<p>I have thought a lot about my future this weekend, and after switching between physics and chemE major, I have decided upon chemE for a variety of reasons: I like chem, physics, and math, job security, no phD needed, etc.</p>
<p>I am looking into minors, and I am surprised that my school (19th in Undergraduate Chemical Engineering according to PR) does not have a chemistry minor. I really like chemistry and want to take as many classes as possible, but it looks like my schedule is pretty tight already. I'll probably minor in physics due to my interest in the subject. I just don't want to get burned out by so much math. I really do love it at this point in my life, and I hope to be able to continue to do so. I've also considered biological sciences (biology) and just take as many biochem classes as I can, but then Biotechnology would be only 2 more classes than what I need for chemE.</p>
<p>As you can probably tell, I have a lot of ideas floating around in my head.l..so, what's a good minor for someone majoring in chemE? I've heard business is good, but I really am not the money-minded individual, and I absolutely hated my AP gov't class...it just seemed incredibly pointless.</p>
<p>Edit: also see Logic and Methodology...interesting?</p>
<p>Most ChemE curricula include more Chem courses than any minor would include. </p>
<p>Minors really aren’t that valuable to employment opportunities. The only time one would add value is as a signal to employers of an area of specialization (i.e. minoring in Plastics Manufacturing would be a plus to plastic companies).</p>
<p>Who says you “must” have a Phd for physics? My mom’s cousin is a physicist and he is doing plenty fine (as good as engineers) with a masters. I think the general idea is that it is best to do some form of grad school after a b.s. in physics, but it does not have to be a phd necessarily.</p>
<p>^^It seems it depends on where one wants to work. The scientists working in a research environment or faculty professors generally have PhDs in their respective fields.</p>
<p>Well of course faculty professors and researchers will need a phd, however to go into industry a phd is not a must. Like you said it depends on where he wants to work</p>
<p>For my chemE degree, I just have to take chem I and II and organic chem I and II. I don’t think that’s any more than a biology major would have to take?</p>
<p>So you’re saying that I should just choose a fun major, in my case physics?
Aggiengineer, I have just heard that from gazing at physics forums…that most research physicists have a phD. I will look into masters’ jobs.</p>
<p>Like I said, researchers need a phd but a master’s is just fine in getting you a job in industry. I don’t know what you mean by a “fun” major. Both majors you have mentioned are going to be very difficult and require similar amounts of work. However, I would go with the major you feel you would enjoy the most.</p>
<p>In addition to the 4 I listed, I’ll take: Orgs w/labs, CH 225 Chemical Proc Systems, CH 315 Quantitative Analysis, and CH *** Chemistry Elective2. I don’t know why I thought it was just the few.</p>
<p>You should have enough time to take a few elective courses in pure Chem above and beyond what is required for your ChemEng degree. Don’t worry about getting a “minor”… just take 2-3 non-required Chem courses that (a) you have a genuine interest in and (b) might make your resume stand out. Really focus on (a) though, and (b) will probably follow.</p>
<p>Q. What’s a good minor for ChemE major?
A. If Chem isn’t an option, then Applied Math is probably the subject with the most overlap, not Physics.
Chem is normally an easy, almost automatic minor, but your shool’s ChemE requirements are still a little light on Chem anyway and since a minor isn’t offered forget it.</p>
<p>I agree with BanjoHitter, minors are worthless as far as getting a job is concerned. If you have the time take electives that you think might be fun and that interest you and forget about getting a minor.</p>
<p>Well, if they had a chemistry minor he was interested in, it might be worth it. However, that not being the case, taking a few courses will be (nearly) equivalent.</p>