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Academic Information: - 
What is Chemistry? - 
From LiveScience
Chemistry is the study of matter, its properties, how and why substances combine or separate to form other substances, and how substances interact with energy. Many people think of chemists as being white-coated scientists mixing strange liquids in a laboratory, but the truth is we are all chemists.
Career Information - 
Possible Job Titles - 
- * Denotes additional education required
- Agricultural Scientist
- Analytical chemist
- Biochemist*
- Brewer lab assistant
- Chemical mixer
- Chemical oceanographer*
- Chemistry technologist
- Clinical Chemist*
- Clinical Laboratory Scientist
- Crime laboratory analyst
- Dentist*
- Enzymes chemist
- Food chemist
- Forensic chemist
- Geochemist*
- Lawyer*
- Medical doctor*
- Metallurgist*
- Veterinary scientist*
- Occupational safety specialist
- Organic chemist
- Pharmaceutical sales representative
- Pharmacologist*
- Quality assurance manager
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- Radio chemist
- Science information specialist
- Soil chemist
- Technical writer
- Toxicologist
- Industrial manager
- Inorganic chemist
- Water purification chemist
- Assayer
- Chemical engineer*
- Chemical technician
- Color development chemist
- Env. health specialist
- Food and drug inspector
- Hazardous waste manager
- Medical Technologist*
- Nutritionist
- Perfumer
- Physical chemist
- Research
- Teacher/professor*
- Nuclear medical technologist*
- Wastewater treatment chemist
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The B.S./B.A. degree is sufficient for many entry-level positions in industry and governmental laboratories, as well as the chemistry and biochemistry allied areas. The CSULB Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry prepares B.A. and B.S. graduates for a wide variety of careers in science and science-related activities. Some of the options that are available to our Chemistry or Biochemistry graduates:
- Attend graduate school and earn a Ph.D. in Chemistry or Biochemistry
- Attend medical, dental, pharmacy, or veterinary school
- Attend law school (options include environmental or patent law)
- Work in industry as a quality assurance/quality control or research and development scientist
- Work as a clinical laboratory scientist in a medical or hospital laboratory
- Work for the state or federal government for agencies such as the EPA, DPH, DNS, or DOT
- Work as a forensic scientist
- Teach sciences at the primary or high school level
- Work as a pharmaceutical or instrument company representative
- Become a technical writer or editor, or work for publishing houses in related areas
- Work in technical, chemical, pharmaceutical, or scientific/clinical instrument sales
Typical Places of Employment - 
- Petroleum companies
- Government Agencies
- Agriculture Department
- Manufacturing industry
- Consumer Affairs Office
- Cosmetic companies
- National Science Foundation
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- Educational institutions
- Department of Defense
- Engineering firms
- Health and Human Services
- Food product companies
- Research and testing services
- Non-profit organizations
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Required Skills and Abilities - 
- Supervising or managing projects
- Keeping up with developments in the field
- Designing and conducting tests and experiments
- Developing new materials and compounds
- Developing and improving production processes and equipment
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- Analyzing composition, studying properties, structure of matter
- Diagnosing and finding solutions to problems via studies and
investigation
- Working with the newest technology, systems, and work processes
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Alumni Resources - 
(Listed below are examples of SU Alumni and their Jobs in this major-For more alumni resources, go to Mentor Network)
Andrew Dix - Eugene OR 97401 - ThermoFisher Scientific (Molecular Probes) - Staff Scientist
Kevin Kesper - Cambridge MA 02139 - Merrimack Pharmaceuticals - Group Leader, Nanoliposmal Development
Related Links: Further Explore this Career Field - 
Professional Associations:
American Chemical Society
RSC's Chemical Science Network
American Academy of Forensic Sciences
American Institute of Chemical Engineers
American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors
Chemical&EngineeringNewOnline
Careers in Chemistry
Agricultural, Atmospheric, Biochemistry, Computational, Environmental, Materials, Nutritional, Plastics, Polymer, Toxicology
Careers in Forensic
Careers in Pharmacy
Graduate School in Chemistry
Professional Organizations