Cannabis Chemistry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States, outpacing technology and health care jobs! Are you ready to be part of this innovative field?
Cannabis Chemistry Degree General Description
Do you enjoy being on the forefront of emerging markets and technologies? So do we! LSSU’s Cannabis Chemistry is the first degree program in the United States focusing on the quantitative analysis of cannabis related compounds and contaminants including THC, CBD, terpenes, etc. This progressive program is offered in baccalaureate and associate degrees. Students may qualify for an American Chemical Society (ACS) degree.
“We are training students to become leaders in the emerging field of cannabis analysis. In this unique program students handle and analyze actual cannabis plant material and not surrogate material. Graduates will be chemists, first and foremost, trained in industry standards of cannabis analysis.”
Program Details of a Cannabis Degree
This exciting new cannabis degree program launched in Fall 2019 equips you with the knowledge necessary to gain employment in emergent cannabis markets – specifically within the scientific community. Combining a mix of core curriculum chemistry with cutting-edge cannabis courses, (such as Cannabis Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, and Cannabis Separations) you’ll gain a truly unique career-focused education. Cannabis Chemistry graduates earn over 600 hours of experience in state-of-the-art instrumentation laboratories and industry standard techniques, giving them the required proficiency to work in law enforcement, public health and safety, regulatory management, and business applications.
Program Goals
- Provide students with a solid foundation of chemistry courses including organic chemistry, instrumental analysis, and biochemistry
- Allow students to develop techniques in cannabis extraction and separation
- Build a base of chemistry knowledge with applications in the quantitative analysis of cannabis related compounds and contaminants
- Equip graduates with the skills necessary to gain employment in emerging cannabis markets of law enforcement laboratory scientist, public health and safety, regulatory management, and business applications
Degree Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a real chemistry degree?
Yes! Both the Bachelor’s and Associate degrees convey a solid foundation in chemistry, including organic chemistry, instrumental analysis, and biochemistry. Graduates will gain skills – often to develop new techniques – that set benchmarks of safety, testing, production, and quality control. LSSU has approval from the American Chemical Society (ACS) to certify graduates who meet the minimum standards set forth by the Committee on Professional Training.
Will students use real cannabis buds?
Yes, students need to have real-world experience working with state-of-the-art chemical instructions doing analysis on real compounds. This is in contrast to programs that only use plant surrogates.
Are students growing plants?
No, this program concentrates on the chemistry of cannabis and the use of chemical analysis as a tool for health & safety, regulation and law enforcement.
Are there jobs?
Yes! The cannabis field is set to out-pace both healthcare and technology jobs, with projected growth at 22% annually. Not only will you have a chemistry degree (LSSU graduates have nearly 100% placement), you will also have the education and training to work in a new and quickly expanding field.
Is this legal?
Yes! LSSU will remain fully compliant with all legal requirements for the limited use of regulated materials in an educational setting – including approvals from the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and the United States Drug Enforcement Agency.
Can I transfer into this program?
Yes!
Do I have to be a Michigan resident to enroll in this program?
No. In fact, LSSU offers in-state tuition to everyone!
Are there any special requirements for this degree?
Yes, in compliance with Federal regulations, state and local laws, students may need to submit to a background check in order to participate in the program and participate in courses that handle regulated materials.
Cannabis Center of Excellence
Within our multi-million dollar laboratories, you’ll acquire practical experience in prepping and testing complex plant material for contaminants by utilizing the latest chemical instrumentation such as:
- Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometer/Mass Spectrometer
- Liquid Chromatography paired with Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer
- Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS)
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectrometer
- Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer
- High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC)
LSSU Cannabis Chemistry in the Media
A Michigan university is offering college students a scholarship to study cannabis: CNN, April 6, 2021
Michigan university becomes first to offer cannabis chemistry scholarship: CBS News, April 6, 2021
Lake Superior State University first to offer cannabis chemistry scholarship: The Hill, April 6, 2021
Michigan university becomes offers first cannabis chemistry scholarship: Fox 2 Detroit, April 6, 2021
This Midwest college is offering the first cannabis chemistry scholarship: Fox4, April 6, 2021
Michigan university becomes first in nation to offer cannabis chemistry scholarship: Detroit Free Press, April 6, 2021
This college is offering the first cannabis chemistry scholarship: WGN News, April 6, 2021
University in Michigan Announces Groundbreaking Cannabis Chemistry Scholarship: Complex, April 6, 2021
This college is offering the first cannabis chemistry scholarship: KHON2 News, April 6, 2021
Michigan university offers first US cannabis chemistry scholarship: Mugglehead Magazine, April 6, 2021
Lake Superior State University Opens Cannabis Chemistry Facility: Cannabis Product News, February 25, 2020
Cannabis excellence: LSSU launches new chemistry facility: The Mining Journal, February 22, 2020
Inside Lake Superior State University’s New Cannabis Center of Excellence: 9 & 10 News, February 20, 2020.
Lake Superior State opens Cannabis Center of Excellence for university’s cannabis chemistry program: wxyz.com, February 20, 2020
How Higher ed could capitalize on cannabis: Politico, December 2, 2019
Higher Education: Majoring in marijuana: 22 News WWLP November 5, 2019
Michigan students majoring in marijuana: Kobi-5 News November 5, 2019
Majoring in marijuana at LSSU: WILX November 5, 2019
Majoring in Marijuana: UpNorthLive November 4, 2019
Lake Superior State University Holds Marijuana Seminar: Radio Results Network October 23, 2019
Agilent Partners with LSSU on Cannabis Chemistry & Research: Cannabis Chemistry Journal September 11, 2019
Agilent backs research efforts: Chemical and Engineering News August 29, 2019
Lake Superior State University Partners with Agilent to Launch Cannabis Center of Excellence: Cannabis Science and Technology August 26, 2019
LSSU Announces Research Center for Cannabis Chemistry Program: 9&10 News August 22, 2019
Lake Superior State University to [spend] $1 million on equipment for new cannabis chemistry program: abc12.com March 23, 2019
LSSU to offer ‘Cannabis Chemistry’ degree: Interlochen Public Radio January 30, 2019
Cannabis Chem program coming to LSSU: Soo Evening News January 26, 2019
Lake Superior State to offer degrees in cannabis chemistry: Freep.com January 25, 2019
Career Opportunities in Cannabis
By 2022, the cannabis industry is projected to create over 500,000 jobs
This emerging industry requires the best of the best! There is an unprecedented demand for innovative chemists able to use GC MS, MS/MS, and HPLC testing methods to look for harmful pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, and other contaminants. Regulatory enforcement requires chemists to utilize analytical chemistry techniques for the extraction, separation, and testing of cannabis products (including marijuana and hemp). Below we’ve listed some inspiring professional prospects you’ll be qualified to take advantage of upon graduation.
- Bio / Analytical Chemist
- Cannabis Extraction Manager / Technician
- Clinical Chemist
- Field Application Scientist
- Food Safety and Quality Assurance Chemist
- Formulation / Process Development Scientist
- Laboratory Manager / Technician
- Pharmaceutical Chemist
- Research / Process Development Scientist
- Toxicology / Risk Assessment Scientist
$72K
Average starting salary for cannabis chemists
“There is a burgeoning demand for highly skilled scientific professionals in the cannabis space, especially in the fields of research and clinical trials, product development and manufacturing, analytical testing, quality control, and regulation.”
DID YOU KNOW?
LSSU chemistry grads enjoy almost 100% placement in public and private-sector jobs or admission into graduate school within one year of graduation!
R. Adam Mosey, Ph.D. instructs a chemistry student as she prepares to use the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer to analyze samples.
Michigan’s Guidance on CBD and Industrial Hemp
Cannabis chemists use highly sensitive tests to detect and measure potential contaminants, to ensure regulatory compliance, to assist in the enforcement of laws, and to protect people from exposure to potential sources of contamination.Barbara Keller, Ph.D. - Professor
1st
to offer B.S. and A.S. Chemistry degrees in the chemical analysis of cannabis
16:1
Faculty to student ratio
500K
Potential new jobs created by 2022 (New Frontier Data)
