Applied Science Schools and Programs in The United States

Applied Science Studies in The United States

Applied science means using scientific knowledge to solve practical problems. In the United States the term appears in two quite different places. At community and technical colleges it names career-oriented degrees, above all the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.), which train technicians for industry, health care and computing. At research universities it names schools and departments, such as a school of engineering and applied science or a department of applied physics, where science is taught with an eye to technology.

How the degrees are organised

There is no national list of degree titles in the US: each accredited institution designs its own programmes. The usual levels are:

• Associate degree (two years). According to EducationUSA, an associate programme either leads to a specific vocation or transitions to a bachelor's programme. The Associate of Applied Science is the vocational kind; the Associate of Arts (A.A.) and Associate of Science (A.S.) are the usual transfer degrees
• Bachelor's degree (four years): a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in an applied field such as applied physics or applied mathematics, or, at some colleges, an applied bachelor's degree that builds on a technical associate degree
• Master's degree (typically two years) and PhD (five to eight years) at research universities

US credits reflect the hours a class meets each week; they are not ECTS credits.

The technical route is easiest to see in the colleges' own programme lists. City College at MSU Billings, the two-year college of Montana State University Billings, groups its programmes under headings such as industry, computer technology, transportation and health occupations, with courses like Process Plant Technology, Diesel Technology and Radiologic Technology. Bismarck State College presents itself as North Dakota's polytechnic institution; its programme list includes A.A.S. degrees such as Financial Technologies, and it also advertises a four-year degree in Operations Management.

The university route looks different. Harvard University's John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, founded in 1847, is one example. Yale University formally established its School of Engineering in 1919, and it became the School of Engineering & Applied Science in 2008; its Department of Applied Physics focuses on fundamental issues and practical applications in condensed matter physics, optics and quantum information. The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has a Division of Engineering and Applied Science whose departments include Applied Physics and Materials Science and Computing and Mathematical Sciences.

Accreditation, admission and visa

Check the institution's accreditation first: according to EducationUSA, recognition of credits and degrees by other institutions and by employers is linked to it. Individual programmes may also be accredited by ABET, which describes its accreditation as a form of quality assurance for programmes in applied and natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology.

For undergraduate study you need to have finished secondary school and generally be at least 17, and US universities require an English language proficiency test before admission. Before applying for a student visa you must be accepted by an institution certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which then issues the Form I-20. The F visa is for study at an accredited college or university; the M visa is for non-academic or vocational study, so ask the school which one applies to a technical programme.

Where to study applied science in the United States

This page lists 20 schools for applied science in the US, each in a different city. They include research universities such as Harvard University, Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania, Caltech, The University of California at Berkeley and The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA); public universities such as Idaho State University, the University of North Texas, Kean University and Middle Tennessee State University; and two-year and polytechnic colleges such as City College at MSU Billings, Bismarck State College and Chattahoochee Valley Community College. When comparing programmes, ask whether the degree is designed for employment or for transfer, whether credits will count towards a bachelor's degree, and whether the programme holds specialised accreditation.

Careers

Careers depend on the route. Applied associate degrees prepare for technician roles in the field studied; EducationUSA points out that community colleges often train students in fields such as biomedical technology, biotechnology, robotics, laser optics and geographic information systems. Yale's Department of Applied Physics says it prepares students for academic and industrial careers.

Official statistics show the general value of each level. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers aged 25 and over with an associate degree had median weekly earnings of $1,099 and an unemployment rate of 2.8 percent in 2024; for those with a bachelor's degree the figures were $1,543 and 2.5 percent. These are averages for all fields, not for applied science alone.

Frequently asked questions

What is an Associate of Applied Science degree?

It is a two-year degree, mainly offered by community and technical colleges, that prepares for a specific occupation. It differs from the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science, which are designed for transfer to a bachelor's degree.

Can I continue to a bachelor's degree after an applied associate degree?

Sometimes. Community colleges and four-year institutions often have agreements for the transfer of credits, but the process varies for each school, so check with the four-year institution before you start.

Is applied science the same as engineering?

Not exactly. Several universities combine the two in one school of engineering and applied science, where applied science covers fields such as applied physics, applied mathematics and materials science.