<p>I'm declaring my major(s) at the end of this year and am faced with a dilemma. I definitely want to major in chemistry and history (my school does not allow minors), but am up in the air about whether to do a BA or BS in chem. Basically it comes down to whether I pursue law school or graduate school in chemistry. I've been considering patent law because it would include some science, but I know very little about it. Are there job prospects for people holding advanced degrees in chem besides teaching and if so is the pay worth the time and money I'd put into grad school? Any advice would be much appreciated!</p>
<p>Absolutely - the PhD is the basic research credential in industry. Any company that <em>makes</em> something has Chemists, Chem E's, Met. E's and so forth on staff. </p>
<p>If course, you can combine the two as well - I suspect that attorneys who are also truely proficient in a hard science are fairly thin on the ground. But you talking about 8+ years of post-undergrad there...</p>
<p>Personally, I'd go for the BS, it won't hurt you for law school, and you can get a taste of research before making the comittment to grad school.</p>
<p>JLM - you could also do a BS in chem - and proceed towards law school - in environmental law to use the chem background - you have quite a few options - just need to follow what you like best and enjoy.</p>
<p>And having a B.A. rather than a B.S. is no bar to admission at many graduate science departments. You'll just be required to make up any qualifications deficiencies. And that's not as bad as it may sound. Grad schools allow a set number of undergraduate credits to be used for credit for the M.S. and Ph.D degree.</p>
<p>LakeWashington:</p>
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You'll just be required to make up any qualifications deficiencies. And that's not as bad as it may sound. Grad schools allow a set number of undergraduate credits to be used for credit for the M.S. and Ph.D degree.
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<p>False. If it is designated as a deficiency (such as Calc 2 or 3), it means that you have to take the class for no graduate credit (i.e. too low of an undergraduate level to count towards the degree). Furthermore, in this class, if you score lower than a B, you can be in jeopardy of getting asked to leave your program. </p>
<p>Generally speaking, if it is a core requirement at most schools, you are required to take the class for non-graduate credit. If it is normally an elective at most schools and it is related to your research interest, then you can normally take it for graduate credit.</p>
<p>However, my PhD minor will be in chemsitry. As it is not in my field of study, I am allowed to take 'normal' undergraduate classes to count towards my degree. For example, I'll be taking inorgo next semester and pchem the following for graduate credit towards my minor. If I was a chemistry grad student, I would not be able to take this for credit towards my degree.</p>