[spirochete]

I am a biology major in college, with one year until my bachelors.  After spending another night memorizing a list of enzymes for a test, I am considering minoring in chemistry.  I am fairly sure I want to be a teacher of some kind at the community college level.  Recently I have been seduced by organic chemistry.  Sadly, I delayed taking organic until my junior year because I wasn't enthralled by general chem. 

Some questions for anybody who knows.  I understand I'd need a masters to teach, of course.:

1) Is there a demand for organic chemistry teachers at the community college level?

2) Would I lack the necessarry perspective to teach organic if I don't have a good understanding of higher math?  For example,  I doubt I'll ever gain anything other than a qualitative understanding of molecular orbital theory.

3)  Would I be qualified to teach if the majority of my understanding of things was "on paper"?  In other words, I would have limited research or work experience in the field, other than a year of research getting my masters.

[sjb]

You'll have to excuse my Britishness, but I'm not really sure what "Community College" level is.

Certainly most of the chemistry teachers I had at secondary school (age 11-18, and the immediate precursor to University) were either degree qualified in Chemistry or similar, as well as having teaching qualifications.

Consequently, I would assume that they knew about MO theory (if only qualitatively), but as we did not use it there I cannot comment on the depth and validity of that knowledge for these courses.

Just about the only "higher maths" we were introduced to in the same was the use of the quadratic formula to help solve equilibria problems.

I would suggest perhaps talking either to chemistry academics (possibly via your undergraduate peers) or to careers services to see exactly what's needed.

Personally, I'd probably think you've picked up a fair bit of chemistry along the way - presumably some evidence of attainment in the field was useful for getting to college in the first place, and many of the biologists, biochemists etc. I know, know more than a smattering of chemistry.

Good Luck

S

[HighTek]

Howdy, at my Jr College, the O Chem instructor was a high school teacher. He wasn't full time faculty (I forgot the name for these type of instructors 'on loan'). He talked like he knew what he was talking about...he followed the book precisely. When it came time to answer questions or develop ideas further, he couldn't.  His tests were a bit boneheaded and included answers that didn't make sense at all.

He practiced chemistry at one point, but I don't think he was an organic chemist. His teaching skills could've been refined.

Point is, (in my experience), I would welcome an instructor who knew how to answer questions. To answer your question:

1) I'd say check where you want to go. My area as 10 community colleges so I'd say there *might* be a demand.

2) Luckily, O Chem isn't math heavy (as opposed to analytical or physical chem). The level I took, it was all theory and mechanism. The lab portion was microscale and as long as we got the final product (no matter how crude), that mattered (he didn't stress proper lab reports).

3) Well, he taught from the text book, his lecture notes were lifted right from the reading. I suppose as long as you could develop those ideas further than just the book, you should be ok. Maybe you can take his class (audited) and see what I mean....ha.

Good luck.

[DrCMS]

I think chemistry teachers should have a degree in chemistry.

In the UK there are way too many biology graduates teaching chemistry and physics.

Stick to what you know best and if you want to teach then teach biology.

[constant thinker]

I think chemistry teachers should have a degree in chemistry.

From the high school level and up I agree, and it should be like that for anything (math, science, etc.)

I was talking to a guy (actually my dad's friend) who was once on the board of education in my area. He was telling me how a lot of the teachers teach subjects that they don't have a degree in. This is pretty sad, and from talking with others it seams to be a fairly common phenomenon.

Sjb, community college is a middle ground between high school and 4 year college/university. They are way cheaper than a university and typically offer only 2 year associates degrees and/or vocational training. Some people go to community college then transfer to a 4 year college or university.They also tend to offer general courses to the local community. I was supposed to take an auto tech class at one this summer, but I couldn't because if conflicted with my motorcycle training course.

[tamim83]

If you minored in chemistry at your school, what classes would you be required to take?  Besides ochem and gen. chem.  At the school I go to, the only additional course is Biochemistry.  My advice is even if you do not need to officially, take Inorganic chemistry.  There is a little bit of everything in it and depending on your professor, you will learn some pchem and get a good education in qualitative MO theory.  It also requires very little math, but will expand your explanatory power. 

[sjb]

Sjb, community college is a middle ground between high school and 4 year college/university. They are way cheaper than a university and typically offer only 2 year associates degrees and/or vocational training. Some people go to community college then transfer to a 4 year college or university.They also tend to offer general courses to the local community. I was supposed to take an auto tech class at one this summer, but I couldn't because if conflicted with my motorcycle training course.

OK, thanks, that makes things clearer to me

S