Earning an Online Chemistry Degree Opens Up a World of Possibility

Students of chemistry degree programs are finding a wealth of employment opportunities in both the public and private sectors. Chemistry is a branch of natural science offering a wide variety of fulfilling career paths. Study the composition and properties of substances vital to businesses or to the existence of life itself.

Chemistry Degree and Career Options

Online degree programs in chemistry include a four-year bachelor's, a five-year master's, and postgraduate, doctoral degree. Most employers in the research and instructional industries prefer graduates with a master's degree.
Popular career tracks for graduates of an online education in chemistry include:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biotechnology
• Chemistry Education
• Chemical Engineering
• Chemical Information
• Organic Chemistry
• Material Chemistry
• Pharmaceuticals

Employment Outlook and Potential Salary for Chemists

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of chemists and materials scientists is projected to increase by 9 percent through 2016. The choice opportunities are expected to exist in pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms.
Beginning salary offers in July 2007 for graduates with bachelor's degrees in chemistry averaged $41,506 a year, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, as compared to 2006 median salary of $59,870.

Typical Chemistry Coursework and Online Study Options

Today's online education in chemistry combines natural sciences with business and technology principles to solve our greatest challenges. Typical coursework, which readies you to make your own contributions to the field, includes:

• General Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry I and II
• Concepts in Biochemistry
• Chemical Separations

Earning a chemistry degree through an online program will give you a rich technological component absent from many traditional campus-based programs. Learning via the Web shows potential employers that you have the computer skills necessary to thrive in today's technology-driven industries.
Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Chemist and Material Scientists

Kelly Richardson has over fifteen years of creative and technical writing experience. He teaches secondary Honors-level English and writes ad copy for a variety of clients in industries such as medicine, technology, and education.