Okay so I’ve read a lot online and even on the forums here that majoring in chemistry is a dead end and I won’t get good pay etc etc… I’m planning on becoming a chemistry teacher so idk if that applies there, but if I wanted to work in the field, is it really that slim of me getting a job!? And does anyone know if I want to be a chem teacher, is a BS or BA better, and if I should go to grad school as well?? Thanks!
No, it’s not a dead end. Some posters on this subject have a very bad attitude, probably from a personal disappointment or unreasonable expectations.
In general, where both the BS and the BA are offered, the BS goes more in depth and requires the more rigorous classes. You really should talk to your major advisor about what course of study is recommended. Outside of teaching, you will find yourself at a competitive disadvantage for many jobs if you choose the BA. The BA is usually not appropriate for any serious Chemistry grad school.
@JustOneDad
I don’t get why you keep insisting that people major in certain science subjects. What makes you think that most chemistry majors will get the opportunity for meaningful career advancement working as a chemist? What’s your idea of a “reasonable” salary?
Sure, you can get a job doing something other than chemistry - but then why not major in something more related to that job in the first place? Interest in the subject isn’t too great of a reason these days, as there are videos on Youtube that thoroughly cover the entire undergraduate chemistry curriculum. There are also videos for lab techniques - you just won’t develop muscle memory in executing these techniques, however chemistry majors won’t be particularly skilled in such techniques unless they work in a research lab.
Also, I think the B.A. vs B.S. distinction is quite exaggerated. Some schools don’t even offer a B.S. degree. There is no standard way of distinguishing between the two so therefore saying “I have a B.S. instead of a B.A.” doesn’t reveal any meaningful information, as one school’s B.S. degree might be equivalent to another school’s B.A. As for graduate school, research experience is king. My school’s graduate program in chemistry is decently ranked, especially in organic chemistry, and yet I’ve met plenty of grad students who not only do not have a B.S. degree in chemistry but also didn’t even major in chemistry as an undergraduate.
An ACS certified chemistry degree on the other hand is standardized so if your school offers it and you care about such things then go for it.
Chemistry as a major isn’t a bad choice if you want to become a high school chemistry teacher. I would strongly considering taking classes in other science subjects as well if your school’s chemistry program doesn’t already make you take them anyway as you might have to teach other subjects in addition to chemistry.
It is a poor major for direct employment almost as bad as the liberal arts.
Chemists are not highly valued nor treated well on the job market. They are so lacking in value most companies aren’t even directly hiring them anymore. The large companies especially now go to temp/staffing agencies like Kelly or Aerotek to staff their labs and after those pimps take their cut they will leave you with ~$15 an hour with no or joke benefits like paid time off, healthcare, raises etc. Heck the people driving the fork lifts with just a HS diploma were paid significantly more and had better benefits than the BS/MS level chemists in the laboratories.
Most of the industries that hire chemists have been in a long term decline. Chemical companies are continuing to disappear in the USA. The past 10 years have been a bloodbath with pharma who now are following the use disposable contractors model I described above along with off-shoring.
The best paths I see for Bios/Chem/Biochem majors is to go to healthcare professional school (med pharm dental PA PT), get a graduate degree in something unrelated, or teach. There are a few decent job at some companies and with the government but the competition especially for a fed job is very fierce. On my last job search I would apply for such jobs and would hear back they had more than 1000 qualified applicants.
For youtube I believe this person’s video is accurate and covers the issue pretty well.