Nick Schneider (Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences, CU Boulder)
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We report the findings of a study on career and advanced degrees outcomes for undergraduate majors in Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences. The APS major was created in 2021, with two primary intentions: (1) preparing students for graduate schools and careers in research, and (2) preparing students for careers in teaching, informal education, policy and journalism. Over 25 years of growth, we have graduated nearly 900 students but have little information on their paths after graduation. Our 2-year study located ~75% of our graduates on LinkedIn, and tabulated their self-reported career and higher education information. While 10-15% of our students followed the research path, we find the vast majority entered the STEM workforce, with a significant fraction in aerospace and/or engineering. Few entered the teaching path, though statistics may be incomplete. These results are leading to significant changes in departmental mentoring, advising and professional development, to facilitate student awareness and preparation for the most commonly followed paths. We encourage other departments to undertake similar studies, and will describe methodologies and insights to support these efforts.
Career Outcomes for Majors in Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences
Career Outcomes for Majors in Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences