Chemistry – B.Sc. (General) Degree Program
Duration : 3 Years
For whom?
Students from both biological and physical science streams who are interested in pursuing careers related to a wide range of chemical disciplines in order to address the important problems that lie at the interface of chemistry and closely related subjects. The intake is limited to a maximum of 400 students per academic year.
Career opportunities
Chemistry is central to all sciences and is important to scientists and professionals such as doctors, biologists, engineers, physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and science teachers .There is a high demand for chemists in public sector organizations, and manufacturing and service industries in the private sector. The gained experience will take you on to many diverse and rewarding career pathways.
Course overview
Courses incorporate the most recent advances in the discipline and provide students with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of chemistry. More specialized optional courses which cover a wide range of topics to suit their future goals are offered. Courses in chemistry are designed to meet the needs of the country along with transferable skills such as communication, problem solving, team work, self- direction, leadership and to prepare the students to seek employment with confidence.
Course structure
At the undergraduate level, a three year course is offered to the general degree students who offer other subject disciplines for the degree. All chemistry students follow all the first year and second year course units. These include compulsory and core units,which are designed to provide students with essential knowledge and skills that are required to specialize in chemistry as well as to other students who require a solid chemistry foundation in related disciplines. Based on their performance at the end of the second year, some are selected to follow the special degree programme.
General degree students in their third (final) year, have a range of optional courses in more applied areas of the subject to choose from. The compulsory practical class comprises of 3 hour classes for 10 weeks lasting a total of 90 hours laboratory work for each year, which involves the three main branches of chemistry (Organic, Inorganic, and Physical). The practical is intended to provide students with hands on experience in analytical, technical, instrumental and problem solving skills required in many career pathways.
Chemistry – B.Sc. (Special) Degree Program
Duration : 4 Years
For whom?
This degree is designed for those who wish togain an in depth knowledge, skills and a broader perspective in chemistry as demanded by the industry and academia.
Career opportunities
The B.Sc. (Special) Degree in Chemistry. offered by the Department of Chemistry is aimed at training professionals in the field of chemistry with insight, skills, advanced and updated knowledge. The strong foundations laid by the special degree would enable the students to acquire postgraduate qualifications from recognized universities which would lead the career path in academia in universities and research institutes in Sri Lanka.
Course overview
B.Sc. Special degree courses are carefully designed to meet the demands of specialized industries and postgraduate institutions. The courses are a combination of theory and practicals with integrated soft skills to make students confident in following their chosen career paths. The students following the special degree programme in chemistry are well trained to join any university worldwide as graduate assistants in pursuing doctoral studies.
Course structure
The chemistry special degree students in their third year follow advanced courses in the core subject areas, while the fourth year students have wider choice of specialized optional courses, some of which relate to applications of chemistry in industry. Students are required to carry out a research project in their final year.
It helps students to sharpen their scientific reasoning, research and analytical skills, and prepares them to take up research work in academic careers. A dissertation is submitted for assessment at the end of the year, which is evaluated after an oral presentation followed by a viva voce examination. The special degree students also undergo a short industrial placement during the course. The industry-based assignment/training project in the fourth year allow students to get hands-on experience in applying the theoretical concepts that they learnt in the class room while providing an invaluable opportunity to further strengthen their work ready skills and team work
Selection policy
Selection of students to follow the B.Sc. (Special) Degree in Chemistry is based on student performance in the first two academic years. The intake is typically limited to maximum of 30 students.
Mode of Instruction and Assessment
The modules include lectures, tutorials, laboratory practicals, industrial visits and individual and group projects/assignments. These are assessed through end-of-semester written examinations, practical tests, presentations and reports. There is an emphasis on analysis of real problems to reinforce learning. This provides the tools required for group and individual projects. For the practical class, assessment will include attendance, record book and a practical exam held separately for Organic, Inorganic, and Physical Chemistry. A minimum of 80 % attendance will be an essential requirement for completing the practical component.
Course Units
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For further information please contact:
Prof. P. M. Jayaweera,
Head / Department of Chemistry
E-mail : p.m.jayaweera(at)gmail.lk