Interesting And Off-Beat Courses Offered By Indian Universities

Did you know that you can get a degree in pet grooming or puppetry? Or that you could earn a whopping amount by tasting tea? Or that hacking pays? There are a lot of interesting career options you can consider after school and Indian colleges are now offering you some unique courses.

So, before applying for your favourite college, have a look at the list of 13 such courses you can choose after high school:

1. Bachelor of Rural Studies

If your heart lies in Indian villages and you want to do much more than just go as a tourist and click pictures, this course is for you. The course gives you an opportunity to engage in various rural and community development activities. It covers topics like animal husbandry, forestry, farm management, child development, agriculture, environment management, community development, etc.

After completing the course you can apply for jobs at various government, public and private organizations that work for rural issues. You can also get an opportunity to work with several NGOs.

2. Ethical hacking

For all those who hack friends’ social networking accounts for “fun”, for those who are good at cracking passwords and unlocking a locked system, those who spend a majority of their time experimenting with various codes – this is a great way to put those grey cells to a good use. You can breach the security of computer systems and get paid for it!

Many big companies look for ethical hackers for various security purposes. You need to have a good knowledge of coding in different programming languages. You can start your career by interning for an organization and then convert it to a permanent job. The average salary ranges between Rs.2-5 lakhs for a fresher, and after an experience of five to six years, you can easily command a salary of Rs. 10-12 lakhs annually, depending upon your skills.

3. Spa management

A good spa relaxes your body and takes you to a different world. Spa management and training is something we haven’t heard many people doing. So, where do Spa companies get these awesome masseurs and therapists? A spa training institute will teach you everything you need to know about a good spa and how you can make a career at it.

4. Puppetry

One of the oldest forms of entertainment, puppetry is much more than just playing with the puppets. It is also an important medium of education and many schools and institutes use puppets to teach students about various topics. Several stage shows and performances have helped in putting the spotlight on puppetry. Over a period of time, this art, which was in danger of getting lost, is again gaining recognition and appreciation.

5. Tea tasting

What could be better than tasting awesome teas and getting paid for it? Working as a tea sommelier can be high paying if you get the right opportunity. You can get a starting salary of Rs.50,000 per month in a five star hotel. The sommelier not only tastes the tea but also gives advice, does branding, and has a good knowledge of cultivation and manufacturing.

6. Public Health Entomology

It is a study focused on insects and arthropods that impact human health. The job also includes research on behaviour and ecology of various such species. A person in this field gets a good chance to meet and connect with local and state officials. Many universities, government agencies and chemical companies look for people to hire in this field.

7. Habitat Policy and Practice

Those who have an interest in habitat related issues and have a bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Management, Physics, Geography, Planning, Law or Social Science can apply to this course. The course will include the study of  livelihood activities, social composition and rights of the inhabitants, as well as resources, infrastructure and services needed by inhabitants.

8. Photonics

This course is a mix of optical technology and electronics. The study deals with photons, the elementary particles of light, and helps you master the techniques of emission, detection, transmission and modulation of light. Those who have an immense interest in science and are curious to know more about it are best suited for this course. A photonist can work as an engineer, scientist, researcher and professional officer in many companies and government offices. The work will also give you an opportunity to design photonic equipments. Due to lack of specialists in this field, photonics specialists are in great demand globally.

9. Gerontology

It is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging. It focuses on physical, mental and social changes in people as they grow old. A person interested in this field can start his or her career by volunteering or working with NGOs or community service agencies to know more about this field and the people working in it.  Many private companies, healthcare agencies, old age homes and nursing homes look for specialists in this field. The starting salary might not be very high but with experience you can earn a lot more.

10. Food Flavorist/Flavor Chemist

These people add flavours to the food and make it taste good. The job will require mixing of various ingredients to make a unique flavour and not just this the responsibilities also require you to have a good knowledge of aroma chemicals, essential oils, plant extracts etc. This career is closely related to chemistry and those who have a background in chemistry are best suited for this. A Flavourist has job opportunities in various sectors like food & beverages, cosmetics, fragrance, toothpaste, etc. Salary for a fresher is around Rs.15, 000 which will increase as per the experience.