Undergraduate Catalog
- All majors
- All minors
- Arts and Sciences
- Business
- Biomedical Engineering
- Education
- Engineering
- Information Science
  and Technology
- Media Arts & Design
- Nursing and Health
  Professions
- Professional Studies
- ROTC
Graduate Catalog
- All degree programs
- Arts and Sciences
- Business
- Biomedical Engineering
- Education
- Engineering
- Information Science
  and Technology
- Law
- Media Arts & Design
- Medicine
- Nursing and Health
  Professions
- Professional Studies
- Public Health
Catalog Home
- All Course Descriptions
- Certificate programs
- Schedule

Chemistry

Opportunities

Opportunities for chemistry majors include working in research and development in corporate and government laboratories in the chemical, pharmaceutical and agricultural (e.g., U.S. Department of Agriculture) sectors. There is a remarkably high concentration of chemical and pharmaceutical companies in the
Philadelphia region. Other options include entering medical, dental, law, or other professional schools.

The major in chemistry is sufficiently flexible to allow students to prepare to teach at the secondary level. With proper selection of electives, students can meet teacher certification requirements.

Co-op Opportunities
A five-year co-op degree is offered. When students complete their co-op jobs, they are asked to write an overview of their experiences.These brief quotes are taken from some recent student reports:

Assistant chemist, pharmaceuticals manufacturer: “My position involved the synthesis and characterization of target compounds in the endotheline project. Involved the development of synthetic roots to the prescribed target. This would include the investigation of reactions which were going to be used....the position was very independent....great working environment.”

Co-op chemist, petroleum refiner: “Performed synthesis of ligands and metal complexes. Operated FT-IR spectrometer for sample analysis. Submitted samples for analysis by mass spectrometer and NMR....The position allowed me to develop the skills necessary for independent research in organic synthesis.”

Assistant lab technician, pharmaceuticals manufacturer: “I was an assistant
technician in a mass spectrometry lab.... I was responsible for the development of SDS-gel electrophoresis techniques for gels and gel membranes.... I developed the methods independently and my employer encouraged me to be an expert on the technique and explore any method I found that would benefit
the lab.”

Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.