Career Options in Home Science

What is Home Science? 

There was a time when people thought home science was all about sewing and cooking. But there’s so much more to home science than that! This blog will help you glimpse into the array of topics it has to offer.

Home Science is a unique branch of science that deals with “homelike” programmes using scientific knowledge to improve the quality of life at home. This would involve educating people on how to eat better food, dress well, take care of their homes, spend money wisely, and lead a happy home life. Therefore, it is known to be a perfect blend of science and arts. Consumer education, handicrafts, sewing, interior design, culinary, apparel, diet, cleanliness, child development, financial management, and family relationships are just some of the interesting topics covered in this field. 

There was a time when home science mostly saw female students enrolling in the stream. However, over the years, it has seen a mix of students applying from all genders and backgrounds.

Scope of Home Science 

Home Science provides job opportunities in public and private sectors. Be it a lucrative government job or opportunities as a healthcare expert across industries, home science can be a great place to begin preparing.This field has gained great reputation in India as well as abroad. 

Once you have successfully completed your home science course, you can work in industries like healthcare, hospitality, fashion design, apparel merchandise, welfare organisations, education, journalism and more. You can also start your own business in a relevant field! 

Eligibility and Courses

For Undergraduate Courses

If you want to explore options in home science, the first step is your Bachelor’s degree! You can pursue a three-year B. Sc. course in Home Science. This course covers a wide range of topics, including physics, chemistry, biology, physiology, hygiene, sociology, rural development, economics, child development, family relations, community living, arts, food, nutrition, textiles, clothing, and home administration. Some of the popular undergraduate courses offered in Home Science are: 

1. B. Sc Home Science (Interior Design & Decor)
2. B.Sc. Home Science (Human Resource)
3. B.Sc. Home Science (Textile & Clothing)
4. B.Sc. Home Science (Food & Nutrition)
5. B.Sc. Home Science (Family and Community Science)
6. B.Sc. Home Science (Food Technology)

The minimum eligibility criteria for these courses is an aggregate 50% marks in Class 12 from Arts or Science stream. Admissions to these courses take place on the basis of merit. 

For Post Graduate Courses

If you’re looking to make a career in home science after your graduation, the basic criteria is a BA or BSc in Home Science or any equivalent field from a recognised university. This course covers subjects specific to the chosen field of specialisation. Some of the popular postgraduate courses offered in Home Science are:

1. M.Sc. Home Science (Apparel Design)
2. M.Sc. Home Science (Food & Nutrition)
3. M.Sc. Home Science (Dietetics and Public Health Nutrition)
4. M.Sc. Home Science (Human Development and Family Studies)
5. M.Sc. Home Science (Community Management)

You must have obtained minimum 45% aggregate marks to be eligible for admission. 

For Diploma Courses

The eligibility criteria for pursuing a Diploma in Home Science is that the candidate should have passed their 10th standard from any recognised board or university. This course is for candidates who are within the age limit of 15 to 19 years. The admission to Diploma in Home Science is based on merit. Some of the popular diploma courses offered in Home Science are:

1. Diploma in Home Science
2. Diploma Home Science (Textile Designing)
3. Diploma Home Science (Interior Design)
4. Diploma Home Science (Extension Education)
5. Diploma Home Science (Family Resource Management)

Career Options after Home Science – Courses and Payscale 

While a quick Google search may show fashion designer or nutritionist as the only career options in home science, there are several more within this field. We’ve compiled a list of top 12 careers you can get into with a Home Science degree:

1. Nutritionist

A nutritionist, also known as a dietician, helps people follow a diet plan to lead a healthier life. As a nutritionist, you would create a diet plan for people after studying their age, work routine, health problems, and ultimate goal, among other things.

You would help them do what every mother does since the beginning of time – make sure they are eating right! 

How do you become a Nutritionist?

If you wish to become a nutritionist, you can opt for a B.Sc or Diploma in Home Science specialising in Nutrition and Dietetics, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in the field of Nutrition and Dietetics or a full-time Postgraduate Degree in Nutrition or Food Science. 

How much does a Nutritionist make?

The average salary for an entry level Nutritionist lies between INR 2.4 lakhs to INR 3 lakhs per year in India. This is expected to grow as you gain further expertise in the field.

2. Interior Designer

Do you often find yourself making little or big changes to your home to make it better? Would you like to help others to design homes and spaces that are beautiful and functional? If yes, interior designing is the field for you! 

As an interior designer, you would create safe and beautiful spaces. You would work on designing both indoor and outdoor spaces, ranging from bedrooms, hotel lobbies to mansions. 

How do you become an Interior Designer? 

If you wish to become an Interior Designer, you can opt for a B.Sc Home Science specialising in Interior Design and Resource Management. 

How much does an Interior Designer make? 

The exact number will depend on where you’re working, your education, skill-set and internship experience. But we can give you a general idea. As you move ahead in your career and gain more experience, you can make anywhere between INR 5,00,000 – INR 7,00,000 per year.

3. Food Technologist

Do you enjoy food – especially experimenting with it? Do you like to throw in a bunch of ingredients and try to whip up something new? Then a Food Technologist may be your calling! 

As a Food Technologist, you will modify raw materials to develop food products with the food processing industry that are safe and healthy for consumption. Be it a large scale company or a small catering house, you will provide variations to suit the tastes of different consumers. You might also have to customise products for different geographical locations. 

How do you become a Food Technologist? 

If you wish to become an Food Technologist, you can opt for a B.Sc Home Science specialising in Food and Nutrition. To be eligible for this course, you will need a background in Science.

How much does a Food Technologist make?

According to Glassdoor, the national average salary for a Food Technologist is expected to be around INR 3 lakhs to 7 lakhs per year. This is expected to grow as you gain further expertise in the field.

4. Healthcare Counsellor

Do you like to follow a healthy lifestyle? If following a healthy food and work routine is your thing. Then, you can consider becoming a Healthcare Counsellor.

A Healthcare Counsellor is an expert who helps people lead a healthy lifestyle. As a Health Counsellor, you will identify habits that are negatively affecting a person’s health and help them gradually improve their lifestyle. You have to work with your patients to create a customised health plan that works the best for them. 

How do you become a Healthcare Counsellor? 

If you wish to become a Healthcare Counsellor, you can opt for a B.Sc Home Science specialising in Human Development. 

How much does a Healthcare Counsellor make? 

The average salary for a Medical Counsellor can range anywhere between INR 3.5 lakhs to INR 6 lakhs per year.

5. Executive Chef

Does the idea of people eating the food you cook make you drool with excitement? If yes, consider becoming an executive chef! 

As an executive chef, you’re going to have a lot of responsibilities on your plate, depending on where you work. Of course, a kitchen is your main workspace, but it could be a tiny commercial kitchen or a giant one capable of cooking up meals for thousands! Your day-to-day work would include cooking various dishes from your menu and working on new recipes to keep the excitement growing. 

How do you become an Executive Chef? 

If you wish to become an Executive Chef, you can opt for a B.Sc or Diploma specialising in Hospitality and Hotel Management.

How much does an Executive Chef make? 

As an Executive Chef, you can expect to make anywhere between INR 4.2 lakhs to INR 6 lakhs per year. This will broadly depend on your experience and the type of organisation you’re working with.

6. Teacher

If you’re passionate about helping others succeed in life, teaching can be your calling! 

As a teacher, you will be the primary source of knowledge for students from kindergarten to college. You will be the one who introduces them to basic concepts across different subjects; you will also help them grow up to be leaders in their profession or people who change the world. 

How do you become a Teacher? 

If you wish to become a Teacher, you can opt for a Bachelor of Education in Home Science. To teach, you need to pass the C-TET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test). This test has two papers. Appear for paper 1 if you wish to teach class 1-5, and paper 2 if you wish to teach class 6-10. You will need to score at least 50% in Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) after graduation to appear for this test.

To teach as a lecturer in a college, you need to pass the NET ( National Eligibility Test). This exam is conducted twice a year. Click here for more information.

How much does a Teacher make? 

The annual average salary for a Teacher could be between INR 3 lakhs to INR 4.2 lakhs in India. This is expected to rise as you gain further expertise in the field.

7. Fashion Designer

If you’re truly passionate about fashion and all things fashion, you could be the next Christian Dior or Donatella Versace!

As a fashion designer, you will create your own designs or rework on popular designs to give them your personal touch. You would even work with celebrities to help them look their best! You will not just be a part of the glam; you will decide what ‘glam’ will look like! 

How do you become a Fashion Designer? 

If you wish to become an Executive Chef, you can opt for a B.Sc Home Science or Diploma specialising in Fashion Design. 

How much does a Fashion Designer make?

An average salary of a designer in India lies between INR 4.2 lakhs and INR 24 lakhs per year. Your pay will depend on who you’re working for, your talent, or the popularity of your label.

8. Medical Coder

Despite the term “coder”, medical coders do not write computer code. They also have nothing to do with maintaining medical records or protecting the security and privacy of patient information kept electronically. 

In essence, a medical coder is a translator. As a medical coder, you’ll go over the patient’s paperwork and convert everything into universal codes that insurance companies require. It’s the only way to make sure insurance companies are appropriately billed. 

How do you become a Medical Coder? 

If you wish to become a Medical Coder, you can opt for a B.Sc Home Science specialising in any healthcare-related courses. 

How much does a Medical Coder make?

An average salary of a medical coder in India can range between INR 2.4 lakhs and INR 4.2 lakhs per year, depending on who you’re working for and your experience.  

9. Product Executive

Do you like the idea of managing things and making sure everything is sailing smooth as butter? That’s exactly what a product executive does.

As a product executive, you will be a member of the executive team where you’ll be in charge of keeping an eye on the company’s product management process, such as product marketing, product distribution, new product development, and other managerial roles. Simply put, you will be the team’s manager first and foremost. 

How do you become a Product Executive? 

If you wish to become a Product Executive, you can opt for a B.Sc Home Science specialising in Resource Management. 

How much does a Product Executive make? 

The average salary for a Product Executive is expected to range between INR 4.2 lakhs to INR 4.6 lakhs per year in India.

10. Tour Guide

Tour Guides do everything from booking the flight, train or bus tickets to arranging a full tour, including food, accommodation and sightseeing. 

As a tour guide, you would either plan the full itinerary for the client based on their requirements, or take care of their travel and hotel bookings. You would recommend the best time to go, popular spots to visit, famous dishes to try and more. You would also take care of formalities and procedures like passport and visa applications. 

How do you become a Tour Guide? 

If you wish to become a Tour Guide, you can opt for a B.Sc Home Science specialising in Tourism and Travel. To become a licensed tourist guide in India, you can apply for the guide training conducted by the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism once in 2 years or so. Click here for further information.

How much does a Tour Guide make? 

An average salary of a tour guide in India lies between INR 1.8 lakhs and INR 3 lakhs per year. The exact numbers will change based on your experience, skill-set and location. You could earn up to INR 8,00,000 per annum with sufficient experience. 

11. Human Resource Manager

If you’re a good judge of people and you tend to make sure that the people around you are comfortable and happy, consider a career in (HR) Human Resource Management! 

As an HR manager, you would plan and coordinate the recruiting and interviewing of new staff for an organisation. Once they are part of the organisation, you would ensure that they are comfortable and don’t face any problems in terms of growth opportunities and the work environment. 

How do you become a Human Resources Manager? 

If you wish to become a Human Resources Manager, you can opt for a B.Sc Home Science specialising in Human Development and Resource Management. 

How much does an HR make?

The exact number will depend on where you’re working, your education, skill-set and internship experience. However, as a fresher with a graduate degree, you could earn anywhere between INR 1.8 lakhs and INR 3 lakhs per year. As you move up the ladder to more senior and managerial-level positions, you can expect a pay-out of  INR 6 lakhs  – INR 15 lakhs per year depending on the organisation you work for.

12. Family Counsellor

Are you the family member that appreciates resolving disagreements among your relatives? Do you dream of having a joyful family? As a family counsellor, you will do exactly that.

As a family counsellor, you’ll be an expert at resolving family problems and managing unresolved feelings among family members. You’ll provide emotional support in the healing of relationships and assisting people in resolving conflicts with their loved ones.

How much does a Family Counsellor make?

As a family counsellor, you can expect to earn INR 3 lakhs annually as a fresher. However, as you gain further experience in the field, you can expect to make upto INR 5.4 lakhs per year.

Self Employment Opportunities after Home Science

Do you dream of creating your own company and becoming your own boss one day? Home science provides a variety of self-employment opportunities. 

If you have a bachelor’s degree in home science, you can start your own business and work for yourself. Whether it’s a bakery, an ice cream parlour, or even a clothing store, there’s something for everyone! 

The major self-employment career options are Apparel Merchandise, Interior Design, Skin and Beauty, Family or Child Counselling, Catering, Baking and more. You can use your skills to upgrade your own products and designs with the help of your subject knowledge over the years. 

If you have a startup idea that you are passionate about, you will have to put in a lot of effort to see it through. You may face setbacks or outright failure, but determination is the key to a successful business. Click here to learn how to turn your startup ideas into reality.

Future of Home Science

With the growing need for a healthy lifestyle, India’s Home Science industry is attracting a lot of attention. It was a well-known topic of research in the first five years of the 21st century, and it has regained significant popularity in recent years. Some of the areas where it can be integrated in the near future are the food preservation industry, clothing industry, family counselling and child development. 

Conclusion 

We hope this post has shed light on different career opportunities in home science. We are sure you must be excited to kick start your career in this field! If not, then what are you thinking of pursuing? Make sure you talk to our expert career counsellors and get clarity about the career field you wish to pursue. We’d be happy to help!

We at Mentoria work with experts to give you holistic career guidance and handhold you throughout your journey of career discovery, from the time you sign up with us until you get into your chosen career. Our four-step solution is designed to help you discover yourself and your ideal career options with accuracy and ease. Want to discover which path will bring you happiness and success in the future? Sign up for the full Mentoria Solution today!