Chemistry programs teach people about the structure, composition, and nature of matter. Students learn about chemical reactions with other matter. In addition, they study how to combine chemicals to create new compounds.
Did you know the active ingredient in an onion that makes you cry is called 1-propenyl sulfenic acid? Just its name makes you want to cry! Can you explain why poison ivy makes many people itch? Of course, it's urushiol - a small, stable organic compound that, when it touches your skin, causes an allergic reaction. These are just two examples of how chemistry can explain everyday things in their most basic components - molecules.
Everything is made of a limited variety of chemical elements. In chemistry, you learn about the molecular basis of all kinds of substances. You learn to identify how molecules are linked together, and ways to combine them differently to create new compounds. You also learn about chemical reactions and processes. For example, you might study the chemical reaction that occurs when acid dissolves metal.
You can use this knowledge to advance medicine by developing new cancer drugs or improving the way your toothpaste brightens your teeth. You may research ways to improve crop production for farmers. You can also develop alternative fuels to make cars cleaner and cheaper to run.
Some community colleges offer a two-year program in chemistry. These programs prepare you to work as a lab technician. Many colleges in the U.S. offer a bachelor's degree program accredited by the American Chemical Society. These take four years of full-time study beyond high school. A bachelor's degree prepares you for an entry-level position in many chemical industries. Some colleges offer a combined bachelor's and master's program; these programs can be completed in four years beyond high school, but they require attending summer sessions.
A graduate degree may let you specialize more. Advanced positions, particularly in research, require at least a master's degree. Common specializations include physical or polymer chemistry. Physical chemistry is the study of matter and its relation to physical forces. Polymer chemistry is the study of long chains of small molecules joined together in a repeated pattern. These can be synthetic or natural.
It takes about six years beyond high school to complete a master's degree program. A Ph.D. in chemistry may take an additional two to three years. About 300 universities offer a master's degree, and about 200 offer a Ph.D. Be sure to check individual programs to see if they offer the subfield you are interested in.
Students who major in chemistry can choose to focus on a subbranch of chemistry, for example, analytical, organic, inorganic, polymer, or physical. Concentrations in the junior and senior years of college are also available as graduate degree programs.