The science of a home is what fundamentally home science courses are all about. The core of the subject matter is the family ecosystem and the education system aimed at teaching and professing ‘better living.’ These courses involve the study of a diversified range of sciences and humanities that are integrated and applied in order to better human environment, management of resources, family nutrition and child development.
It’s a fallacy if people are under the impression that home science courses revolve around laundry, cooking, stitching or home decoration. In fact, home science has sprouted out of misconceptions and unlocked doors to an assortment of avenues in all possible fields of life. Off late, the popularity of these courses has risen owing to its wide application in various industries such as clothing and textiles, food preservation and training and interior design among others.
Moreover, increasing concern for nutrition/health and changing lifestyle have made home science emerge from the shadows and brought it to the limelight. This changing outlook has attracted a considerable number of students to pursue this subject and turn it into a successful career. Read on to learn more about home science courses in India.
As a home science graduate, you can easily serve the following:
· Apparel merchandising houses
· Hotels
· Schools
Also, pass outs of undergraduate home science courses can serve as:
· Nutritionist
· Microbiologist
· Journalism
· Biochemist
· Welfare organizations
· Service sector
· Counsellors
Pass outs of postgraduate home science courses can take up any of the following job roles:
· Designer or merchandiser in the textile industry
· Nutritionist and dietitian in hospitals and health care clinics, as well as the food sector
· Human development and social worker
· Teacher
· Food scientist/researcher
· Entrepreneur in the field of food, textiles, baking or confectionery
· Food Consultant
· Food quality analyst
· Interior designer
· Microbiologist or biochemist in medical laboratories and related industries
Those who have completed Masters-level home science courses can also serve the following:
· Institutional catering businesses – Involves providing nutritious food to schools, factories, colleges, clubs, etc.
· Production industry – Involves garment making, textile design, dress manufacturer, fashion design, etc.
· Tourism and service industry
· In the food and beverage segment of the hotel industry
In the food product development sector with food manufacturing units
You need to either have the following attributes before enrolling into or be ready to acquire the same while pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate home science courses:
· Scientific and logical bent of mind
· Aesthetic sense
· Creative
· Good communication skills well
· Organize things in an orderly fashion
· Practical and realistic approach
· Awareness about surrounding,
· Diet and health conscious
For admission to home science courses at the undergraduate level, most of the colleges in India consider students in the merit list. However, there are some colleges, which conduct entrance exams to enrol students into courses offered by them.
|
Course |
Eligibility Criteria |
|
BSc Home Science |
Students who have passed grade 12 with a minimum of 50 percent marks from Science stream |
|
BSc (Honors) Home Science |
Students who have passed grade 12 with a minimum of 50 percent marks from Science stream |
|
BA in Home Science |
Students who have passed grade 12 with a minimum of 50 percent marks from any stream |
|
BEd Home Science |
Students who have passed grade 12 with a minimum of 50 percent marks from Science stream |
Below mentioned are some of the reputable colleges/universities in India that offer home science courses:
2. University of Bombay, Bombay
3. University of Calcutta, Calcutta
4. Avinashilingam Institute of Home Science for Women, Coimbatore
5. College of Home Science, Hyderabad
6. Bangalore University, Bangalore
7. Mount Carmel College, Bangalore
8. S.N.D.T College of Home Science, Pune
9. Smt. V.H.D Central Institute of Home Science, Bangalore
10. Lady Irwin College, New Delhi
11. College of Home Science, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai
12. Banasthali University, Jaipur
13. Women's Christian College, Chennai
14. Kamla Nehru Institute of Physical and Social Sciences, Sultanpur
|
Course |
Delivery Type |
Duration (in years) |
Fee Structure |
|
BSc Home Science |
Classroom, full-time |
3 |
INR 20,000–2.5 Lacs |
|
BSc (Honors) Home Science |
Classroom, full-time |
3 |
INR 20,000–2.5 Lacs |
|
BA in Home Science |
Classroom, full-time |
3 |
INR 20,000–2.5 Lacs |
|
BEd Home Science |
Classroom, full-time |
2 |
INR 20,000–2.5 Lacs |
Apart from the full-time home science courses mentioned above, some degree programs are even offered via distance learning or online learning mode. Moreover, some colleges allow students to pursue these courses at part-time mode as well.
|
Course |
Eligibility Criteria |
|
MSc in Home Science |
A candidate with a minimum of 50 percent marks in BSc Home Science or any other equivalent degree from a recognized university |
|
MA in Home Science |
A candidate with a bachelor’s degree in Home Science from a recognized university with a minimum of 50 percent marks |
|
PG Diploma in Home Science |
A graduate with a minimum of 50 percent marks from a recognized college |
|
Diploma in Home Science |
A graduate with a minimum of 50 percent marks from a recognized college |
|
M Phil in Home Science |
A master’s degree in Home Science with a minimum of 55 percent marks |
|
PhD in Home Science |
A candidate with a minimum of 50 percent marks in MSc (Home Science) or any other equivalent master’s degree from a recognized university |
Generally, the admission to home science courses at the postgraduate level is completely based on merit. However, some colleges conduct entrance exams for the admission purpose.
Some of the reputable colleges/universities in India that offer home science courses at the postgraduate level include:
· J. D. Birla Institute of Home Science, Kolkata
· National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad
· Lady Irwin College, New Delhi
Duration, Delivery Type and Fee Structure:
|
Course |
Delivery Type |
Duration (in years) |
Fee Structure |
|
MSc in Home Science |
Classroom full-time |
2 |
INR 20,000–2.5 Lacs |
|
MA in Home Science |
Classroom full-time |
2 |
INR 20,000–2.5 Lacs |
|
PG Diploma in Home Science |
Classroom full-time |
1 |
INR 20,000 approx |
|
Diploma in Home Science |
Classroom full-time |
1 |
INR 20,000 approx |
|
M Phil in Home Science |
Classroom full-time |
2 |
INR 20,000–2.5 Lacs |
|
PhD in Home Science |
Classroom full-time |
3 |
INR 20,000–2.5 Lacs |
The areas of specialisation offered under Bachelor’s level home science courses include:
· Fabric and apparel science – Subjects offered under this area of specialisation include Garment Making, Fabric Knowledge, Fabric Knowledge, Fabric Manufacture, Printing and Dyeing Techniques, Merchandising, and Textile Marketing among others.
· Human Development – Human development focuses on how a child develops from conception to old age. This area of home science deals with physical, motor, emotional, language, cognitive and social developments of human beings. This area also deals with behavioural problems of children, exceptional children, disorders, specific problems and issues that causes obstacle in the development of human beings.
· Family and Community Resource Management – This area covers the topics, which are related to the management of time, money and energy.
· Home Economics – Home economics prepares students to educate others in matters related to personal finances, resource management and interpersonal communications. In addition, it teaches features of home management, child improvement, textile and clothing, research methods and statistics besides other things.
Following are the areas of specialisation offered under home science courses at the postgraduate level:
· Food and nutrition - This area of specialisation under postgraduate home science courses covers subjects like Diet Counselling for all Age Groups, Food Microbiology, Clinical Nutrition, Food Adulteration and Quality Control, Food Product Development, Maternal and Child Nutrition, and Food Processing and Technology among others.
· Resource Management - This specialisation includes subjects that focus on areas such as Management Principles and Practices, Consumer Awareness, Planning and Designing of Residential and Commercial Spaces, Management of Energy Resources and others.
· Human Development - This area of specialisation under home science courses features subjects that focus on areas including Human Development and Growth, Counselling, Therapy, etc.
· Home Management - This includes the study of basic concepts, need and importance of home management, family, motivators in the family, as well as resources in the family.
· Food Science and Technology- A student after completing his / her undergraduate degree can specialise in fruit and vegetables processing, cereal technology, animal products technology and development of food processing machinery. Food processing industry empowers students with the practical application of various scientific principles for the production, preservation, processing, handling and packaging of food materials.
· Nutrition and dietetics – Students can specialise in food science and nutrition as part of the PG course in home science once they complete their Bachelor’s degree. Dieticians and nutritionists work in the field of food science, community development, research projects and Fast Moving Consumer Goods Companies (FMCG).
· Extension Education – In this area of Home Science, basics of programme planning, preparation of audio visual aids, social work, applied nutrition, methods of communicating with the society etc. are taught.