Polymer and Color Chemistry (BS): Science & Operations 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 Science and Operations concentration is one of three concentrations offered in the PCC degree. The course flexibility in this concentration allows students to select more elective courses to specialize a PCC degree to their interests. While it still prepares students for graduate school, this program is designed for students interested in direct entry to employment.
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 | 3 | |
| TE 201 | Fiber Science | 4 | |
| TE 200 | Introduction to Polymer Science and Engineering | 3 | |
| TMS 212 | Yarn and Fabric Formation and Properties | 2 | |
| PCC 301 | Technology of Dyeing and Finishing | 3 | |
| PCC 304 | Technology of Dyeing & Finishing Laboratory | 1 | |
| CH 331 | Introductory Physical Chemistry | 3 | |
| or TE 303 | Thermodynamics for Textile Engineers | ||
| PCC 350 | Introduction to Color Science and Its Applications | 2 | |
| PCC 354 | Intro to Color Science Laboratory | 1 | |
| PCC 201 | Impact of Industry on the Environment and Society | 3 | |
| 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 | |
| Mathematics | |||
| MA 131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | 3 | |
| or MA 141 | Calculus I | ||
| MA 231 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B | 3 | |
| or MA 241 | Calculus II | ||
| 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 | |
| PY 211 | College Physics I | 4 | |
| or PY 205 & PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | ||
| PY 212 | College Physics II | 4 | |
| or PY 208 & PY 209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | ||
| Major Electives | |||
| Economics Elective | 3 | ||
| Statistics Elective | 3 | ||
| PCC Electives | 14 | ||
| Advised Electives | 8-9 | ||
| 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 1GEP | 3 | ||
| ENG 202 | Disciplinary Perspectives in Writing | 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 |
Statistics Elective
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ST 311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 | |
| ST 370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 | |
| ST 380 |
PCC Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| CH 441 | Forensic Chemistry | 3 | |
| 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 471 | Chemistry of Biopolymers | 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 | |
| CH 335 | Principles of Green Chemistry | 4 | |
| CH 345 | Chemistry and War | 3 | |
| CH 442 | Advanced Synthetic Techniques | 4 | |
| CH 452 | Advanced Measurement Techniques I | 4 |
Advised Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advised Electives (Choose from this list or any 300 or 400 level CH course) | |||
| BEC 475 | Global Regulatory Affairs for Medical Products | 3 | |
| CH 441 | Forensic Chemistry | 3 | |
| MB 351 | General Microbiology | 3 | |
| MT 366 | Biotextile Product Development | 3 | |
| MT 381 | Medical Textile and the Regulatory Environment | 3 | |
| MT 432 | Evaluation of Biotextiles | 3 | |
| STS/PHI 325 | Bio-Medical Ethics | 3 | |
| PCC Electives | |||
| CH 441 | Forensic Chemistry | 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 471 | Chemistry of Biopolymers | 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 | 2 |
| PCC 104 | Introduction to Polymer and Color Chemistry Lab | 1 |
| MA 131 or MA 141 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A or Calculus I | 3-4 |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PCC 106 | Chemistry of Colorants and Auxiliaries (Polymer Synth. Sustain. the Env.) | 3 |
| CH 221 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CH 222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| MA 231 or MA 241 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B or Calculus II | 3-4 |
| 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 |
| PY 211 or PY 205/206 | College Physics I or Physics for Engineers and Scientists I | 4 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 2-3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| TE 201 | Fiber Science | 4 |
| CH 201 & CH 202 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| PY 212 or PY 208/209 | College Physics II or Physics for Engineers and Scientists II | 4 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| 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 |
| TE 303 or CH 331 | Thermodynamics for Textile Engineers or Introductory Physical Chemistry | 3-4 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PCC 350 | Introduction to Color Science and Its Applications | 2 |
| PCC 354 | Intro to Color Science Laboratory | 1 |
| PCC 462 | Characterization and Physical Properties of Polymers | 3 |
| PCC Elective | 3 | |
| Advised Electives | 3 | |
| Statistics Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PCC 442 | Theory of Physico-Chemical Processes in Textiles II | 3 |
| PCC Electives | 6 | |
| PCC 201 | Impact of Industry on the Environment and Society | 3 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PCC 412 | Textile Chemical Analysis | 2 |
| PCC 414 | Textile Chemistry Analysis Lab | 1 |
| PCC Electives | 3 | |
| Advised Electives | 6 | |
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| 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
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