Showing posts with label Chemistry career. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chemistry career. Show all posts

10 December 2012

Undergrad Degree in Chemistry and Its Uses

As it becomes easier and easier to earn undergraduate degrees, more people are pursuing further degrees before seeking positions in their fields of study. This raises the question of whether or not an undergraduate degree in Chemistry is enough to have a career

Chemistry degrees

An undergraduate degree in Chemistry requires four years of education at a college or university. During this time, you will learn the basics of higher-level chemistry, as well as specific information based on your intended career path. For example, if you would like to teach high school Chemistry, you would also need courses in education.

Some schools offer specialties within the degree programs, such as biochemistry. These degrees focus on a specific area of chemistry, and may be suited for a specific career path.

Career options

There are many career options available for those with an undergraduate degree in Chemistry. Some common career paths include teaching, chemistry manufacturing and sales or working in a lab setting.

Chemistry teacher

Teaching Chemistry is a good way for people passionate about science to share what they know with others. Requirements for a teaching position vary by state. Some states may require a degree in Education in addition to Chemistry. In addition to sharing knowledge about chemistry, teachers are responsible for creating lesson plans, grading assignments and other typical duties associated with teaching.

Chemical manufacturing or sales

A chemical plant manager is someone who supervises a chemical manufacturing facility. This career has typical managerial responsibilities, in addition to performing quality control. Chemical sales representatives sell products and services. Their responsibilities are typical of sales representatives. Having a degree in Chemistry allows the sales representative to speak about the products and services with authority, as well as answer questions the prospective customer may have.

The chemical products and services created and sold are often used outside the chemistry field. This allows those in this field a wide variety of opportunities to pursue areas of interest.

Laboratory Technicians and Research Assistants

Laboratory Technicians are men and women who perform tests and procedures in a lab setting. They must have a good knowledge of Chemistry and other sciences in order to perform the proper procedures and interpret the results. A research assistant is someone who helps doctors, scientists or other researchers develop new medicines or products.

Additional education

Many people who pursue careers in Chemistry decide to get advanced degrees. This allows them to pursue a particular field of interest, as well as opening up a wider variety of career opportunities. For example, while a chemical plant manager position may not require a Master's degree, having one can give the applicant an advantage.

Ultimately, some careers will have more applicants with higher degrees, while others will not. If the career path you are pursuing is trending toward requiring advanced degrees, the investment may be worth it. However, if the career path you are pursuing continues to focus on applicants with undergraduate degrees, an advanced degree will not be necessary. The final decision of whether or not an undergraduate degree is "enough" for a career in Chemistry will come down to the particular career being pursued and where you would like to be as your career path progresses.


This article was composed by Ty Whitworth for the team at http://www.ChemicalWire.com/.