by our College Data Analytics TeamStudents who major in Science, Technology, and Society examine the relationship between science and society. This involves the history of science and technology within social contexts, as well as examining ethical questions created by scientific innovations.
This is a dynamic multidisciplinary major that explores social and cultural changes from the development of science and technology. Students will gain a strong understanding of the technical and social dimensions within science and technology. Some of the courses you will take include: computer science, technology, engineering, journalism, government, history, political science, sociology, and psychology.
Science, Technology & Society was the 232nd most popular major in the 2021-2022 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 977 degrees in this year alone. This year's Best Science, Technology & Society Schools ranking compares 14 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom science, tech & society rankings further below.
This is an ideal major for a student who is curious about human behavior and society. You will gain analytical and critical thinking skills as you research complex issues. Be prepared to clearly develop your ideas in writing and master difficulty terminology. Some of your studies will involve art and literature as well as science and technology; you will need to be able to make connections between seemingly unrelated subjects.
This is a challenging, but engaging major. Teamwork will be necessary as you collaborate with lab partners and develop group presentations. Listen and learn from other people's perspectives as you work. Time management skills will help you organize your coursework and complete readings, assignments, lab work, and research papers.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific science, tech & society careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Science, Tech & Society degree levels vary. Science, Technology & Society programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest science, tech & society degree you can get. The time it takes to complete a science, tech & society degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to science, tech & society, with approximately 48.9% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for science, tech & society workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 49.1% |
| Master’s Degree | 14.2% |
| Doctoral Degree | 11.4% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 7.1% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 5.2% |
87.6% of science, tech & society workers have at least a bachelor's. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in science, technology & society careers have.
This of course varies depending on which science, tech & society career you choose.
A degree in Science, Technology, and Society is excellent training for many different occupations. You will be able to translate your skills to business, law, public service, engineering, medicine, government, journalism, research, management, and education. Your dream degree may require you to continue your schooling and you will be prepared to enter almost any graduate program. Because this major is so broad, take some time while still in explore to explore various career options that you are interested in.
Want a job when you graduate with your science, tech & society degree? Science, Technology & Society careers are expected to grow 9.9% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to science, technology & society.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | 62,300 | 9.9% |
Recently graduated science, technology & society students earned an average of $45,781 in <nil>. Earnings can range from as low as $27,215 to as high as $166,469. As you might expect, salaries for science, tech & society graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for science, technology & society graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers science, tech & society grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $139,680 |
With over 108 different science, tech & society degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased science, tech & society school rankings to help you with this.
Science, Technology & Society is one of 51 different types of Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Science, Technology & Society | 977 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Other Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | 31,307 |
| Biological & Physical Science | 30,032 |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | 9,114 |
| International Studies | 6,614 |
| Nutrition Science | 5,598 |
