracked, the vast majority sit at the associate’s level — 9 of the top 10 producing institutions are community colleges, and Middlesex College leads with 169 associate completions and zero bachelor’s. At the bachelor’s level, students at four-year schools usually pick a named major like chemistry, physics, or geology instead of the umbrella. Low bachelor’s output here reflects routing into specialized CIPs, not a small field.
What does the earnings split tell me?
Five-year median earnings sit at $53,594 across all completers. The associate-vs-bachelor split is wider than usual: $51,396 for associate holders and $71,180 for bachelor holders — a $19,784 gap. That gap suggests bachelor’s graduates are using the degree as a launchpad into teaching, technical roles, or graduate school in a single physical science, while associate holders often transfer or move into lab-tech work.
Will this major prepare me for graduate school in chemistry or physics?
It can, but you should treat it as a launching pad rather than a finished credential. Strong PhD applicants in chemistry, physics, geology, or astronomy carry deep coursework in one discipline plus research experience. A general physical sciences track that surveys several fields without a depth concentration can leave you a year behind peers from named majors. If graduate school is the goal, layer a minor or a heavy elective load in one science.
Which careers are realistic with just the bachelor’s?
The two SOC matches in the data are secondary school science teacher (median $64,580, projected -1.6% growth, requires teaching certification) and natural sciences manager (median $161,180, projected 3.7% growth — but this is a mid-career role you reach after years of bench experience or a graduate degree, not an entry job). Realistic entry roles include lab technician, science writer, regulatory affairs assistant, environmental compliance support, and industry sales for instruments or reagents.
Should I just pick chemistry, physics, or geology instead?
Often yes. If you already know which physical science you want to live inside for four years, the named CIP carries a stronger hiring and graduate-admissions signal. The general degree fits best when you want a full year or two of cross-disciplinary exploration before declaring, when you’re using it as a transfer vehicle from a community college, or when you’re heading into K–12 science teaching where breadth helps.