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Sciences

Majors & Universities

Majoring in the sciences is an excellent first step towards a stable career. Science majors have an advantage over other liberal arts majors in that they are excellent preparation for further professional study in graduate school or for an entry level job straight out of university.

As you search for that ideal major, remember to (1) select a gateway major that maximizes your career and/or graduate school options, (2) have a general idea of your future career direction, and (3) be aware of trends in the job market requiring specific skills. Furthermore, be prepared to commit to gaining hands-on experience by stacking up on laboratory courses as well as research opportunities.


Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics are gateway majors that open doors for a myriad of interesting and well-paying careers. For example, after graduation, students majoring in Biological Science can expect to choose from a future in medical school, pharmacy school, microbiology, genetic engineering, biochemistry, and, even, epidemiology. Likewise, given the trend towards data storage and analysis in all fields, students majoring in math have a wider career options from the sciences to finance to business and industry.

Below is a table by major of universities known to offer superior preparation.

Suggested careers
The following careers are expected to be in high demand over the next ten years. Explore them as well as the preparation required. 
 
1. Information Security Analyst
Major: Comp. Sci. with focus in programming & info assurance.
Job Growth:  35%  |  Pay: 118,000,000 KRW | Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree. Network and programming experience at college & internships plus MBA in Information Security recommended.
Forecast:
  • Employment is projected to grow 32% from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations.
  • Demand will be strong as cyberattacks grow in frequency.

  • All sectors, especially finance, healthcare and digital content, are expected to boost investment in information security capabilities.

2. Mathematicians & Statisticians

Major: Math, Stats, Engineering Math, Financial Math, Actuarial Math.

Job Growth: 30% | Median U.S. Pay: KRW 102,000,000 | Entry-level Qualification: Bachelor's Degree. Courses in theoretical statistics, stochastic processes, and complex systems advised. As well, exposure in related fields such as economics, engineering, finance, physics and comp sci recommended.

Forecast:

  • Employment is projected to grow 30% from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations.
  • Strong demand due to ubiquitous use of statistical analysis to make business decisions across all industries. Trend further accelerated by exponential increase in digitally stored data in all industries. 
  • Rapid growth in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and automation offer immense opportunities for mathematicians with solid programming background.

 

3. Microbiologists

Major: Microbiology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, or an integrated Biological Science degree.

Job Growth: 5% | Median U.S. Pay: KRW 85,000,000 | Entry-level Qualification: Bachelor's Degree. Courses in microbial genetics, microbial physiology and electives in environmental microbiology and virology advised. Further exposure to biochemistry, chemistry, physics, statistics, math and computer science highly recommended. Successful students have strong competence in data analysis and laboratory experience from class, on-campus research, and internships.

Forecast:

  • Employment is projected to grow 5% from 2018 to 2028..

  • Growth is greatest in pharmaceutical sector due to climate change, rise in antibiotic resistant pathogens, and biosimilars.

  • Concurrent growth expected in energy, agriculture, environment, and food science especially in regards to biofuels, biomass, and genetically engineered crops with greater yields and which require less pesticide and fertilizer.

4. Atmospheric Scientists

Majors: Atmospheric Science, Physics, Chemistry or Geology.

Job Growth: 8% | Median U.S. Pay: KRW 110,000,000 | Entry-level Qualification: Bachelor's Degree. Courses in meteorology, atmospheric science, physics, and mathematics are required. As well, computer programming is important as many atmospheric scientists write and edit code that generate forecasts. Further coursework in remote sensing (by radar or satellite) is advised. Further graduate studies in oceanography and geophysics is extremely helpful

Forecast

  • Employment is projected to grow 8% from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations.

  • Advances in modelling have vastly improved the accuracy of forecasts and allowed atmospheric scientists to tailor forecasts to specific purposes. Businesses increasingly rely on customized forecasting to inform logistics decisions.

  • Severe weather patterns have become widely recognizable, and industries have become increasingly concerned about their impact, which will create demand for work in atmospheric science.

  • Moreover, as the adoption of wind and solar power increase, utility companies must depend more on weather forecasting to arrange for buying and selling power. This should lead to increased reliance on atmospheric scientists employed in firms in professional, scientific, and technical services to help utilities know when they can sell their excess power, and when they will need to buy.

 

5. Environmental Scientists

Majors & Courses: Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, Geology or Physics.

Median U.S. Pay: KRW 88,000,000 | Job Growth: 8% | Entry-level Qualification: Bachelor's Degree. Courses in hydrology, waste management, environmental policy and regulation, computer modelling, data analysis, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Forecast

  • Increasing awareness to hazards facing the environment is expected to energize job demand in the coming years.

  • Employers are expected to be consulting companies and state and local governments as demand rises for the analysis of environmental problems and development of solutions thereto.

  • Overall, businesses are expected to continue to consult with environmental scientists and specialists to help them minimize the impact their operations have on the environment.

  • Other environmental scientists and specialists are expected to be needed to help planners develop and construct buildings, utilities, and transportation systems that protect natural resources and limit damage to the land.

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