| Education Required |  | A bachelor's degree in chemistry or a related discipline is usually the minimum educational requirement for entry-level chemist jobs. However, many research jobs require a Ph.D. Many colleges and universities offer degree programs in chemistry. In 2007, the American Chemical Society (ACS) had approved approximately 640 bachelors, 310 masters, and 200 doctoral degree programs.
Students planning careers as chemists should take courses in science and mathematics, and should like working with their hands building scientific apparatus and performing laboratory experiments. Perseverance, curiosity, and the ability to concentrate on detail and to work independently are essential. Computer courses are essential, as employers increasingly prefer job applicants who are able to apply computer skills to modeling and simulation tasks and operate computerized laboratory equipment.
Experience, either in academic laboratories or through internships or co-op programs in industry, is also useful. Some employers of research chemists, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry, prefer to hire people with several years of postdoctoral experience. Graduate students typically specialize in a subfield of chemistry, such as analytical or polymer chemistry, depending on their interests and the kind of work they wish to do. However, students need not specialize at the undergraduate level. In fact, undergraduates who are broadly trained have more flexibility when job hunting or changing jobs than if they narrowly define their interests.
In government or industry, beginning chemists with a bachelor's degree work in quality control or analytical testing, or assist senior chemists in research and development laboratories. Many employers prefer chemists with a Ph.D. or at least a master's degree to lead basic and applied research. A Ph.D. is also often preferred for advancement to many administrative positions. |
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| Recommended High School Courses | | Computers and Electronics, Biology, Mathematics, English, Chemistry, Physics |
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| Postsecondary Instructional Programs | | Mathematics, Chemistry, Computers and Electronics, English Language |
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| Certification and Licensing | | None |
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