Chemistry honors course tests students in physical, inorganic, organic, and analytical chemistry, opening various scopes for chemistry honors students. The course is designed in such a way that it provides deep insights into all aspects of chemistry and serves as a foundation for students who wish to pursue research or any career in chemistry.
Chemistry honors students do not have only conventional career options. A student with a chemistry honors degree can pursue a career in biology, physics, nutrition, health care, medicine, and other natural sciences.
Curious to know in detail about all the career options a chemistry honors student has? Read further!
Further studies
A student who has a strong foundation in chemistry can pursue specializations in different fields of chemistry. One can do MSc in general chemistry, physical chemistry, chemistry, molecular chemistry, biochemistry, environmental and green chemistry, organic pharmaceutical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, agriculture, oil and gas chemistry, drug chemistry, medicinal chemistry, physical and materials chemistry, forensic science, and many other fields.
Apart from MSc, students can also pursue a postgraduate diploma in biotechnology, nanobiotechnology, analytical chemistry, MBA in biotechnology, laboratory management, pharmaceutical management, biotechnology, and oil & gas management, ME or MTech in chemical engineering, MPhil chemistry, and many other options.
Such courses are generally two to three years in duration. A student can dig up a course from an online course selling website that introduces you to all the different fields so that you can choose your specialization wisely.
Government jobs
After completing a chemistry honors degree, many students seek a government job. A student can take a job as a lab technician in government academic institutions, a junior research fellow in research institutions, a medical assistant in hospitals, lab assistant in medical schools and colleges.
Toxicologist
Toxicologists analyze whether a chemical substance is toxic or harmful to humans. A toxicologist uses the knowledge of chemistry, biology, and anatomy to test chemicals and their properties. They also research for risks and treatments when any harmful chemical is exposed to humans and determine safe levels of these chemicals. Toxicologists receive an average salary of about ten lakh rupees in India.
Safety health and environment specialists
Safety health and environment specialists are responsible for planning out and implementing an organization’s safety, environment, and health policies and protocols. They aim to build a workplace that is safe to work in and does not harm the planet. One can pursue this by graduation, but to become an advanced specialist, one has to complete a master’s degree.
Forensic Scientist
The forensic science sector is on the rise as new technologies are evolving to make the forensic search easier to conduct. A forensic scientist analyzes crime scenes, looks for evidence, determines how to click pictures of the crime scene, and records evidence, observations, and other findings. The average salary of a forensic scientist in India is around forty thousand rupees per month.
Professor of chemistry
Being a professor is not an easy task, one needs to have a strong academic background, and their skills should reflect their contribution to research. To be a professor, one must have passed twelfth grade from a recognized board and received a graduation and post-graduation degree. Most of the professors hold a doctorate in India. But, to be eligible for a Ph.D., one needs to qualify for the National Eligibility Test in India. University Grants Commission conducts the NET exam. On average, a professor can earn up to twelve lakhs per annum.
Top institutions provide courses on online course selling websites that may help you crack entrance exams for post-graduation and Ph.D. One can enroll in such courses or can take offline coaching.
There are various other career options like Research & Development Manager, Lab Assistant, Production Chemist, Cytologist, Radiologist, Agricultural Chemist, Water Quality Chemist, Chemical Engineering Associate, Medical Technologist, and many others. For such entry-level jobs, the average salary ranges from six lakhs to twelve lakh rupees per annum.
To sum up, a chemistry honors student has a plethora of opportunities available after graduation. One can take entry-level jobs in the private or public sector. One can pursue a post-graduation or Ph.D. after graduation. One needs to choose wisely the specialization that interests the student most.
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