Accredited Degree in Chemistry

Obtaining a college degree can offer students the opportunity for greater advancement and pay in the workplace. A college degree, however, is only beneficial to a student if it comes from an accredited college or university. The U.S. Department of Education publishes a list of all nationally recognized accredited colleges that the Secretary of Education determines qualifies as a providing a quality education or training. The Department of Education does not accredit schools directly, the agency does, however, turn this responsibility over to a peer reviewed commission that defines the minimum educational standards a school must meet or exceed to receive accreditation.

Unaccredited Versus an Accredited Degree in Chemistry

While many unaccredited colleges offer students that opportunity to place a degree on their resume the benefits of such a degree is dubious for several reasons.

  • Unaccredited schools offer students shortcuts that allow them to graduate at a faster pace and for less money. Faster is not always better when it comes to education. When teaching a subject like chemistry, an accredited degree in chemistry will provide you with a greater understanding of the subject, and more time working in a lab than a degree you can complete in half the time.

  • An accredited college or university may not accept unaccredited degrees. Obtaining an accredited degree in chemistry will ensure you the opportunity to obtain a master’s or PhD degree in chemistry, while an unaccredited degree may prevent you from seeking a higher level of education.

  • Employers may not accept an unaccredited degree, and schools and institutions of higher learning will most likely not accept an unaccredited degree when hiring a teaching position.

Types of Classes in the Curriculum of an Accredited Degree in Chemistry

Most unaccredited degrees will not provide you with the necessary background you need to properly teach the subject of chemistry. Your accredited degree in chemistry, however, will require you to spend a lot of time in your school’s chemistry lab, where you will learn to:

  • Analyze and interpret data
  • Practice making accurate and exact measurements
  • Use lab instruments
  • Keep a laboratory notebook
  • Properly handle toxic and corrosive chemicals
  • Work as part of a team
  • Communicate your lab findings
  • Synthesize, separate and characterize chemical compounds

Your core curriculum will include classes that cover the basic concepts of chemistry. In these courses you will learn the nuance of chemistry, and have the opportunity to decide which branch of chemistry most interests you.

Common Courses Taken When Obtaining an Accredited Degree in Chemistry

A bachelor’s degree in chemistry will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the basic principals of the different fields of chemistry. If you feel your course load is not adequate, or lacking in critical information, then you might be enrolled in an unaccredited school. Students entering an accredited degree in chemistry program should expect to take courses in the following subjects.

  • General Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Physical Chemistry
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Physics
  • Calculus
  • Technical Writing

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