Home Science: Comprehensive Guide on Courses, Colleges, and Opportunities

Do you know Home science is more than just cooking and knitting? Gone are the days when this field of social sciences was particularly for women or considered to have a limited scope! Home science combines sciences, social sciences, and technology to ease the study of and enhance the quality of human life, reason enough to know what lies ahead in this field.

If you are interested in Home science, then this career guide will help you in understanding everything you need to know to pursue a career in home science.

Let’s begin by first understanding what exactly Home Science is!

What is Home Science?

• Home Science, which is often termed as Family and Community Science, deals with the basic healthcare, child development, and management of family homes and communities. It focuses on understanding the basics of nutrition, clothing, human physiology, child development, microbiology, interior decoration and family relations with regard to community living
• Family and community science (Home Science) integrates elements of sciences, social sciences, and technology to facilitate the study of and enhance the quality of human life. This means, it aims at improving the overall environment for human development; in enhancing an individual’s dynamic relationship with families, communities, and societies as a whole as well as the management of resources.
• Home scientists are involved in the capacity building of individuals and communities for social and economic empowerment. They study and research ways to develop and improve awareness and skills about food, nutrition, hygiene, clothing, family resource management, child care and child development, relationship management and so on.
• The subjects studied are food, nutrition, physiology, microbiology and health, personal finance, family resource management and planning, ergonomics, fabric and apparel science, fashion designing, housing and hospitality management, consumerism, household management, interior decoration, human development, and family studies, psychology, extension education, etc.

Home Science: Specializations

Family Science/ Home science degree is offered in various specializations:

1. Food and Nutrition: Science behind food, clinical and community nutrition
2. Resource Management: Managing resources, interior decoration, and planning
3. Fabric and Apparel Sciences: Science of fabrics, garment designing, and maintenance of fabrics
4. Human Development: Psychology, child and elderly care, marriage and relationship guidance
5. Communication and Extension: Social science, media of communication, program planning, and training

Each specialization of this subject is further expanded into areas of specialization and vocation/professional opportunities. Some of the areas of further specialization are as follows:

Main Branch	Specialization
Food and Nutrition	·Food Science ·Nutrition- Clinical Nutrition and Community Nutrition ·Institutional food service
Resource Management	·Resource Management ·Housing and Equipment ·Interior Decoration ·Consumer Education
Fabric and Apparel Sciences	·Clothing Construction ·Textile Science ·Textile Designing ·Garment Designing ·Care and Maintenance of Clothes
Human Development	·Child – Welfare ·Adolescence, Marriage, and Family Guidance ·Care of the Elderly ·Care of special children
Communication and Extension	·Media for communication ·Program planning and evaluation ·Training and capacity building ·Management of community service organizations

List of Top 30 Courses in Home Science

There are various courses at Diploma/ certificate, Bachelor’s, Masters’s, and Ph.D. levels in this subject. Take a look at some of these courses offered by various Indian colleges/ and universities.

1. Diploma Home Science
2. Diploma Home Science (Extension Education)
3. Diploma HS (Food & Nutrition)
4. Diploma HS (Family Resource Management)
5. B.Sc. Home Science (Honors)
6. B.Sc. Home Science (Pass)
7. B.Sc. Home Science (Human Resource)
8. B.Sc. HS (Textile & Clothing)
9. B.Sc. HS (Food & Nutrition)
10. B.Sc. Family & Community Science
11. B.Sc. Human Development
12. B.Sc. Food Science & Nutrition
13. M.Sc. HS (Clothing & Textile)
14. M.Sc. HS (Food & Nutrition)
15. M.Sc. Extension & Communication Management
16. M.Sc. Family Resource Management
17. M.Sc. Human Development & Family Studies
18. M.Sc. (Family & Community Science)
19. M.Sc. (Early Childhood Education)
20. M.Sc. Family Resource Management
21. M.Sc. Extension Education and Community Management
22. M.Sc. Human Development and Family Studies
23. Post Graduate Diploma in Dietetics and Public Health Nutrition
24. Post Graduate Diploma in Health and Social Gerontology
25. Ph.D. in Home Science
26. Ph.D. in Food and Nutrition
27. Ph.D. in Human Development
28. Ph.D.in Fabric and Apparel Science
29. Ph.D. in Resource Management and Design Application
30. Ph.D. in Development Communication and Extension

Read more about A Career in Health Sciences

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List of Top 21 Vocational courses in Home Science

There are several vocational courses based on this social science discipline that is offered by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). The minimum eligibility requirements of most of these courses are class 8th-10th and the duration of these courses range from 6 months to 2 years. Students who wish to pursue a vocational career in this field of social science can consider these courses as mentioned:

1. Cutting, Tailoring & Dress Making
2. Beauty Culture
3. Bakery & Confectionary
4. Preservation of Fruits & Vegetables
5. Catering Management
6. Nutrition and Food Science
7. Food Processing
8. Laundry Services
9. Early Childhood Care and Education
10. Certificate in Indian Embroidery
11. Certificate in Toy Making and Joyful Learning
12. Certificate in Play Centre Management
13. Certificate in Housekeeping
14. Certificate Course in Care of Elderly
15. Certificate Course in Community Health
16. Certificate in Rural Health for Women (Gram Sakhi)
17. Certificate in Homeopathic Dispensing
18. Certificate course in Security Service
19. Certificate course in Yoga
20. Diploma in Radiography (DRX)
21. Certificate Course in Jeevan Vigyan

List of Top 43 Colleges/ universities

There are a number of colleges/ universities offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and Diploma courses in family and community science. Most universities have a separate department of Home Science that offers these courses.

1. Home Science Department of University of Calcutta
2. College of Home Science, Nirmala Niketan, University of Mumbai
3. Institute of Home Economics, University of Delhi
4. Lady Irwin College, New Delhi    
5. Smt. VHD Central Institute of Home Science College     
6. Department of Home Science, Lakshmibai College, Delhi University
7. Bhagini Nivedita College for Women, Delhi
8. Punjab Agricultural University College of Home Science Ludhiana
9. College of Home Science, Narendra Dev University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttar Pradesh
10. ASPEE College of Home Science & Nutrition      
11. College of Home Science, Prof. Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University 
12. SM Patel College of Home Science         
13. College of Home Science, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Uttar Pradesh   
14. Guntur Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University           
15. Government Girls Vocational Institute (East Maredpally Hyderabad)   
16. Ch. Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University         
17. Government Girls Vocational Institute, Secunderabad   
18. Government Girls Vocational Institute, Rangampet Warangal              
19. Government Home Science College Chandigarh
20. Morning Star Home Science College, Kerala
21. Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology
22. SNDT College of Home science Pune       
23. Junagadh Agricultural University, Polytechnic College Amreli   
24. Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences       
25. Dr. BMN College of Home Science         
26. I.C. College of Home Science Hissar, Ch. Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University         
27. SNDT Women’s University Mumbai (Juhu Campus)
28. Arya Girls College Ambala Cantonment
29. College of Community Jorhat (Assam Agriculture University)   
30. Faculty of Applied Sciences Vadodara, Parul University 
31. Government College for Girls Panchkula, Haryana
32. Kamala College, Maharashtra    
33. Municipal Arts And Urban Bank Science College, Gujarat
34. OM Sterling Global University (School of Applied Sciences), Haryana   
35. B.A Patel & D.B Vyas Arts and Commerce College
36. Faculty of Family & Community Sciences, Maharaja Sayajirao University        
37. College of Community Science, Bhubaneswar
38. Bundelkhand University, Jhansi
39. CMS College, Kottayam
40. St. Thomas College Pala
41. Vimala College, (Autonomous), Thrissur, Kerala
42. Bishop Chulaparambil Memorial College (BCMC), Kottayam
43. Korambayil Ahamed Haji Memorial Unity Women’s College (KAHMUWC), Malappuram

Eligibility Criteria: B.Sc. in Home Science

Candidates who want to pursue a degree in B.Sc. must have the following:

• Candidate must have passed senior secondary certificate examination or class 12th of the Central Board of Secondary Education or an examination recognized as equivalent.
• The candidate must have scored an aggregate of 50% or more marks in the subjects.
• Candidates must have the minimum score in three of the following subjects (at least one subject should be from Group A)
• Group A:
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology/Biotechnology
• Group B:
  • Mathematics Economics Home Science Computer Science/Information Technology/Web designing Psychology Sociology

Eligibility Criteria: M.Sc.in Home Science

Candidates who want to further pursue a career in this field and are looking for a Master’s degree must meet the following educational requirements:

• Candidates must have completed B.Sc. (Hons.) / B.Sc. (Pass) in Home Science / B.Sc. (Hons.) in Food Technology from any recognized university or institution shall be eligible for the M.Sc. program.
• Candidates must have scored 55% or above marks in aggregate in Home Science or Food Technology.
• Candidates should have passed Nutritional Biochemistry and any two subjects in the following areas: Food & Nutrition / Nutrition through the life cycle / Public Nutrition / Food Science and Processing / Diet therapy / Microbiology/ Nutrition for Adults and Elderly/ Nutrition for Children and Adolescents.

Eligibility Criteria: PG Diploma

Candidates seeking admission in Post Graduate Diploma in Dietetics and Public Health Nutrition (1 year) course must meet the following educational requirements:

• Candidates must have completed 3 years graduation in B.Sc. Home science (Pass/Hons.) or B.Sc. Food Technology (Hons.), B.Sc. Microbiology, B.Sc. Biochemistry, B.Sc. Nursing, MBBS degree.
• Candidates must have scored 50% or above marks in overall aggregate.

Eligibility Criteria: Ph.D. in Home Science

Candidates seeking admission in PhD in Home Science must meet the following educational requirements:

• Candidates having M Phil Degree of Delhi University or any other recognized university or any other degree recognized or equivalent in the subject in which the candidate wishes to pursue a course of research; or
• M.Sc./ M.A. in Home Science or similar subject of discipline.
• Candidates must have scored at least 55% marks in the relevant subject.

B.Sc. Home Science Syllabus

Semester-I
English Language and Communication
Applied Chemistry
Human Physiology
Introductory Clothing
Hygiene and Public Health
Basic Foods

Semester-II
English -II
Applied Physics
Human Development – I
Introduction to Textiles
Applied Botany
Fundamentals of Nutrition

Semester-III
Extension Education
Human Development -II
Psychology I
Introduction to Home Management – I
Laundry Science and Finishing Fabrics
Consumer Economics
Food Science-I

Semester-IV
Community Development
Human Development – III
Psychology – II
Institutional Food Management
Garment Construction and Apparel Science
Introduction to Home Management – II
Food Science – II

Semester-V
Family Dynamics
Child Care & Rearing Practices
Nutritional Biochemistry-I
Community Nutrition
Indian Textiles
Interior Space Designing
Normal Nutrition

Semester-VI
Women Empowerment
Child Welfare
Nutritional Biochemistry – II
Food Microbiology
Apparel Designing
Interior Designing
Therapeutic Nutrition

List of Electives Offered in B.Sc. Home Science
Human Nutrition
Nutrition: A Lifespan Approach
Entrepreneurship for Small Catering Units
Current Concerns in Public Health Nutrition
Gender and Social Justice
Child Rights and Social Action
Care and Well-Being in Human Development
Adolescent Relationships
Media, Culture and Society
Gender, Media and Society
Behaviour Change Communication
Information and Communication Technologies for Development
Fashion: Design and Development
Fashion Accessories
Textiles: Care and Conservation
Appreciation of Textile Crafts
Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Management
Interior Design
Facilities and Service Management
Training and Development
Psychology for Human Development
Child in the Indian Society
Human Physiology

M.Sc. Home Science Syllabus

Semester-I
Research Methods and Biostatistics – Paper I
Advances in Nutritional and Clinical Biochemistry – I
Nutritional Management of Chronic Degenerative Diseases
Maternal and Child Nutrition
Food Science and Processing
Biochemistry and Food Analysis – I
Principles of Food Science

Semester-II
Research Methods and Biostatistics – Paper II
Advances in Nutritional & Clinical Biochemistry. – II
Critical Care Nutrition
Adolescent, Adult, and Geriatric Nutrition
Food Safety and Quality Assurance
Biochemistry and Food Analysis – II
Development of Food Product

Ph.D. in Home Science (Food & Nutrition) Syllabus

The duration of the Ph.D. course is three years. The course is divided into six semesters for regular candidates. The course duration varies for regular and part-time candidates. The syllabus for Ph.D. is different for different areas of specialization.

Ph.D. Course Structure
Advanced Food Science
Advanced Nutrition
Food Analysis
Advances in community nutrition
Food processing technology
Clinical nutrition
Nutrition during life cycle
Nutrition and physical fitness
Advanced diet therapy
Food toxicology
Advanced Human Physiology
Food Service Management
Food Product Development
Nutrition & Immunity
Advances in carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids
Advances in Vitamins and Hormones
Minerals in Human Nutrition
Advances in Food Sciences and Technology
Advances in Energy Metabolism
Nutrition and Agricultural Interface
Nutrition in Emergencies
Application of Biotechnology in Food Science and Nutrition
Global Nutritional Problems
Maternal and Child Nutrition

Post Graduate Diploma in Dietetics and Public Health Nutrition syllabus

Semester-I
Advanced Nutrition
Therapeutic Nutrition
Public Health Nutrition
Human Physiology
Electives (Any One): 1) Nutrition Communication & Counseling; 2) Sports Nutrition & Fitness

Semester-II
Clinical Nutrition
Institutional & Hospital Food Management
Nutritional Biochemistry
Seminar and Scientific Writing
Elective (Any One): 1) Food Microbiology & Food Safety; 2) Policies and Programmes in Public Health Nutrition

Career opportunities in Home Science

Let’s address one of the most asked questions by students- is BSc Home Science a good career option?

Students wondering if B.Sc. in Home Science is a good career option or not must know that a degree in Family and Community science or Home Science offers a plethora of career opportunities in this field. With a degree in Family and community science, you may find work in diverse sectors.

Take a look below and understand all the possible career opportunities in home science:

Students with a degree in Food and Nutrition may find work as:

1. Dietitians in Hospitals
2. Nutrition counselors
3. Nutrition program planners in developmental agencies, government programs, and international agencies
4. Research and development in the food industries
5. Institutional Food Managers

Students seeking to pursue a career in home science having a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Development Communication & Extension may find work in:

1. Training and capacity development
2. UN, Bilateral & International agencies
3. Government Development Programs
4. Corporate firms- CSR initiatives
5. Teaching/ Lectureship in schools, colleges, and universities

Students with a degree in Fabric and Apparel Science may find the following work opportunities in:

1. Academics: as teachers/ educators at schools & universities and other vocational training centers
2. Research projects in technology and design application
3. Designing: Textiles and apparel
4. Textile Testing Laboratories
5. Fashion Industry: Merchandisers, Production In-charges, Sampling coordinators and Quality Controllers

Students with a degree in Post Graduate Diploma in Dietetics and Public Health Nutrition may find work as:

1. Dieticians in Hospitals, & wellness centres
2. Public Health Nutritionists in Research, Awareness and capacity Building program
3. Nutrition Counsellors
4. Institutional Food Managers

In Conclusion

In the above article, we discussed everything you should know about a career in Home Science. As we have covered almost all the career opportunities you could avail with a degree in home science, we are sure you must be excited to kick start your career in this field! If not, then what are you thinking of pursuing? Make sure you talk to expert career counsellors and get clarity about the career field you wish to pursue.

For detailed guidance, you can take help of our professional services which include:  

• Career Counselling & Guidance
• Online Career Counselling
• Career Planning

Useful Links

• Check out the Home Science vocational courses eligibility and syllabus
• B.Sc. Home Science course at Lady Irwin College
• All about the College of Home Science, University of Mumbai
• Courses at Institute of Home Economics, Delhi

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