Associate Degrees in Chemistry

An associate degree is a two year course of study in a specialization. These programs usually provide enough training to gain employment in some fields, while others require a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the discipline before a student is considered ready for the professional arena.

What is an associate degree in chemistry? This course of study is often designed to prepare students to transfer to a four-year college where they will complete a bachelor’s degree in chemistry or a closely related discipline. Students earning their associate degree will usually take general and organic chemistry courses, as well as calculus, physics, and general education courses. The coursework may include lectures and laboratory classes where students gain invaluable hands-on experience in common laboratory techniques.

Earning an associate degree before transferring to a four-year school may be economical, and at the end of the program, the student often leaves with a degree in hand. Students may also have the benefit of much smaller class sizes and more personal attention in introductory science and math classes than they would have at a large university.

The total cost of an associate degree will vary considerably between institutions and locations, but it is generally true that a two-year associate degree in chemistry will be less expensive than a four-year degree.

The concepts and skills students learn while earning their associate degree in chemistry may be highly transferrable to other scientific disciplines. This program usually prepares graduates for jobs as a laboratory technician or a laboratory assistant in many areas of science, including forensics, biotechnology, and materials science. In these positions, graduates will typically work in the lab under the direction of a scientist, carry out routine experiments, be responsible for some record keeping, and communicate results to a supervisor.

When you decide to apply to associate degree programs, you can speed up the process by researching and applying to programs online. To get started searching online, search for your program below and contact directly the admission office of the school of your choice by filling in the lead form.