A Master’s degree in Chemistry provides students with extensive experimental learning coupled with thorough theoretical knowledge. Elaborating upon the basic concepts learnt until class 12, the coursework is designed to stimulate innovative thought among students and drive them towards research by exposing them to numerous fields. The theoretical and practical knowledge gained as well as the discipline acquired as experimentalists make chemists highly valuable across domains.
WHAT CHEMISTS DO
With chemicals being an integral part of many industries, chemists play a huge role in the research and development of these domains. The primary employers of chemists are nuclear plants, pharmaceutical labs, research labs, and chemical factories. Students can also enter the fields of forensic science or toxicology with some interdisciplinary knowledge of biology. The healthcare industry hires chemists to aid in the diagnosis, management, and development of generic drugs. The options to pursue research or join academia are also viable.
WHAT YOU STUDY AT BITS TO BECOME ONE
As courses are common for first years across branches, the majority of this degree’s coursework is covered in the second and third years. The basics of Physical, Inorganic, Organic and Quantum Chemistry are taught in the second year. These concepts are further developed in the third year. Regular lab work ensures that students receive sufficient hands-on experience to be capable of joining research labs and industries immediately after graduation.
Electives offered by the Chemical department range from Nanochemistry to Computational Chemistry. Courses like Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Advanced Medicinal Chemistry, and Sustainable Chemistry Using Renewables help the students explore interdisciplinary fields. Those inclined towards research can approach professors for a Laboratory Oriented Project (LOP) or a Design-Oriented Project (DOP).
WHAT YOU CAN DO AFTER GRADUATING
Job opportunities in the pure chemistry field immediately after graduation are scarce, with most students resorting to employment based on their engineering branch. However, there is scope to land a job in the Petrochemical, Agricultural, and Textile industries. Career options also exist in interdisciplinary fields, especially when the degree is paired with Computer and Chemical Engineering. Students who are interested in pursuing research after their graduation are also provided with opportunities in various fields such as medicinal chemistry, forensic sciences, alternative fuels, and sustainable chemistry. Chemistry departments at major universities worldwide carry out pioneering research in a wide range of fields, giving students ample choices for pursuing research both within the country and abroad.