Hello,
My son has been admitted to Liberal arts chemistry program. He was more interested in CSE. How different it the program. From what I have learnt, is liberal arts has language requirements. Is there any downside for BA degree in chemistry vs BS in chemistry.
Thanks for your inputs in advance
@nasd987 I am not really sure the difference between the two, usually they would be taking similar classes for chemistry, however, being in CLA allows you to take different classes and have more wiggle room to explore things your son may like.
Here are a couple of links from CSE and CLA that give a little overview of their Chemistry programs. Hope this helps.
https://chem.umn.edu/academics/undergraduate/major/bachelor-science
I frequently hire chemists. I consider the BS in Chemistry from CSE to be much more relevant for a lab or research position than a BA in chemistry from CLA. Generally the BA does not have as many technical requirements as the BS. If a person is just looking for a chemistry-related job, or going pre-med, the BA is a good degree. Grad schools in chemistry will prefer the BS, with the exception of a BA doing extensive research work with a chemistry prof who will offer a good letter of rec. CLA students can transfer to CSE if they demonstrate good grades in the freshman/sophomore calc, chemistry, and physics classes.
@momlurker My daughter is going for a BS in Chemistry with Biochemistry concentration. She was previously majoring in Chemical Engineering, but she’s afraid of it just being way too much pressure. It’s also not offered at her current school (where she commutes from home). Otherwise, I think she’d continue with ChemE. I’m seeing so many negative posts about Chemistry degrees - very low pay and job opportunities. Can you offer any encouragement? Feel free to message me.
I think it comes down to job choices. Many chemists are needed for rather routine work. If a person likes the routine work, then that is fine, but those jobs don’t usually progress to greater responsibility. There are many chemistry jobs that offer more than routine, and would be much more like a typical chem eng job. In my company, a fresh chem job wouldn’t look very different than a fresh chem eng job. The more routine a worker makes the job, the less opportunity the job will offer. So a fresh grad needs to be discerning about whether a position will offer opportunities to continually learn and expand responsibility, and be aware that there are many chemistry jobs that will want a chemist, but may not be able to offer expanding responsibility. This is very typical in work that requires routine analytical chemistry measurements (ironically, chem eng students don’t have the skills to do this work). A routine analytical chemistry job will often pay $50k-$60k/year, where a less routine job will pay $60-$70k/year.
For a student who is in school, the best way to get good first job opportunities is to get internships and undergraduate research jobs on campus. Employers value these experiences.
@momlurker Thank you! She is contacting professors in hopes of getting a research position over the summer, both for the experience and to make sure she likes the work. I have read on CC that many chemistry jobs are being sourced out to other countries for lower pay. Can you comment on that?
I have worked at 2 Fortune 500 companies with many chemists and chemical engineers (and hired mainly chemical engineers) in an industrial research environment. Bachelor’s level Chemists generally end up being more like technicians. Earnings potential is definitely lower unless at the PhD level. My son was thinking about studying chemistry a couple of years ago, and decided this year to enroll at UMN in CSE for ChemE (I am overjoyed!!). I would encourage anyone thinking of doing chemistry to pursue a PhD, or switch over to ChemE. Bachelor’s level chemists, in my 22 years of experience in industry, just do not end up with well-paying, interesting jobs IMO.
Just a bit of addition to what has been said here. The American Chemical Society (ACS) has an approval program for Bachelor’s Degrees in Chemistry. “ACS-approved programs offer a broad-based and rigorous chemistry education that gives students intellectual, experimental, and communication skills to become effective scientific professionals” and graduate students.
https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/about/governance/committees/training/acsapproved.html
There are many colleges that offer BA Degrees in Chemistry that are ACS approved. In other words, they are just as rigouous as their ACS approved BS Degree counterparts.
“The CSE degree program (minimum of 40 credits of chemistry) meets the ACS certification requirements credit-wise but, depending upon which laboratory courses are taken, it may not meet the distribution requirements for laboratory instruction. The CLA degree program (minimum of 35 credits of chemistry) does not meet the ACS certification requirements but could easily be made to do so by the proper choice of advanced technical electives. Please consult an undergraduate studies advisor for further information.”
@Bay_blade2000 Can you elaborate on what pay a BS Chem might expect, both starting and further down the road?
@GeorgiaMom50 Here are 3 salary surveys from the American Chemical Society. They are a few years old, as you have to be a member to get more current data.
Starting salaries, new graduates, 2013 https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/careers/salaries/new-graduates-cen-2013.pdf
Chem Census of ACS Members https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/careers/salaries/cen_chemcensus_2015.pdf
How do chemists’ salaries stack up? 2016, https://cen.acs.org/articles/94/i45/Does-salary-stand.html
@CollegeGrad79 Thank you! This is helpful information.
In an industrial research and development type job, a BS/BA chemist end up being more like a technician. A chemical engineer is more versatile, and therefore, I frequently see ChemE’s advance faster than Chemists.
In general, the BS is more rigorous, but you are right that the CSE experience would be less broad (but there would be more math and science rigor). If your child goes the BA route and is interested in grad school he or she can just take more and harder classes than required for the BA (for example, CSE chem instead of general chem). Grad schools will look at the transcript.
The advice above about meeting the ACS requirements is good advice.