Color Scientists

High School

In high school, take courses in chemistry, physics, computer science, engineering, and mathematics. Color scientists must be excellent communicators, so it’s a good idea to take English, writing, and speech courses. Learning a foreign language will come in handy if you plan to work overseas or need to collaborate with colleagues who work in foreign countries where English is not the primary language.

Postsecondary Education

A minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required to enter the field, but some employers prefer to hire color scientists who have a master’s degree. Color scientists have a wide range of degrees, including chemistry, physics, engineering (e.g., chemical, materials, optical), and materials science. Those who work in digital realms have degrees in optics, digital imaging, or related fields.

A few colleges and universities offer degrees in color science. For example, the Rochester Institute of Technology (Rochester, New York) offers master’s and doctorate degrees in color science, as well as graduate degrees in imaging science. The institute says that “graduates of the program are in high demand across various industries including electronic imaging, color instrumentation, research, and development. Alumni have secured positions at prestigious companies such as Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Samsung.”

North Carolina State University (Raleigh, North Carolina) offers a degree in polymer and color chemistry. Visit https://textiles.ncsu.edu/academics/undergraduate/polymer-and-color-chemistry/american-chemical-society-certified for more information.

During their studies, students typically participate in internships or research assistantships in laboratories or other settings to obtain hands-on experience.

Certification

Colleges and universities offer certificate programs in chemistry, optics, engineering, and related fields that will be useful to aspiring and current color scientists. Some schools offer certificate programs in color science and related topics. For example, the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City offers a color specialist certificate for art, design and fashion-related products. Sessions include How to Use Color to Move the Market: Design Concept to the Customer’s Closet; Learn to Work Like a Color Professional; Color Painting Studio; Forecasting Resources and Micro-Macro Influencers; Color Science and Light; Color Trend Forecasting and Today’s Customer; and Color Careers.

Other Education or Training

Continuing education (CE) in-person courses and workshops and webinars are provided by professional associations (such as the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, Inter-Society Color Council, and the Society of Dyers and Colourists) and for-profit, online learning programs. In addition, colleges and universities provide CE opportunities. For example, the Pennsylvania College of Technology (Williamsport, Pennsylvania) offers classes such as Color Science and Weathering and The Coloring of Plastics.