Plant Biotechnology – B.Sc. (General) Degree Program
Duration: 3Years
For whom?
Biological science stream students who are interested in pursuing careers in academic, technological, industrial or environmental organizations. The intake is limited to a maximum of 60 students in an academic year. Minimum number for course is 20 in an academic year.
Career Opportunities
As the country is forging ahead to be the economic hub of Asia, graduates in Biotechnology will definitely have a variety of rewarding careers in both public and private sector establishments . Qualified biotechnologists are needed across many sectors, including academic,technological, industrial and environmental organizations. In particular, the demand for biotechnology graduates is high within the fields, medicine and agriculture, where the tinkering of genes to maximize the beneficial traits of the gene products, takes precedence. In addition, with the fortification of the ‘transgenic’ wave in agriculture, there will be even more opportunities for biotechnology graduates to embark on fruitful careers in the sphere of contemporary biotechnology.
Course overview
The rapid growth of biological knowledge is placing its prominence among other sciences. Currently there are many real-world problems that entail plants: escalating pressure for food, the need for renewable energy resources, habitat preservation are being driven by the ever growing human population .In order to overcome these problems require detailed knowledge of life’s component parts at every level from molecules to ecosystems.
Biotechnology is the practical application of biological science to improve the lives of humans and quality of the environment, by exploiting the potential of biological organisms as ‘factories’ or ‘bio-industrial units’ capable of manufacturing invaluable products, including food, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, vaccinations, hormones,enzymes and miscellaneous biological agents. Many of these applications are not new but through the understanding of the genetic code followed by genetic engineering, biotechnology has turned out to be an exciting and fascinating field of science. It is only through Biotechnology that it would be possible to overcome the twenty first century real-world problems.
Course structure
The subject biotechnology constitutes one third of the B. Sc. (General) degree program in an allowed subject combination. All students who wish to offer plant biotechnology will have to follow common compulsory and core course units during the first two years of the degree programme prior to the selection of plant biotechnology as their chosen field of study.At the end of three years, total credit value gained by a student who has opted for general degree following a particular course should not be less than 27.0. A Student can also opt for a Special degree spending an additional year offering more advanced areas pertaining to respective subject they have selected .
Plant Biotechnology – B.Sc. (Special) Degree Program
Duration: 4 Years
Career opportunities
The career opportunities available for graduates of the Special Degree Program in Plant Biotechnology, will be centered on academics as well as practicing their trade as researchers in a diverse range of hierarchical positions undertaking in depth studies on contemporary research topics with the objectives of bridging gaps in knowledge and deciphering cryptic areas of Applied Plant Biotechnology.
Course overview
The department offers special degree programs in Plant Biotechnology for fewer numbers of students with the intention of producing graduates having an in-depth knowledge, better skills and competent in handling various aspects of the subject selected. The core curriculum of the special degree program is designed to provide advanced knowledge in the subject and simultaneously to impart hands-on experience in the world of work through an industrial training program in a government research institute or in a private sector organization for a short period of time. The final year research project assists students to improve on problem solving ability, critical thinking. and time management and there-by prepare them to become professionals.
Selection
Selection of students to follow a special degree in Plant Biotechnology is based on their performance during the first two academic years. The intake is limited to a maximum of 10 students per course.
Instruction and assessment
Through the knowledge and experience of the academic staff of the Department of Botany and of visiting staff, we endeavor to expose students to a range of teaching and learning activities, based on the course units identified under each of the subjects offered by the department. The modules conducted include lectures, laboratory practical classes, tutorials, field classes, individual and group assignments/projects.Majority of these modules are assessed through semester end theory examination, practical examination, presentations and reports/ theses, while a few are assessed continuously.