Career Options after Class 12th Science

After completion of Class 12th Board examinations, students are faced with a formidable challenge of choosing the right career option to pursue their higher studies. While the students from all the three streams of arts, commerce and science are faced with this problem, the challenge is greater for Class 12th Science students because of the variety of course options and streams available to them. Many students follow the much-treaded path of opting to become an Engineer or a Doctor while others with not so great score in qualifying exams choose B.Sc as the preferred options. Even within these popular career options, students often opt for the accepted domains only, which are known to help them get a rewarding job in future.

However, science stream is one of the most dynamic and evolving fields of study and, therefore, many new academic courses have come up as study options for Class 12th science student after their Board Exams. These new programmes are not only excellent when it comes to academic education, but also offer exceptional job opportunities that are both lucrative and rewarding. If you are also confused about your next move after completing your Class 12th Science Board exam, read on to find out interesting career options available to you!

Engineering

Engineering is surely the most popular career choice for students who have cleared their class 12th Science exam with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as core subjects. Engineering has been traditionally a favoured subject because it offers professional academic programmes at degree level that can help students get excellent job opportunities. Apart from this, engineering can be pursued in a number of different study streams and, therefore, has something on offer to anyone who is interested in technology and mechanics. In addition to this, like all other science domains, the field of engineering is also an evolving one with many new study streams being identified recently.

Some popular engineering streams that students can job after Class 12th Science Board exams are:

• Instrumentation & Control Engineering
• Printing & Media Technology
• Information Technology
• Electronics & Communication Engineering
• Automobile Engineering
• Industrial & Production Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Computer Science & Engineering
• Aeronautical Engineering
• Computer & Communication Engineering
• Electrical & Electronics Engineering

Top Institutes offering undergraduate level engineering programmes are:

Delhi Technological University (DTU), Delhi

National Institute of Technology (NIT) – different cities

Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) – different cities

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) – different cities

Medicine

For students who have completed with Class 12th Science with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as their core subjects and those who are interested in building their career in medical sciences can opt for Medicine related courses after their board exams. Just like Engineering, Medicine is also a very popular and respected career choice for science students. There are different medical academic programmes available to Class 12th Science students depending upon their interest and aptitude. These include:

• MBBS - Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery
• BDS - Bachelor of Dental Surgery
• BAMS – Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine & Surgery
• BHMS – Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery
• B.Pharm – Bachelor or Pharmacy
• BOP – Bachelor of Physiotherapy

Popular institutes offering academic programmes in Medical Sciences are:

Institute of Medical Sciences, Varanasi

St John's Medical College, Bangalore

Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

Christian Medical College, Vellore

Armed Forces Medical College, Pune

Agricultural Sciences

Agricultural science is one of the oldest and still one of the most ignored fields when it comes to career choices for students after Class 12th science. India being primarily an agrarian economy, a career in agricultural sciences is surely something that will help you build an excellent academic career as well as get satisfying job opportunities. To top it all, agricultural sciences also offer students a chance to pursue their career in different domains like horticulture, meteorology, agronomy and others. Generally, academic programmes in agricultural sciences are offered as three-year B.Sc degree with specialization in different fields.

Some popular academic programmes available to students in this field are:

• B. Sc in Crop Physiology
• B. Sc (H) in Agriculture
• B. Sc in Agronomy
• B. Sc (Bio-chemistry and Agricultural Chemistry)
• B. Sc in Agricultural Statistics
• B. Sc in Agricultural Meteorology
• B. Sc in Entomology
• B. Sc in Agricultural Eco and Farm management
• B. Sc in Agriculture
• B. Sc in Agricultural Biotechnology
• B. Sc (Agriculture Mktg and Business Management)

Popular institutes offering academic programmes in Agricultural Sciences are:

Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal

Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi

Agricultural Engineering College & Research Institute, Coimbatore

Forensic Sciences

Another niche but very interesting career choice for Class 12th science students after their Board exams would be Forensic Sciences. Although, this field is not very popular among mainstream academics, but is one of the fascinating study domains with superb job opportunities. A career in forensic sciences prepares students to evolve / develop scientific investigative skills to analyse elements and evidence found in relation to incidents. The career is excellent for students who want to join scientific investigative fields with governmental agencies. Recently, several private organizations and laboratories, as well as medical centres have started employing forensic science graduates. Students can choose from graduate level programmes or short-term diploma and certificate courses after Class 12th science to start their career in this field.

Top academic programmes offered in the field of Forensic Sciences include:

• B. Sc. in Forensic Sciences
• Diploma in F/Sciences (Ballistics and Finger Prints)
• B. Sc. in Life Science, Chemistry, Forensic Science
• Diploma in Forensic Science (Cyber Crimes)
• Diploma in Criminology and Forensic Science for Police personnel
• B. Sc. in Forensic Sciences
• Diploma in Forensic Science (Computer Forensics)

Popular institutes offering academic programmes in Forensic Sciences are:

Department of Criminology, University of Madras, Chennai

Asian School Of Cyber Laws, Pune

Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, New DelhiBio-Technology Courses

Bio-technology is a relatively new field of study that has emerged as a very strong contender among students who have appeared for Class 12th Science Board exams. The field is vividly associated with the domain of medical sciences but has variations because of which it is regarded as independent. Bio-technology, as the name suggests is an amalgamation of biology and technology into one domain. Students pursuing the study of this area are involved in development of technology products that aid and assist the health of humans and other living beings. Generally, bio-tech programmes are offered as three or four-year degree programmes to students with specialization in different sub-domains.

Top academic programmes offered in the field of Bio-Technology include:

• B.E. in Biotechnology
• B. Sc. in Biotechnology
• Diploma in Biotechnology
• B. Sc. in Biotechnology and Bio informatics

Top institutes offering specialized academic programmes in the field of bio-technology include:

Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, New Delhi

PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore

Thapar University, Patiala

Geological Sciences

Geology is the study of earth and all associated aspects of it. Broadly the subject is divided into three sub-categories of oceanography, hydrogeology, geostatistics. Students after completing their Class 12th Science examination can opt for undergraduate degree programmes in the field of Geology. Although not very popular among mainstream, the field offers very interesting and rewarding career and job opportunities to the students. Students can also take up short-term diploma programmes to study geology. As far as academic opportunities go, Geology graduates are employed by government agencies like Geological Survey of India along with a host of opportunities in private sector areas like business consultants, oil and gas industry, NGOs, archaeology and universities.

• B.Sc (Hons) Geology
• PG Diploma in Environmental Geology
• B. Science in Geology
• PG Diploma in Engineering Geology
• PG Diploma in Geology (Ground water)

Top universities offering graduate level programmes in Geological Sciences are:

Bundelkhand University

Annamalai University

University Of Delhi, New Delhi

Aligarh Muslim University

Sri Venkatshwara University

Zoological Sciences

Zoology is the study of living organisms. Unlike medical sciences, which is limited to human beings and their treatment; Zoology covers the broad spectrum field including all living and extinct living begins, which includes mammals, insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fishes and a lot of other. Zoology is again is not a very popular choice among Class 12th Science students but as an academic field offers numerous opportunities. As far as career options go, zoology graduates can land a job as teacher/professor or as a wildlife expert, conservationists, ornithologist and others.

Popular academic courses available in the field of Zoological sciences:

• B.Sc (Hons) in Zoology
• B. Sc in Advanced Zoology and Biotechnology
• B. Sc in Aquaculture (Fishery Microbiology)
• B. Sc in Zoology and Animal Biotechnology
• B. Sc in Zoology

Top universities/colleges offering graduate-level academic programmes in Zoological sciences are:

Garden City College, Indira Nagar, Bangalore

Maitreyi College, Delhi/NCR, India

Acharya Narendra Dev College, Delhi/NCR, India

SouthSSMRV College, Jaya Nagar, Bangalore

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College - New Delhi, Delhi

Micro Biological Sciences

Micro-Biology is another off-shoot domain of mainstream medical sciences. The field deals with the study of micro organisms like fungi, bacteria and viruses. The field of micro-biology is very important sub-domain of medical sciences as it deals with causes and treatment of human illnesses caused by micro-organisms. Generally, students can opt for three-year undergraduate level academic programme in the field of micro-biology from any reputed university or institute. On the career front, microbiology offers Class 12th science students a chance to get jobs in pharmaceutical industries, food research industries, laboratories and others.

• B.Sc (Hons) in Microbiology
• Diploma in Clinical Microbiology
• B.Sc in Microbiology
• Diploma in Clinical Pathology
• Diploma in Industrial Microbiology

Top universities/institutes offering courses on Micro-Biology include:

Kakatiya University, Vidyaranyapuri, Warangal

Maharshi Dayanand University, Faculty of Science, Rohtak

Jiwaji University, Faculty of Sciences & Faculty of Life Sciences, Gwalior

Kurukshetra University, Faculty of Science, Kurukshetra

Mahatma Gandhi University, Faculty of Applied Science, Kottayam

These are just some of the most popular career options available to students after completing their Class 12th science. However, science students can also opt for non-science and neutral academic choices like journalism, marketing, management and finance depending upon their interests.