The Department of Chemistry had its origin with St. Michael's College in 1967 when it was initiated as a Junior College comprising of only Pre - degree courses. In 1980, the Department became independent with the new course in B.Sc. Chemistry main with subsidiaries Physics and Mathematics. To keep pace with the emerging technologies and dynamic changes in the scientific world, and to deliver quality education and job opportunities to the youth of our society, M.Sc. Polymer Chemistry was started in July 2002. Because of the concerted demand from the students and other stakeholders M.Sc. Polymer Chemistry was changed to M.Sc. Chemistry in 2017. The year 2022 unfurled with an auspicious breakthrough, the Department of Chemistry comes to be recognized as an approved Research Centre under the University of Kerala. It is noteworthy that the Department of Chemistry is the first Research Department in the history of St. Michael’s College. Now the Department offers two courses B.Sc. Chemistry and M.Sc. Chemistry and is also "actively involved in Research".

Quality education can be provided with an efficient blending of excellent research and teaching learning process. Our department have distinguished researchers and excellent educators and we use the modern and best teaching methods for our students. Research is an essential component for a good Chemistry Department. The thrust area of research of Department of Chemistry includes Materials Science, Organic Electronics, Alternate Renewable Energy, Photochemistry, Nanomaterials and Electrochemical Sensors. The research activities of the Department are highly active with sole aim of upgrading the Department to a Research Department in near future. At present three of our faculty members are approved Research Guides of University of Kerala. Also three research scholars are working in the department for the Ph.D programme. The research programme of the Department is financially supported by University Grants Commission (UGC) and Department of Science and Technology (DST), Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) in the form of Major and Minor Research Projects. In 2015, Department received the prestigious DST-FIST grant and with this the research facilities are improved tremendously. The Department has also signed MoUs with various colleges and reputed research centres in Kerala to strengthen the research activities. The Department organises National and International conferences regularly to provide an International exposure for our students. It is noteworthy that the students of our Department are qualifying various National Eligibility Tests such as JAM, CSIR and GATE examinations and pursuing their higher studies in various reputed research institutes in India and abroad. In 2018 the Department started functioning completely with Green Energy. Department of Chemistry is the first fully Solar Educational Department in the College, totally devoted for the promotion of renewable energy.

The Department was started in 1967 with two batches each for the Pre Degree-first and second groups. Further, three more batches were allotted in these groups (shift system). In 1980, subsidiary Physics was introduced for the B.Sc. Chemistry (Main) course. It was up-graded in 1999 with the introduction of B. Sc Physics (Main) course with Electronics and Mathematics as the subsidiary subjects. It is one among the four colleges in University of Kerala offering electronics as the subsidiary for core Physics degree course. The sanctioned strength of the batch is 24. From 2010 onwards Choice Based Credit and Semester System (CBCSS) has been introduced. The department offers Astro-Physics as open course for Chemistry, Zoology, Commerce, English and Economics core students. The department also offers complimentary Physics course for Chemistry core students. The teaching methods are based on ICT enabled facilities, seminars, projects, C++ programme training and hands-on training in electronic circuit design. Add-on courses are offered by the department to help the students to understand the basics of programming language. The department has a well-furnished General Physics and Electronics lab, equipped optics lab and a computer lab. A large collection of books is made available in the department library. The department also encourages the students to participate in extracurricular and co-curricular activities.

St. Michael’s College established in 1967 as a junior college marked a pronounced shift in its educational responsibility by introducing the first degree department in 1976. As the pioneering department, the Department of Zoology under the eminent Head of the Department, Prof. K.V. Ummachan bated its way through hurdles to become a paradigm for the departments to come. Besides inculcating the treasured human values and discipline it takes upon itself the cardinal responsibility of transforming a student of zoology into a lover of fauna and nature. Together with Prof. K.V. Ummachan, Prof. P.J. Jose, who later became the Principal in 2000 constituted the faculty in the beginning. The B.Sc. in Zoology with Botany and Chemistry as subsidiaries offered by the department in the annual scheme was later shifted to CBCSS scheme since 2010. Under the CBCSS scheme the department offers an open course ‘Human diseases and their management’ for the students from other subjects to opt in their fifth semester of degree. Similarly the department also has chosen the course ‘Economic Zoology- Vermiculture and apiculture’ as the CBCS elective course in the VI semester for the Zoology students.

With the built up area of 4000 sq. feet the department has arranged state-of-the-art facilities for the study of zoology including a museum with rare specimens, vivarium, exotic collection of zoological curiosities and a Physiological Lab fully equipped to meet the needs of the students. In addition to the UG labs, museum, Nature Club garden, Aquaculture pond, Vermicomposting units the facilities of the department further expanded with setting-up of an Instrumentation Facility with the financial support from DST-FIST and UGC (minor research projects) in 2015, with an intention to upgrade the department to Post Graduate level and also for research. The cooperation and dedication of staff of the department, since its inception the department of Zoology maintain its quality with excellent academic results. Besides offering B.Sc. Degree Programme in Zoology and an array of services, it opens avenues of job-oriented courses like environment biology, microbiology, genetics, molecular biology, biotechnology and bioinformatics before the young aspirants. Faculty of the department takes special initiatives to inculcate human values in the students and motivate them to take part in all extracurricular and co-curricular activities, so that students of the department high as a disciplined well behaved and vibrant group in the college. The department carry out research activities in thrust areas like biodiversity, ecosystem management and fisheries and also tap external funds from national and state governments for the conduct of research. The department also engaged in out-reach activities and service for the development of the society through the dissemination of knowledge.

Successors of the department

Prof. Ummachan K.V, an eminent personality by all means, was the inductee of the Zoology Department in St. Michael’s College. He started his distinguished career in 1967, along with the inception of the college. His service period, as faculty member and HOD of Zoology Department ranged from 1967 – 1996. His enterprising efforts paved the corner stone to the Department’s illustrious growth. Prof. P. J. Jose, the contemporary of Prof. Ummachan K.V. has contributed immensely to format the Zoology Department to its present state of affairs. His association with the college as faculty and HOD of the Zoology Department, attained a higher pedestal, when he was conferred with the position of, Principal of the College. He retired in 2001 after a service period of 33 years. Prof. Margaret Isaac, who joined service in the Department in 1978, became the first Lady HOD of the Department, in the Millennium year. She guided the Department, to anchor on stability, until she retired in the year 2010. The Headship of the Department was then assigned to another eminent lady, Prof. Gricy Peter, the very same year. Her service period with the department ranged from 1979 – 2012. Partaking in the legacy of the Department, she strove to keep the department innovative and resourceful. Prof. Pious Mathai, a remarkable personality, served as a stalwart, proclaiming his proficiency in teaching and designing the overall development of the Department and College, from the year 1981 when he started his career until he retired in the year 2011. On retirement of Prof. Gricy Peter in 2012, Prof. Annie Jose K has been vested with the responsibility of the headship of the department. Her capacities, both in teaching and administration has convened a dual responsibility on her, namely the position of HOD, as well as that of the Vice-Principal of the College. She retired in 2020 after 29 years of selfless service in the department. Since her retirement, during the period of ‘Covid 19’ pandemic, Dr. Antony P.J., who joined service in the department in 2012, became the HOD. Fr. Lonachan W. Arouje, another faculty member of the Department joined service in the year 1978 and resigned in the year 1989. Dr. Cyril Johnson, had a brief stint of association with the Department. He joined service in the year 1980, and very soon moved to another college in 1982.

Vision

Holistic development of the students in an eco-friendly way

Mission

Department aims at the overall development and moulding of students in various areas viz. education, health, social life, values, conservation of nature etc. through curricular and co-curricular activities.