Womens Christian College

Ever wondered why the sky is blue? Why onions make you weep? How does our body function? Why the pesticide in cola is harmful? If so welcome to chemistry!

Chemistry not only gives answer to this and many other questions, it provides a tool box with which to find answers to important challenges to ever changing world. Chemistry is the science of change and chemists are involved not in just understanding but also changing the material world around us.

Colours of Chemistry!

The field of chemistry is a central discipline linking the various sciences and helping in understanding natural phenomena and the creation of products useful to humanity. Chemists are in the forefront of exciting research for industrial growth like nanotechnology, medicine and environmental technologies. Because of this key role the employment prospects of chemists is large and growing.

Students graduating in chemistry can follow a path of hard core chemistry or diversify into anyone of the myriad allied fields. They could follow their chosen career paths in industry, academic institutions, NGOs, research and development departments etc.

Some career choices for chemistry majors:

Agricultural chemists
Analytical chemists
Biochemists
Chemical manufacturing
Cosmetic industry
Environmental chemists
Food chemists
Geo chemists
Instrumentation specialists
Medicinal chemists
Petroleum chemists
Pharmaceutical chemists
Polymer chemists
Medical representatives
Forensic scientists
Occupational health and safety specialist
Science journalist
Academicians/ Research Scientists
Efficient School Teachers
Entrepreneurs

This list goes on …………

Why a course in Chemistry at Women’s Christian College?

During the initial years of the inception of Women’s Christian College, the science departments catered only to the intermediate students and they went to Wesley College for lectures and practical classes as there were no laboratories or equipment.

In 1925, though the college was still small, the founder principal, Miss Eleanor Mc Dougal along with the then Vice Principal, Miss Coon, planned a science building large enough to provide for growth and future development. Thus, when the bachelor’s degree course in chemistry was started in 1953, the laboratories and classrooms were already built and adequate. The thought, foresight and work put in to building and fitting the laboratories by the then science professors coupled with the care and planning in acquiring new equipment and chemicals as and when funds have been available has ensured that the laboratories can cater efficiently to the present students though the numbers have greatly increased.

Autonomy in 1982 saw the faculty of the department coming together with experts in the relevant fields are free to frame the syllabi, conduct examinations and evaluate the students on a continuous basis. All the courses are reviewed annually and modified/updated whenever the need is felt taking into account the feed-back received from various sources like students, course teachers, examiners, alumni and experts in the respective fields.

Faculty :

	Dr. Shoba Ramakrishnan - M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D. Associate Professor & Head
	Ms. Cynthia Jemima Swarnavalli G. - M.Sc., M.Phil., NET. Assistant Professor
	Ms. Amala Russel - M.Sc., M.Phil. Assistant Professor
	Ms. Lily Margaret Priya W. - M.Sc., M.Phil., NET. Assistant Professor
	Ms. Libni G. - M.Sc., M.Phil. Assistant Professor
	Dr. Banani Mukkopadhyay - M.Sc., Ph.D. Assistant Professor
	Ms. Margaret Marie - M.Sc., M.Phil., NET Assistant Professor
	Dr. D. R. Shobha Jeykumari - M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D. Assistant Professor

Student strength:

The department currently has 96 students undergoing the programme.

Programme Offered:

The department offers a B.Sc. degree course programme.

Student Course Profile click to download

Previous Semester Question Papers click here

Eligibility to Register:

Higher secondary or equivalent with Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry as main subjects of study.

Highlights of the Programme:

Core Level:

The chemistry programme has been carefully planned to give the students a strong foundation in the theory and application of Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry. They are also given adequate exposure to Molecular Spectroscopy, Biochemistry and related topics. The department offers a large variety of elective courses keeping in mind the need of students who wish to go in for further studies, research or work in industry. These courses are

· Industrial Chemistry
· Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Microbiology
· Polymer Science
· Analytical Chemistry
· Bio-inorganic Chemistry
· Reaction Mechanism in Organic Chemistry

The practical courses have been designed to encourage observation and analytical thinking.

Some students are also given an initiation into research by
· Presenting papers
· Doing projects
· Industrial visits/training

Supporting level:

Our students also have the opportunity to choose from a spectrum of Supporting Courses.
Some of them are:
· Plant Biology (with Practical)
· Food Microbiology (with practical)
· General Mathematics (I & II)
· Applied Physics (I & II with Practical)
· Basics of Biotechnology (with Practical)
· Clinical Microbiology (With Practical)
· Public Health and Hygiene
· Human Genetics

Our department in consultation with the other science departments offers a variety of Supporting Courses, which are well taken by the students of all the Science departments.

Optional Courses:

The department also offers a very popular Optional Course, Fibres, Fabrics, Dyeing and Printing of Textiles. This gives students the basic theory needed to identify fibres and fabrics. They also have hands on experience in dyeing and printing – Batik, Tie and Dye, Block and Screen-Printing. and to choose from a range of dyeing methods available.

Facilities :

The department has audio-visual aids, latest publications of books in General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Bio-organic, Bio-inorganic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Industrial Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry etc.

The department has 4 spacious well equipped laboratories. In addition, there is a well equipped laboratory to do Block & Screen printing, Batik and Tie & Dye work.

The department also has facilities for carrying out basic research.

Activities :

CHEM MAG - Magazine published with contribution from students, staff and alumnae.
Radical - an intercollegiate Chemistry cultural event organised by staff and students of the department.
Science exhibitions are organized by the students in the Department periodically.
Students are taken on visits to industries, research laboratories and other places of academic interests.
Students are encouraged to find the relevant application or end-use of concepts taught. The copies / cutting of useful reports in newspapers / journals are put up on the department notice board by students.
The teachers in the department also organize / attend lectures and seminars.
Minor research projects which are socially relevant and application oriented.

Prizes and Scholarships:

Mrs. Ratna Rao Junior Chemistry prize- for scoring highest marks in core subjects in class I chemistry
Mrs. Ratna Rao Senior Chemistry prize- for scoring highest marks in core subjects in class II Chemistry
Mrs. Kamakshi Chemistry prize- for the best student of Chemistry core in III B.sc. Class – given away at convocation
A.S. Narayanan memorial chemistry prize- for the best student of chemistry core taking all papers from semesters I to VI including practicals - given away at convocation
The K.C. Gopalacharlu Gold Medal for the best student of the graduating class of the Department of Chemistry in recognition of her scholarship, leadership and contribution to the department - - given away at convocation
Mrs. Ratna Rao Merit-cum-means scholarship is awarded.

Future Plans:

Research
Increased Industry – Department linkage

Email:info@wcc.edu.in

Phone: 2827 5926

Fax: 2827 6798