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Career Resources

An optometrist conducting an eye exam.

Students major in chemistry as a path to medical, dental, pharmacy, and many other graduate programs and to become chemists working in industry, academia or government.

 

An Excellent Path to Professional SchoolA Path to an Excellent CareerPurposefully, Getting Off the Path

 


 

An Excellent Path to Professional School

A degree in Chemistry or Forensic Science provides a great background for entrance into medical, dental, veterinary, pharmacy, and many other professional medical graduate programs. The chemistry curriculum will help to prepare you for the entrance exams (MCAT, PCAT, OAT, DAT, etc.) as well as for success once enrolled in the graduate programs. The chemistry and forensic science degree plans offer students the flexibility to take elective courses in order to fulfill their prerequisites and they also prepare them for their entrance exams. As shown in the table below, students majoring in the physical sciences (e.g. chemistry) generally perform exceptionally well on the MCAT.

 

Undergraduate Major MCAT GPA % Accepted Applicants
Biological Science 28.1 3.53 44.7 22863
Social Science 28.2 3.48 46.8 5107
Physical Science 29.9 3.54 51.7 4670
Humanities 29.4 3.53 51.9 1999
Specialized Health Science 25.5 3.51 34.9 1268
Math 30.5 3.54 51.7 387
Other 27.7 3.53 45.4 7625
                      Source: Association of American Medical Colleges, 2011

 


 

A Path to an Excellent Career

Chemists and Forensic Scientists can have high job satisfaction when they work on cures for disease or monitor/improve the environment. Still others discover new materials to make our homes warmer in the winter, or create new textiles to be used in the latest fashions. The knowledge gained through the study of chemistry and forensic science opens many career pathways outside health professions. Below are just a few of the careers chosen by chemists. For more information, visit the College to Career pages of the American Chemical Society.

 

Applied Research and Product Development Biotechnology Chemical Engineering
Chemical Information Management Specialist Chemical Technology Chemistry Professor
Chemistry and the Law Chemistry in the Arts Consulting
Crystallography Environmental Protection Food Chemistry
Forensic Chemistry Formulation Chemistry Geochemistry
Hazardous Waste Management Health and Safety High School Chemistry Teacher
Human Resources Industrial Management Materials Science
Medicinal Chemistry Military Science and Technology Nuclear Chemistry
Oil and Petroleum Personal Care Chemistry Polymer
Process Chemistry Project Management Quality Assurance
Quality Control Regulatory Affairs Science Policy
Social Impact/Activism Technical Communication Technical Sales and Marketing
Technical Support Textile Chemistry Water Chemists

 


 

Purposefully, Getting Off the Path

Sometimes our graduates get away from the bench and obtain jobs using their science degree in non-traditional but interesting ways.

 

Universities have many types of jobs for chemists away from the bench:

Department of Chemistry & Forensic Science


521 Lancaster Ave
NSCB 4126
Richmond, KY 40475
Phone: (859) 622-1456
Fax: (859) 622-8197
chemistry@eku.edu

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