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What Did the Course Structure Look Like?

Like an honours course, the syllabus of B.A. Programme was divided over a span of 3 years and 6 semesters. A student pursuing this degree appeared for 4 examinations in each semester. What makes the B.A. programme unique is the liberality of choices: a student may combine any two courses of their choice. This allows a wider scope of exploration in case a candidate is confused about the way forward after 12th.

A B.A. Programme course emphasises interdisciplinary studies rather than a single subject-based specialisation. Some colleges, like Stephen’s, also offer general coursework of B.A. Programme where the students are taught a number of humanities disciplines together and are not required to choose combinations for themselves.

The foremost components of a B.A. Programme degree were the two core courses: these are the discipline specifications that form the base of the degree. Each student was required to choose two discipline-specific courses. Colleges at DU offer a very wide range of options for the same and there is no dearth of combinations. In the first 4 semesters, a student had to sit for a total of 12 core-based examinations.

The next component was an AECC (Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course) paper for the first year of graduation. It varied from one semester to the next: usually being a language of choice in the first and environmental science in the next. Most colleges allowed the students to choose amongst at least 3 languages for this paper. The third component of a B.A. Programme degree was an SEC (Skill Enhancement Course) paper for the second year of graduation. The aim behind the introduction of the SEC was to give some vocational education in their chosen graduate subject to the students. DU uptill now has offered a range of choices here, but this is usually pre-decided by college administration according to the availability of faculty.

Some of the combinations of B.A. programmes offered by colleges include:

Combinations of History, Political Science, Psychology, Geography, Sociology, Philosophy, etc. being very popular choices.

Combinations of Foreign languages/a wide range of Indian languages including Sanskrit with History, Geography, etc.

Combination of the above-mentioned disciplines with vocational subjects such as nutrition, entrepreneurship, advertising, etc.

How High Were the Previous Cut-offs?

Cut-offs for B.A programmes have varied widely, depending on the college and the course combination. They have varied from 88% in Motilal Nehru College(evening) to 99.25% in Miranda House College in the first cut-off.

Refer to the links below for the detailed cut-off sheets :

What Do Students Think About This Course?

If you do not want to limit yourself to one subject or discipline, or if you are very indecisive like me and would rather keep the options open, then BA Prog. is the only way to go. – Manasvi, B.A( History+ Political Science) Programme student from LSR

Manasvi admits that the divide between Hons. and Prog. still exists where Hons. is seen as better and more demanding by the students and the faculty alike. The way her experience has been,B.A Programme usually ends up getting the worse end of it in terms of faculty as well as other amenities.

It does open you up to interdisciplinary education, but that also means that you have two subjects asking you to prioritise them and you just end up juggling between them, prioritising none, and getiing overwhelmed. – Manasvi added

Featured Image Credits: DU Beat

Devanshi Panda

On the last Wednesday of June, tensions rose and confusion ensued as the police was called in to Daulat Ram College to assuage the worried applicants. June 28^th marked the last day for applicants to enrol in college under the first cut-off list, and some candidates were denied admission to the college due to a lack of availability of seats.

Admission denied

According to some student testimonials, applicants wishing to pursue B.A. Programme were prohibited from entering the college as the authorities claimed that the seats were full. These candidates had cleared the cut-off and fulfilled all eligibility requirements, and as per the varsity’s rule, were entitled to secure a seat in the college.

While the University has a prescribed number of seats for admission into various courses, there is no bar on the number of students who actually register and confirm admission under a certain list. Moreover, as the undergraduate portal was riddled with technical glitches, several students were unable to obtain the acknowledgment slip of a college on the first day. Students also often wait till the last day of a cut-off list to weigh in the college options available to them, and to clarify the Best of Four requirements. The time frame allocated to a cut-off list allows every student who meets the criteria to secure a seat in a given college, without any counter policy.

Intervention by ABVP and DUSU

The situation scaled when volunteers of the RSS-affiliated student wing, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), intervened on behalf of the aggrieved students. The Delhi University Students’ Union’s President Amit Tanwar expressed his dismay at the erroneous decision on the college’s part. He said, “According to the University rules, all students who clear the cut-offs are to be admitted. There is no first come, first serve policy. Several applicants had come to seek admission today [on Wednesday] as it was the last day to do so under the first cut-off list. They were, however, told that the seats were full. This caused panic.” As the agitation transferred from the applicants to the student leaders, the police were asked to step in.

The college has lodged a complaint at the Maurice Nagar police station against the ABVP, DUSU, and parents who allegedly manhandled the Principal, along with vandalising her office. The Principal, Ms Savita Roy, claimed that the ABVP and DUSU members entered her office without permission and misbehaved with her. The complaint filed proclaimed that, “They used abusive language, manhandled me, and threatened me with dire consequences if I did not admit the students.” She also added that the crowd refused to send a representation of two people despite her request. An FIR has been filed against six persons who were involved in the scene, and the Principal has requested police protection to continue with the admission process.

However, these allegations have been refuted by the ABVP as an “excuse” by the administration, and are being labelled as an “arbitrary denial.” Tanwar adds, “The parents of students, who were confused after being denied admission even after the verification of documents, approached the ABVP and DUSU members. All of them went to the administration to ask why were they denied admission.” A student from DRC spoke to DU Beat and confirmed the refusal of admission, and also added that the teacher coordinators for the admission process refused to allow a student to opt for B.A. Programme on account of the lack of seats, and continued to “misguide” her by advising her to enrol in other courses. She said that the ABVP proceeded to help the student who had to bear the brunt of the commotion. However, she claimed that members of the ABVP and DUSU barged in the college and misbehaved with the officials.

Authorities’ stance

A senior member of the administration said that the college complied with the admission process of all candidates who met the cut-off requirements after the ABVP volunteers barged in. However, the number of seats would act as a hindrance for them to undertake the subject-combination of their choice.

According to sources, a committee was set up to look into this issue.

Daulat Ram has set the cut-off for B.A. Programme at 91% this year, a lower number as compared to other North Campus colleges. An all girls’ college, it offers 169 seats for the course. The next cut-off list is scheduled to be announced by the midnight of June 30^th.

Feature Image Credits: DU Beat

Saumya Kalia
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