Alex
What will a masters do for me in the field of chemistry?
I'm looking into going into chemistry as a major, but I am not sure what the difference will be if I go into the field with a bachelor's degree as compared to a master's degree. #college-major #chemistry #bachelors-degree #masters-degree
2 answers
Ian Sarad
Ian’s Answer
It will add about $15,000 to your salary. There are loads of jobs that are only available to people with advanced degrees (MS / PhD) and they tend to pay quite a bit more than those that are open to BS graduates. There are also a lot of jobs that will require MS + 2 years of experience of BS + 5 years experience.
kunal arora
kunal’s Answer
Studying chemistry opens doors to a range of sectors and opportunities, meaning your future career doesn't have to be in a lab
Job options
Jobs directly related to your degree include:
Analytical chemist
Chemical engineer
Healthcare scientist, clinical biochemistry
Forensic scientist
Pharmacologist
Research scientist (physical sciences)
Toxicologist
Jobs where your degree would be useful include:
Chartered certified accountant
Environmental consultant
Higher education lecturer
Nuclear engineer
Patent attorney
Science writer
Secondary school teacher
Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.
Work experience
If you haven't done an industrial placement as part of your degree, getting some relevant work experience is a good way of gaining an insight into your options. Finding chemistry-related experience in a lab can be difficult, so you may need to widen your search.
Research chemical companies in your local area and if they don't offer a formal scheme, try sending a speculative CV asking for work shadowing or short-term work experience. If they don't have opportunities directly related to chemistry, see if you can get some work experience in another area of the company, for example administration or marketing. This will give you an insight into the company and how chemistry is applied in the workplace
Volunteering is another way of enhancing your CV. Although you may not find many opportunities that directly relate to your chemistry degree, there are many schemes that focus on related areas such as the environment, sustainability, ethics and medicine. There may also be opportunities at your local hospital to work in a pathology lab.