Other soft skills that will assist you as a chemistry teacher include creative thinking, problem-solving, time management skills, the ability to manage multiple projects at once, and the ability to communicate effectively with students, parents, fellow faculty members, and members of the community.
Some schools even offer a specific subfield within the chemistry major for potential educators. These programs will acquaint you with the field’s principles, as well as good ways to relate them to students. If you enter college knowing you want to teach, this may be your best option. [4] X Research source Not having a chemistry degree is not necessarily a reason you can’t teach the subject. Only about half of the chemistry teachers in the United States majored or minored in the subject. [5] X Trustworthy Source American Chemical Society Scientific society for those involved with chemistry and publisher of several leading peer-reviewed scientific journals Go to source Some states may offer alternative methods to licensing prospective chemistry teachers who have bachelor’s degrees in other fields. Check the requirements on the Board of Education website in the state in which you plan to teach for specifics.
There is the additional option of continuing on with your education to receive a doctorate. This is necessary if you want to teach at the college level. In addition, some private schools will like the ability to hire a PhD. If you want to teach at a public school there is no reason to go for the doctorate.
If you are interested in chemistry while in high school, talk to your chemistry teacher, or other people you know who are chemists or work with chemists. Look for jobs in places that employ chemists, like pharmacies, where you can at least watch chemists work, even if you can’t do much with them directly. If you are majoring in chemistry in college, join chemistry clubs and honor societies (like Gamma Sigma Epsilon, Iota Sigma Pi, and Phi Lambda Upsilon), and look for internships during your summers. Practical work experience gained when you are studying the subject will look good when applying for a teaching job. [8] X Trustworthy Source American Chemical Society Scientific society for those involved with chemistry and publisher of several leading peer-reviewed scientific journals Go to source
Some schools will allow you to work towards getting your certification while you start teaching, so long as you do it as soon as you can. This is especially helpful for people who already have a background in practical chemical work, but want to change careers and go into teaching. [10] X Trustworthy Source American Chemical Society Scientific society for those involved with chemistry and publisher of several leading peer-reviewed scientific journals Go to source Some states offer reciprocity arrangements with other states where a valid teaching license in one state is automatically honored in other states, while other states require licensed teachers from other states to obtain a new license to teach in their state if they take a teaching position in the new state. Check with the Board of Education of the state in which you plan to obtain your license and any state in which you plan to move to for specifics. [11] X Research source
Community College. These are two-year public schools that provide the basis for students to transfer to four-year institutions. You will mostly be teaching introductory level courses, with limited lab work. The school will likely require only a master’s degree to teach there, and you will spend most of your time preparing classes and working with students both in and out of class. Most schools will not expect you to do your own research, though the resources may be available if you have the time and desire. Predominantly Undergraduate Institution (PUI). These are four-year schools that keep their faculty focused on teaching classes for undergraduates. You will teach both survey-level classes to the general student population and more specific upper-level classes for chemistry majors. If your school has a graduate program, you may teach those classes as well. Schools will expect you to maintain an active research agenda, keeping up with the field and producing new research. Research Institution (R1). These are four-year schools that are focused on producing new and cutting edge research. Your primary responsibility will be to work in the lab and publish articles in academic journals that advance the field. You will have teaching responsibilities as well, ranging from introductory surveys to graduate seminars. For teaching, especially surveys, you will likely have teaching assistants, graduate students who can help with grading and other classroom responsibilities.
When you are in graduate school, make sure you get experience as a teaching assistant. Your duties will involve grading, leading labs and discussion sections, and holding office hours, all important jobs of an instructor. There are many possible tasks for a graduate assistant, so you may want to make sure you ask your advisor or department to make sure you get in the classroom. You can also cover classes as an adjunct. Many schools use temporary faculty to cover classes, especially at an introductory level. Many of these positions don’t require a doctorate, so you can even do those before finishing your doctorate. Call or email schools in your area to see if they have openings, and send out your cv to look for interest.
This teaching philosophy is also a great way to highlight the practical experiences you’ve gained from being a teaching assistant and course instructor. Talk about projects, labs, and assignments that kept students’ attention, and things you learned about students from interacting with them.
Read the job advertisement carefully to make sure you have all of the proper materials for your application. Each school asks for something different, and will ask for it by a certain date as well. Make sure each application has all of the documentation you need, or else the search committee probably won’t read your materials. [16] X Research source Tailor your application materials to the school you are applying to. Every school is a little bit different, and will look for different things in their students and faculty. Make sure your materials discuss how you will be a good fit for the school and department. [17] X Research source If your advisor knows someone in the department, he will probably have some good advice for things you can say to ingratiate yourself quickly. If you get an interview, make sure you are prepared for the big moments, which include explaining your research and interacting with future colleagues. You will be expected to discuss your research, both formally in a job talk, and informally in conversation with other faculty. Make sure you can discuss your work in a compact and coherent way, and that you keep to the time allotted. A job talk should not run over, and informal conversation should be kept to within 5 minutes (the “elevator pitch”). The interview is also a way for the other faculty to see what kind of colleague you will be, so make sure to study their research interests, and ask them about the projects they are working on. [18] X Research source
The importance of each part of the tenure process depends on the school you work for. Community colleges and PUIs put greater emphasis on teaching than R1s, where research is most important. Make sure you know what your school and department wants to emphasize when you start to make sure you spend your time appropriately. Because tenure review is done by your peers, it can be helpful to be a good colleague. Remain friendly, help with requests and concerns, and do your best to be someone other faculty will want to work with. Having a good relationship with your co-workers can help you in the process, and bad colleagues may not receive tenure even if they are otherwise productive.
Public Schools. These are the most common type of school, and will have the largest number of job openings. They are open to all students in a locally governed school district, and subject to regulation by state and federal law. You will have larger classes with a variety of learning types and ability levels. The type of students you get will vary based on a variety of factors such as the school district’s location. Depending on the school, your resources for labs and classroom work may be limited, which can affect the types of labs you have students do. Some public school systems operate charter or magnet schools, which draw students from across the district and have higher standards for work. Private Schools. These schools operate separately from the public school system, and generally have their own standards. Many have admissions requirements, so you will probably have smaller classes with better students. These can be governed by private groups, including churches, so you may be subjected to additional rules regarding standards and behavior. Many private schools will want you to have a master’s degree, and will like it if you have a doctorate.
If you are more restricted geographically in your searching, perhaps for family or personal reasons, you may have be proactive in hunting. Instead of hoping for an open position nearby, contact local school districts and principals to ask what might be available. Be prepared to show your cv and discuss your experiences. Even if they aren’t willing or able to hire you right away, they may be willing to keep your cv on file in case an opening does appear.
Take into account the resources your school has available. Do not plan labs that involve equipment or chemicals that the school doesn’t have, or at the very least be prepared to acquire them yourself.
There are a variety of state and federal requirements involving continuing education and professional development in order to maintain your certification. Keep an eye on what you need to do, and make sure you keep up with the standards.
