Earn a Chemical Technology Degree
An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in chemical technology is the best preparation for a chemical technician career. Employers seek technicians with a solid background in applied basic chemistry and math, laboratory and equipment operation experience, and strong computer, written and verbal skills. Without a degree, aspiring technicians typically need at least two years of specialized training for industry jobs.
Types of Chemical Technology Degrees
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)
| General Information
|
Emphasis
|
Advantages
|
- Offered at two- and four-year colleges
- Students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree at another institution should investigate transferability of courses and credits.
|
- General chemistry knowledge
- Laboratory research and testing
- Collecting, tracking and analyzing data
- Operation of equipment and instruments needed for tests, research, or process control systems
|
- Uses a practical “hands-on” approach to prepare students for careers in chemistry
- Graduates gain technical expertise to be employed directly into chemical industry
- Students often can transfer to a four-year institution for a baccalaureate degree in chemistry or related scientific disciplines
|
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
| General Information
|
Emphasis
|
Advantages
|
- Offered at some four-year colleges and universities
- Students who want to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree should investigate the program prerequisites of the desired program.
|
B.S. programs emphasize the same skills and knowledge as A.A.S programs, in addition to:
- Advanced courses in specific areas of chemistry
- Extended instrumentation study
- More emphasis on chemical analysis
- Longer internships
|
In addition to practical experience and direct employment into the chemical industry, obtaining, a B.S.:
- Helps technicians gain faster access to promotional opportunities
- Helps prepare students for supervisory and managerial positions
|
General Chemical Technology Education Requirements
Chemical technology education programs integrate chemistry concepts and theories, mathematics, laboratory, and instrumentation with computer technology, internships, long-term projects, and teambuilding into curricula.
| Common Core Courses
|
Other Required Courses (varies by school)
|
- General Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Algebra
- Trigonometry
- General Physics
- English Composition
- Internships
|
- Hazardous Material Management
- Instrumental Methods of Analysis
- Quantitative Chemical Analysis
- Chemical Lab Safety
- Process Operations
- Biochemistry
- Forensics
- Environmental Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
|
