Career Options for Chemistry & Biochemistry
Students with a B.A. or B.S. in chemistry and biochemistry can directly enter industrial jobs as a laboratory chemist or technician. Students are also prepared to further their education in M.S. or Ph.D. programs. Chemistry is also integral in most pre-health settings, and a strong background in chemistry helps pave the way into those professional schools, whether you are pre-vet, pre-med, or another type of pre-health student.
A chemistry degree not only opens the door to professional or graduate work in the field of chemistry but can also serve as a foundation for many other fields. The American Chemical Society has 33 divisions that offer a variety of career options. Below we’ve listed a plethora of examples where chemistry is vital, from criminal justice to environmental work.
Future career opportunities with chemistry:
- Biochemist/Molecular Biologist
- Chemist
- Education
- Criminal Justice/Law (Crime Lab Analyst, Forensic Chemist, Patent Agent)
- Food/Drug Development and Safety (Cosmetics, Food Scientist, Microbiologist, Pharmaceutical Sales Representative, Pharmacy Technician, Toxicologist)
- Engineering (Chemical Engineer, Color Development Chemist, Metallurgical Engineer, Product Development Manager, Senior Product Chemist)
- Environmental/Agricultural (Agricultural Scientist, Entomologist, Environmental Engineer, EPA Inspector, Environmental Microbiologist, Fire Protection Engineer, Geochemist, Hydrologist, Oceanographer, Soil Scientist, Water Purification Chemist, Water/Wastewater Plant Operator)
- Pre-Health Focus (Physician, Physical Therapist, Psychiatrist, Radiologist, Veterinarian, Optometrist, Occupational Therapist, Dentist, Anesthesiologist, General Surgery Resident)
- Scientific Research (Research Analytical Chemist, Research Associate, Science Laboratory Technician, Senior Lab Technician)
… among many other options!!
Some of these job opportunities do require further training, whether that be graduate school or professional school. With all the options listed above it is easy to become overwhelmed, but that is what your advisors at Adrian College are there for! If something interests you, reach out to your advisor or anyone in the Chemistry and Biochemistry department for more information on possible internships, research opportunities, and ways to further your career in chemistry!
Additional Resources
Adrian College Alumni
Most of our graduates are in professional school (e.g., as medical school, PA program, dental school), graduate school or employed within the first year in a job in their field.
Professional school placements for our recent majors and minors include MD programs (Wayne State University, Central Michigan University, Oakland University, Medical College of Wisconsin), DO program (Michigan State University), Doctor of Pharmacy programs (University of Michigan, Wayne State University, Ferris State University), and Dental DDS programs (University of Michigan, Ohio State University, University of Kentucky, University of Detroit Mercy).
Many of our recent graduates have gone on to MS and PhD programs at the following: University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wayne State University, University of Alabama Huntsville, Florida Institute of Technology, University of South Alabama, and Carnegie Mellon.
Several alumni have been employed shortly after graduating at companies such as Wacker Chemical, Anderson Chemical, Pfizer, Abbott Labs, W2 Fuels, and Eastman Chemical.
