Physical science graduates from N.C. State are among the highest paid in the nation, according to the 2013-2014 PayScale College Salary Report.
According to the report, N.C. State ranks 16th among the best schools for physical science majors in the nation. N.C. State is the only university in North Carolina that made the list.
The report said that physical science graduates from N.C. State earn, on average, a starting salary of $43,800 and a mid-career income $86,300.
According to Philip Brown, a chemistry professor at N.C. State, companies hire physical science majors from N.C. State because their ability to perform while taking minimal risks.
“To have an employee that comes to work, is reliable, is knowledgeable, is safe and has a broad range of experiences in the laboratories is pleasing to a company,” Brown said. “Our students have good practical lab skills, they seem to have good problem-solving abilities, and they work relatively safely.”
Brown said that students should not only concentrate on their math and science classes, but also be able to develop a wide array of skills while at N.C. State.
“I would really like to see students not undervalue their general education courses and look at these courses as an opportunity for growth and not as a burden,” Brown said.
Brown also said that the humanities department at N.C. State should not be undervalued and the classes that it offers are important because they give students a complete skill set.
“I would make sure the university values our CHASS [College of Humanities and Social Sciences],” Brown said. “I think there’s been a little bit of holding that at bay, and funding not going there as it should.”
Rahim Zalal, a chemistry student at N.C. State, said the polymer and color chemistry program at N.C. State is unique and one of the best in the country.
“One of the things N.C. State does well is that it provides a lot of opportunities for undergraduate students by giving them the option to participate in research at the university,” Zalal said.
However, Zalal also said that the program at N.C. State still has certain areas where it can improve.
“One thing is that chemistry class sizes here are really large and make it difficult for students to have a lot of resources,” Zalal added.
According to Brown, proficiency in a second language helps students become better communicators. Brown said that when students study another language, they understand other cultures.
“Science is not just done inside the U.S.,” Brown said. “Science is a worldwide endeavor. For example, the A380 Airbus is a consortium of many different countries and it is really the product of many countries and cultures coming together.”
The College of Sciences, which recently opened in the fall 2013 semester, is home to the physical science program at N.C. State.
