BSc 1st Year Syllabus: All Popular Courses

The Bachelor of Science (BSc) remains one of India’s most popular undergraduate programs, available in Computer Science, Biotechnology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Nursing and multiple other subjects. The BSc syllabus for the first year focuses on building a strong foundation for the students, preparing them for upcoming semesters through theoretical and practical lessons. Like most undergraduate programmes, BSc 1st year is typically divided into two semesters. Getting a detailed overview of the syllabus can help students get the perfect start for their college education. Read this blog to find BSc 1st year syllabus across top courses. Find out exam pattern, top colleges, preparation tips and more. 

BSc First Year Syllabus Structure

The BSc first-year syllabus comprises a mix of core, elective, and other courses depending on each institution. Key components include:

Category	Description	Examples	Typical Credits in First Year
Major (Core Subjects)	Foundational topics of the primary subject. Usually 1–2 papers per semester, including theory & practicals.	Mechanics (Physics) Atomic Structure (Chemistry) Programming in C (Computer Science)	6–12 credits
Minor Stream	Introductory courses from a related discipline.	Physics students may take Computer Science or other minor subjects.	4–8 credits
Interdisciplinary Courses (MDC/OE/GE)	Exposure to subjects outside the major domain.	Environmental Science, Basic Economics, Human Geography.	4–9 credits
Ability Enhancement Courses (AEC)	Language and communication skills for better expression and employability.	English/Hindi/Regional Language Communication, Business Communication.	4 credits
Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC)	Vocational skills for real-world application and employability.	Computer Applications, Data Analysis, Python Programming.	4–9 credits
Value-Added Courses (VEC)	Courses on ethics, culture, constitution, and Indian heritage (common for all).	Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), Ethics, Digital Solutions, Yoga/NSS/Co-curricular.	4–8 credits

BSc 1st Year Subjects for Popular Courses

If you’re wondering how many subjects are taught in BSc 1st year, the tables below will offer a detailed course-wise overview. 

BSc Nursing First Year Syllabus

BSc Nursing first year syllabus includes the following subjects:

Semester 1	Semester 2
General Science	Applied Biochemistry
Communicative English	Applied Nutrition and Dietetics
Applied Anatomy and Applied Physiology	Nursing Foundations II (Theory + Lab + Clinical)
Applied Sociology & Applied Psychology	Introduction to Community Health Nursing
Nursing Foundations I (Theory + Lab + Clinical)	Microbiology

BSc Mathematics First Year Syllabus

Syllabus for BSc first year Mathematics include the following subjects:

Semester 1	Semester 2
Differential Calculus (Theory + Practical)	Differential Equations (Theory + Practical)
Basic Calculus	Basic Differential Equations
Foundational Course	Vector Calculus
Elective 1	Elective 2
Skill Enhancement 1	Skill Enhancement 2
English	English

BSc Chemistry First Year Syllabus

BSc first year Chemistry syllabus includes the following subjects:

Semester 1	Semester 2
Fundamentals of Chemistry (Theory + Practical)	Molecular Modelling
Organic Chemistry	Computer Application in Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry	Analytical Chemistry
Physical Chemistry	Lab Practicals

BSc Physics First Year Syllabus

BSc Physics syllabus for first year includes the following subjects:

Semester 1	Semester 2
Mathematical Physics and Newtonian Mechanics	Thermal Physics & Semiconductor Devices
Mechanics Lab	Thermal Lab
Electricity and Magnetism	Waves and Optics

BSc Biology First Year Syllabus

BSc subjects for first year Biology students are listed below: 

Semester 1	Semester 2
Biomolecules and Cell Biology (Theory + Practical)	Genetics and Evolution (Theory + Practical)
Biodiversity	Bioresources and Management
Ecology Concepts	Technical Writing

BSc Microbiology First Year Syllabus

BSc 1st year Microbiology syllabus includes the following subjects:

Semester 1	Semester 2
Macromolecular Structure	Principles of Microbiology
General Chemistry	Organic Mechanisms
Cell Structure and Dynamics	Genetics and Microbial Growth
Biophysics and Instrumentation	Transmission Genetics
Introduction to Computers	Introduction to C Programming and Digital Logic

BSc Computer Science First Year Syllabus

BSc subjects in 1st year for Computer Science students include:

Semester 1	Semester 2
Digital Systems & Architecture	Design & Analysis of Algorithms
Fundamentals of Database Systems	Object Oriented Programming using C++
Computer Science Practical I	Computer Science Practical II
Introduction to Programming with Python	Web Designing
Statistics with R Programming or Linux Operating System	Database Management Systems using PL/SQL or Advanced Python Programming
Introduction to Communication Skills	AEC elective

 

BSc IT First Year Syllabus

BSc syllabus for first year IT students is listed below:

Semester 1	Semester 2
IT Fundamentals and Problem Solving	Operating Systems
Introduction to Programming (Python / C)	Object Oriented Programming (C++ / Java)
Computer Fundamentals	Database Management Systems
Web Designing / HTML & CSS	Advanced Programming / Mobile App Development
Statistics with R / Linux Basics	Computer Networks / Cyber Security Basics
Communication Skills / AEC	AEC elective

 

BSc Radiology First Year Syllabus

Syllabus for BSc 1st year Radiology students includes:

Semester 1	Semester 2
Human Anatomy – Part I	Human Anatomy – Part II
Human Physiology – Part I	Human Physiology – Part II
Biochemistry	Radiation Physics / Physics of Diagnostic Radiology
English Communication / Functional English	Radiographic Positioning – Part I
Basic Computer Skills / Introduction to Computers	Patient Care & Hospital Management
Radiation Physics/Allied Health Foundation	Pathology & Microbiology

 

BSc Botany First Year Syllabus

BSc 1st year syllabus for Botany is listed below:

Semester 1	Semester 2
Microbiology and Phycology	Cell Biology
Analytical Techniques in Plant Sciences	Mycology and Phytopathology
Medicinal Botany / Biofertilizers (SEC)	Basic Laboratory and Field Skills (SEC)
Communication Skills / AEC	Continued AEC or similar

 

BSc Geology First Year Syllabus

BSc subjects for 1st year Geology students are listed below:

Semester 1	Semester 2
Introduction to Geology	Geomorphology
Mineralogy and Crystallography	Structural Geology
Physical Geology	Elements of Mineralogy and Crystallography (continued)
Practical: Mineral Identification & Crystallography Labs	Practical: Structural Geology & Field Mapping Basics
Introduction to Computers / Basic Mathematics	Environmental Geology or Basic Geochemistry
AEC elective	AEC elective

 

BSc Environmental Science First Year Syllabus

BSc 1st year subjects for Environmental Ccience are listed below:

Semester 1	Semester 2
Fundamentals of Environmental Science	Ecology and Ecosystems
Environmental Chemistry	Environmental Pollution (Air, Water, Soil)
Biodiversity and Conservation	Natural Resource Management
Waste Management / Environmental Monitoring	Bioremediation / Sustainable Development
AEC elective	AEC elective

 

BSc Zoology First Year Syllabus

BSc syllabus for first year Zoology students is listed below:

Semester 1	Semester 2
Non-Chordates I: Protista to Pseudocoelomates	Non-Chordates II: Coelomates
Principles of Ecology (or Biodiversity Basics)	Cell Biology (or Animal Diversity)
Bioinoculants / Vermitechnology	Apiculture / Sericulture
AEC elective	AEC elective

 

BSc Agriculture First Year Syllabus

BSc subjects for 1st year Agriculture students include:

Semester 1	Semester 2
Fundamentals of Agronomy	Fundamentals of Crop Physiology
Fundamentals of Soil Science	Fundamentals of Genetics
Fundamentals of Horticulture	Agricultural Microbiology
Rural Sociology & Educational Psychology	Fundamentals of Agricultural Economics
Comprehension & Communication Skills in English	Soil and Water Conservation Engineering
Introduction to Forestry	Fundamentals of Plant Pathology

 

BSc Biotechnology First Year Syllabus

BSc syllabus for first year Biotechnology students is listed below:

Semester 1	Semester 2
Cell Biology / Cell Structure and Dynamics	Principles of Microbiology
Biomolecules / Macromolecular Structure and Analysis	Organic Mechanisms in Biology / Biomolecules
Biophysics and Instrumentation	Microbial Growth and Genetics
Fundamentals of Chemistry	Elementary Biochemistry
Introduction to Biotechnology	Biomathematics / Biostatistics

BSc Economics First Year Syllabus

First year BSc Economics students typically study the following subjects:

Semester 1	Semester 2
Introductory Microeconomics	Introductory Macroeconomics
Mathematical Methods for Economics I	Mathematical Methods for Economics II
Basic Economics / Principles of Economics	Indian Economy
Statistics for Economics I	Statistics for Economics II
Communication Skills / English for Economics (AEC)	Multidisciplinary Course
Skill enhancement	Value-Added / IKS elective

BSc Statistics First Year Syllabus

First year BSc Statistics students study the following subjects:

Semester 1	Semester 2
Descriptive Statistics	Probability Distributions
Probability Theory	Statistical Methods / Inferential Statistics I
Mathematical Methods for Statistics I	Mathematical Methods for Statistics II
Computer Applications in Statistics	Sampling Techniques & Survey Methods
Communication Skills / English for Statistics (AEC)	Multidisciplinary Course
Skill enhancement	Value-Added / IKS elective

How to Check the Syllabus for My BSc Course Online?

Syllabus for BSc courses vary with changing subjects and colleges/universities. Students looking for official prescribed syllabi can follow these steps:

1. Visit the official website of your college/university. 
2. Navigate to the ‘Academic’ or ‘Syllabus/Curriculum’ section.
3. Choose your BSc course (eg. BSc Botany, BSc Physics, etc.)
4. View online or download the syllabus PDF file. 

Popular Books for BSc 1st Year Students

Here is a curated list of some of the most popular reading materials for BSc 1st year students:

Subject	Books	Authors
Physics	Concepts of Physics (Vol. 1)	H.C. Verma
	Fundamentals of Physics	Halliday, Resnick, Walker
	University Physics	Young and Freedman
Chemistry	Chemistry for Degree Students B.Sc. First Year	R.L. Madan
	Concise Inorganic Chemistry	J.D. Lee
	Organic Chemistry	Morrison & Boyd
Mathematics	A Textbook of B.Sc. Mathematics (Vol. 1)	V. Venkateshwara Rao and others
	Calculus	Thomas & Finney
	Differential Calculus	Shanti Narayan
Computer Science	Let Us C	Yashavant Kanetkar
	The C Programming Language	Brian Kernighan & Dennis Ritchie
	Computer Fundamentals	P.K. Sinha
Nursing	Fundamentals of Nursing	Potter & Perry
	Textbook of Anatomy	B.D. Chaurasia
	Textbook of Physiology	Guyton & Hall
Agriculture	Fundamentals of Agriculture (Vol. 1 & 2)	Arun Katyayan
	Principles of Agronomy	T. Yellamanda Reddy & G.H. Sankara Reddy
	A Competitive Book of Agriculture	Nem Raj Sunda
Microbiology	Microbiology: An Introduction	Tortora, Funke & Case
	Prescott’s Microbiology	Prescott and others
	Brock Biology of Microorganisms	Madigan, Martinko & Parker
Botany	College Botany	B.P. Pandey
	A Textbook of Botany	A.C. Dutta
	Botany for Degree Students	B.P. Pandey
Statistics	Fundamentals of Mathematical Statistics	S.C. Gupta & V.K. Kapoor
	Fundamentals of Statistics (Vol. I)	A.M. Goon, M.K. Gupta & B. Dasgupta
	Introduction to Probability and Statistics	J.L. Devore or Morris H. DeGroot

 

Top BSc Colleges in India

Take a look at India’s top BSc colleges across different subjects and locations: 

College Name	Location	Famous BSc Courses
Hindu College	Delhi	BSc (Hons) Statistics, Mathematics, Physics
Miranda House	Delhi	BSc (Hons) Botany, Zoology, Chemistry, Life Sciences
Hans Raj College	Delhi	BSc (Hons) Computer Science, Zoology, Electronics
Kirori Mal College	Delhi	BSc (Hons) Physics, Statistics, Chemistry
St. Stephen’s College	Delhi	BSc (Hons) Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
Rama Krishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College	Kolkata, West Bengal	BSc (Hons) Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Zoology
Atma Ram Sanatan Dharm College	New Delhi	BSc (Hons) Electronics, Computer Science, Mathematics
St. Xavier’s College	Kolkata, West Bengal	BSc (Hons) Statistics, Computer Science, Economics
PSGR Krishnammal College for Women	Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu	BSc Computer Science, Biotechnology, Information Technology
PSG College of Arts and Science	Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu	BSc Computer Science, Psychology, Biotechnology

 

Tips for BSc 1st Year Students in India

The right start to the first year can help students develop confidence and stay motivated. Here are a few tips that will help BSc first year students ace their semesters:

• Learn time management to juggle between diverse subjects. This will further help in higher semesters. 
• Prioritise note taking and self study for a clearer understanding of concepts. 
• Be sure to explore electives, minors and skill enhancement courses, instead of restricting only to the primary subject.
• Plan for internships to build a solid resume and gain real working experience even before graduation.

Exam Structure/Pattern

BSc courses across top Indian universities evaluate students using internal and external assessments. These comprise theoretical and practical exams based on different courses. Students are typically required to score a minimum 40% in internals and externals separately in a CGPA-graded system. 

Here is a common breakdown of BSc first year evaluation pattern:

Evaluation	Marks (out of 100)	Weightage	Components
Internal Assessment	40	40%	Class tests, assignments, attendance, viva, etc.
Theory Semester-End Exam	60	60%	3 hour long exams comprising MCQs, short answers, long answers and other questions.
Practical/Lab Exam (if applicable)	20-50	20-30%	Hands-on test, viva, journal evaluation, etc. (Common in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Computer Science )
Add-On Courses (AEC/SEC/VEC)	Varies (50-100 total)	40-60%	Project-based, MCQs, activity assessments and more.

 

FAQs

What is the syllabus for BSc 1st year?

BSc 1st year syllabus differs for different domains. Broadly, students choose from core subjects, interdisciplinary courses and elective subjects. These subjects help students gain a holistic understanding of their primary as well as related fields. 

How to check the BSc syllabus?

Visit the college/university website and navigate to the ‘Academic/Syllabus’ section. Choose your BSc course type and download the syllabus PDF file. 

How many subjects are there in BSc 1st year biology?

BSc Biology 1st year subjects are divided into two semesters. Subjects typically include Biomolecules and Cell Biology, Biodiversity, Ecology, Genetics and Evolution, Bioresource and Management etc.

What is the expected BSc salary?

BSc job salaries can range from 3-8 LPA for entry level jobs. However, these vary based on course, educational institution, job opportunity and other factors.