Funding & Awards

ACS-Hach Second Career Teacher Scholarship

Scholarship at a Glance

TypeScholarship
Recipient Student, Chemistry Professional, Early Career
Category Teaching,  Professional Development
AmountUp to $6,000
DeadlineMay 1, 2024
Contacthach@acs.org
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Purpose

To provide financial support for chemistry professionals to obtain a masters degree in education or teacher certification in chemistry.

Description

The ACS-Hach Second Career Teacher Scholarship is awarded to professionals in the chemistry field pursuing new careers as high school chemistry teachers.

Scholarship recipients receive:

  • Scholarship stipends (up to $6,000 for full-time study or up to $3,000 for part-time study) towards the completion of a Masters degree in education or secondary chemistry/science certification.*
  • Support and mentoring throughout their three year teaching commitment.

The scholarship can be applied to tuition, books, room and board, and other education-related expenses and are renewable up to three years. Scholarships cannot be applied to expenses retroactively.

Important Dates

Application Opens: February 1, 2024

Application Deadline: May 1, 2024

Applicant Decision Date: July 14, 2024

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

  • Have a Bachelors degree or higher in chemistry or chemistry-related discipline
  • Have at least one year work experience in a chemistry-related profession** 
  • Cannot have more than one year experience as a high school chemistry teacher*** 
  • Be accepted into an education masters program or teacher certification program 
  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Eligible Chemistry-Related Disciplines

  • Agricultural Chemistry 
  • Biochemistry 
  • Ceramic Science/ Chemistry/Technology 
  • Chemical Engineering 
  • Chemical Technology 
  • Environmental Science/Engineering (must be chemistry-based)
  • Forensic Science/Chemistry 
  • Food Science (not Nutrition) 
  • Industrial Chemistry 
  • Materials Science or Petroleum Engineering 
  • Nanotechnology or Nanoscience 
  • Paper and Pulp Technology 
  • Toxicology

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted by May 1, 2024 to be considered for 2024-2025. Applications will be accepted beginning Febraury 1, 2024.

Application & Instructions Application & Instructions

Information for Current Scholars

View the acceptance and renewal requirements.

About ACS-Hach Programs

The ACS-Hach Second Career Teacher Scholarship is one of the ACS-Hach Programs. Learn about other programs and how they support high school chemistry teachers at every step of their careers.

* Due to scholarship guidelines, scholarship stipends are distributed in equal installments two times per academic year. This may result in scholars receiving half of their total scholarship if they complete their program by the Fall semester.

** If you are a recent graduate, graduate student, or postdoctoral scholar with less than one year of work experience, please consider applying for our ACS-Hach Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Scholarship.

*** The purpose of the scholarship is to support career changers who will be new to the chemistry education profession. If you are a current high school chemistry teacher and would like support, please consider applying for one of our ACS-Hach Grants.

Contact Information

Past Recipients

Related Opportunities

  • Teaching Green Fellowship This award will be given to a pedagogical innovator who has reimagined one or more parts of the chemistry curriculum to better prepare students for future careers in which they can work toward addressing grand global challenges such as those addressed by the U.N. SDGs. The award will consist of a certificate, $10,000 dedicated to faculty summer salary, $5,000 for summer stipend(s) for student(s) working in conjunction with faculty on greener curriculum materials, and travel support for the awardee and one student (up to $1,000 each) to attend the annual Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference to receive the award and present their work.

  • ACS-Hach Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Scholarship Supporting recent graduates and graduate students with limited work experience and an interest in becoming secondary chemistry teachers.

  • ACS Public Policy Fellowships Engaging elected officials and policymakers on science-related issues and educating scientists on how government works.

  • ACS-Hach Land Grant Undergraduate Scholarship Providing financial support toward a chemistry undergraduate degree and chemistry teaching credentials at one of ACS's 72 partner institutions.