A Physical Sciences & Math degree with a Chemistry emphasis is designed to transfer
to a four-year institution, allowing you to continue with the pursuit of a bachelor’s
degree and beyond in Chemistry. Once you have your four-year degree, you will be eligible
to apply for a broad spectrum of different positions including forensic scientist,
medical lab researcher, food chemist, toxicologist, and environmental chemist, to
name a few. This degree is also a good foundation for further education in pharmacy,
biochemistry, dentistry, radiology, secondary education with an endorsement in chemistry,
and others.
There are two main fields in chemistry careers, applied and pure chemistry. Most careers
are in applied chemistry and are found wherever a product is being created or improved.
Therefore, you will find occupations almost everywhere with most of them being in
private or for-profit companies. In pure chemistry, chemists are experimenting with
more theoretical ideas that may or may not have a practical purpose. These positions
are not as common and often need to be funded. Regardless of your path, you will usually
work in a laboratory with an assigned experiment to complete. Normally, this entails
moving around the lab for what you’ll need, working with your hands, setting up and
cleaning up experiments, working with computer programs, standing, sitting, using
microscopes and other machinery, and working with others to achieve results. Work
schedules are usually routine unless a deadline needs to be met. This is a very fulfilling
career, as you are always able to see the outcome of your work, and you can be a part
of making something new or even better for our world.
For more information on any of these career options, contact Career Pathways & Advising.
