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Studies & Degrees in Polymer Science

Polymer science is the study of polymers: very large molecules that take the form of long chains of smaller molecules. Plastics, rubber and synthetic fibres are polymers, and so are natural materials such as cellulose and collagen. It goes back to Hermann Staudinger, who showed in the early 1920s that small molecules can join to form long chains. That work became the basis for the development of synthetic materials like plastics, and Staudinger received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1953 "for his discoveries in the field of macromolecular chemistry".

The subject sits between chemistry, physics and engineering. Depending on the school, it is taught as a branch of chemistry, as part of materials science and engineering, or as an applied technology for the plastics and rubber industries.

What students learn

Programmes usually combine three strands:

  • Polymer chemistry: how polymers are made from small molecules and how their composition is controlled
  • Polymer physics and physical chemistry: how the chains behave in solution and in the solid state, and how structure determines properties
  • Processing and engineering: how a material becomes a product, how it is tested and how it is selected for a given use

The applied end of the subject is visible in the Plastics Engineering Technology curriculum at Ferris State University in Michigan. Its course list includes injection moulding, plastics testing, material selection, product and tool design, an introduction to rubber technology, organic and polymer chemistry, and two industrial internships.

Qualifications and levels

Few universities award a bachelor's degree called "polymer science". Most students reach the subject through a broader degree and specialise later.

  • Bachelor's level: polymer courses are part of degrees in chemistry, chemical engineering or materials science. The chemistry programme of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, for example, lists Polymer Chemistry among its courses. At Donghua University in Shanghai, the College of Materials Science and Engineering offers four undergraduate majors, one of them in polymer materials and engineering.
  • Applied degrees: Ferris State describes its Plastics Engineering Technology degree as Michigan's only bachelor's degree programme in plastics. The Bachelor of Science is open only to students who have completed an Associate of Applied Science degree in Plastics/Polymer Technology.
  • Master's level: the Department of Polymer Science of the University of Madras, established in 1983, offers an M.Sc. Chemistry (Polymer Chemistry). Applicants need a B.Sc. in Chemistry with Mathematics or Physics as an allied subject.
  • Doctorate: research degrees are common in this field. The University of Madras offers a Ph.D. in Polymer Science.

In Europe, programmes are measured in ECTS credits. According to the European Commission, a bachelor's degree consists of either 180 or 240 ECTS credits and a master's degree usually equates to 90 or 120. In Spain, a bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits and an official master's degree has 60, 90 or 120.

Where to study polymer science

SpainExchange lists 10 schools for this subject: seven in the United States and one each in India, China and Russia. The US schools are Ferris State University, the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Wayne State University and the University of California, Davis. Outside the United States, the list includes the University of Madras in India, Donghua University in Shanghai and Saint Petersburg State Polytechnical University in Russia.

The schools approach the subject differently. At Georgia Tech, the School of Materials Science and Engineering says its graduate programmes attract students from backgrounds that include polymer science and engineering and textile engineering. Wayne State University in Detroit names polymer and colloidal engineering among the research areas of its master's degree in materials science and engineering.

Before applying, check which department runs the programme, because that decides whether the degree leans towards chemistry or towards engineering. Ask also about laboratory and processing equipment, internships with industry, and the language of instruction.

Careers

Graduates work in the chemical, plastics, rubber, packaging, automotive, textile and medical device industries, in testing laboratories and in research. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not count polymer scientists separately. It groups them with chemists and materials scientists, and notes that materials scientists typically specialise in one material, such as ceramics, metals, polymers or semiconductors.

In the United States, chemists held about 84,900 jobs in 2025, a third of them in chemical manufacturing, and materials scientists about 8,600. The BLS projects employment in the two occupations to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035. Materials engineers held about 23,800 jobs in 2025, with projected growth of 8 percent over the same period.

Frequently asked questions

Is polymer science a chemistry degree or an engineering degree?

It can be either. Some universities teach it within chemistry, others within materials science and engineering, and some as an applied plastics technology degree.

Can I study polymer science as a bachelor's degree?

Usually you study chemistry, chemical engineering or materials science and take polymer courses within that degree. Applied bachelor's degrees in plastics technology exist, such as the one at Ferris State University, and dedicated programmes are more common at master's and doctoral level.

Do I need a PhD to work with polymers?

Not for every job. According to the BLS, chemists and materials scientists typically need at least a bachelor's degree, but some jobs, such as research positions, may require a master's degree or PhD.