Majors at the University of Connecticut

Chemistry

Students take a plan of study outlined by the Chemistry Department that will lead to Certification by the American Chemical Society. Those courses include chemistry, mathematics, and physics. Fields of study include Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Biological Chemistry, and Environmental Chemistry.

Besides bench laboratory skills such as mass spectrometry and surface analysis methods, students studying chemistry will develop chromatographic, electrical, and optical methods of analysis; strong problem solving skills; computer; and research and design skills.

Academic Department

• UConn's Chemistry Department

Nature of Work

Individuals working in the field of chemistry can apply their knowledge to various purposes. Many work in research and development. In basic research, chemists investigate the properties, composition and structure of matter, and the laws that govern the combination of elements and reactions of substances. In applied research and development, they create new products and processes or improve existing ones, often using knowledge gained from basic research. Chemists also work in production and quality control in chemical manufacturing plants. They prepare instructions for plant workers which specify ingredients, mixing times, and temperatures for each stage in the process. (U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Statistics, January 1998).

Sample Job Titles

Potential Employers

Many chemists find themselves employed in one of three different arenas: manufacturing industries, government agencies, and colleges and universities. The chemical manufacturing industry employs almost 50% of chemists, testing and working with such essentials as plastics, soaps, synthetic materials, drugs, etc. While this industry provides many of the opportunities for chemistry majors, chemists can also be found working for such government agencies as: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), The Center for Disease Control (CDC), and The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Colleges and universities also provide employment for chemists in research and development.

Useful Skills

The study of chemistry is rather technical by nature; therefore, the successful chemistry student typically is very detail oriented. For example, understanding the nature of organic and inorganic compounds and how they interact with one another is a major premise in chemistry and requires great accuracy and precision. Also, many laboratory experiments require pinpoint precision, where one minor error could compromise the success of the entire experiment. Other important skills for students majoring in chemistry are critical thinking ability, problem solving ability, and writing skills. Individuals possessing a combination of these skills are most likely to succeed in this field.

Getting Experience

The most practical way to gain experience in the field of chemistry, and in related scientific fields, is through internship and job shadowing opportunities. Interning in a chemistry laboratory will provide the student with a detailed background of the appropriate procedures, techniques, and methods utilized by chemists. This opportunity will not only provide the student with practical experience, but will also increase the marketability of this student as a future job seeker. If working off campus at a lab is not an option, it may be a good idea to seek out faculty who may need assistance with some lab experiments on campus.

Employment Opportunities

Jobs within pharmaceutical and biotech firms, as well as at colleges and universities, are very competitive for chemistry majors. However, there are several opportunities in smaller organizations in the service sector that may be attractive for these students, such as: environmental, waste disposal, and quality control. In addition, there are many research opportunities within industry and the government.

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