The Chemistry Degree: Is it Losing Substance?
What is Chemistry?
Air, water, notebooks and computers. What do all of these things have in common? They are all considered to be that which is known as matter. What is matter? It is a term which describes the substance that all objects consist of. There are four states of matter: solid, liquid, gas and plasma. At the atomic level, the states of matter range from a smaller distance between particles to a larger expanse between atoms from solid to plasma. Chemistry is the study of these four states of matter, specifically concerning its behavior, composition, interactions, properties, structures and reactions. Chemistry is often referred to as the central science because it branches the physical sciences with the natural sciences.
What Can You Do With a Chemistry Degree?
A chemistry degree opens the door to a wide variety of possibilities, but it depends on the education level achieved in the degree. Jobs for chemistry degree holders are becoming increasingly selective and searching for candidates with higher levels of education. An Associate’s degree in chemistry is generally not enough to land a serious position in the field and a Bachelor’s degree may only be enough for a bench job (one in which you run equipment and prepare chemicals for experiments, essentially an assistant chemist). A Master’s degree or a terminal degree in chemistry (doctor of philosophy or medical doctor in chemistry) opens the door to many more possibilities. Some of the career options available to chemistry majors include:
- Chemist
- Technical Writer
- Ceramics
- Plastics
- Chemical Engineering
- Geochemist
- Agrochemist
- Materials Scientist
- Military Systems
What is the Job Outlook for Chemists?
The United States of America has an organization which tracks employment growth and long term prospects for a variety of careers in the country. This organization is called the Bureau of Labor Statistics and it provides research on the outlook for chemists and materials scientists. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that job growth will be slower than the average of all occupations. The employment of chemists and materials scientists is expected to grow by 3 percent between 2008-2018. This growth projection is affected by the growth of chemist and materials scientist job openings, and these are expected to grow at a rate of two and twelve percent respectively.
What are the Returns for a Chemistry Degree?
While job prospects for chemistry degree holders are decreasing, those who find employment will find considerable rewards in their profession. The median annual wages of chemists in May 2008 were $66,230 according t the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle 50 percent earned between $48,630 and $89,660. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,840, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $113,080.
Should You Become a Chemistry Major?
Job prospects may be declining somewhat, but growth still exists for chemistry jobs. If you are interested in the field and feel it is your passion, do not hesitate to pursue the degree. The most important thing in life is to be happy with what you do, and if chemistry is your passion you should certainly pursue it.
