Sakshi Education
For a student of Class X, it’s the first key stone in life. The insistence for focus on career begins and it grows with the time. Plus two, graduation, masters and more… In the ordered prominences, the next and immediate always weighs most and the stress of focus grows. But, does one receive enough of what one chose? In the tremble of preparing for the next, what kind of programme can prove to be enduring yet academic choice for the students today?
This article briefs you on the Integrated Masters Programmes around the country, with enduring academics and professional scope.
Integrated Masters Programmes
Most Universities today are offering Integrated Masters Programmes in various disciplines for the students after intermediate and plus two. An Integrated Masters Programme is a combined under graduate and post graduate programme specializing the students in a specified discipline. While some are awarding a combined masters degree at the end of the programme, others are facilitating dual degrees.
Integrated Masters Programmes are usually are offered for a duration of five years, where the fist three to four years of the programme deal the graduation syllabi and the final year or two with the post graduation syllabi. Most programmes train students in to a streamed specialization in their final years. A student once admitted need not prepare or take a separate admission to the master’s programme, but continue in the same. This pattern of the programme leaves students with additional focus on subjects for a considerably enduring time, helping them build relatively stronger bases in the field of interest.
Though most programmes of this type have no exit option in between, few institutions are awarding a bachelors degree after completion of third or fourth year if any students wants to opt out of the programme.
Origins and Integrated Masters Programmes at some premier Institutions
University of Hyderabad (UoH), Hyderabad, and Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Chennai are the first to launch Integrated Masters Programmes in India. Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) Department of IITM has come up with Humanities and Social Science Entrance Examination (HSEE) in 2006 for its unique five year integrated programme leading to Master of Arts (MA) degree in three major streams - Development Studies, Economics and English Studies. Over the time, the streams of Economics and Developmental Studies are merged under the same title Developmental Studies. Some IITs also offer integrated programme with specializations in sciences.
The Same year, UoH has launched its Centre for Integrated Studies (CIS) offering five year Integrated Master’s Degree programme in Sciences as well as in Social Sciences and Humanities. CIS offers masters degree in various subjects which include Mathematical Science, Physics, Chemical Science, and Systems Biology of Sciences leading to a M. Sc. degree, Economics, History, Political Science, Sociology, and Anthropology of Social Sciences and Languages (Telugu/Hindi/Urdu) and Language Sciences of Humanities lead to an MA degree in respective fields.
In following years many other leading Universities and Institutions have offered similar programmes.
Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has launched its five year Integrated Masters degree programme from the 2012-13 academic year at its campuses in Hyderabad, Guwahati and Tuljapur. This will focus on the humanistic aspects of Social Sciences blended with logical reasoning of the natural sciences, with a combine emphasis on the faculties of imagination and creativity as well as of rigorous and critical thinking. Along with social, economic, political, cultural, psychological and environmental theories, the students are also offered mathematics and take foundational courses in biological, physical and chemical sciences and languages in addition to philosophy of research, research methodology, logic and history.
National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar offers a five year integrated M.Sc. Programme in basic sciences after 10+2 years of schooling (or equivalent) with specializations Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. IIM Indore has launched its Five Integrated Programme in Management (IPM) with three degree programme followed by two year masters programme. English and Foreign Language University (EFLU) also offer a similar programme with specializations in English Language, Foreign Languages and Communication Journalism.
The Prominent Institutions offering Integrated Masters Programmes:
This article briefs you on the Integrated Masters Programmes around the country, with enduring academics and professional scope.
Integrated Masters Programmes
Most Universities today are offering Integrated Masters Programmes in various disciplines for the students after intermediate and plus two. An Integrated Masters Programme is a combined under graduate and post graduate programme specializing the students in a specified discipline. While some are awarding a combined masters degree at the end of the programme, others are facilitating dual degrees.
Integrated Masters Programmes are usually are offered for a duration of five years, where the fist three to four years of the programme deal the graduation syllabi and the final year or two with the post graduation syllabi. Most programmes train students in to a streamed specialization in their final years. A student once admitted need not prepare or take a separate admission to the master’s programme, but continue in the same. This pattern of the programme leaves students with additional focus on subjects for a considerably enduring time, helping them build relatively stronger bases in the field of interest.
Though most programmes of this type have no exit option in between, few institutions are awarding a bachelors degree after completion of third or fourth year if any students wants to opt out of the programme.
Origins and Integrated Masters Programmes at some premier Institutions
University of Hyderabad (UoH), Hyderabad, and Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Chennai are the first to launch Integrated Masters Programmes in India. Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) Department of IITM has come up with Humanities and Social Science Entrance Examination (HSEE) in 2006 for its unique five year integrated programme leading to Master of Arts (MA) degree in three major streams - Development Studies, Economics and English Studies. Over the time, the streams of Economics and Developmental Studies are merged under the same title Developmental Studies. Some IITs also offer integrated programme with specializations in sciences.
The Same year, UoH has launched its Centre for Integrated Studies (CIS) offering five year Integrated Master’s Degree programme in Sciences as well as in Social Sciences and Humanities. CIS offers masters degree in various subjects which include Mathematical Science, Physics, Chemical Science, and Systems Biology of Sciences leading to a M. Sc. degree, Economics, History, Political Science, Sociology, and Anthropology of Social Sciences and Languages (Telugu/Hindi/Urdu) and Language Sciences of Humanities lead to an MA degree in respective fields.
In following years many other leading Universities and Institutions have offered similar programmes.
Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has launched its five year Integrated Masters degree programme from the 2012-13 academic year at its campuses in Hyderabad, Guwahati and Tuljapur. This will focus on the humanistic aspects of Social Sciences blended with logical reasoning of the natural sciences, with a combine emphasis on the faculties of imagination and creativity as well as of rigorous and critical thinking. Along with social, economic, political, cultural, psychological and environmental theories, the students are also offered mathematics and take foundational courses in biological, physical and chemical sciences and languages in addition to philosophy of research, research methodology, logic and history.
National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar offers a five year integrated M.Sc. Programme in basic sciences after 10+2 years of schooling (or equivalent) with specializations Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. IIM Indore has launched its Five Integrated Programme in Management (IPM) with three degree programme followed by two year masters programme. English and Foreign Language University (EFLU) also offer a similar programme with specializations in English Language, Foreign Languages and Communication Journalism.
The Prominent Institutions offering Integrated Masters Programmes:
- IIM Indore has launched its Five Integrated Programme in Management (IPM).
Website: www.iimidr.ac.in/iimi/
- Centre for Integrated Studies (CIS), University of Hyderabad (UoH) offers MA (Five year integrated) in Humanities and Social Sciences, and M.Sc. (Five year integrated) in Sciences.
Website: www.uohyd.ac.in/
- Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) Department, Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Chennai offers its five year integrated programme leading to Master of Arts (MA) degree in Development Studies and English Studies.
Website: www.iitm.ac.in/
- English and Foreign Language University (EFLU) offers integrated programme with an exit option after three years with bachelor’s degree, or continuing to specialize in English Language, Communication Journalism and Foreign languages to get an MA degree.
Website: www.efluniversity.ac.in/
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) offers a 5 year BS-MS Programme
Website: www.iisertvm.ac.in/
- National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar offers a five year integrated M.Sc. Programme in basic sciences with specializations Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.
Website: www.niser.ac.in/
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) offers five year Integrated Masters degree programme in Social Sciences at its campuses in Hyderabad, Guwahati and Tuljapur.
Website: www.campus.tiss.edu/
- Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani offers a wide variety of first degree programs like BE (Hons.), B.Pharma. (Hons.), M.Sc. (Hons.), and M.Sc. (Tech.).
Website: www.bits-pilani.ac.in/
- Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) offers the BA programme in foreign languages, with a provision for the students to continue to MA in the respective discipline.
Website: www.jnu.ac.in/
- Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIMIdr) offers a Five-Year Integrated Programme in Management (IPM)
Website: www.iimidr.ac.in
- VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu offers 5 Year Integrated MBA
Website: www.vit.ac.in/home.asp
Above mentioned were just a few selected best among the many such courses offered across the nation. Many more State Universities, Central Universities and Autonomous Institutions are offering similar programmes in different disciplines.
Uniqueness and Advantages
Firm Base
Unlike the regular bachelors programmes of BA, B.Sc. or B. Com. the integrated masters programmes induce wider exposure to the students. The curriculums of regular bachelors programmes are restrictive in nature, as they provide just around six courses in the respective specialization which more in common are different introductory to the masters level. The maters programmes again, though provides a detailed knowledge of the specialization, have restrains limited time frame of two years. The Integrated Masters Programmes have an advantage of provided continuum and facilitate students with more core papers in respective specializations, yielding firmer grim on subject.
Inter Disciplinary
Most of the integrated master’s programmes are designed with interdisciplinary approach. Establishing the fact that the disciplines across spectrum are intertwined and converge in benefit of the society, these universities have uncovered courses across categories for students. Basic courses of sciences and social sciences are offered to students across back grounds in their initial years. Even in the final years, few universities are allowing the students to continue multiple interests through electives and minors.
Flexibility and Choice
Curriculums of the integrated programs facilitate wider choices for students ensuring cross-disciplinary education. Integrated programs also offer flexibility and allow lateral movement across disciplines.
Research Oriented
With the prolonged curriculums for more than four to five years, oriented in specializing students in all possible directions, Integrated Masters Programmes are successfully laying a firm base for further research studies. The feasibility to opt for a doctoral programme after integrated master’s programme is more in comparison with the regular PG programmes.
Feasible options abroad
Most regular graduates with their three-year degree today suffer non-eligibility for applying abroad as it needs 16 years of formal education for them. There are instances where in comparison with the four year graduates of foreign countries, Indian gradates fell short of perquisite curriculum and experience requirements. The innate structure of integrated master’s programmes ease students to cross these barriers and also provide wide avenues abroad.
Uniqueness and Advantages
Firm Base
Unlike the regular bachelors programmes of BA, B.Sc. or B. Com. the integrated masters programmes induce wider exposure to the students. The curriculums of regular bachelors programmes are restrictive in nature, as they provide just around six courses in the respective specialization which more in common are different introductory to the masters level. The maters programmes again, though provides a detailed knowledge of the specialization, have restrains limited time frame of two years. The Integrated Masters Programmes have an advantage of provided continuum and facilitate students with more core papers in respective specializations, yielding firmer grim on subject.
Inter Disciplinary
Most of the integrated master’s programmes are designed with interdisciplinary approach. Establishing the fact that the disciplines across spectrum are intertwined and converge in benefit of the society, these universities have uncovered courses across categories for students. Basic courses of sciences and social sciences are offered to students across back grounds in their initial years. Even in the final years, few universities are allowing the students to continue multiple interests through electives and minors.
Flexibility and Choice
Curriculums of the integrated programs facilitate wider choices for students ensuring cross-disciplinary education. Integrated programs also offer flexibility and allow lateral movement across disciplines.
Research Oriented
With the prolonged curriculums for more than four to five years, oriented in specializing students in all possible directions, Integrated Masters Programmes are successfully laying a firm base for further research studies. The feasibility to opt for a doctoral programme after integrated master’s programme is more in comparison with the regular PG programmes.
Feasible options abroad
Most regular graduates with their three-year degree today suffer non-eligibility for applying abroad as it needs 16 years of formal education for them. There are instances where in comparison with the four year graduates of foreign countries, Indian gradates fell short of perquisite curriculum and experience requirements. The innate structure of integrated master’s programmes ease students to cross these barriers and also provide wide avenues abroad.
More Exposure
With the integrated master’s programmes, the campus spaces have for the first time got opened for the undergraduates. Previously, the average age composition of the University campuses in India ranged between 23 to 25, which with introduction of integrated master’s programmes boiled downed to 20 to 23. The melting pot campus spaces add to bring a live experience of interaction with elders, activists, academicians, artists and more to these youngsters very early in life, which in turn makes them strong and prepared for bight future ahead in life.
In comparison with several conventional bachelors’ degree programmes, the integrated master’s programmes stand as better options and esnure enduring careers.
With the integrated master’s programmes, the campus spaces have for the first time got opened for the undergraduates. Previously, the average age composition of the University campuses in India ranged between 23 to 25, which with introduction of integrated master’s programmes boiled downed to 20 to 23. The melting pot campus spaces add to bring a live experience of interaction with elders, activists, academicians, artists and more to these youngsters very early in life, which in turn makes them strong and prepared for bight future ahead in life.
In comparison with several conventional bachelors’ degree programmes, the integrated master’s programmes stand as better options and esnure enduring careers.
Published date : 27 Sep 2013 05:43PM
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