Physical Sciences

Interest Area

Explore how nature shapes our earth, oceans, and universe. Students who complete an area of study in Physical Sciences will develop skills in the application of mathematics, analysis, scientific writing and laboratory techniques to a large cross section of physical phenomena. Areas of study include Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Geology, and Oceanography.

Programs of Study

Fast Track Career Path

Chemistry

UC Transfer
CSU Transfer
AS

Geology

UC Transfer
CSU Transfer
AS

Physics

UC Transfer
CSU Transfer
AS

Explore Careers

Registered Nurses

Median Salary

$112,695

Job Growth

+8%

Education

Certificate
23%

Associate's Degree
19%

Bachelor's Degree
56%

Master's Degree
1%

View Career

Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.

New workers start around $76,290. Normal pay is $112,695 per year. Highly experienced workers can earn up to $157,411.

Education

Certificate
23%

Associate's Degree
19%

Bachelor's Degree
56%

Master's Degree
1%

Core Tasks

Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
Modify patient treatment plans as indicated by patients' responses and conditions.
Instruct individuals, families, or other groups on topics such as health education, disease prevention, or childbirth and develop health improvement programs.
Conduct specified laboratory tests.
Observe nurses and visit patients to ensure proper nursing care.
Assess the needs of individuals, families, or communities, including assessment of individuals' home or work environments, to identify potential health or safety problems.
Prepare patients for and assist with examinations or treatments.
Work with individuals, groups, or families to plan or implement programs designed to improve the overall health of communities.

Median Salary

$112,695

Job Growth

+8%

Nurse Practitioners

Median Salary

$134,086

Job Growth

+41%

Education

Bachelor's Degree
4%

Master's Degree
65%

Doctoral or More
30%

View Career

Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and x rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.

New workers start around $103,052. Normal pay is $134,086 per year. Highly experienced workers can earn up to $197,886.

Education

Bachelor's Degree
4%

Master's Degree
65%

Doctoral or More
30%

Core Tasks

Maintain complete and detailed records of patients' health care plans and prognoses.
Develop treatment plans, based on scientific rationale, standards of care, and professional practice guidelines.
Analyze and interpret patients' histories, symptoms, physical findings, or diagnostic information to develop appropriate diagnoses.
Provide patients with information needed to promote health, reduce risk factors, or prevent disease or disability.
Diagnose or treat complex, unstable, comorbid, episodic, or emergency conditions in collaboration with other health care providers as necessary.
Prescribe medication dosages, routes, and frequencies, based on such patient characteristics as age and gender.
Diagnose or treat chronic health care problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
Prescribe medications based on efficacy, safety, and cost as legally authorized.
Diagnose or treat acute health care problems, such as illnesses, infections, or injuries.
Detect and respond to adverse drug reactions, with special attention to vulnerable populations such as infants, children, pregnant and lactating women, or older adults.
Recommend diagnostic or therapeutic interventions with attention to safety, cost, invasiveness, simplicity, acceptability, adherence, and efficacy.
Educate patients about self-management of acute or chronic illnesses, tailoring instructions to patients' individual circumstances.
Counsel patients about drug regimens and possible side effects or interactions with other substances, such as food supplements, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, or herbal remedies.
Order, perform, or interpret the results of diagnostic tests, such as complete blood counts (CBCs), electrocardiograms (EKGs), and radiographs (x-rays).
Maintain current knowledge of state legal regulations for nurse practitioner practice, including reimbursement of services.
Treat or refer patients for primary care conditions, such as headaches, hypertension, urinary tract infections, upper respiratory infections, and dermatological conditions.
Consult with, or refer patients to, appropriate specialists when conditions exceed the scope of practice or expertise.
Recommend interventions to modify behavior associated with health risks.
Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in nursing.
Schedule follow-up visits to monitor patients or evaluate health or illness care.
Perform routine or annual physical examinations.
Maintain departmental policies and procedures in areas such as safety and infection control.
Advocate for accessible health care that minimizes environmental health risks.
Perform primary care procedures such as suturing, splinting, administering immunizations, taking cultures, and debriding wounds.
Provide patients or caregivers with assistance in locating health care resources.
Keep abreast of regulatory processes and payer systems, such as Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, and private sources.
Supervise or coordinate patient care or support staff activities.

Median Salary

$134,086

Job Growth

+41%

Anesthesiologists

Median Salary

$468,177

Job Growth

-50%

Education

Master's Degree
6%

Doctoral or More
94%

View Career

Administer anesthetics and analgesics for pain management prior to, during, or after surgery.

New workers start around $248,987. Normal pay is $468,177 per year. Highly experienced workers can earn up to $852,352.

Education

Master's Degree
6%

Doctoral or More
94%

Core Tasks

Monitor patient before, during, and after anesthesia and counteract adverse reactions or complications.
Provide and maintain life support and airway management and help prepare patients for emergency surgery.
Record type and amount of anesthesia and patient condition throughout procedure.
Administer anesthetic or sedation during medical procedures, using local, intravenous, spinal, or caudal methods.
Examine patient, obtain medical history, and use diagnostic tests to determine risk during surgical, obstetrical, and other medical procedures.
Position patient on operating table to maximize patient comfort and surgical accessibility.
Decide when patients have recovered or stabilized enough to be sent to another room or ward or to be sent home following outpatient surgery.
Coordinate administration of anesthetics with surgeons during operation.
Confer with other medical professionals to determine type and method of anesthetic or sedation to render patient insensible to pain.
Order laboratory tests, x-rays, and other diagnostic procedures.
Inform students and staff of types and methods of anesthesia administration, signs of complications, and emergency methods to counteract reactions.
Manage anesthesiological services, coordinating them with other medical activities and formulating plans and procedures.
Provide medical care and consultation in many settings, prescribing medication and treatment and referring patients for surgery.
Diagnose illnesses, using examinations, tests, and reports.
Coordinate and direct work of nurses, medical technicians, and other health care providers.
Instruct individuals and groups on ways to preserve health and prevent disease.

Median Salary

$468,177

Job Growth

-50%

Dermatologists

Median Salary

$246,889

Job Growth

+2%

Education

Associate's Degree
6%

Master's Degree
6%

Doctoral or More
87%

View Career

Diagnose and treat diseases relating to the skin, hair, and nails. May perform both medical and dermatological surgery functions.

New workers start around $66,169. Normal pay is $246,889 per year. Highly experienced workers can earn up to $397,249.

Education

Associate's Degree
6%

Master's Degree
6%

Doctoral or More
87%

Core Tasks

Conduct complete skin examinations.
Diagnose and treat pigmented lesions such as common acquired nevi, congenital nevi, dysplastic nevi, Spitz nevi, blue nevi, or melanoma.
Perform incisional biopsies to diagnose melanoma.
Perform skin surgery to improve appearance, make early diagnoses, or control diseases such as skin cancer.
Counsel patients on topics such as the need for annual dermatologic screenings, sun protection, skin cancer awareness, or skin and lymph node self-examinations.
Diagnose and treat skin conditions such as acne, dandruff, athlete's foot, moles, psoriasis, or skin cancer.
Record patients' health histories.
Recommend diagnostic tests based on patients' histories and physical examination findings.
Conduct or order diagnostic tests such as chest radiographs (x-rays), microbiologic tests, or endocrinologic tests.
Prescribe hormonal agents or topical treatments such as contraceptives, spironolactone, antiandrogens, oral corticosteroids, retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, or antibiotics.
Provide dermatologic consultation to other health professionals.
Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in dermatology.
Refer patients to other specialists, as needed.
Instruct interns or residents in diagnosis and treatment of dermatological diseases.
Provide therapies such as intralesional steroids, chemical peels, or comodo removal to treat age spots, sun damage, rough skin, discolored skin, or oily skin.
Provide dermabrasion or laser abrasion to treat atrophic scars, elevated scars, or other skin conditions.

Median Salary

$246,889

Job Growth

+2%

Family Medicine Physicians

Median Salary

$118,718

Job Growth

-5%

Education

Bachelor's Degree
2%

Master's Degree
9%

Doctoral or More
88%

View Career

Diagnose, treat, and provide preventive care to individuals and families across the lifespan. May refer patients to specialists when needed for further diagnosis or treatment.

New workers start around $54,821. Normal pay is $118,718 per year. Highly experienced workers can earn up to $276,896.

Education

Bachelor's Degree
2%

Master's Degree
9%

Doctoral or More
88%

Core Tasks

Prescribe or administer treatment, therapy, medication, vaccination, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
Order, perform, and interpret tests and analyze records, reports, and examination information to diagnose patients' condition.
Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.
Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, and disease prevention.
Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, students, assistants, specialists, therapists, and other medical staff.
Refer patients to medical specialists or other practitioners when necessary.
Coordinate work with nurses, social workers, rehabilitation therapists, pharmacists, psychologists, and other health care providers.
Plan, implement, or administer health programs or standards in hospitals, businesses, or communities for prevention or treatment of injury or illness.
Train residents, medical students, and other health care professionals.

Median Salary

$118,718

Job Growth

-5%

Neurologists

Median Salary

$246,889

Job Growth

+2%

Education

H.S. Diploma or Less
2%

Master's Degree
5%

Doctoral or More
93%

View Career

Diagnose, manage, and treat disorders and diseases of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, with a primarily nonsurgical focus.

New workers start around $66,169. Normal pay is $246,889 per year. Highly experienced workers can earn up to $397,249.

Education

H.S. Diploma or Less
2%

Master's Degree
5%

Doctoral or More
93%

Core Tasks

Interview patients to obtain information, such as complaints, symptoms, medical histories, and family histories.
Perform or interpret the outcomes of procedures or diagnostic tests, such as lumbar punctures, electroencephalography, electromyography, and nerve conduction velocity tests.
Examine patients to obtain information about functional status of areas, such as vision, physical strength, coordination, reflexes, sensations, language skills, cognitive abilities, and mental status.
Order or interpret results of laboratory analyses of patients' blood or cerebrospinal fluid.
Diagnose neurological conditions based on interpretation of examination findings, histories, or test results.
Prescribe or administer medications, such as anti-epileptic drugs, and monitor patients for behavioral and cognitive side effects.
Identify and treat major neurological system diseases and disorders, such as central nervous system infection, cranio spinal trauma, dementia, and stroke.
Inform patients or families of neurological diagnoses and prognoses, or benefits, risks and costs of various treatment plans.
Develop treatment plans based on diagnoses and on evaluation of factors, such as age and general health, or procedural risks and costs.
Prepare, maintain, or review records that include patients' histories, neurological examination findings, treatment plans, or outcomes.
Communicate with other health care professionals regarding patients' conditions and care.
Counsel patients or others on the background of neurological disorders including risk factors, or genetic or environmental concerns.
Interpret the results of neuroimaging studies, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans.
Determine brain death using accepted tests and procedures.
Coordinate neurological services with other health care team activities.
Refer patients to other health care practitioners as necessary.
Advise other physicians on the treatment of neurological problems.
Participate in continuing education activities to maintain and expand competence.
Order supportive care services, such as physical therapy, specialized nursing care, and social services.
Provide training to medical students or staff members.
Supervise medical technicians in the performance of neurological diagnostic or therapeutic activities.
Participate in neuroscience research activities.

Median Salary

$246,889

Job Growth

+2%

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Physical Sciences

School of Physical Sciences Contact

Programs of Study

Chemistry

Geology

Physics

Explore Careers

Registered Nurses

Nurse Practitioners

Anesthesiologists

Dermatologists

Family Medicine Physicians

Neurologists

Is this Interest Area right for you?

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About IVC

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Admission Support

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Costs & Payments

Supporting You

Counseling & Support Programs

Academic Help

Safety & Wellness

Welcome Lasers

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Your Community

Campus

Finish Your Path at IVC

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Earn Your Degree or Certificate

Transcripts & Records

Physical Sciences

School of Physical Sciences Contact

Programs of Study

Chemistry

Geology

Physics

Explore Careers

Registered Nurses

Nurse Practitioners

Anesthesiologists

Dermatologists

Family Medicine Physicians

Neurologists

Is this Interest Area right for you?

Business Sciences

Humanities

Integrated Design, Engineering & Automation

Kinesiology, Health & Athletics

Languages & Learning Resources

Life Sciences & Technologies

Mathematics & Computer Science

Social & Behavioral Sciences

The Arts

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