Explore Chemistry
We often call chemistry the "central science" because it is the study of matter and the changes it undergoes. That’s a broad statement! It turns out, chemistry plays an important role in connecting the physical sciences, which include chemistry, with the life sciences and applied sciences (such as oceanography and human biology) and with engineering (such as chemical engineering and materials science).
Chemistry majors go on to have successful careers in many areas, including politics, industry, publishing, research and development (R&D), and environmental protection.
Chemists work with matter at a fundamental, molecular level—its composition, properties, and transformation into new substances. They are interested in molecular structure, the properties of materials, and in reactions that convert one material into another.
Chemistry is a central science because it significantly impacts many other fields including medicine, materials science, genetics, biology, pharmacy, food science, and environmental science. A bachelor’s degree in chemistry is a minimum educational requirement (research assistant, analyst), while many research jobs require a master’s degree or Ph.D.
*Salary and Career Outcomes gathered from the 2018-2019 CSE Graduation Survey. Post-graduation outcomes reflect the percentage of students who were employed full-time in their field or were enrolled in a graduate program at 6 months post-graduation.
