Is Chemical Engineering a Good Major for Women?

Is Chemical Engineering a Good Is Chemical Engineering a Good Major for Women?Major for Women?

from thefrom the

Department of Chemical Department of Chemical EngineeringEngineering

atat

Brigham Young UniversityBrigham Young University

20112011

Women entering collegeWomen entering college

Answers to questions asked by:Answers to questions asked by:

(including specific questions (including specific questions asked by LDS women)asked by LDS women)

• • complete at least my 4-year college complete at least my 4-year college degree?degree?

• • pursue a technical/professional major if pursue a technical/professional major if so inclined?so inclined?

Many women ask: should I…Many women ask: should I…

• • considerconsider chemical engineeringchemical engineering as a great as a great option among technical majors?option among technical majors?

Education for:•Options and OpportunitiesOptions and Opportunities

•LifeLife

Wisdom is…living in the present

but investing in the future

EducationEducation is a vital investment. is a vital investment. Therefore, we propose…Therefore, we propose…

What if I don’t know what the future holds?What if I don’t know what the future holds?

For example…

I want to be a mother/homemaker at some pointI want to be a mother/homemaker at some point

Many Women Ask…

I want to make a difference – can I?I want to make a difference – can I?

I may not marryI may not marry

I want to be prepared for economic hardshipI want to be prepared for economic hardship

•Options and OpportunitiesOptions and OpportunitiesChemical Engineering provides

professional/financial options and opportunities for…women who are marriedwomen who are married

medical billsmedical billsemployment instabilityemployment instabilityspouse disabilityspouse disabilitydisastersdisastersunforeseeable expenseunforeseeable expenseetc.etc.

Don’t you wish you could see the future?

Education for…

great salary (among the highest available)great salary (among the highest available)exciting opportunitiesexciting opportunitiesflexibilityflexibilitysolve important problemssolve important problemsimprove the quality of lifeimprove the quality of life

women who want the potential forwomen who want the potential for

supporting selfsupporting selfsupporting a familysupporting a family

women who are singlewomen who are single

Am I being untrue to eternal goals Am I being untrue to eternal goals and prophetic counsel by pursuing a and prophetic counsel by pursuing a career-related major?career-related major?

Many LDS Women Ask…

“In this day and time, a girl needs an education. She needs the means and skills by which to earn a living should she find herself in a situation where it becomes necessary to do so.”

Gordon B. Hinckley, “How Can I Become the Woman of Whom I Dream?” Ensign, Gordon B. Hinckley, “How Can I Become the Woman of Whom I Dream?” Ensign, May 2001, 93May 2001, 93

“I am grateful that women today are afforded the same opportunity to study for science, for the professions, and for every other facet of human knowledge. You are as entitled as are men to the Spirit of Christ, which enlightens every man and woman who comes into the world. (See D&C 84:46) Set your priorities in terms of marriage and family, but also pursue educational programs which will lead to satisfying work and productive employment in case you do not marry, or to a sense of security and fulfillment in the event you do marry.”

Gordon B. Hinckley, General Women’s Meeting, Ensign, Nov. 1985, 86.Gordon B. Hinckley, General Women’s Meeting, Ensign, Nov. 1985, 86.

Because their potential for good is so great and their gifts so diverse, women may find themselves in roles that vary with their circumstances in life. Some women, in fact, must fill many roles simultaneously. For this reason, Latter-day Saint women are encouraged to acquire an education and training that will qualify them both for homemaking and raising a righteous family and for earning a living outside the home if the occasion requires.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, The Influence of Righteous Women, Ensign, Sept 2009, 2-7.

“I would wish that all of you women might have the blessing of a happy marriage and a happy home and that you would not have to go out into the marketplace to labor for income. But I know that for some of you this may be a necessity, and you will be better equipped to do so if your hands and minds are trained.

Gordon B. Hinckley, General Woman’s Meeting, 23 September 1989.Gordon B. Hinckley, General Woman’s Meeting, 23 September 1989.

Furthermore, whether it is applied to earning a living or not, education is an investment that never ceases to pay dividends of one kind or another.”

Is my technical background wasted if I Is my technical background wasted if I raise a family and never am employed?raise a family and never am employed?

Many Women Ask…

Education for…•LifeLife

A technical education is valuable for a full-time mother/homemaker

Role model to your daughters and their friendsRole model to your daughters and their friends

Role model to your sons and their friendsRole model to your sons and their friends

Problem solving in a technical worldProblem solving in a technical world • Dealing with doctors, mechanics, repairmen, appliancesDealing with doctors, mechanics, repairmen, appliances

Functioning as a responsible citizenFunctioning as a responsible citizen • Social/political technical issues (energy, global Social/political technical issues (energy, global warming, nuclear waste, stem cell research, etc.)warming, nuclear waste, stem cell research, etc.)

Coaching your children & others through schoolCoaching your children & others through school • Math, chemistry, physicsMath, chemistry, physics

Introducing a few of our women graduates Introducing a few of our women graduates in Chemical Engineering at BYUin Chemical Engineering at BYU

Laura Vasquez, 2001Laura Vasquez, 2001


Rebekah Ellsworth, 2003Rebekah Ellsworth, 2003


Charity Chapin, 2005Charity Chapin, 2005


Amanda Bristow, 2003Amanda Bristow, 2003


Laura Otto, 2007Laura Otto, 2007


Shannon Bridge, 2000Shannon Bridge, 2000


Andrea Lundell, 2003Andrea Lundell, 2003


Julie Hutchins, 2005Julie Hutchins, 2005


Holly Clayton, 2007Holly Clayton, 2007


Nancy Vincent, 2000Nancy Vincent, 2000


Adrienne Lung, 2003Adrienne Lung, 2003


Tahlia Maddux, 2004Tahlia Maddux, 2004


Kalina Scherbel, 2005Kalina Scherbel, 2005


Megan Woodhouse, 2007Megan Woodhouse, 2007


Stephanie Stitt, 2003Stephanie Stitt, 2003


Leslie Pagel, 2006Leslie Pagel, 2006


Jenna Fletcher, 2007Jenna Fletcher, 2007


Lynlee Richards, 2006Lynlee Richards, 2006


Berlin Kowallis, 2007Berlin Kowallis, 2007



Amy Layne, 2009Amy Layne, 2009


Katie Shepard, 2008Katie Shepard, 2008


Kortney Judd, 2009Kortney Judd, 2009


Carla Hedengren, 2008Carla Hedengren, 2008


Becky Miller, 2009Becky Miller, 2009


Emilee Haines, 2008Emilee Haines, 2008

You?, Some Future YearYou?, Some Future Year

Your PictureCould Be Here

Someday!


If You Have Interest and Skills inIf You Have Interest and Skills inChemistry, Math, Physics, Biology…Chemistry, Math, Physics, Biology…

Chemical Engineering Might BeChemical Engineering Might BeA Good Major for You!A Good Major for You!

We Would Be Happy to HelpWe Would Be Happy to Help

Your Friends in theYour Friends in theChemical Engineering DepartmentChemical Engineering Department

at Brigham Young Universityat Brigham Young University

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Is Chemical Engineering a Good Major for Women?