Chemistry is a field that has historically enjoyed very strong career possibilities. Many students are employed directly after their undergraduate education by the chemical, or related industries, in jobs that have excellent career prospects. Graduate schools in chemistry or biochemistry usually includes very generous financial support, and can lead to outstanding career paths in industry, government or academic areas. These opportunities are available to students completing any of the specializations in the Chemistry B.S., and graduates of these programs have gone on to industrial leadership positions, and some of the most prestigious graduate programs in the country.
The Chemistry BS (without specialization) is designed for students intending a career in chemistry and is certified by the American Chemical Society. The advanced courses in this program reflect trends in the modern field of chemistry, and the requirements are flexible enough to allow students to tailor the degree program to their specific needs and interests. There is also a strong laboratory component in the Chemistry BS, which gives the student excellent hands-on preparation for the challenges of employment or graduate school. An internship program with local chemical companies is available, and the credits from this internship can be counted to meet some of the program requirements.
Students interested in teaching high school chemistry will take the Chemistry BS and also the Secondary Science Education certificate. This combination allows students to be certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as high school chemistry teachers. However, this degree still retains the essential coursework of a chemistry degree, so these graduates will be well prepared for the demands of teaching or employment as a chemist.
The Biochemistry specialization of the Chemistry BS degree prepares graduates to pursue various careers in medicine, science and technology, or advanced studies in biochemistry, bioengineering, biotechnology and other related fields. Biochemistry is a dynamic and growing area in the sciences that integrates the understanding of chemical principles in living organisms. IUP’s biochemistry program offers excellent training and coursework that combine the principles of chemistry and biology with the fundamentals of mathematics and physics. Students who pursue the Biochemistry specialization simultaneously fulfil all of the science coursework required by most medical schools. An exciting facet of the Biochemistry BS is the undergraduate research component. This aspect allows a student to work with a faculty member on a novel problem in biochemistry. Very often these students give presentations of their results at national and local scientific conferences.
The Pre-pharmacy and Pre-medical specializations of the BS degree allow students to take all courses required for entrance into their intended professional health program. Students in this program retain the option of: (a) attending pharmacy school or medical school, (b) attending graduate school in chemistry, biochemistry, or a variety of medically-related PhD programs, (c) employment in the chemistry industry. Additionally, the flexibility of the programs in the Chemistry BS degree allows students to change the focus of their degree during their undergraduate experience. The Pre-medical specialization has been designed to align closely with the proposed IUP medical school.
The Environmental Chemistry specialization is for students interested in the study of how chemical and biochemical phenomena interact with our air, soil, and water environments; and the effect of human activity on these environments. Environmental chemistry is an interdisciplinary science that includes biology, economics, geography and geology. It involves first understanding how chemistry works in the uncontaminated environment, and then the effects humans have on the environment through the release of additional chemicals. Students in this specialization can find employment in a variety of environmentally-related fields, or go on to graduate study in chemistry.
Medicinal Chemistry is a field that combines chemistry, biology, and pharmacology to design, develop, and improve drugs. It involves identifying, synthesizing, and developing new chemical compounds suitable for therapeutic use. This interdisciplinary field focuses on understanding the relationship between chemical structure and biological activity, ultimately aiming to create new and better treatments for diseases. Medicinal chemistry is a highly specialized and in-demand field and medicinal chemists earn above-average pay in each stage of their career.
The Applied Chemistry specialization is designed not only for students intending a career in chemistry, but also for those students interested in cross-disciplinary fields that involve chemistry. Students intending to follow a dual-degree program should work with their Chemistry adviser, as courses from their other major may count for some of the requirements in the Applied Chemistry specialization. Students interested in nanotechnology can use the Applied Chemistry specialization, along with a capstone semester (or summer) at Penn State University, to be well-prepared for a career in the burgeoning nanotechnology and nanomanufacturing fields.
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