The cornerstone for any growing, successful metropolitan area is a thriving industrial and business base. For both of these to compete and grow, they need the most qualified employees available. The primary reason for the existence of Midland College is to provide quality education and training, enabling citizens in the Permian Basin region to contribute to the economy and better their lives.

     The Permian Basin economy is moving at a pace well ahead of the rest of the nation. That makes it difficult for local industry to fill all of the available positions. This is particularly true in the area of laboratory technicians. In addition, many laboratories would like for their employees to receive additional training to enhance their on-job performance. Midland College has added the technical degree; Associate of Applied Science in Chemistry Technology (or ChemTech) to try to remedy this situation. This is intended be a two-year terminal degree with an emphasis toward chemical purification processes and analysis. Persons completing this program will have the technical foundation to quickly adapt to job-specific tasks once hired, or to enhance their competence in their existing laboratory position.

     The ChemTech program is partnering with area companies to initiate “real world” company-specific lab training, provide Summer internships for ChemTech students, and possibly to initiate cooperative research projects. To make sure that we are meeting the educational criteria that businesses and municipalities need, we convene a ChemTech advisory board to help guide the program.

     Nationwide, there will always be need for laboratory technicians, and these jobs are in all sectors of the economy. These laboratories cover a wide range of applications. For instance municipal water departments, oil well service companies, biomedical companies, pharmaceutical companies, environmental laboratories to name a few, all use laboratory technicians. For this reason, a ChemTech has the potential for a stable, good paying career. Starting salaries for ChemTechs generally range (company dependent) from $28,000 to $40,000.

Review the ChemTech Program curriculum

For more information, please contact ...

The ChemTech Program
Thomas Ready, Ph.D.
Chemistry Department
Fox Science Building, Room 201
Midland College, 3600 N. Garfield
Midland, TX 79705
(432) 685-6748 / Phone
(432) 685-6431 / Fax
tready@midland.edu