Question: What Are Some Careers in Chemistry?
Answer: The career options in chemistry are practically endless! However, your employment options depend on how far you have taken your education. A 2-year degree in chemistry won't get you very far. You could work in some labs washing glassware or assist at a school with lab preparation, but you wouldn't have much advancement potential and you could expect a high level of supervision. A college bachelor's degree in chemistry (B.A., B.S.) opens up more opportunities. A 4-year college degree can be used to gain admittance to advanced degree programs (e.g., graduate school, medical school, law school). With the bachelor's degree, you can get a bench job, which would allow you to run equipment and prepare chemicals. A bachelor's degree in chemistry or education (with a lot of chemistry) is necessary to teach at the K-12 level. A master's degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or other field opens up far more options. A terminal degree, such as a Ph.D. or M.D., leaves the field wide open. In the United States you need at least 18 graduate credit hours to teach at the college level (preferably a Ph.D.). Most scientists who design and supervise their own research programs have terminal degrees. Chemistry is a part of biology and physics, plus, there are lots of categories of chemistry! Here's look at some of the career options related to chemistry:
- Agrochemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Astrochemistry
- Atmospheric Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Biotechnology
- Catalysis
- Ceramics Industry
- Chemical Engineering (chemical engineer profile)
- Chemical Information Specialist
- Chemical Sales
- Chemical Technology
- Chemist (chemist profile)
- Colloid Science
- Consulting
- Consumer Products
- Environmental Chemistry
- Environmental Law
- Ethnobotany
- Food Chemistry
- Forensic Science
- Geochemistry
- Government Policy
- Hazardous Waste Management
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Medicine
- Metallurgy
- Military Systems
- Oceanography
- Organic Chemist
- Paper Industry
- Patent Law
- Perfume Chemistry
- Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry
- Pharmaceuticals
- Physical Chemistry
- Plastics Industry
- Polymer Industry
- R&D Management
- Science Writer
- Software Design
- Space Exploration
- Surface Chemistry
- Teaching
- Technical Writing
- Textile Industry
