Chapter 33: Home Science

Introduction

Education in Home Science once received a great deal of flak from feminists as being gender-biased. They averred that the course which is open only to women, implicitly suggests that the place of women is in home and their bounden duty is home-making. Be that as it may, Home Science is an academic discipline extremely popular among girl students. The course is not necessarily aimed at making women better housewives, but useful to the society to enable them to provide expert advice to enrich social and family life.

In the pre-Independence days, Domestic Science, Home Science as it was then known, was one of the combinations at the Class 10 level for girl students. In the United States, Domestic Science, which is now known as Home Economics, was introduced in most of the public schools across the nation by 1890 as it was perceived as a suitable subject of study for the young women of the day. During the same period colleges and universities also began offering the subject. The most important impetus for the establishment of Home Economics as an academic discipline was the Morrill Act of 1862. This made possible the establishment of Land Grant Colleges, where Home Economics had achieved much of its growth and status through teaching, research and extension services. Since the Agricultural Universities in India were modelled after the Land Grant Colleges of the USA, Home Science also became a part of the agricultural education and the Home Science Colleges were brought within the agricultural university system. However, a large number of them continue to be affiliated to other universities also.

Educational Opportunities

At present, there are about 113 Home Science colleges. Besides, there is an exclusive university in this subject field. Sri Avinashilingam Home Science College, established in 1957, renamed Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, (Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu) was accorded the “deemed University” status in 1988. Besides courses in Home Science at different levels, the Institute also offers programmes in other areas.

Education in Home Science is offered at four levels-diploma, first degree, postgraduate, and pre-doctoral and doctoral levels. Diploma course is offered only at Avinashilingam Institution (postgraduate diploma) and the SNDT Women’s University (undergraduate diploma). The course at the first degree level is of three-year duration leading to B.Sc (Home Science), B.Sc (Home Science-Honours), or Bachelor of Home Science (BHSc). Allahabad University awards the B.Sc (Home Economics) degree. Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad awards BHSc (Rural), the focus of the course being on rural environment. The Nagpur University has a B.Tech (Home Science) course for four-year duration. The entry requirement for Home Science course is a pass in 10+2 examination preferably with science subject. In some universities, home science is offered as one of the combinations in B.Sc courses. Jadavpur University offers B.Ed (Home Science) course of one-year duration, the only one of its kind.

Although the course contents vary from university to university, by and large, they cover the following areas: Foundation Course which includes study of a language, history and elements of social sciences; economic issues including home economics, family and community resources, elements of biological sciences, such as Biochemistry, Microbiology, Bacteriology, Human Physiology, Food and Nutrition (including community nutrition); Textile and Clothing, Child Development, Consumer Economics and Arts and Crafts, Consumer Education, etc. Master’s degree i.e., M.Sc (Home Science), MHSc or MA (Home Science), of two-year duration is now available at 50 universities. (See the Annexure). At this level, the students are required to opt for specialisation in some of the branches of the subject.

Some examples are: Child Development, Clothing and Textile, Community Resource Management, Family and Community Science, Family Housing and Furnishing, Family Relationships, Family Resource Management, Family Studies, Food and Nutrition, (See also Chapter 52 – A Mixed Bag – Food, Nutrition and Dietetics), Food Service Management, Home Management, Home Science Extension Education. Only a small number of universities have facilities for pursuing pre-doctoral (M.Phil) and doctoral (Ph.D) studies. Avinashilingam Institute offers both M.Phil and Ph.D courses. The duration of full-time M.Phil course is one year while part-time course needs two years of study. The Ph.D course can be completed in three to four years.

Career Opportunities

Home Science graduates can seek careers in the fields of community and social work as well as in NGOs, food and nutrition related activities in hospitals, and food services. Postgraduate degree holders have better career opportunities. Apart from working in the above areas of joining the teaching profession, they can also work independently as family counsellors. Those who specialise in Textile and Clothing and Family Housing and Furnishing can undertake design related activities.