Employment Prospects of a BSc in Space Science

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the employment prospects of a Bachelor of Science in Space Science, particularly in comparison to traditional physics and engineering degrees. Participants explore industry outlooks, the competitiveness of the degree, and the relevance of specialization in the job market.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the competitiveness of a BSc in Space Science, noting it is a newer degree and seeking insights on employment opportunities compared to regular physics and engineering degrees.
  • Another participant suggests assessing the program's effectiveness by examining where graduates find employment, including the industries and companies they join, and the percentage of graduates who struggle to find work.
  • A different viewpoint emphasizes the potential advantage of having a broader undergraduate education, arguing that it may open more doors compared to a specialized degree.
  • One participant shares their experience working in a commercial space hardware company, indicating that their broad degree was beneficial during the hiring process, while noting that their coworkers did not necessarily have specialized degrees.
  • Another participant recommends consulting resources like _Physics Today_ to find statistics on graduate outcomes, suggesting that university librarians can assist in locating relevant publications.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying opinions on the value of specialization versus a broader educational background. There is no consensus on the employment prospects of a BSc in Space Science, as different perspectives on the degree's competitiveness and industry relevance are presented.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of specific data on graduate outcomes from the Space Science program and the dependence on anecdotal experiences rather than comprehensive statistics.

Who May Find This Useful

Students considering a BSc in Space Science, educators in related fields, and industry professionals interested in the employment landscape for graduates in space-related disciplines.

CrunchBerries
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Is a BSc in space science regarded as a valid/competitive degree? It looks like a relatively newer degree. I am currently in Space Science, which is a major in Pnysics with a focus on orbital mechanics and space mission management.

Basically I am just looking for an industry outlook/opinion on employment opportunity vs regular phys and eng degrees.

Thank you
 
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One of the best ways to assess something like this is to look at graduates from your program. Where are they ending up? Are they all moving on to graduate programs? What industries and companies are they finding work in? What percentage of graduates struggle to find work after graduation? Most departments will keep statistics on these kinds of things.

In my personal experience, it's better not to specialize too much as an undergraduate. What doors are open to you as a graduate of this program that would not be open to a graduate of a typical honours physics program?
 
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I agree with Choppy. Since you're mentioning that it is new, then a good follow up approach would be to look at the jobs catching your attention and crosschecking your curriculum with it. I worked at one of the commercial companies that works on space hardware, but my degree was very broad and my breadth seemed really selling during the interview; other coworkers don't seem to have specialized degrees, but I am mostly guessing based on our conversations. Myself and the coworkers I speak of are engineers.
 
In case you are wondering how to find out where graduates wind up, as Choppy suggested. What you want is _Physics Today_ or some such magazine. They have a feature showing exactly this information. Find out from your university librarian what magazines exist in your particular area of study.
 
Thanks guys, i alpreciate your input. Ill inquire as suggested.

Thanks a lot!
 
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