The Branches of

Science
What is Science?
Science- The system of acquiring
knowledge through systematic
experimentation and methodology. The
search for truth and knowledge.

3 Main Branches of Science
Life
Physical

Earth/Space
Types of College Degrees
All Science careers require at least a high school
diploma. Most careers require a 4 year college degree
and beyond.
Associate- 2 year technical degree awarded by
community or Junior colleges. Can be transferred to a 4
year college.
Bachelor- A 4 year undergraduate degree from a college
or university.
Masters- An academic degree lasting 1-3 years. A
thesis (big project) and research must be completed
Doctorate- The highest education degree possible.
Upon completion students are awarded a Phd and are
called doctors (not just medicine).
Life Science
Life Science- any science that deals with living organisms,
their life processes, and their interrelationships

Areas of study:
-Biology- The study of life or living matter in all its forms
-Anatomy- The study of the structure of animals and plants
-Botany- The study of plants.
-Ecology- The study of relations and interactions between
organisms and their environment, including other organisms.
-Zoology- The science that covers animals and animal life.

Includes the study of animals, plants, medicine, the human body
and much more!
Careers in Life Science
Zookeeper
Biologist
Doctor
Veterinarians
Marine Biologist
Nutritionist
Pharmacologist
Career Spotlight
Forest Ranger/Firefighter
If you like being outdoors, working hard,
being physically challenged, adventure,
protecting our natural resources and
working with fire this is a job for you.
Forest Rangers and Firefighters work to
protect natural resources. Rangers and
firefighters can work for the DNR or
Forest Service and often work in remote
areas of the country. A two year technical
degree in natural resources leading to a
four year degree in natural resources or
biology is required.
Career spotlight
Large Animal Vet- If
you like working with
animals and helping other
people this is a job for you.
Large Animal vets often
work in rural areas working
with farm animals in
medication, emergencies,
birthing, and surgical
procedures. A four year
degree in biology or pre-
medicine is required leading
to Graduate school in
veterinarian practices.
Physical Science
Physical Science- Any of the sciences
dealing with inanimate matter or with
energy, physics, chemistry,

Areas of study
-Chemistry- The science that deals with
the composition, properties, reactions,
and the structure of matter.
-Physics- The study of matter and energy
and the interactions between them.
Physicists study such subjects as
gravity, light, and time.
Careers in Physical Science
Careers
Engineer
Chemist
Architect


Career Spotlight
Water Quality Analyst- If
you like working collecting
and analyzing data this is
for you! If you enjoy
solving problems this is for
you. A water quality
analyst gathers samples
and tests them in a
laboratory. A minimum
bachelors degree in
chemistry or biology is
required with possible
Masters degree.
Career spotlight
Engineer- If you enjoy
problem solving and
figuring how things work
than an engineer is for
you. Engineers use
scientific information to
solve simple problems.
Examples of engineers
include car design, bridge
building, structure
building, dam building and
so on. A minimum of a
bachelors degree in
engineering is required and
a Masters degree is
preferred.
Earth/Space Science
Earth/Space Science-any of various sciences that
deal with the earth/space, its composition, or any of its
changing aspects.

Areas of study
-Geology-The study of the origin, history, and structure of the
Earth, and the physical, chemical, and biological changes that it
has experienced or is experiencing.
-Meteorology-The study of the atmosphere and its phenomena,
such as weather and climate
-Paleontology-The study of the forms of life that existed in
prehistoric or geologic periods.
-Astronomy-The study of the universe beyond the earth's
atmosphere


Careers in Earth/Space Science
Careers
Astronaut
Meteorologist (weather guy)
Geologist
Earth/Space Science Career
Spotlight
Volcanologist- A person
who studies volcanoes If you enjoy
walking around next molten lava and traveling
around the world than this is for you!.
Volcanology Is the study of volcanoes, lava,
magma and related geological phenomena. A
volcanologist is a person who studies in this
field. The term volcanology is derived from the
Latin word vulcan, the Roman god of fire.
Volcanologists frequently visit volcanoes,
especially active ones, to observe volcanic
eruptions, collect eruptive products including
tephra, rock and lava samples. One major
focus of enquiry is the prediction of eruptions;
there is currently no accurate way to do this,
but predicting eruptions, like predicting
earthquakes, could save a lot of lives. A
minimum of a bachelors degree is required
and to do research a Masters degree and
Phd are required.
Earth/Space Science Career
Spotlight
Tornado Chaser

Tornado chasers can be found throughout
the U.S. especially in the spring.
Tornado chasers identify and measure
where conditions exist where tornados
exist. When tornados form chasers try
to get as close as they can to measure
the meteorological conditions. If you
like chasing around possible tornados
with winds over 200 mph this is a
career for you. Education
requirements include a 4 year college
degree in meteorology and a masters
degree.
Questions
1. What are the three branches of
science?

2. When we speak of Physics, Cells and
Heredity, and Astronomy. What branches
of science are each of these in?

3. What science careers would you be
interested in?