<p>My D1 is changing her major from chemistry to a double major in Anthropology/Science and Technical Writing. She seems to think that she'll be able to be employed however I'm not so sure. Anyone have any ideas what kind of job she can get with this degree. She is emphasizing more in the science writing and less in the technical end (which seems to be mostly manuals)</p>
<p>Chemistry is not exactly a major with good job and career prospects to begin with.</p>
<p>(The sciences that are better in this respect are physics, (applied) math, statistics, and computer science. Chemical engineering is better than chemistry in this respect. Biology is poor in this respect – lots of failed pre-meds flooding the job market.)</p>
<p>Not a very helpful comment UCB (and I disagree that Chemistry is a “bad” major; Unemployment among BS level chemists is far lower than among many other non-professional degrees). OP wants to know about her D’s current choice.</p>
<p>I think anthropology is a tough sell at the moment, but good science writers seem to be in demand. It’s not the sort of field where you can expect a recruiter to come to campus to search you down, but in this on-line age that’s not as big a handicap as it once was. If I were you I would encourage your D to aggressively pursue internships to try to get a foot in the door as a science writer.</p>
<p>I don’t think the anthropology portion of it will bring in jobs, but the tech writing portion of it could. There is a need for good tech writers out there, it is a very definite skillset that is sorely lacking out there in many cases. Quite frankly, if you ever saw the state of technical documentation, or what passes for it, you would see the need. Based on my experience in the tech sector, it is the kind of job that often comes about through roundabout means, so getting an internship and such may be a great idea, it also might be wise to find out from people in the department about how you go about getting jobs like that, but there is a definite need for it.</p>
<p>As far as UG chem degrees, even going back to my dark age time in the field, chemists with a BS generally end up in lab tech kind of jobs, to become a ‘real’ chemist these days, in the chemical industry or pharm generally requires grad level degrees, living in an area with a number of pharm companies and having met quite a few chemists and scientists there, they all had grad level degrees, lot of phd’s. Chemical engineering is different then chemistry, there you can get good jobs with a bs. Not so much that jobs with a bs in chemistry don’t exist, just that IME these days they tend to be in relatively low end, lower paying jobs.</p>
<p>I’m a retired technical writer/editor. Your D should check out the Society for Technical Communication (STC) at [url=<a href=“http://www.stc.org/]STC.org[/url”>http://www.stc.org/]STC.org[/url</a>]. The key values of STC membership are access to best-in-class technical communication education and training programs, career development and professional networking opportunities, and special interest groups. Student membership is $75 as opposed to the $215 regular membership dues, and a number of colleges have student chapters.</p>
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<p>Many companies have technical writers on staff. I would say not a bad decision to couple Technical Writing with a science major. If her primary motivation is the technical writing I think she’ll be fine over the long haul.</p>
<p>If she’s wants to be a technical writer AND have lots and lots of job opportunities, she should consider taking programming and as many information technology classes as she can (I’d suggest IT offered through business departments rather than C.S. classes.) Some web design classes would also be a help – more and more is being delivered as web content. Some of these can be taken outside the college she’s attending during summers if she likes. (Some perfectly good programs are offered very inexpensively by regional (public) vocational schools or community colleges. Look for ones that get Carl Perkins funding (not the same as the loan program that has the same name.))</p>
<p>She’ll do better in majors she likes. Upper level chemistry classes can be horrendous if your heart isn’t in them, as well as time consumers with all of the required labs. Be supportive of her following her heart.</p>
<p>Thanks all- I’m a little more reassured now. She really loves writing and science so I’m hoping this pans out for her or I’ll have to move my hobby stuff out of her room :)</p>
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<p>Lower level chem classes aren’t much better! </p>
<p>Don’t technical writers have their own specialty software? Seems like someone told me that once…</p>
<p>"Don’t technical writers have their own specialty software? " - Most colleges probably emphasize general technical communication concepts… tools and software change over time. </p>
<p>OP - Please post updates next year. This may interest other students too.</p>
<p>Chemistry IS a bad major right now, especially since the Great Employer of Chemists (the pharma industry) has dramatically and drastically reduced hiring as it offshores jobs to India and China. Take a look at the Chemjobber blog if you want to see the carnage. Even a grad degree doesn’t necessarily help any more.</p>
<p>Of course, any major is a bad major if you don’t like it. Better to switch now than when you’re being brutalized by p-chem!</p>
<p>I think it was O-chem that got her- she said it seemed so random to her. She did fine in calc and physics but doesn’t really want to be an engineer. Her school had a “find your major” class and that is what led her to the anthro/science writing double major. She’ll probably have to go a semester longer. She is already looking for internships and/or anthro research opportunities.</p>
<p>I agree with UCB. On top of that there are plenty of quality pre-med biology & chemistry majors, who didn’t get accepted to med school, that go on to graduate programs in the bio-sciences and allied health that are in the job market even if the job only requires a B.Sc. An employer will pick these people up first and if they work hard will get promoted up faster.</p>
<p>To the OP: I suggest your D1 study physics instead.</p>
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<p>Take a look at this career survey: <a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Major.stm[/url]”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Major.stm</a></p>
<p>Note that 2008 was the most recent year where average pay of chemistry graduates was given, due to too few reporting in more recent years.</p>
<p>Chemical engineering, on the other hand, has much better job and career prospects. So do (applied) math, statistics, and physics.</p>
<p>I know two anthropology majors (recent grads) with jobs. Surprised me! They are both very happy. The key seems to be taking advantage of internships and research opportunities at college. I quit second guessing major choice/career opportunity choices. True passions combined with ambition usually find their niche. And end up happy.</p>
<p>As a parent whose DD has looked earnestly( and finally did) change majors, I applaud your daughter for making a change she feels she will be happier with and probably more employable. With theincreasing technology focus in many areas of the economy in the US and abroad, I would think she has made a choice that positions her well for more opportunities than a single science. There are a number of areas she could write for including the areas of medicine and law. Because she will have a science background, if she decided at some point to go to law school, she would have option of practicing Patent Law-one of the few areas of law where hiring continues to be steady and entry-level salaries are currently 160K+.</p>
<p>As other posters have suggested, summer internships will be helpful for her to see what options she has and her comfort level. Our DD was sure she wanted to either manage or curate at a major museum until she spent her first summer after freshman year working for a major museum That experience prompted her to change her major…</p>
<p>I do not see where Anthropology fits in here unless the only science she is going to write about is human evolution. It would be better to concentrate in Physics instead which is fundamental to all science and technology.</p>
<p>Georgiatwins - It is my understanding that the PTO is specific about the types of science background one needs to be able to sit for the patent bar, and anthropology does not seem to be on the list at all. Anyone interested in these requirements can check the PTO website for the list.</p>
<p>Several students from our area have been successful in obtaining employment with the patent office after graduating with a science or engineering degree, and a few have then gone on to law school. I understand that the patent office is hiring right now. It is also possible (for now) to take the Patent Bar if basic science requirements have been met, and to obtain employment as a patent agent. Most who go this route seem to have a graduate degree in a scientific area, but an undergraduate degree is enough to sit for the exam. Some students take the exam before entering law school, or before graduating from law school. I believe the pass rate is about 30%.</p>
<p>Wow-lots of ideas from everyone. D is really interested in human evolution and I think that’s why she chose anthropology but doesn’t seem sure about job opportunities although she is looking at grad school. She’s also planning on taking web design classes as well as other computer classes. I think she would be a great science journalist but not sure about the market for that, she hasn’t expressed much interest in that but I think that is more due to unfamiliarity than anything else. She is very determined and proactive (and pretty anal to boot) so I’m sure she’ll get it all together eventually. She’s only a sophomore so not too far into anything at this point- I’ve had friends whose kids decided to change majors their Sr year.</p>