Chemistry
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Text or Call: 541-240-8227
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Launch Your Journey to a Professional STEM Career with a Chemistry Degree!
Explore your future with a chemistry degree. Considered a “central science” in the STEM field, chemistry serves as a foundation for careers across different industries. Students who begin their journey at Southwestern pursue a broad range of highly-skilled, highly-paid careers as chemists, biochemists, lab directors / researchers / technicians, nanotechnologists, environmental scientists, medical doctors, pharmacists, nutritionists and more.
Conduct research in our new state-of-the-art chemistry lab, furnished with cutting-edge analytical equipment. Our small class sizes mean you get more hands-on lab instruction directly from highly qualified professors who are educators first and researchers second. Save money at the undergraduate level while accessing opportunities to participate in research and internships with NASA and other high-profile organizations.
Upon completion at Southwestern, transfer seamlessly to one of our many partner universities for advanced training in high-paying specialty fields.
Enroll now! We’ll walk you through everything you need to know to become a student.
Apply Now
Get helpful updates on programs, deadlines, and other tips about enrolling.
Request Info
Come see why Southwestern Oregon Community College is a great place to learn.
Visit
CONTACT
Text or Call: 541-240-8227
Email
Partner with NASA and other national research organizations
Save Money
Tuition & fees at Southwestern are half that of major state universities.
Degrees & Certificates
Specific overview, class descriptions and courses you’ll take for this degree.
Chemistry Degree
Students will gain laboratory experience in organic synthesis, analytical methods, and spectroscopy.
EXPLORE YOUR FUTURE
Small class sizes, and hands-on experience with instrumentation are the signatures of our program.
Chemistry is called the central science and as such, it serves as a foundation for careers in many fields.
Apply for scholarships to receive some of the $40,000/year awarded to STEM students through our Foundation.
MEET OUR STUDENTS
“At Southwestern I was able to engage in chemistry research, attend seminars, and be involved in science clubs. Southwestern connected me with professors who are passionate about their field and helped me reach my academic goals beyond my time there!”
–Madison Davis, Chemistry Degree Graduate
JOB INFO
$132,000 is the average annual southwestern Oregon pharmacist wage.
$85,000 is the average annual southwestern Oregon environmental scientist wage.
$72,000 is the average annual southwestern Oregon clinical lab technician wage.
211 annual statewide pharmacist job openings.
109 annual statewide environmental scientist job openings.
229 annual statewide clinical lab technician job openings.
Source: Oregon Employment Department
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Derek Morrelli grew up in Tulare, California and attended college at San Diego State University immediately after high school. After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Molecular/Cell Biology and a Minor in Chemistry he worked as a researcher in the biotech industry temporarily before returning to academia as the Chemistry Laboratory Technician at College of the Sequoias (COS) managing the stockrooms and preparing the Chemistry experiments at three campuses.
His experiences at the community college and getting to interact with students was where Derek realized he wanted to be in the classroom more and help students in their academic paths. Derek earned a Master of Science degree in Chemistry at Fresno State University, where he began teaching part-time as well as Madera Community College and College of the Sequoias. Derek eventually began working full-time at Fresno State University, splitting the time between lecture and research.
Derek was very excited to be able to join Southwestern Oregon Community College in 2022 as the full-time Chemistry faculty member and is enjoying being part of a smalltown community in the Pacific Northwest.
