M.Sc Life Science Syllabus and Subjects

Duration: 1 Year10 Months
Avg Fees: ₹4K - 50K PA
Kripal Thapa
Kripal Thapa

Updated on - Jul 14, 2023

The MSc Life Science syllabus imparts specific practical, laboratory, and theoretical knowledge in the subject areas to the students, such as Plant Life, Ecology, Genetics, Animal Development, Immunology, etc. The course is covered in two years with core, electives and practical papers. The electives may vary depending on the university.

MSc Life Science subjects and syllabus enable graduates to increase their employment options in both the private and public sectors. Researcher, Botanist, Biotechnologist, Scientist, etc., are just a few of the MSc Life Science job opportunities. 

Table of Contents

Semester Wise MSc Life Science Syllabus

The MSc Life Science syllabus studies five major parts: botany, zoology, microbiology, immunology, and genetics. The Life Science syllabus for the MSc is divided into four semesters: core, electives, and practical subjects. The table below highlights the MSc in Life Science syllabus.

MSc Life Science 1st Year Syllabus

The MSc Life Science syllabus for the first year is given in the table below:

Semester I

Semester II

Physical and Biological Chemistry

Principles of Plant Sciences

Microbiology

Immunology

Principles of Microbial Sciences

Principles of Plant Sciences

Molecular Cell Biology

Mammalian Physiology

Tools & Techniques in Life Sciences

Environmental Science and Toxicology

Cell Biology

Inheritance Biology & Genetics

MSc Life Science 1st Year Practicals

The MSc in Life Science Syllabus for 1st year contains a list of practicals given below:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology and Toxicology 

MSc Life Science 2nd Year Syllabus

The life science syllabus for MSc in 2nd year is given in the table below:

Semester III

Semester IV

Analytical and Separation Techniques

Genetics

Animal Physiology 

Seminar / Field /Industrial visit

Bioinstrumentation

Assignment / Group Discussion

Applied Botany

Dissertation / Project Work 

Bioinformatics and Biostatistics 

-

Molecular Biology and Animal
Biotechnology

-

MSc Life Science 2nd Year Practicals

The M.Sc Life Science Syllabus for the 2nd year contains a list of practicals given below:

  • Bioinformatics and Biostatistics
  •  Animal Biotechnology
  • Analytical and Separation Techniques

M.Sc Life Science Subjects

Among the life science subjects available for the MSc degree are biochemistry, animal physiology, animal diversity, immunology, molecular biology, genetics, and other fields. The core, electives, and practical categories of the Life Science MSc Syllabus are listed here.

MSc Life Science Core Subjects

The table below lists the core subjects for the M.Sc Life Science subjects:

  • Physical and Biological Chemistry
  • Principles of Microbial Sciences
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Principles of Plant Sciences
  • Mammalian Physiology
  • Food Science and Food Microbiology 
  • Animal Physiology

MSc Life Science Elective Subjects

The life sciences subjects for MSc offer a range of electives which are given in the list below:

  • Enzymology and metabolism 
  • Population Ecology
  • Fermentation Technology
  • Proteomics and Genomics
  • Aquarium Management 
  • Molecular Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology
  • Cell cell signalling

MSc Life Science Subjects In Detail

The MSc in Life Science syllabus studies various aspects of life science, from biology to botany and zoology. In the table given below, the MSc Life Science subjects are described in detail:

MSc Life Science Subjects Topics
Microbiology  Introduction to Microbiology, Isolation, characterization and preservation of microbial cultures, Microbial genetics.
Biochemistry Introduction of biomolecules, Carbohydrate metabolism, Photosynthesis and pigments of life.
Cell Biology Structure and Function of Cell and its Organelles,  Cytoskeleton, Cell Division, Cellular communication.
Immunology Basic concepts in immunology, components of the immune system, MHC, Complement system, Adaptive Immunity to Infection.
Advances in Structural Biology A familiarity with the NMR, X-ray, History of Structural Biology, Nucleosome and Chromatin structure.

M.Sc Life Science Course Structure

Numerous specialised choices are available to students in the M.Sc. Life Science syllabus. It seeks to offer a thorough, practical understanding of the course's guiding ideas. Below is a description of the MSc Life Science course outline:

  • IV Semesters
  • Core and Elective subjects
  • Practical and Laboratory
  • Dissertation

M.Sc Life Science Teaching Methodology and Techniques

The MSc Life Science syllabus includes various teaching methods and techniques that help students understand multiple topics taught in their classes. Some of the different teaching methodologies and strategies adopted in the syllabus of MSc Life Science are as follows:

  • Practical & Laboratory sessions
  • The emphasis of Practical Learning
  • Designing cost-effective and straightforward experiments.
  • Guest Lectures, Seminars, and Workshop
  • Group Assignment and Discussion
  • Learning through Industrial Visit
  • Research & Development

M.Sc Life Science Projects

MSc Life Science courses have projects that the candidate must submit at the semester's end. These projects evaluate the candidates on their observational skills, analysis, and report structure, which prepare them for industries. Below are some of the tasks for the life science syllabus for the MSc.

  • CRISPR and Genetic Engineering. Normally, we think of our DNA as being set in stone
  • Epidemiology and Coronavirus
  • Prions
  • Cancer Biology
  • Behavioural Economics
  • Endangered Species Recovery

M.Sc Life Science Reference Books

The MSc Life Science syllabus contains a list of reference books which is given in the table below:

Books

Authors

Principles of Genetics

 D. Peter Snustad

Principles and Techniques of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Keith Wilson 

Immunology

Janis Kuby 

The Cell: A Molecular Approach

Geoffrey M. Cooper

Biologia Del Desarrollo/ Developmental Biology

Scott F. Gilbert

M.Sc Life Science Fee Structure

FAQs

What is the subject of M.Sc life science?

The MSc Life Science subjects are Physical and Biological Chemistry, Developmental Biology and Toxicology, Tools & Techniques in Life Sciences, etc.

How many subjects are there in life science?

The total subjects in MSc Life Science are 13 - 15 core subjects and lab subjects, along with 4 or 5 electives depending on university's structure.

Is M.Sc life science good?

Yes, MSc Life Science is a good course to purse with excellent job opportunities.

Is MSc life sciences and MSc zoology same?

No, the MSc Life science focuses on five major parts: botany, zoology, microbiology, immunology, and genetics, whereas Zoology studies the animal kingdom and its habitat.

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