Your interest in plants may have led you to choose B.Sc. Botany after completing 12th After completion of a bachelor’s degree in Botany, there are a plethora of courses you can choose according to your interests that took shape during degree years. An M.Sc. degree will not only be beneficial for you to get a job, but it also increases your knowledge in the field. It gives you an upper hand in the competition for jobs and interviews. If interested, you can take up research in the area, and  M.Sc. is the first step towards this dream. Years of hard work throughout schoolyears with the goal of a well-paid job is closer if you have a post-graduate degree in your hands. The courses that you may pursue are from varied fields, some from the field of science while others may follow other areas of interest like M.B.A.

1) M.Sc. Botany

If you are still interested in learning more about the plant species and has a passion for knowing more about them, you can pursue a post-graduate degree in Botany itself. A post-graduate course in Botany takes two years for completion, and if you are interested in further research in the field of Botany, this is the perfect course for you. You can take the UGC NET exam to gain a fellowship and go on for P.Hd. It will qualify you as a botanist. Some of the best colleges in the country offering this programme include Fergusson College, Christ University, St. Xaviers etc. After graduation, you may also search for further opportunities in studies abroad.

2) M.Sc. Forestry

This course is a specific field in what you have studied during bachelors in Botany. M.Sc. Forestry includes studies regarding tree genetics, tree physiology, their plantations and so on.  It primarily focuses on the preservation of the environment and makes of use of scientific and economic principles to sustain the natural forest and habitats of wildlife. The admission occurs through entrance exams of respective colleges. A well-known institute offering the course is the FRI (Forest Research Institute, Dehradun). The subjects of study include Advanced Silvi-culture, Wildlife Management, Forest Protection, Environmental Management etc.

After achieving a post-graduate degree in M.Sc Botany,  multiple opportunities await you, which include becoming an IFS officer under the Central government by writing UPSC exams. Other job opportunities are Forestry Consultant, Field Investigator, Teacher, Forestry Auditor etc.

3) M. Sc Horticulture

The post-graduate programme of Horticulture focuses in the field of agriculture. Horticulture deals with the production of highly productive plants for the use of humans. It makes use of modern technology to cultivate plants in large scale and successfully lead to the production of food resources.  It includes the process like plant propagation, crop breeding, plant biochemistry and breeding.  It deals with ensuring the quality of products and the following methods like storage and marketing. However, the techniques adopted are environment-friendly and hygienic production of food resources. The term of this course also extends up to two years, and there are several recruiting fields for the graduates to search for job opportunities like Horticulturist, Marketing firms, Fertiliser production companies. Some of the leading universities in the filed include Dr Panjab Rao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapith, Central Agricultural University, University of Horticultural Sciences etc.

4) MSc Biotechnology

The course focuses on using modern technologies to use living organisms and produce bio-products. It involves the application of knowledge in biology and chemistry, along with technology and engineering. This field has immense scope in the future as it applies biology to contribute to the progress of other areas including medicine, engineering, genetics etc. The graduates get the opportunity to work in the bioprocessing industry, pharmaceutical companies, food manufacturing and processing industries. The aspirants who fulfil a minimum eligibility mark of 55% can apply for the post-graduation programme of Bio-technology. Later, if you want to become a research scientist, you can become a scientist in this field. There are entrance tests for admission to prestigious colleges like Loyola College, St. Xaviers etc.

5) MSc Microbiology

This course involves the study of micro-organisms and their impact on the life of humans. Microbiology opens a new door to different possibilities across different fields, including medicine, warfare etc. It is interdisciplinary and involves the study of ecology, environment and zoology. A graduate in Microbiology can take up jobs as Microbiologist, Research Assistant, Pharmacologist, Research Analyst, etc. in the future. The colleges which are offering the course conduct admission test to find eligible students, and it is a subject area with huge research possibilities.