Last Updated on August 5, 2023 by Vishnu Nambiar
Have you completed 12th standard? Are you interested in pursuing a good B.Sc. course? If yes, this article will be of help to you. Here, we will have an in-depth analysis of B.Sc. Chemistry course.
How’s this article of help to me, you may ask. Here, you will find everything you need to know about B.Sc. Chemistry course. This guide covers topics such as – course details, duration, eligibility criteria, colleges, admission process, fees, careers and salary specs. B.Sc. Chemistry academic program consists of classroom lectures and lab sessions. This program is available in regular classroom learning mode as well as distance education mode. Also check the list of B.Sc. courses in India. The course is 3 years long. Students who have passed 10+2 Science stream are eligible to pursue this course. Both PCM and PCB group students are eligible to pursue this course. If you are interested in chemistry and want to build a career in this sector, this course will be of help to you. You may even pursue relevant Master’s Degree after completing Graduation and specialize in disciplines within the field of Chemistry! Here’s an overview of the academic program –
- Name of the course: B.Sc. Chemistry
- Type of course: Bachelor’s Degree
- Duration: 3 years
- Eligibility: Passed 10+2 Science stream
Are you interested in knowing more details about this course? Do you want to check out the career prospects? You will find these details in the following sections.
B.Sc. Chemistry: Basic Details
In simple terms, Chemistry is the study of matter, its properties, the changes material substances undergo, the way substances combine or separate from each other and the way they interact with energy. For a layman, chemistry is all about mixing various chemicals, making them react and obtaining resultant chemical products. But chemistry is more than just that! Chemistry is the science that deals with compounds composed of atoms. It means that chemistry covers the study of elements, molecules and compounds! Common areas of study (of elements, molecules and compounds) include –
- Composition
- Structure
- Properties
- Behaviour
- Chemical reaction
- Chemical bonds
Here’s an interesting fact- Chemistry is known as the Central Science. Why is it called so? Well, chemistry is lodged between Physics and Biology. It provides a foundation for understanding other science disciplines at a fundamental level. For example, fundamentals of chemistry are used to study and understand problems arising in other sciences such as –
- Botany
- Physics
- Zoology
- Biology
- Geology
Chemistry has been around us for quite some time now. With time, chemistry has evolved quite well. Technology has played a huge role in the advancement of this branch of science! What are the applications of chemistry, you may ask. Well, as I mentioned above, chemistry is known as the central science. Its concepts are used in a number of different areas. Notable areas of application are –
- Food processing
- Agriculture
- Energy (petroleum, natural gas etc)
- Pharmaceuticals
- Healthcare
- Research and Development
Apart from that, chemistry is also central to many other branches of science such as –
- Physics
- Biology
- Zoology
- Botany
- Geology
- Astronomy
Come, let us check out the course details. Here they are –
Course Details
Type of course
B.Sc. Chemistry is an undergraduate level Bachelor of Science Degree course.
Duration
The academic program is 3 years long. Each academic year is divided into 2 semesters. In short, the entire course consists of 6 semesters! As part of assessment, students must face examination in each semester.
Eligibility Criteria
Minimum educational qualification required is -10+2 passed in Science stream. Minimum aggregate marks required could be anywhere between 45-60% marks. This criteria may vary from one institute to another.
Colleges
There exists many Government and Private colleges across India offering this course. Government colleges charge relatively lower fees than their private counterparts.
Admission
Reputed institutes rely on merit based admission process. Such institutes make use of relevant entrance test to select deserving candidates. Some institutes are also known to conduct their own qualifying test in order to select deserving candidates. Some other institutes are also known to conduct direct as well as donation based admission process.
Syllabus
Here are some of the important subjects present in B.Sc. Chemistry curriculum –
- Organic Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Computer Applications
- Communication Skills
The academic program also consists of practical sessions. Many of the above mentioned subjects have practical sessions associated with them!
Fees
Fees charged for the academic program may vary from one institute to another. Course fees depends upon the following factors –
- Type of institute (Government, Private, Aided etc)
- Location of the college
- Status and rating of the college
- Scholarship status (of student, if applicable)
Government colleges are known to charge low fees. Average fees in private colleges could be anywhere between 20-40K INR per semester.
Different learning modes
B.Sc. Chemistry course is available in different learning modes in India. Notable modes are –
- Regular classroom programs
- Distance/Correspondence programs
Fees may vary from one program to another.
PG courses and higher studies
After completing the course, B.Sc. Chemistry graduates may take up a job or go for higher studies. Talking about higher studies, they have a handful of PG courses to choose from.
You may also check –
Entrance exams after 12th in India
Scholarships after 12th in India
M.Sc. is probably the best PG course for graduates. They may pursue M.Sc. in order to specialize in sub-disciplines within the branch of Chemistry! Some such notable areas of specialization are –
- Organic Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Industrial Chemistry
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry
After completing Master’s program, one may take up Doctoral level program such as PhD. This will help one build a career in Chemistry R&D sector. Apart from that, they may also pursue management programs such as MBA and PG Diploma in Management.
Career Prospects
B.Sc. Chemistry Graduates have diverse job opportunities available in front of them. They have access to both Government and Private sector jobs. Here are some of the main recruiters –
- Chemical Factories
- Fertilizer Plants
- Refineries
- Government Departments (Food, Beverages etc)
- Energy Firms
- Pharmaceutical Firms
- Forensic Labs
In the above mentioned firms, they may don the following roles –
- Chemist
- Manager
- Supervisor
- Quality Control Officer
- Lab Manager
- Lab Assistant
After completing B.Sc. Chemistry, one may go for relevant M.Sc. programs and specialize in disciplines within the field of chemistry. After that, one may go for Doctoral programs such as M.Phil. and PhD. This will help one enter domains such as –
- Teaching (Lecturer)
- R&D (Scientist)
Salary
Starting salary of B.Sc. Chemistry graduates depends upon a number of factors. Some of the prominent factors are –
- Institute from which the candidate completed the course
- Level of education (UG, PG etc)
- His/her specialization
- The domain he/she has chosen
- Job location
On an average, starting salary could be anywhere between 20-30K INR per month. In case of a Government job, the salary will be as per the pay scale and grade. Abroad, the salary is much higher than what it is in India.
I am Vishnu Nambiar a career and educational blogger from India. I am also a full time educational consultant having more than 12 years of experience in the educational sector.
I share articles related to courses, colleges, careers, exam tips and more here.