Bachelor of Science in Chemistry is a program that aims to empower learners with knowledge of chemical processes, how they occur, and their beneficial effects on society. It prepares learners for employment in the chemical and allied industries, in addition to postgraduate studies in any of the chemistry sub-disciplines across the world and globally.

As an academic program bachelor of science in Chemistry deals with the study of structure, composition, and properties of matter. In a broader perspective, chemistry deals with topics such as; the formation of atomic chemical bonds, properties of individual atoms, interaction and reaction of substances through chemical reactions to form various substances among other topics. It covers the traditional branches of chemistry which include; organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry.

Professionals in this field may be referred to as chemists among other titles. Chemists study and perform research and experiments with properties of chemical materials and substances. In their work, chemists measure the effects of various chemical reagents or compounds in various concentrations and study their inter-chemical reactions and behaviors. These professionals use their knowledge to develop new and improved products and to test the quality of manufactured goods.

Course duration, objectives, and outline

The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry is a four-year course that has been designed to produce competent personnel in areas of chemistry. The curriculum of the course is based on the foundational units in chemistry that cover the traditional branches of chemistry namely organic, inorganic, and physical. In addition, it has majors from other branches of chemistry such as environmental chemistry, analytical chemistry, and industrial chemistry as well as other disciplines such as physics.

Broadly a BSc Chemistry course focuses on the study of various branches of chemistry such as Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, and Analytical Chemistry along with elective subjects like Analytical Methods in Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, and Industrial Chemicals and Environment. The outline of the program ensures an all-rounded professional.

The course seeks to explain factors that cause reactions to occur, how they occur, and their adverse and non-adverse effects on our well-being. During their final two years, in addition to the traditional core chemistry courses designed for chemistry majors, students will choose from specialist options in the field of analytical chemistry.

Students will also be required to undertake a research project or dissertation in their final fourth year.  Those who intend to specialize in chemistry will be expected to complete a total of 12 units in each of the first two academic years.  The first two years comprise Eight (8) core chemistry courses covering the traditional areas of inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, as well as a basic grounding in mathematics and computer skills (including use of the World Wide Web). Students, who wish to study chemistry but do not intend to specialize in it, will be advised as to which units to take.

Bachelor of Science in chemistry subjects and requirements

The following are the entry requirements and subjects in BSc chemistry; At least C+(Plus) in KCSE or its equivalent with passes in at least three subjects in either of the following two alternatives (A or B):

Alternative A

1. Chemistry C+
2. Biology C+
3. Physics   C+
4. Geography C+
5. Mathematics C+
6. Computer Science C+

Alternative B

1. Physical Sciences C+
2. Biological Sciences C+
3. Geography C+
4. Mathematics   C+
5. Computer Science C+

For Government-sponsored students, the minimum cut point which is announced annually applies. The students should in addition have good performance in the following cluster subjects; Subject 1 MAT A, Subject 2 PHY, Subject 3 CHE, Subject 4 BIO, or any GROUP III or any GROUP IV or any GROUP V.

How to become a chemist?

If you are passionate about chemistry and enjoy experimenting in addition to an enquiring mind with a keen interest in exploring and solving problems, then pursuing this course might be a good choice for you. In addition, you should be prepared to develop skills that can help you grow and succeed in this field.

Chemists must have excellent analytical skills to be able to perform scientific experiments. In their work, chemists should be detail-oriented and produce accurate and precise experimental analysis as errors could invalidate an otherwise lengthy experiment. Chemists must also possess excellent communication skills and be able to communicate effectively with other scientists and other team members.

The ability to think critically is essential in this field to enable chemists to evaluate and examine their work effectively. Chemists also need to be well organized and be able to carefully document processes to conform to regulations and industry procedures. Disorganization in the workplace can lead to legal problems, damage to equipment, and chemical spills.

An aptitude or excellent skills for math goes handy with this profession as chemists regularly use advanced mathematical formulas and equations such as; statistics, algebra, and calculus among others. Chemists must also possess excellent organizational skills for them to carefully document experimental processes that conform to set industry procedures and regulations. Innovation and excellent problem-solving skills are equally important as chemists must be in a position to come up with new chemical processes, materials, and products.

The work environment for Bachelor of Science in chemistry graduates

Chemists work both in offices and laboratories.

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry jobs, salary & marketability

The jobs you can do with a chemistry degree are diverse including; Analytical chemist, Biotechnologist, Clinical research associate, Color technologist, Crime scene investigator, Food technologist, Forensic scientist, and Medicinal chemist.

According to the Payscale website, the bachelor of science in chemistry job salary is Kshs: 32,000 to Kshs: 333,333 p.m. This salary information is not verified, so you are advised to exercise great caution before making a career choice based on this payment data.

In the Philippines, and Tanzania for instance, graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry may find employment in areas such as; environmental fields, pharmaceuticals, materials processing, food companies, quality control laboratories, and education among other areas. They can also use their creativity to start their businesses.

Is a bachelor of science in chemistry marketable in Kenya? According to testimonials from those who have done chemistry-related courses, job opportunities are scarce in Kenya. For instance, according to the BusinessDailyAafrica website, some biochemistry graduates say they graduated 15 years ago and never got a job. Some found a career path after a master’s and PhD in medical biochemistry. So, you need to think very carefully about chemistry-related courses if you are eying the Kenyan labor market.

Possible alternative courses to Bachelor of Science in chemistry

You can explore the following courses to widen your career choice options.

1. Bachelor of Science in Analytical Chemistry
2. Bachelor of Science in Industrial Chemistry
3. Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering
4. Bachelor of Technology in Industrial and Applied Chemistry
5. Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering