<p>The title explains it all, is it worth majoring in Chemistry? It seems to be the only subject I'm really interested in and I would like to pursue a career in that field. However, I've heard that it's not a good major because of the lack of decent jobs. Can someone give me verification on this?</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/internships-careers-employment/1121619-university-graduate-career-surveys.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/internships-careers-employment/1121619-university-graduate-career-surveys.html</a></p>
<p>There are also a few regular posters who commonly complain about the poor job prospects in chemistry and/or biology, mostly confirming what the surveys say (although they sometimes overstate their claims by implying that all sciences are just as bad).</p>
<p>Chemical engineering does not interest you?</p>
<p>Chemical engineering doesn’t interest me as much as general chemistry. Also, would it better to just major in Pharmacy if I wanted to become a pharmacist rather than majoring in Chemistry? I’m sort of undecided on my career, but I definitely want to have a job relating to Chemistry.</p>
<p>You can major in anything you want to go to pharmacy school. I fulfilled my pre-pharmacy requirements while taking CS and biz classes when I felt like I needed a backup plan. Lots of pharmacy students majored in psychology, business, engineering, etc. Some pharmacy programs take you straight out of community college and you don’t even need a major or a degree, just the prerequisites (although these are becoming rare as pharmacy becomes a popular career and competition increases).</p>
<p>I’m ignorant about chemistry professions other than pharmacy in general, but why would someone major in chemistry rather than chemical engineering? Not a rhetorical question. What can a chemistry major do that a chem.E major can’t?</p>
<p>It seems like Chem Eng. students say organic chemistry and other chem classes are the most tedious part of their major. If you’re doing those classes anyway, why not take the pay raise?</p>
<p>Both are overkill for prepharm. You only need calculus I and 4 chem classes, a year of bio + general ed for most pharmacy schools.</p>
<p>Majoring in Chemistry is a whole lot less work (less math, less physics). At my school, ChemE’s have to take math through differential equations while Chemistry majors only have to take it through Calc 2. </p>
<p>It really all depends on the person. Does the OP really enjoy bench work? That’s almost all you’ll be able to do with a Chemistry degree and you’d have to go to grad school, at that. ChemE’s don’t need further education to start at an entry-level engineering position - which is fairly well paid.</p>
<p>Oh wow. At the universities I checked out (UCs and CalPoly), Calc III, linear alg. and differential equations are mandatory for regular chemistry majors. A year or two of physics as well. It seems like we differentiate very little between chem and chem.E curriculum, yet employers still prefer chem.E.</p>
<p>ChemE’s take completely different courses. We take courses based on mass production and industrial process. Chemistry majors take courses based more on theory and less on application. </p>
<p>Pre-reqs are similar - though only required to take math through Calc 2, it is “strongly recommended” that Chemistry majors take math through linear algebra. But either way, the actual curriculum is very different and a BSE in ChemE is worth more salary-wise though requiring the same amount of time (but more work).</p>
<p>Hmmm, comparing the chemistry and chemical engineering majors at Berkeley:
[General</a> Catalog - Chemistry (Department of)](<a href=“http://general-catalog.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=CHEM]General”>http://general-catalog.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=CHEM)
[General</a> Catalog - Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering](<a href=“http://general-catalog.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=CHM+ENG]General”>http://general-catalog.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=CHM+ENG)</p>
<ul>
<li>Both require math through multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations.</li>
<li>Both require two semesters of physics for scientists and engineers.</li>
<li>Both require a quantitative general chemistry course for chemistry and chemical engineering majors, a semester of upper division organic chemistry, and a semester of upper division physical chemistry. (Note that these are different and harder courses than those that biology majors and pre-meds usually take. So are the physics courses.)</li>
</ul>
<p>Chemistry adds:</p>
<ul>
<li>Six additional chemistry courses, including the second semesters of organic chemistry and physical chemistry.</li>
<li>Second semester foreign language or equivalent.</li>
<li>15 credit units (about four courses) of humanities and social studies.</li>
</ul>
<p>Chemical engineering adds:</p>
<ul>
<li>Eight chemical engineering courses.</li>
<li>Three non-chemical engineering courses.</li>
<li>An engineering elective.</li>
<li>A semester of biology.</li>
<li>19 credit units (about five courses) of humanities and social studies.</li>
</ul>
<p>So it looks like a chemical engineering major has about six more courses to complete than a chemistry major at Berkeley.</p>
<p>No you will work harder than most other majors and end up unemployed or fighting for a $15/hour no benefits dead end temp job.</p>
<p>Science in this country especially Biology and Chemistry is a dying profession.</p>
<p>Thank you guys for your input, I might have to re-think what I major in.</p>