The School of Sciences was established in 1986, being one of the pioneer Schools of the University, with four Disciplines in basic Sciences, namely, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Mathematics, and Physics. Since then, the School has served as a node for imparting high-quality education in the core and applied areas of science along with the application oriented and skill development/enhancement components. Subsequently, in 2009, four more disciplines namely Biochemistry, Geography, Geology and Statistics were added to the School of Sciences in order to cater learners interested to receive education in these areas. The School has continuously endeavoured to provide education in science to a large section of the society especially for disadvantaged and unreached in accordance with the objectives of the University, fostering scientific temper.

The Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Science was the School’s flagship programme and the first such programme to be launched at the National level in the ODL mode. B.Sc. was launched in 1991, both English and Hindi mediums with 29 study centres. IGNOU was a pioneer in launching this programme at such a scale as it had no parallel even internationally, since offering B.Sc. Degree programme in the distance mode was a tremendous challenge. The concerns were momentous and multifaceted with the usual question of how the laboratory component essential for any degree in science could be conducted in the distance mode across the country. In order to maintain parity with the conventional system, high quality self-instructional materials involving multiple media, affordability and accessibility were supreme in designing and developing all the programmes to be offered by the school. Several challenges were overcome with great accomplishment by the dynamic and distinguished Faculty members of the School in collaboration with world renowned Experts from across the length and breadth of our nation as well as from other open universities (especially UK Open University) across the world. School designed a highly innovative, flexible, learner centric and forward-looking curriculum for the B.Sc. programme, especially the Laboratory courses, which were successfully delivered all over the nation and continues till date.

The School also offered B.Sc. (Major) programmes in four disciplines namely Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry and Life Sciences. Apart from that Foundation course (in Science and Technology), Application Oriented Courses in Mathematics, Life Sciences and Chemistry were also developed. The design, development and delivery of B.Sc. served as a model for all subsequent programmes of the School.

For last three decades school has successfully pioneered teaching of the UG programmes in science, which was acclaimed by conventional peers and received wide acceptance. The success of these programmes is reflected in the progressively increasing large number of learners and wide acceptability. IGNOU’s B.Sc. degree holders were welcomed in conventional higher degree (Master’s and research) programmes in reputed National institutions (universities and IITs), and by leading employers.

The School of Sciences developed three successful multidisciplinary programmes with international collaboration, namely, Certificate Programme in Laboratory Techniques (with Commonwealth of Learning) in 2001, PG Diploma in Environment and Sustainable Development (in partnership with SAARC nations) in 2004 and PG Diploma in Intellectual Property Rights (with World Intellectual Property Organisation, a UN arm) in 2004. PGDIPR is currently housed in School of Law. The uniqueness of PGDESD and CPLT led them to be adopted/adapted by several countries. The Certificate Programme in Teaching of Primary School Mathematics (CTPM) is a unique, unparalleled programme that enables and empowers teachers, parents and other stakeholders by incorporating in its curriculum various interactive teaching strategies and techniques for communicating mathematical concepts, processes and skills to young children.

M.Sc. (Mathematics Applications in Computer Science) was launched in 2008 with the objective to equip the learners with the core mathematical knowledge and develop human resource in emerging disciplines such as mathematical biology, computational mathematics, mathematical economics, etc. M.Sc. programmes in Chemistry (2009-2014) and Life Sciences (2010-2013) were offered in the face-to-face mode but discontinued later for technical reasons.

School also offers value added programmes for capacity building and skill development at different levels such as Post Graduate Certificate Programme in Geoinformatics (PGCGI), Post Graduate Diploma in Analytical Chemistry (PGDAC), Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Statistics with Industrial stream and Biostatistics stream (PGDAST), Post Graduate Diploma in Geoinformatics (PGDGI), Diploma in Aquaculture (DAQ) and Appreciation Course on Environment (ACE).

B.Sc. programme under UGC Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) in seven disciplines was launched in 2019. In addition, B.Sc. (Hons.) Biochemistry was launched in 2020. Subsequently, three years multidisciplinary B.Sc., B.Sc. (Major) Biochemistry and B.Sc. (Major) Mathematics programmes as per NEP 2020 were launched in 2024.

Once the undergraduate programme was successfully offered and stabilised, the school initiated with the planning, design and development of its Master’s programmes in all the Disciplines in ODL mode in conformity with NEP. Masters’ programmes in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Geography, Geoinformatics, Physics, Applied Statistics and Zoology were launched in 2023.

Research degree programmes in all the eight disciplines are being offered since 2012, in compliance with UGC regulations. M.Phil programmes in Chemistry and Geography were on offers which have been discontinued as per UGC mandate. A large number of students have been successfully awarded Ph.D and M.Phil degrees.

In 2009 a special training programme, namely, the Post Graduate Certificate in Professional Development of Teachers for senior secondary science teachers of Navodaya Vidyalayas across the country was developed and offered by the school in collaboration with the School of Education, IGNOU. In past, under the UNESCO, several training programmes were conducted for university teachers from national and international institutions. In 2011, on the occasion of National Year of Chemistry, 2011, The Chemistry Discipline organized National Conference on Chemistry: Education and Research Frontiers.

The School of Sciences was identified as the nodal centre by DST for conducting three weeks residential training for girl students studying in class 12th from Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas in 2018, with the objective to motivate them towards pursuing higher education in STEM.

Apart from the course development the School has fulfilled its social, training and extension responsibilities towards popularization of science and promotion of scientific temper through a host of activities such as organizing popular lectures on contemporary science related themes, conducting Seminars/Workshops/Conferences/panel discussions/webinars, celebration of National Days of importance in science such as National Science Day, National Environment Day, World Environment Day, National Space Day, International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, National Mathematics Day.

Many Faculty members of the school have held distinguished offices of Vice Chancellors, Pro-Vice Chancellors of Universities, and Director, NCERT.

Since its inception in 1986, School of Sciences has continuously evolved with respect to the number of programmes offered and increasing enrolment. The school offers various programmes at Bachelor's, Master’s and Doctoral levels through its 8 Disciplines. The learners enrolled in various programmes, drawn from all over the country have been continuously increasing, attesting to the acceptability of the programmes designed and developed by the dynamic Faculty of the School. Our UG and PG programmes have been designed to cater the diverse requirements and aspirations of our learner spread across the country. The school has persistently pursued its objectives with changing times with updating academic programmes and curriculum. Our curriculum is updated to equip our learners with the domain knowledge, foundation and skills enhancement courses. Faculty has relentlessly striven to design and develop Masters’ programmes in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Geography, Geoinformatics, Applied Statistics, Physics and Zoology in conformity with NEP 2020. The School was awarded ‘Best School Award’ on the 38th Foundation Day of the University for launching eight PG programmes and one PG Diploma programme during the year 2023. School has launched PG and UG programmes in 2024 under FYUP-UGC scheme in accordance with NEP 2020.

Automatic Weather Station (AWS) has been installed in IGNOU campus at Maidan Garhi as the consequence of MOU signed between IGNOU and Meteorological Department (IMD) in 2023. Research undertaken at School of Sciences has gained momentum with faculty and students publishing widely in peer-reviewed journals and making their presence felt at conferences and workshops, within the country and abroad. It is needless to mention that with the vast experience of more than three decades, and available expertise, the school will successfully fulfill its stated objectives in the times to come