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.
In 2020-2021, science, technology and society was the 232nd most popular major nationwide with 1,095 degrees awarded. This is a difference of 23 over the prior year, a growth of 2.1%.
Our 2023 Best Science, Technology & Society Schools ranking analyzes 21 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for science, technology and society students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of science, tech and society programs later in this article.
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.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most science, tech and society degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific science, tech and society careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different science, tech and society degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in science, technology and society to something that takes less time like a . Science, Technology & Society programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| 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 and society, with approximately 48.9% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for science, tech and 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 and 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 and society careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the science, tech and society career you are seeking.
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 and 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 and society.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | 62,300 | 9.9% |
Recently graduated science, technology and society students earned an average of $41,177 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $21,130 to as high as $61,178. As you might expect, salaries for science, tech and society graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for science, technology and society graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers science, tech and society grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $139,680 |
With over 118 different science, tech and 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 and society school rankings to help you with this.
Science, Technology & Society is one of 44 different types of Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Other Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | 34,975 |
| Biological & Physical Science | 30,075 |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | 9,074 |
| International Studies | 7,368 |
| Nutrition Science | 5,330 |
