The department offers the major and minor in Chemistry in which the student has the flexibility to choose courses appropriate to preparation for careers in industry, the health professions, teaching, business, law, or engineering, or graduate studies and research. The Department also coordinates the major in Biochemistry. Students intending to teach Chemistry at the middle school or secondary school level are also required to major in Secondary Education and will work with advisors in each field.

Approximately 60% of chemists are employed in the chemical industry, where they are responsible for developing plastics, synthetic fibers, pharmaceuticals, food products and flavorings, agricultural and chemical cosmetics, fragrances, detergents and adhesives. Chemists are also employed at government laboratories (federal, state and local) performing such tasks as monitoring and protecting the environment, testing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs, and providing basic research support for industry. In the field of education, chemists with a Master's degree in education may teach high school. Those with an advanced degree in Chemistry (usually a Ph.D.) may teach at the college or university level. Clinical laboratories employ chemists to analyze body tissues and fluids to provide medical doctors with diagnostic information. A degree in chemistry also provides a solid background for many other occupations. With further education, a chemist may become a medical doctor, a dentist or an attorney (patent or environmental law). The growing fields of forensic chemistry, food science, metallurgy and technical writing also present employment opportunities. A chemist may also elect to combine an interest in business with their technical knowledge and work their way into sales or management positions. Agricultural Scientist Anesthesiologist Biochemist Brewer Lab Assistant Chem. Oceanographer Clinical Specialist College Professor Color Development Chemist Crime Lab Analyst Dentist Environmental Health Specialist EPA Inspector FDA Inspector Food Scientist Forensic Scientist High School Teacher Hospital Administrator Lawyer Metallurgist Museum Curator Optometrist Patent Agent Pharmaceutical Sales Representative Pharmacist Physician Plastics Engineer Polymer Scientist Scientific Illustrator Scientific Photographer Soil Scientist Technical Writer Toxicologist Veterinarian Water Scientist