Chemistry

What Can I Do With A Major In Chemistry?

Approximately 100,000 chemists currently work in the U.S. The majority of these chemists are employed in manufacturing firms-mostly in the chemical manufacturing industry, which includes firms that produce plastics and synthetic materials, drugs, soaps and cleaners, paints, industrial organic chemicals, and other miscellaneous chemical products. Chemists also work for State and local governments, primarily in health and agriculture, and for Federal agencies, chiefly in the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, and Agriculture. Others work for research and testing services, and educational institutions.

Employment of chemists is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2005. In July 1997, the American Chemical Society reported that: "With overall unemployment in the U.S. at its lowest level since 1973, job status and salaries of chemists improved considerably after several rough years." Source: University of North Carolina at Wilmington Department of Chemistry.

The University of Montana Department of Chemistry offers majors in: B.S. in Chemistry, B.A. in Chemistry, B.S. in Chemistry with an Emphasis in Biochemistry, B.S. in Chemistry with an Environmental Chemistry Option, B.S. in Chemistry with a Biological Chemistry Option, B.S. in Chemistry with a Pharmacology Option, B.S. in Chemistry with a Forensic Chemistry Option (submitted for approval).

A Sample of Related Occupations

Types of Employers

Related Web Links

• The University of Montana Department of Chemistry
• Chemistry.org
• Chemjobs.net
• Chemistryjobs.com
• Sciencecareers.org
• Sciencejobs.com
• Sciencemag.org
• Directory of Salary Surveys on the Web

Professional Associations

• American Chemical Society
• American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors
• American Society of Forensic Sciences
• Society of Chemical Industry

For additional career information, see the Occupational Outlook Handbook