<p>Hey everyone.
I am a high school senior looking for advice in majors.
I'm pretty darn sure I to major in something involving chemistry. Not really a fan of biology/physics, though I realize they are pretty well incorporated. My first though is chemical engineering, but I really don't know what else is out there, and am considering majoring in just chem. </p>
<p>What do you actually do as a chem major?
What exactly does a chem engineer even do?</p>
<p>Anyone have any random advice/insight for me? I really love chemistry. I just don't know what to do with it. I'd even be happy with link to similar topics, I had trouble finding them :).</p>
<p>True to an extent. Chemical engineers have less positions open; 21000 vs. 100000 for chemists. The average salary is higher, but do consider that there are many “older” chemical engineers you will be competing with. I’d recommend going into Chemical Engineering over Chemistry, but take Quantitative Analysis and Advanced Instrumental Analysis in Chemistry for your electives. That way, you’ll be prepared to compete against chemists for their jobs, as well as compete with chemical engineers for their jobs, making you marketable for both positions.</p>
<p>Here’s some similarities/differences:</p>
<p>Both learn general, organic, and physical chemistry.
Both learn computer programming.
Both learn math up to differential equations.</p>
<p>Chemist’s physics knowledge is skewed towards QUANTUM physics. You could choose to not learn any more physics after physical chemistry but if you do, it’s going to be quantum. Things like SPECTROSCOPY which are essential for understanding modern instrumental analysis.</p>
<p>Chemical Engineering physics knowledge is skewed towards PROCESS ENGINEERING, which is MACROSCOPIC. Fluid mechanics, heat transfer, reactor design etc. This is not optional, it is mandatory.</p>
<p>Chemists learn QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS, INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, BIOCHEMISTRY, ORGANIC MECHANISMS and other PURE CHEMISTRY subjects.</p>
<p>Chemical Engineers learn REACTION ENGINEERING, PROCESS CONTROL, SEPARATIONS, and other ENGINEERING subjects.</p>
<p>LastThreeYears’ post is excellent, but sets aside the difference between engineering and science. </p>
<p>Engineers working in industry aim to solve problems of feasibility, scalability, efficiency and cost. To do so they apply well established physical and chemical principles and they have expertise in well-honed mathematical and computational tools.</p>
<p>Chemists are more likely to be doing scientific research, by which I mean they are likely to be searching for solutions to mysteries about how molecules and chemical reactions work.</p>
<p>So another way to look at your question is to ask yourself whether you prefer practical problems or mysteries. There are plenty of both to work on.</p>
<p>The distinction is almost nonexistent in the working world, IMO. Many companies hire chemists to be chemical engineers, and hire chemical engineers to be chemists. Their knowledge has significant overlap as do their roles. A company is not going to pay a chemist to synthesize whatever they want or try a risky new compound; it’s all a huge chain and no single employee can do anything significantly new. </p>
<p>In a large company, your role is very narrow and specific, that’s true.</p>
<p>But, in a smaller company, or in a remote site of a large one, its much more likely that a chemist will have to also be an engineer or an engineer also have to be a chemist, because the staff will probably only have 4-5 chemists and engineers looking over an entire plant. A chemist will be expected to know some process calculations (especially ones in management roles) and a chemical engineer will be expected to know synthesis techniques and instrumentation use. The company I worked at had chemical engineers and chemists working side by side on the same things being paid the exact way.</p>
<p>something you should realize is that just getting a BS isnt really enough to separate you.</p>
<p>also, something to consider is that chemical engrs take more classes in their major. something you could consider doing is just taking a chem major and spending those electives to take some chemical engr classes (fluid mechs, control systems, etc). </p>
<p>don’t feel like you need to take every class an engr does. unless there are licensing issues with being a chemical engr. (i dont think there are).</p>
<p>^ There absolutely are licensing issues with being a chemical engineer. To attain the higher paying jobs, you will need to be licensed as a Professional Engineer (PE). This will require an engineering degree, time working under a PE, and successful completion of a licensing exam. I believe there may be two exams (one for Engineer in Training you can take at the time you graduate, the other after 5 years of applicable experience. </p>
<p>If you want to be a chemical engineer, take an engineering curriculum. It isn’t really the same as a Chemistry major with some electives. But if you really like chemistry, there are lots of career opportunities there, too. Chemical Engineering programs will have more applied physics and math and less chemistry classes than most Chemistry programs. </p>
<p>LTY’s statement that the distinction is “almost nonexistent” is inaccurate in the broader sense. While there may be places where both chemists and engineers work side by side in nearly identical jobs, that is not really all that common.</p>
<p>Civil is the exception but you don’t need anything to work as a chemical engineer. Chemists are hired for process engineer positions and chemical engineers are hired for chemist positions. Otherwise, where do you think the thousands of chemical engineering graduates go, into the 21000 total number (including engineers who have worked 20+ years!) and shrinking 2% a year career titled “Chemical Engineer”?</p>
<p>^“I don’t know where you are but in the US only 20% of engineers even get a license. Electrical and chemical engineers almost never get licensed.”</p>
<p>But as I said, "to attain the higher paying jobs, you will need to be licensed as a Professional Engineer (PE). " I didn’t say there were no jobs, just that licensing does exist, and that it is the traditional pathway to many of the higher paying jobs in Chemical Engineering. </p>
<p>Also, it is reasonable to expect that, all other things being equal, a B.S. Chemistry with a few ChemE courses is at a disadvantage over a B.S. ChemE when competing for the entry level engineering job (and it is likely the other way around when competing for chemistry jobs). So my premise holds, if you want to be an engineer, take an engineering curriculum.</p>
<p>Trained as a chemist myself, I can tell you that I do not regret being a chemist. One other thing: You are getting into school to acquire the knowledge to learn. You will need to be able to learn new thing in your life. Although I got a Ph.D in chemistry, I am now doing marketing and management for living… Our past CEO was also an organic chemist out of Texas A&M. Jack Welch(retired CEO of GE) was trained as Chem Engineer at UIUC. Go figure…Take-home-message: Go out and learn. You will find your way after graduation. As long as you can learn and smart, the sky is the limit. Good luck!</p>
<p>Well said Arbydan. As another older member, I agree that learning is a life-long process and continued learning important to career advancement. So, study the things you are interested in, because you’ll probably be learning about them throughout your career.</p>