Polymer and Color Chemistry (BS): ACS Certification Concentration
This bachelor’s degree takes an applied, hands-on approach to chemistry focusing on the building blocks of the materials we come into contact with every day: polymers and dyes.
Students majoring in Polymer and Color Chemistry (PCC) learn about dye chemistry, color science, and textile wet processes in our Dyeing and Finishing Lab Pilot Plant and DataColor Lab. This experiential learning wraps up with a capstone project covering a range of projects unavailable anywhere else.
The American Chemical Society Certified concentration is one of three concentrations offered in the PCC degree. It is the best fit for students looking to enter the textile, polymer and color-based industries and is designed for students looking to pursue a graduate degree in chemistry upon graduation. This concentration focuses on polymer chemistry, fiber formation, color physics, dyeing, finishing, and chemical modification of fabrics, as well as how those disciplines are applied in industry.
Contact
Dr. Ahmed El-Shafei
Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science Department
Wilson College of Textiles
amelsha@ncsu.edu
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orientation | |||
| T 101 | Strategies for Success in the Wilson College of Textiles | 1 | |
| Writing & Speaking | |||
| Acad Writing Research 1 | 4 | ||
| Major Requirements | |||
| PCC 101 | Introduction to Polymer and Color Chemistry | 2 | |
| PCC 104 | Introduction to Polymer and Color Chemistry Lab | 1 | |
| PCC 106 | Chemistry of Colorants and Auxiliaries (Polymer Synth. Sustain. the Env.) | 3 | |
| TE 200 | Introduction to Polymer Science and Engineering | 3 | |
| TE 201 | Fiber Science | 4 | |
| TMS 212 | Yarn and Fabric Formation and Properties | 2 | |
| PCC 201 | Impact of Industry on the Environment and Society | 3 | |
| PCC 301 | Technology of Dyeing and Finishing | 3 | |
| PCC 304 | Technology of Dyeing & Finishing Laboratory | 1 | |
| PCC 350 | Introduction to Color Science and Its Applications | 2 | |
| PCC 354 | Intro to Color Science Laboratory | 1 | |
| PCC 412 | Textile Chemical Analysis | 2 | |
| PCC 414 | Textile Chemistry Analysis Lab | 1 | |
| PCC 442 | Theory of Physico-Chemical Processes in Textiles II | 3 | |
| PCC 461 | Chemistry of Polymeric Materials | 3 | |
| PCC 462 | Characterization and Physical Properties of Polymers | 3 | |
| PCC 464 | Chemistry of Polymeric Materials Laboratory | 1 | |
| PCC 471 | Chemistry of Biopolymers | 3 | |
| Mathematics | |||
| MA 141 | Calculus I | 4 | |
| MA 241 | Calculus II | 4 | |
| MA 242 | Calculus III | 4 | |
| MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 | |
| Sciences | |||
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science | 3 | |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 | |
| CH 201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science | 3 | |
| CH 202 | Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | 1 | |
| CH 221 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 | |
| CH 222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 | |
| CH 223 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 | |
| CH 224 | Organic Chemistry II Lab | 1 | |
| CH 431 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 | |
| CH 433 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 | |
| CH 401 | Systematic Inorganic Chemistry I | 3 | |
| PY 205 & PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | 4 | |
| PY 208 & PY 209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 4 | |
| ST 370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 | |
| Major Electives | |||
| Economics Elective | 3 | ||
| PCC Electives | 4 | ||
| GEP Courses | |||
| GEP Humanities | 6 | ||
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | ||
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 2 | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | |||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | |||
| Total Hours | 120 | ||
- 1
C- or better
Acad Writing Research
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acad Writing Research | |||
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 | |
| WLEN 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 | |
| Transfer Sequence | |||
| ENG 202 | Disciplinary Perspectives in Writing | 3 | |
| ENG 1GEP | 3 | ||
Economics Elective
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| EC 201 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 | |
| EC 205 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 | |
| ARE 201 | Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | 3 |
PCC Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose from the approved list or any 300 or 400-level CH course | |||
| PCC 274 | Introduction to Forensic Science | 3 | |
| PCC 404 | Introduction to the Theory and Practice of Fiber Formation | 3 | |
| PCC 420 | Textile Dyeing and Printing | 3 | |
| PCC 466 | Polymer Chemistry Laboratory | 3 | |
| PCC 474 | Forensic Chemistry Laboratory | 3 | |
| PCC 490 | Undergraduate Research in Polymer and Color Chemistry | 1-6 | |
| T 497 | Independent Research in Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Materials Science I | 1-3 | |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| T 101 | Strategies for Success in the Wilson College of Textiles | 1 |
| PCC 101 | Introduction to Polymer and Color Chemistry (CP) | 2 |
| PCC 104 | Introduction to Polymer and Color Chemistry Lab | 1 |
| MA 141 | Calculus I | 4 |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PCC 106 | Chemistry of Colorants and Auxiliaries (Polymer Synth. Sustain. the Env. CP) | 3 |
| CH 221 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CH 222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| MA 241 | Calculus II | 4 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Economics Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| TE 200 | Introduction to Polymer Science and Engineering (CP) | 3 |
| CH 223 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CH 224 | Organic Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
| MA 242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| PY 205 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I | 3 |
| PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | 1 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| TE 201 | Fiber Science | 4 |
| CH 201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science | 3 |
| CH 202 | Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| PY 208 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II | 3 |
| PY 209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 1 |
| MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PCC 461 | Chemistry of Polymeric Materials (CP) | 3 |
| PCC 464 | Chemistry of Polymeric Materials Laboratory | 1 |
| PCC 301 | Technology of Dyeing and Finishing (CP) | 3 |
| PCC 304 | Technology of Dyeing & Finishing Laboratory | 1 |
| TMS 212 | Yarn and Fabric Formation and Properties | 2 |
| CH 431 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PCC 350 | Introduction to Color Science and Its Applications (CP) | 2 |
| PCC 354 | Intro to Color Science Laboratory | 1 |
| PCC 462 | Characterization and Physical Properties of Polymers | 3 |
| CH 433 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| ST 370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 2-3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PCC 442 | Theory of Physico-Chemical Processes in Textiles II | 3 |
| CH 401 | Systematic Inorganic Chemistry I | 3 |
| PCC 201 | Impact of Industry on the Environment and Society | 3 |
| PCC Electives | 4 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PCC 412 | Textile Chemical Analysis | 2 |
| PCC 414 | Textile Chemistry Analysis Lab | 1 |
| PCC 471 | Chemistry of Biopolymers | 3 |
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Career Opportunities
Employers across the country and the world that specifically seek out our students for their unique and in-demand knowledge. From apparel and more traditional textile applications to chemical companies, plastics, cosmetics and even forensics, our graduates are anything but boxed in by this unique degree.
- Apparel: Nike, GAP, Victoria’s Secret, Under Armour, HanesBrands Inc., Abercrombie & Fitch
- Forensics: FBI, SBI
- Traditional Textiles: Unifi, Milliken, ITG, Guilford Performance, LORD Corporation, PVH Corp.
- Fiber Producers/Chemical Companies: PGI, DuPont, Monsanto, Eastman Chemical Company, Cotton Inc., Teijin, Highland Industries, Honeywell
- Plastics: Plaspak Inc., IPS Adhesives
- Other: L’Oréal, Eisai Pharmaceuticals, Merc, Underwriters Laboratory, Ideal Fasteners, APJeT
Career Titles
- Color Scientist
- Dye Chemist / Textile Chemist
- Research and Development (R&D) Polymer Chemist
- Forensic Chemist
- Plant / Development Chemist
- Process Manager and/or Production Manager
- Laboratory Director
- Quality Control Chemist
- Health Care Manager
Learn More About Careers
NCcareers.org
Explore North Carolina’s central online resource for students, parents, educators, job seekers and career counselors looking for high quality job and career information.
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Browse the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to view state and area employment and wage statistics. You can also identify and compare similar occupations based on your interests.
Career One Stop Videos
View videos that provide career details and information on wages, employment trends, skills needed, and more for any occupation. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Focus 2 Career Assessment (NC State student email address required)
This career, major and education planning system is available to current NC State students to learn about how your values, interests, competencies, and personality fit into the NC State majors and your future career. An NC State email address is required to create an account. Make an appointment with your career counselor to discuss the results.