The full chemistry major can only be taken within the Bachelor of Science, or the Bachelor of Science (Advanced) degree programs. This three-year major includes subjects such as analytical chemistry, synthetic organic and inorganic chemistry, kinetics and mechanisms of chemical reactions, spectroscopy, medicinal and biological chemistry, and materials chemistry. Students who study a non-chemistry major within the Bachelor of Science can select individual chemistry subjects that complement and augment their field of study. Students enrolled in the joint education and engineering degrees may study individual subjects that fit within their program.

Your JCU chemistry degree is internationally portable and a doorway to some of science’s highest paying careers, whether you wish to practice as a chemist or use chemistry as a career stepping stone. Graduates in chemistry are employed in a diverse variety of science-related areas including working in the mining, pharmaceutical, agriculture and food industries for both state and federal governments and agencies. More specific careers include: Analytical chemists who investigate the chemical nature of substances Careers in food, pharmaceutical, textile, mining, energy, manufacturing, agricultural and aquaculture industries, and government standard laboratories Clinical diagnosticians and technicians in medical technology areas who interpret data to assist doctors to diagnose and treat diseases Synthetic organic chemists who develop new chemicals in pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and new materials industries Forensic scientists who provide scientific evidence for use in law courts Environmental scientists who look at and deduce strategies to remedy pollution Patent attorneys who evaluate the originality of new technologies so that inventors can claim intellectual ownership of an invention With further qualifications graduates can work as secondary school teachers, or become research scientists who advance our understanding of how the physical world works. The Chemistry major is accredited by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI). Graduates are immediately eligible for non-corporate membership of RACI and, with an additional three years’ experience in chemistry, may register as a Chartered Chemist with Corporate Membership of RACI.