| Foreword | vii |
| Preface | ix |
| Chapter 1 | Careers and Science | 1 |
| Jobs Versus Careers | |
| What Is Science? | |
| Science and Ethics | |
| Science and Survival | |
| Who Are the Scientists? | |
| The Scientist's Character | |
| Employment in Science and Engineering | |
| Women and Minorities | |
| Chapter 2 | Choosing a Field of Science | 25 |
| Personality and Career Choice | |
| Other Factors Affecting Career Choice | |
| The Fields of Science | |
| Have You Chosen? | |
| The Right Job | |
| Chapter 3 | Getting There | 43 |
| Level 0 | High School Preparation | |
| Level 1 | The Two-Year Education | |
| Level 2 | The Four-Year Education | |
| Level 3 | The Master's Degree | |
| Level 4 | The Doctorate | |
| Paying for School | |
| Chapter 4 | Careers in Helping and Social Sciences | 63 |
| Helping Sciences | |
| Social Sciences | |
| Organizations for Helping and Social Scientists | |
| Chapter 5 | Careers in Life Sciences | 87 |
| Agricultural and Food Sciences | |
| Conservation Science and Forestry | |
| Biological and Medical Sciences | |
| Science Technicians | |
| Hot Spots | |
| Careers on Campus | |
| Careers in Industry | |
| Careers in Government | |
| Organizations for Life Scientists | |
| Chapter 6 | Careers in Earth Sciences | 109 |
| Geography | |
| Geology | |
| Geophysics | |
| Hydrology | |
| Oceanography | |
| Meteorology | |
| Hot Spots | |
| Careers on Campus | |
| Careers in Industry | |
| Careers in Government | |
| Organizations for Earth Scientists | |
| Chapter 7 | Careers in Physical Sciences | 123 |
| Chemistry | |
| Physics | |
| Materials Science | |
| Hot Spots | |
| Careers on Campus | |
| Careers in Industry | |
| Careers in Government | |
| Organizations for Physical Scientists | |
| Chapter 8 | Careers in Space Sciences | 135 |
| Astronomy | |
| Hot Spots | |
| Careers on Campus | |
| Careers in Industry | |
| Careers in Government | |
| Organizations for Space Scientists | |
| Chapter 9 | Careers in Engineering | 147 |
| Architecture | |
| Landscape Architecture | |
| Surveying, Cartography, and Photogrammetry | |
| Aerospace Engineering | |
| Agricultural Engineering | |
| Biomedical Engineering | |
| Chemical Engineering | |
| Civil Engineering | |
| Computer Hardware Engineering | |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering | |
| Environmental Engineering | |
| Industrial Engineering | |
| Materials Engineering | |
| Mechanical Engineering | |
| Mining and Geological Engineering | |
| Nuclear Engineering | |
| Petroleum Engineering | |
| Engineering Technicians and Technologists | |
| Hot Spots | |
| Careers on Campus | |
| Careers in Industry | |
| Careers in Government | |
| Organizations for Engineers | |
| Chapter 10 | Careers in Mathematics and Computer Sciences | 171 |
| Mathematics | |
| Statistics | |
| Accounting | |
| Actuarial Science | |
| Bookkeeping | |
| Computer Science | |
| Computer Operations | |
| Computer Programming | |
| Computer Software Engineering | |
| Systems Analysis and Database Administration | |
| Computer Service | |
| Computer Support and Systems Administration | |
| Operations Research | |
| Hot Spots | |
| Careers on Campus | |
| Careers in Industry | |
| Careers in Government | |
| Organizations for Mathematicians and Computer Scientists | |
| Chapter 11 | Careers in and Around Government | 191 |
| Federal Employment System | |
| GS Grade System | |
| Congressional Fellows | |
| Lobbyists | |
| Chapter 12 | Finding Jobs | 199 |
| Resumes | |
| Contacts | |
| Campus Placement Offices | |
| Inquiries | |
| Professional Societies | |
| Job Ads | |
| Using the Internet | |
| Bibliography | 209 |