I’m in Plus Two (science) and keen on specialising in psephology at the undergrad or postgrad levels. Please advise.
Seema Shah, Ahmedabad
Psephology is study of the science of public elections and statistical analyses of voting trends. Loosely, it enables prediction of electoral outcomes and is a sub-discipline of political science.
Several universities offer postgrad specialisation and/or research opportunities in psephology in their faculties of political science and sociology. Sociologists, psychologists, demographers, market research professionals, archivists and statisticians are best equipped to qualify as psephologists. Since psephology is not a specific/ independent discipline, you could choose one of several routes to qualification depending upon your interests and aptitude. Along the way, you could also keep alternative occupations in mind.
I’m in my final year B.Sc (computer science). After graduating next year, I would like to enrol for a Masters in computer application (MCA) programme while working alongside. Is that possible?
Rajesh Iyer, Chennai
It would be advisable to sign up for a full-time MCA programme with a reputed college as it will give you the advantage of direct campus placement. If you opt for a distance education MCA, that advantage won’t be available to you. Freelancing is a possibility but you will have to look for a job in the IT industry.
I’m in Plus Two (science) and keen on qualifying as a professional chef. What study courses would you suggest?
Neela D’Souza, Mumbai
IHMCTAN, Mumbai (www.ihmctan.edu) offers an 18-month craftsmanship course in food production and patisserie. IHM, Aurangabad (www.ihma. ac.in), Oberoi’s STEP (www.oberoi hotels.com), Culinary Academy of India, Hyderabad (http://www.iachtchef academy.com/home.html) as also Ace Academy of Culinary Education, Goa (http://www.acegoa.com/) are popular choices for culinary arts and allied education. The minimum admissions eligibility is completion of Plus Two.
I’m a genetics engineering student keen on specialising in forensic science in my Masters programme. Can you suggest reputed universities abroad which offer an MS in forensic science. How different is it from an MS in criminology?
Ravi Narayan, Bangalore
Forensic scientists assist criminal investigations by using specialised equipment and laboratory tests to analyse scene of crime evidence. Students study subjects such as forensic science instruments and methodologies, DNA typing, arson inspection, courtroom testimony and forensic science research procedures. You can also add courses in areas of your interest related to law, accountancy, bio-chemistry, psychology etc.
The best forensic science study programmes are offered by the University of Florida, Michigan State University, Pennsylvania State University, University of California at Davis and Boston, George Washington and Syracuse universities and the State University of New York at Albany, Drexel, as also the universities of Mississippi and Ohio.
After completing my B.Tech (biotechnology) next year, I would like to press on for an M.Tech. Which institutes do you recommend?
Sumit Chawla, New Delhi
Reputed institutes for M.tech (biotechnology) are IIT-Kharagpur (www.iitkgp.ernet.in); University of Calcutta (www.caluniv.ac.in) and University of Hyderabad (www.uohyd. ernet.in). You’ll have to write the GATE entrance exam for admission into these institutions. Success in the Common Biotechnology Entrance Examination conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi (www.jnu.ac.in) is a qualification for admission into the M.Tech biotechnology programme of Anna University, Chennai (www.anna univ.edu) and the West Bengal University of Technology, Kolkata (www.wbut.net). It’s also a qualification for admission into the biotech programme of several premier universities countrywide.
Please suggest some foreign universities offering distance education law programmes.
Neena Chatterjee, Kolkata
Among universities offering legal education online are De Montfort and Leicester universities in the UK. Check with each university about its eligibility requirements and study programmes offered. For successful admission, shortlist your choices, complete the online application forms and mail supporting documents to the universities.
I’m in second year LLB. What are the job opportunities in cyber law?
Siddharth Kelkar, Pune
There are numerous job opportunities for cyber law professionals in IT consulting, e-commerce, financial services, insurance and manufacturing. There are also many openings in IT enabled services (ITES) and BPO organisations where misuse/loss of data could result in litigation. Some of the better institutes offering diploma and postgrad programmes in cyber law are NLU, Bhopal; Symbiosis Law School and NALSAR Law University.
After completing my B.Com next year I would like to sign up for a course in child psychology. Which institutes offer this subject and what are the job prospects?
Suchitra Singh, Chandigarh
You could enrol for a postgrad diploma programme in counseling and focus on children. A specific programme to suit your purpose is difficult to locate. However, check out the one-year part-time postgrad diploma programme in family and child psychology of the Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences (http://www.amity.edu/aips/) and the one-year advanced diploma programme in child guidance and counseling of the National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development, New Delhi (http://nipced.nic.in). Job opportunities are plentiful in counseling, therapy, rehabilitation and allied fields. But please note you will be competing for jobs with postgraduates in psychology/counseling etc. Hence your diploma may not carry much weight.
