<p>Hello everyone. I'm having a few problems deciding between a bachelor's degree in chemistry and chemical engineering. One option would be to get a bachelor's in chemistry and a master's in chemical engineering. My question is, would this be looked down upon in the job search arena because I didn't demonstrate an interest in engineering in undergraduate studies? Would employers question my commitment to the field? </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>A chemistry degree wouldn’t prepare you for graduate study in chemical engineering. You’d have to take the right courses as undergrad electives and then possibly complete remedial coursework if admitted to graduate school.</p>
<p>Usually I don’t buy the idea that you will figure out which program to choose just by waiting and taking a few classes, but in this case that’s exactly what I’d recommend. The first year should be pretty much the same for both of these majors. Talk to faculty in both departments and let that guide you.</p>
<p>Can I ask why you are interested in the chemistry major? The phrasing in your post implies that you would like to be a chemical engineer…</p>
<p>I am a pre-med who, if medical school doesn’t work out, can see myself doing nothing else but chemical engineering. Of course, ChemE is a rigorous curriculum and at my school, it is very rigid. I don’t want to miss out on my school’s humanities classes which are arguably the best in the country. A Chemistry degree gives me more flexibility. It would also give me more time to do research, volunteer, etc. while I’m not bogged down with ChemE problem sets. ChemE is a hard way to do pre-med at my school. </p>
<p>Also, I will definitely talk to my advisers from those departments once I get on campus, but I have to choose classes now. The big decision is to either take engineering physics or pre-med physics. The former is harder and designed to “weed out” potential engineering and physics majors while the latter is designed for pre-meds. Naturally, the curve is steeper and less lenient in the former. So I don’t want to take engineering physics unless I am set on a ChemE degree so that I am prepared for the hit on my GPA. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>So, it sounds like your career preferences look like:</p>
<p>MD > chemical engineer > anything else</p>
<p>is that right?</p>
<p>Is there any way you can look at materials from previous sections of the engineering physics course? If you can handle it, that would keep your options open.</p>
<p>Yeah, that looks about right. Third would be a doctorate in chemistry allowing me to conduct bench research. The engineering physics course just covers material faster and in more depth. I think it also presents problems as engineering problems. I’ve only had a year of easy high school physics (without electromagnetism) and frankly, I have no idea whether I can handle it.</p>