The major in Life Sciences is offered as part of a five year Integrated Master of Science in Life Sciences programme. It is a distinctive programme which introduces students to modern concepts in biology ranging from molecules to ecosystems. The major introduces students to the basic areas of biology as cell biology, microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology and later in certain specialised branches of biology such as cancer biology, nanotechnology, research methodology, recombinant DNA technology and bioinformatics. The laboratory courses will introduce students to research methods in biology and the 18 months long Masters thesis will help them to continue their research in an area of their interest. Students wanting to pursue their career in industry can substitute their credits with an extended industry internship or an industry project. Through the interdisciplinary approach, they will be able to think even outside biology and try to solve a problem from different angles and to become well-rounded scientists.
The major aims to generate curiosity about learning and scientific reasoning through laboratory work where the student will get hands-on experience to accompany the knowledge they gain from the lectures in class. The objectives of the major are as follows:
On completing the Integrated Master of Science in Life Sciences programme, students will be able to:
The Integrated Master of science in Life sciences will provide an excellent training to pursue a career in research both in academia and industries. Students not interested in research will be guided for other career opportunities like entrepreneurship, NGOs, scientific writing and also in software programming or analytics.
To learn more about the Lifesciences programme at Ahmedabad University you may send an email to [email protected].
| Offered by | School of Arts and Sciences |
| Programme | Integrated Master of Science |
| Degree | Bachelor of Science and Master of Science (Dual Degree) |
| Minimum Programme Credits | 200 |
| Minimum Major Credits | 95 |
| Life Sciences is also offered as a MINOR | |
| Credits | |
|---|---|
| Foundation Programme (Three Studios) | 9 |
| First Year Seminar on Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
| Credits | |
|---|---|
| Humanities and Languages GER | 3 |
| Social Sciences GER ECO110 Macroeconomics |
3 |
| Biological and Life Sciences GER | 3 |
| Mathematical and Physical Sciences GER CSD101 Data Science |
3 |
| Performing and Visual Arts GER | 3 |
| GER Elective 1: STA101 Introductory to Statistics | 3 |
| GER Elective 2 | 3 |
| GER Elective 3 | 3 |
| Communications GER COM101 Effective Reading and Comprehension Skills |
3 |
| Sports & Wellness GER | 3 |
| Major Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| Major Core: Theory Courses | 51 |
| BIO260 Introduction to Plant Biology | 3 |
| BIO103 Microbiology | 3 |
| BIO200 Human Physiology | 3 |
| BIO201 Immunology | 3 |
| BIO209 Basic Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIO210 Intermediate Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIO211 Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIO213 Basics in Bioinformatics | 3 |
| BIO220 Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIO310 Genetics | 3 |
| BIO330 Introductory Biophysics | 3 |
| BIO500 Recombinant DNA Technology | 3 |
| BIO502 Plant Biotechnology and Tissue Culture | 3 |
| BIO506 Ecology: Fundamental concept and Applications | 3 |
| BIO600 Evolutionary Biology | 3 |
| ETH201 Ethics | 3 |
| RES501 Research Methodology | 3 |
| Major Core: Laboratory Courses | 14 |
| BIO102 Introductory Biology | 1.5 |
| Plant Biology | 1.5 |
| BIO203 Biochemistry and Genetics | 3 |
| BIO204 Microbiology and Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIO205 Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics | 3 |
| BIO206 Physiology Laboratory Course | 2 |
| Major Electives | 30 |
| BIO104 Environmental Science | 3 |
| Microscopy and Imaging | 3 |
| BIO300 Animal Biotechnology | 3 |
| BIO311 Toxicology | 3 |
| BIO540 Nano Biotechnology | 3 |
| BIO543 Developmental Biology | 3 |
| BIO544 Cancer Biology | 3 |
| BIO546 Human Protozoan Parasites | 3 |
| BIO552 Computational Structural Biology | 3 |
| BIO553 Animal Behaviour | 3 |
| BIO554 Forensic Biotechnology | 3 |
| BIO320 Neurobiology | 3 |
| BIO541 Biochemistry III | 3 |
| BIO557 Epigenetics | 3 |
| BIO548 Cytogenetics | 3 |
| BIO549 Safety Assessment of Nanomaterials | 3 |
| BIO551 Human Genetics | 3 |
| BIO240 Introduction to Field Ecology | 3 |
| BIO556 Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| BIO250 Brain and Behaviour | 3 |
| BIO105 Fundamental of Environmental Studies | 3 |
Free Electives provide flexibility to students to customise their education at the University.
All students will complete 30 hours of engagement with society to develop a sense of engagement, concern, build problem solving skills, and understand the role of an engaged member of a society. This will be done through a mandatory course, Engagement with Society, that would be a graduation requirement. This course can be taken anytime during the stay at the University but it is advised that the student engage with the courses during the first two years at the University. The 30 hours of volunteer work may be completed during one semester or during the Winter or Summer Break.
Note: Most courses have a laboratory/workshop course attached to it to provide hands-on learning. Some courses are exclusively laboratory/project-based courses.