What is the scope of studying Chemistry at Sage University Bhopal

There is an endless list of what one aspires to be! Many students are aware of streams like engineering, medicine, and MBA. But it may be that they didn’t think deeply about the scope of Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science in general sciences. 

The School of Sciences intends to offer students an interdisciplinary and application-oriented science programme which is very unique to SAGE University, Bhopal. The school is providing world-class infrastructure for all the basic science departments. There are smart classrooms for modern teaching and understanding between students and teachers. The laboratories are well equipped with all the necessary instruments. The library is well-equipped with a large number of required textbooks and reference books for effective education.

In the school of sciences, bachelor’s degrees are offered in Maths, Biology, Microbiology, Biotech and Forensic Science. At the postgraduate level, master's degrees are offered in Microbiology, Biotech, Forensic Science, Chemistry and Physics.  All the UG courses are thee-year degree course which is divided into six semesters. The PG courses are two-year career-oriented post-graduate programmes that affords an extensive understanding of the real-world application of each course. A unique concept of Mentor University has been introduced in SUB. In this concept, the UG and PG curriculum and course structure are based on the mentor university Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and the syllabi have been prepared following UGC guidelines. It is mainly focused on the understanding and learning of the students in different stages. The main focus of all the courses is on teaching practical and experimental aspects which include modern classroom teaching, laboratory skill development, experimental design, data analysis and interpretation. The programmes integrate classroom learning along with practical and research and provide a huge scope for multidisciplinary interactions.

Chemistry strongly affects our everyday lives and is developing rapidly. For this reason, Chemistry is considered to be an important part of education for the current and future population. Having Chemistry in BSc and MSc helps students to prepare for careers as professional chemists. The curriculum offers a thorough fundamental knowledge of the major fields of Chemistry, covering the general areas of analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, plus many more specialised courses including industrial chemistry, forensic chemistry, materials chemistry, medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry etc. Students gain laboratory experience in inorganic and organic synthesis, analytical methods, physical and chemical measurements, and spectroscopy. The laboratory curriculum of BSc and MSc courses introduces students to cutting-edge research topics in a modular format. Students are encouraged to take full advantage of the scientific opportunities available in the department by joining a research group. Students at all levels are encouraged to undertake short and long-term research projects under the supervision of a faculty member in the Chemistry Department. Students with a strong interest in research can work with the Chemistry Department faculty to gain further expertise. 

The curriculum offers a thorough fundamental knowledge of the major fields of Chemistry, covering the general areas of analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, plus many more specialised courses including industrial chemistry, forensic chemistry, materials chemistry, medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry etc.

There is a huge scope for various jobs after BSc with Chemistry, if not pursuing MSc. One can be a teacher, chemist, lab technician, or can join chemical industries and medicine companies. After completing MSc in Chemistry, one can start a research career in any field of Chemistry. There is an opportunity to get national scholarships if one qualifies exams such as NET (National Eligibility Test) or GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering). There are other scholarships or fellowship opportunities such as PMRF, DST Inspire and others. The career options in Chemistry after MSc and PhD are practically endless. One can opt for becoming an analytical chemist, biochemist, biomedical chemist, food and drug inspector, research scientist, faculty in good university etc. The training during the programme enables students to pursue a career in academia (Colleges/Universities/Institutes), R&D institutes (eg, CSIR Laboratories, other Government organizations) and several Chemistry-based industries working on materials, pharmaceuticals, bulk chemicals, specialty chemicals, agrochemicals, petrochemicals, polymers, fertilizers, paints etc. to name a few.

The career options in Chemistry after MSc and PhD are practically endless. One can opt for becoming an analytical chemist, biochemist, biomedical chemist, food and drug inspector, research scientist, faculty in good university etc.

About the author

Dr Sharmila Pandey is Associate Professor in Chemistry at SAGE University, Bhopal. She is post-graduate from the University of Burdwan and PhD holder from IIT Kanpur. After completion of PhD in 2010, she did a brief post-doctoral study at Bar Ilan University, Israel. She was awarded with the DST Women Scientist Fellowship (2016-2019) from the Department of Science and Technology, MHRD, Govt. of India

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha