Hi, i was wondering any information about chemistry B.A. major. I am currently a Pre-bio major waiting to get into pharmacology major but I am having doubts about my major because I am not sure if I could study biology for the rest of my life. I would do Chemistry B.S. but im taking a different physics series right now. If i were to do chemistry B.S., I would be a quarter or 2 quarters behind because of the different physics series and Im not sure if I want to do that. I just want to know if chemistry B.A. major is okay for industry wise. I do know that it doesnt matter for grad schools. Im either deciding on grad school or get straight into getting a job.
Thank you.
Depends on your school and what the differences between the BS and BA majors are.
Chemistry majors do not have the greatest job prospects in industry in any case, so you may want to prepare for the possibility or likelihood of seeking employment widely, i.e. not restricted to jobs directly relating to chemistry.
My school is UCSB.
http://www.chem.ucsb.edu/undergrad/current#CurriculumFAQs says:
You could do the BA program, but use your electives to include the additional courses that the BS program specifies. Differences:
http://www.chem.ucsb.edu/sites/secure.lsit.ucsb.edu.chem.d7-2/files/sitefiles/undergrad/degreerequirements/Chem%20%28BA%29%20sample%20schedule%2015-16.pdf
http://www.chem.ucsb.edu/sites/secure.lsit.ucsb.edu.chem.d7-2/files/sitefiles/undergrad/degreerequirements/Chem%20%28BS%29%20sample%20schedule%2015-16.pdf
It does not look like any upper division chemistry course at UCSB that requires physics as a prerequisite disallows 6A-6B-6C, although it is entirely possible that some courses may be more difficult if you have 6A-6B-6C instead of 1-2-3-4.
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/2012-2013/CollegesDepartments/ls-intro/chem.aspx?DeptTab=Courses
I graduated with a BA in chemistry and have been happy with the (environmental laboratory) jobs I got with it over the following 30 years. Generally such laboratories also readily hire biology majors to do analytical work. Surrounded by biology majors and people without a 4-year degree in laboratories (who sometimes rise to do analyses after proving themselves in simpler work), I was in fact considered an especially well qualified employee.
(I changed from the BS track to the BA one in order to get more knowledge of other things, especially biology. That seemed to be and, in fact, did turn out to be of more use than the additional courses in chemistry that the BS required.)
In my experience, the key to high assuredness of employment in analytical laboratories is experience operating GC, GCMS, LCMS, HPLC and/or ICP, the BS doesn’t matter and ACS accreditation of the bachelor’s program doesn’t matter.
Thank you for the replies! Im not sure why chem BS requires physics 1 series instead of 6 series when all the upper division requires physics 1 or 6 series as acceptable. Its weird. I actually have to think quite. I might jump into biochemistry B.S. major since it only requires physics 6 series plus no bio classes after 2nd year. Oh well I would have to talk to my parents about the whole major change. Not sure if they’ll let me.
Why would your parents disallow you from changing majors? If it is about potential job and career prospects, biology is probably no better than chemistry (may be worse).
I would not encourage getting a Chemistry or any science degree with the intention of going straight into the job market after garduating. All you will be qualified for are lab jobs and they are becoming a staffing agency infested race to the bottom. Think $15 an hour no benefits of any kind. Not worth college at all. Pretty much the same deal with an MS degree and PhD’s end up in post-doc limbo. Just a bad deal for a smart person.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ghTNpY22OA
This video covers it pretty well.
@ucbalumnus If I did the B.A. and added courses that are in B.S. as electives(thereby fulfilling the requirements for B.S. except different physics seeries), does that mean when I graduate, ill have a Chem B.S.? No right? Regardless, would there be any advantages of doing that? Would the advantage be taking that courses and proving my future employers that I took the same chemistry courses as B.S. major? Im just wondering because Ive heard some companies require chemistry B.S. majors and was wondering if even though I take the same chemistry classes as a B.S. major with a different physics classes, I wouldnt be considered by the job since my degree is a B.A.