<p>While majoring in Chemistry? If I did this, I would be able to shadow a chemical engineer at my father's work, and I would read up on some ChemE books over the summer. Is it possible, let alone sane for me to do this?</p>
<p>If you want to be a ChemE, why not major in ChemE? There are always threads on here asking the same question. Can I major in physics and be an engineer? Can I major in math and be an engineer? The answer is possibly, but if your end goal is to be an engineer, why not major in engineering. If you want to be a ChemE with a chemistry degree, you will have to compete with ChemE graduates for jobs. You are going to be a a disadvantage here. So again, why not major in engineering?</p>
<p>You can get both degrees relatively easily as there is a lot of course overlap but a chem major and a chbe major are way too different. What your learn in chemistry is not very applicable to what is desired in ChBE.</p>
<p>Chemistry and Chemical Engineering are very different majors. I very strongly doubt you’ll be able to find a position that requires a ChemE degree with a Chem degree. That said, some ChemE MS programs will allow Chem majors to enroll as long as you take some leveling courses. </p>
<p>As others have mentioned, if you can go to a ChemE school, I highly recommend that. However, if there’s some reason you can’t do that (for example you have to live at home and you do not have an engineering program in town), you could try the BS.Chem -> MS ChemE path. But it’s not ideal and I would only recommend it if you absolutely have to do it.</p>
<p>The two majors are totally different leading to two totally different careers.</p>
<p>^Banjo Hitter do you have any experience with going from a Bachelors in Chemistry to a Masters in ChemE?</p>
<p>I’ve heard sparse reports of people going from chem to chemE via grad school, but it is not an easy transition at all and not very common. Chemistry is more science oriented. Engineering is more design and manufacturing oriented with the science just for background. You would need a ton of engineering classes to catch up.</p>
<p>Although I have also heard accounts of chem majors being hired as Chemical engineers this is a very rare exception and in most cases you will not be considered for an engineer position without an engineering degree.</p>
<p>Go straight for ChemE as chemistry and most other sciences are useless stepping stones for professional school like med, pharm, or dental. With a science degree you will end up in a dead end and extremely low paying technicians job.</p>
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<p>I’ve known a few people that have done it. Usually, the student comes from a top chemistry program with excellent grades and does research in a more chemistry-intensive area like Catalysis. The students I’ve seen do it typically take 2-3 years to earn an MS while ChemE BS students can graduate in 1 year (non-thesis) to 2 years.</p>
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<p>You can make a nice career for yourself with a very comfortable salary with an advanced degree in Chemistry (like many fields the master’s degree is considered the working degree, so just a BS really limits you).</p>
<p>I hold a MSc in chemistry and the only thing it does is make you slightly more attractive for the crappy BS level jobs. A lot of the ads say required BSc +2 years experience or MS. </p>
<p>The jobs are often only available as contracts via temp agencies and pay $15-20 an hour.</p>
<p>I am going back in the fall for an MS in accounting. Don’t make my mistake.</p>
<p>If you did good in physical chemistry you will do good in chemical engineering.</p>
<p>However for most chemistry majors they fear and loath physical chemistry, so they will not be good chemical engineers.</p>
<p>ChemE graduate schools could care less if you shadowed chemical engineers. All non-professional graduate schools care about 4 things and 4 things alone: GPA, GRE, Recommendations, Research. Don’t bother going to your dad’s workplace, don’t bother reading books on your own.</p>
<p>^^This is a n00b question but how do Masters in Accounting and MBA w/ concentration in Accounting differ?</p>
<p>MSA = accounting with some business background. It’s purpose is to allow you to sit for the CPA and/or career change.</p>
<p>MBA = business with some accounting background. It trains you to be a manager, consultant, administrator with a specialty of accounting.</p>