Chemistry Career Guide

Explore Options: A Menu of Major-Specific Experiences and Sampling of Related Career Paths

Academic Resources

Explore Chemistry academic resources designed to support your academic goals.

Curriculum Guide

Chemistry Department

CLAS Advising Center

What Can I Do With This Major?

Chemistry tubes in rainbow colors

Feeling like you don't know what to do with all of this great information? We highly encourage to make an appointment with your academic advisor and career advisor. Another great starting point is the Self-Guided Career Exploration Tool.

Career Resources

Unlock career potential in Chemistry! Discover resources to maximize your professional trajectory.

Career Assessment - PathwayU

Jobs via Handshake

Chemistry Job Feed

Career Communities


Menu of Experiences

Sample Chemistry Internship Sites

Internships provide an environment for you to gain hands-on, supervised experience. You'll apply the concepts you are learning in the classroom to a work environment while boosting your resume! Past internship sites include:

More Info on Internships

Join a Student Organization

Get involved with a student organization related to your major. Student orgs are a great way to get connected and explore career options!

Student Organizations

Relevant Courses and Certificates for Building Skills

Developing relevant skills that employers seek is an essential component of a student's education. GVSU students should consider elective courses and certificates that pair with their major to gain additional skills.

Great Electives to Consider

Community Service Opportunities

Seek volunteer opportunities related to the field you're exploring as a way of testing out future careers.

The Civic Engagement Center keeps a list of current volunteer opportunities updated on their website. There are ongoing opportunities on a continuous basis, as well as on-campus and off-campus opportunities posted as they become available.

Civic Engagement Center

Chemistry Study Abroad

Through study abroad you’ll also set yourself apart from other job-seekers and graduate-school applicants in an increasingly competitive market.

Borders are virtually meaningless in this early 21st century global economy. As a future graduate with a Chemistry major or minor degree, you will be confronting global issues and will work in internationally-operated companies. "Wake up and face the earth!" T. Friedman advised us in his bestseller ‘The World is Flat’.

Chemistry Study Abroad Info

Explore Internships Abroad

Undergraduate Scholar Engagement

Pursuing academic, creative, and research experiences and projects outside the classroom is an excellent way to learn new skills and build a body of work in your field.

The Center for Undergraduate Scholar Engagement (CUSE) provides opportunities for undergraduate research and scholarship.

Center for Undergraduate Scholar Engagement


Chemistry Career Spotlights

Chemistry Alumni in Action

Jody Wycech '12 Spotlight

Jody Wycech '12

US Geological Survey (USGS)

Samantha Leach '06 Spotlight

Samantha Leach '06

Chemist, Forensic Chemistry Unit at DC Department of Forensic Sciences

Alexandra Bouza '15 Spotlight

Alexandra Bouza '15

Patent Agent, Foley & Lardner LLP

Jared Lamp '13 Spotlight

Jared Lamp '13

Manager of the Mass spectrometry Core, Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine

Nick Myers, '09 Spotlight

Nick Myers, '09

Nick Myers, Documentary Standard Scientist, United States Pharmacopeia

View More Chemistry Alumni in Action

Where Alumni Have Landed

  • Quality Control – PPG Industries
  • Material Chemist – Steelcase
  • Product Quality Auditor – Tekton Inc
  • Quality Technician – Amway
  • Pharmacy Operations Manager – Priority Health
  • Research Assistant – Spectrum Health
  • Analytical Chemist – Perrigo
  • Physician Assistant – Spectrum Health
  • Quality Operations Specialist – Pfizer
  • New Business Development Manager – Dow Chemical
  • Customer Service Manager – Consumer Energy
  • Volatile Organics Lab Tech – ALS Environmental
  • Sales Rep – Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals
  • Product Developer – Tesa Tape
  • Middle School Teacher – Zeeland Public School
  • Sales Support – Aal Chem
  • Medical Student – Michigan State University
  • Brewer/Cellarman – New Holland Brewing
  • Senior Patent Agent – McGarry Bain PC
  • Metallurgical Lab Tech – Jedco Company Aerospace Engineering

Attend Events

Career Community- STEM

Employer Showcase: Weiss Technik North America, Inc.

November 14, 2024 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Stop by the Kennedy Hall of Engineering Lobby anytime between 9:30am and 2pm to meet Weiss Technik North America, Inc representatives. Students can stop by for a casual conversation with...

Employer Showcase: Adac Automotive

November 18, 2024 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Stop by the Kennedy Hall of Engineering Lobby anytime between 9:30am and 2pm to meet Adac Automotive representatives. Students can stop by for a casual conversation with professionals...

Employer Showcase: Artiflex Manufacturing, LLC

November 19, 2024 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Stop by the Kennedy Hall of Engineering Lobby anytime between 9:30am and 2pm to meet Artiflex Manufacturing representatives. Students can stop by for a casual conversation with professionals...

Employer Showcase: Advanced Medical Device Innovations

November 20, 2024 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Stop by the Kennedy Hall of Engineering Lobby anytime between 9:30am and 2pm to meet Advanced Medical Device Innovations representatives. Students can stop by for a casual conversation...

Employer Showcase: Tommy's Car Wash Corporate

November 21, 2024 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Stop by the Kennedy Hall of Engineering Lobby anytime between 9:30 am and 2 pm to meet with representatives from Tommy's Car Wash Corporate. Students can stop by for a casual conversation...

View More Career Community- STEM

Consider joining the STEM Career Community or any other Career Community you are interested in!

Beyond Undergraduate: Graduate or Professional Programs

Students with a Chemistry degree may continue on to a variety of graduate programs. Here are some examples of pathways students may pursue:

  • Physical Chemistry
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Forensic Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmaceutical Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Quality Control Chemistry
  • Chemical Analysis

Discover More

Join a Career Community

Watch Videos of Professionals Working in this Field

Check Out our Podcast!

Career Center Resources

Looking for other career resources? The Career Center Resources page contains resources related to careers, resumes, internships, job search, interviewing, networking, and more.  



Page last modified August 12, 2024