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Is it better to get a degree in chemistry or chemical engineering?

I'm a rising high school senior at a school that has allowed me to graduate high school with a associates degree in liberal arts, and I was thinking of applying to a college where I could get at least a bachelor's in Chemical engineering, thinking of going into a pharmaceutical job. I really enjoyed my chemistry and biology classes and thought this would be a good position for me to look into. Would it be best to geta. degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or would another degree entirely be best. Thanks!

engineering science chemistry chemical-engineering pharmacology
Thank you comment icon Hi, it is good that you know what you like👍 However, being a phamarcist and engineer is different. You problably think about what you want to do for life. Engineer is more like operation practical in term of inventing but pharmacist is more relate to phamartical. I hope you find the best for you 👍 Arpapan Sinchai
Thank you comment icon "Chemist" also means different things in different parts of the world In some countries, a chemist works in a laboratory, analyzing chemicals, figuring out how to make new ones, and so forth. In other parts of the world. "chemist" means what in the USA we call a pharmacist. Fred Rosenberger
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Taylor’s Answer

I encountered a similar choice when I was graduating from high school. I opted to become a chemical engineer instead of a chemist and I now work in the pharmaceutical industry supporting vaccine manufacturing. Many chemical engineers with bachelors or masters degrees in chemical engineering work on the manufacturing side of pharmaceuticals troubleshooting equipment problems on a multi-thousand liter scale, designing and qualifying new processes, optimizing the number of batches to meet demand with existing constraints, etc. The chemists I've encountered in this industry typically either work in process support labs troubleshooting issues with the product instead of the equipment or they obtain PhDs and then work in the research laboratories characterizing new product possibilities on a very small scale.
Thank you comment icon Hello Taylor, thanks for your answer and your explanation of the difference between the two jobs. Your situation is really interesting, as I was thinking that I would want to do something similar, work in manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry, though I guess I could have worded that better in the question. Was it difficult to find work as a chemical engineer? Kevin
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Fred’s Answer

That depends on what you mean by "better". I'm assuming by chemist you mean someone who works in a lab, not a pharmacy.

Chemists and chemical engineers do different things. A chemist may figure out how to make a chemical, or how they work, what they do, etc.

Chemical engineers look at a process, and figure out how to ramp up production from a laboratory setting into an industrial process. Making a few milliliters of something is very different than making a hundred thousand liters. A CE would also figure out ways to improve the efficiency of the process, possibly deal with storage and shipping, etc.

Which is better depends in part on what you find more interesting.
Thank you comment icon Hello Fred, thank you for taking the time to answer my question! This helps me better understand what each job really is, and its something I was missing, so this will be very helpful. Based on this, I think chemical engineering might be better for me, but I will have to look further into it. Thanks again! Kevin
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Abhisikta’s Answer

Hi Kevin!
Firstly, it's get to see that you have so much interest in the field of Chemical Science.
Now coming to your situation, if your ultimate aim is to get into pharmaceutical industry, it will be better if you pursue your bachelor degree in pharmaceutical science but that is going to narrow down your range of career opportunities.
If you truly want to learn about the concepts of chemistry, then you can do your bachelors in chemistry at first and then can specialize by taking a masters program in the field of your choice. In this way you can get into a job in the chemical manufacturing industry.
If you pursue chemical engineering, you will be more in the technical side, some theoretical knowledge might not be there. In this pathway you can go into biomedical engineering jobs since you also enjoy biology.
Always remember to keep a wide range of options open in front of you since you are too young now, 5 years down the road you might feel like doing a different type of job.
All the best!
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Joanna’s Answer

I got a degree in biochemistry and worked in a phase 1 pharmaceutical clinic. It really depends on what you are wanting to do in the pharmaceutical world. With the biochemistry degree you would have a better understanding of how the body reacts to certain chemical compounds, which will be good in a research lab. If you want to work in a research lab you would need at least a masters or a PhD. Working a pharmaceutical research clinic you can have a bachelors degree and you can be a project manager working with doctors to run studies. I was a research team coordinator with a bachelors, which my next step was to be a team lead then a project manager. You could also go to be a Clinical Research Associate. You could get a chemical engineering degree if you excel more in application coursework than memorization. In the end, if you don't like pharmaceutical you could go work at a chemical plant if you get a chemical engineering degree.
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