Associate of Science Degree in Chemistry
San Mateo, USA
Associate of Science
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
USD 4,512 / per semester *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for a 12-unit semester | 376 USD per unit | non-inclusive of miscellaneous fees
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
About: The A.S. in Chemistry at College of San Mateo prepares students to transfer to four‑year institutions. CSM in San Mateo, near San Francisco and Silicon Valley, offers hands‑on labs and transfer pathways. Many courses are in the Global Online Learning (GOL) Program, available online. CSM reports 74% of students transfer to UC San Diego and other top universities.
Career Outcomes: An A.S. can qualify you for entry roles, while many chemistry careers need a B.S. or advanced degree. Key roles: environmental technician, laboratory technician, safety manager, water‑quality analyst, analytical chemist. Chemists work in manufacturing, government, research organizations and education.
The Chemistry major prepares students to transfer to four-year institutions for continued study in the field of chemistry.
In addition to in-person studies, most programs are available through the Global Online Learning (GOL) Program, which allows students to take classes fully online from their home countries.
Major Requirements
Total Required Major Units: 24 - 25
And required General Education coursework and electives as needed to meet the minimum 60 units required for the Associate degree.
Students completing this program will be able to:
- Demonstrate preparedness to transfer to a 4-year institution
- Effectively explain general chemistry and organic chemistry theories and concepts. (Effective Communication)
- Perform quantitative analysis relating to, but not limited to, graphical and numerical data obtained from laboratory experiments, and apply general chemistry and organic chemistry theories to solve problems. (Quantitative Skill)
- Critically analyze and apply general chemistry and organic chemistry concepts. (Critical Thinking)
The San Mateo Colleges of Silicon Valley (SMCSV) offer more than 50 institutional scholarships each year, and all enrolled students are eligible to apply. Award amounts range from $300 to $7,000, helping make college more affordable. Students can also apply for external scholarships, such as the $1,000 Study in California Scholarship, to further support their educational journey.
While an A.S. degree may be sufficient for an individual to secure employment as an environmental technician, laboratory technician, safety manager, sanitarian, or water-quality analyst, most careers in the field require a B.S. or advanced degree. Analytical chemist, biochemist, biotechnologist, dentist, educator, forensic specialist, environmental/ industrial health engineer, pharmacist, physician, research chemist, and veterinarian are some of the careers for which an Associate degree in Chemistry prepares a student who subsequently obtains a university degree in the field. Approximately two-thirds of all chemists work for manufacturing firms. Chemists are also employed by federal, state, and local governments, such as the departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, and Agriculture. Some chemists work for research organizations and educational institutions.
Build your English skills while earning credits toward your degree through the IESL Pathway Program at Cañada College. No English proficiency test score is required to apply to IESL.