The winds of change is blowing across Indian universities as more and more of them are adopting interdisciplinary approaches for degree programs.
Placement & Internship Companies |
Inter-disciplinary Course |
Aim of the Course |
Multiple Careers |
Across Functional Industries | Computer Science and Entre-preneurship | To train the founders and leaders of tomorrow’s high-tech ventures |
Tech-entrepreneurs |
• The Hindu • UNESCO • Airtel • HCL • Uth Connect • NIIT, etc |
History and International Relations | To prepare with skills and methods of the historian with themes that are relevant for comprehending the contemporary world |
Diplomatic service officer, Government social research officer, Intelligence analyst, International aid/development worker, Policy officer, Public affairs consultant, Broadcast journalist, Risk manager, Solicitor |
• Pepsi Co • Unacademy • Winzo • 94.3 Radio One • Airtel • UNESCO • Udayan Care etc |
Economics and History | It prepares students for careers in business & fields including the analytical tools of regular economics with history’s emphasis on effective writing for developing skills in gathering, assessing, and synthesizing information | Management Consulting, Law, Teaching, the Civil and Diplomatic Services |
•Deloitte •FTI Consulting •Bain Capability Centre •KPMG •McKinsey •BCG, etc |
Economics and Finance | Students will be able to enter into a wide variety of conversations and careers in both fields |
Journalist, Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Freelance Writer/Copywriter, Publishing Assistant, Social Media Manager, Public Relations, Law |
Geo-informatics & Natural Resources Engineering
GIS Specialists, Senior Sales Manager, Auto CAD Experts, Draughtsman, Research Scientists, Engineers
Liberal Arts and Humanities
Advertising Sales Agent, Technical Writer, Event Organizer, Public Relations Manager, Lawyer, Editor, Museum Worker/Curator, FBI Agent, Interpreter and/or Translator, Genealogist, Journalist, Foreign Correspondent, Human Resources Specialist, Linguist
Mathematics & Statistics
Actuary, Mathematical Scientist or Research Analyst, Mathematical Consultant, Cryptographer, Operations Research Analyst, Numerical Analyst, Statistician
VLSI Design, Tools, and Technology
Design Engineer, Product Engineer, Test Engineer, Applications/Systems Engineer, Process Engineer, Packaging Engineer, CAD Engineer
Opto-electronics & Optical Communication
Network Engineer, Optical Design Engineer, Integrated Signal Processing Researcher, Optical Module Test Development Engineer, Optical Engineers
Placement & Internship Companies |
Inter-disciplinary Course |
Aim of the Course |
Multiple Careers |
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Politics, Philosophy and Economics | Students will develop an understanding of the many social forces at work around them and to reason about these forces with rigour | Economist, Accountancy & Professional Services, Finance & Banking, Government, Journalism, Media, Marketing & PR, Social Work, Teaching, and the Law |
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Benckiser, De Shaw, NIIT, Oberoi Hotels Mydea Ventures, HCL, etc |
English and Creative Writing | Students are trained to become writers and thinkers | Advertising copywriter, Arts administrator, Creative director, Digital copywriter, Editorial assistant, Magazine journalist, Newspaper journalist, Web content manager, Writer | |
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Computer Science and Mathematics | It gives training in logical thought & expression, which is good preparation for many careers | Software Engineer, Programmer, Research Assistant, Senior Programmer Analyst, Software Developer, Math Tutor | |
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Diplomacy, Law and Business | It strikes a balance between the two and requires students to be versed in both domains | Foreign Service Officer, Civil Servant, Research Consultant, Central Intelligence Agent, International Affairs Officer (Military), International Banking Officer, Corporate lawyer, Consultant or mediator for regional and international organizations | |
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Tele-communica-tion Technology & Management |
It is designed to make the students well prepared for industry while ensuring a strong background in telecom |
Telecom Engineer, Telecom Operator, Business Development Manager, Internet Service Providers |
Telecommunication Technology & Management is a unique program offered by IIT Delhi which is run by the Dept. of Electrical Engineering, Dept. of Computer Science and the Dept. of Management Studies.
VLSI Design, Tools, and Technology is an interdisciplinary program offered by IIT Delhi. Each student in this program is sponsored by a particular company. 3 departments Computer Science & Engineering, Electrical Engineering and CARE (Center for Applied Research in Electronics) participate in this program. Students will also undergo hands-on fabrication training at CEERI, Pilani or at CARE.
Opto-electronics & Optical Communication is an interdisciplinary program offered by IIT Delhi. Main participating departments/centres are Physics, Electrical Engineering, IDDC, and CARE. It has received fundings from the Government agencies.
Sabyasachi Das, Assistant Professor of Economics at Ashoka University
says “These programs are focused on grooming students with an interdisciplinary bent of mind and require them to take courses across disciplines. Both interdisciplinary programs, as well as conventional programs with an interdisciplinary thrust, add great value to students in orienting them to think about multiple approaches to studying human behaviour. These kinds of programs, however, still occupy a niche in the Indian higher education system and are yet to become a regular feature of undergraduate curricula.”
Many of the Interdisciplinary courses are in the format of Major – Minor Combinations.
Department of Liberal Arts of IIT Hyderabad has launched a Minor in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Humanity. This minor course includes foundational courses in the history, philosophy, sociology, and psychology of technology, as well as courses focusing on the social, political, economic, and legal implications of AI, at a global scale.
Some of the major-minor combination courses are offered by Quantum University such as Hotel Management with Entrepreneurship, Computer Science with Economics, Physics with Mathematics, etc.
Another such interesting program is Water Science and Policy offered by Shiv Nadar University (SNU). The Centre for Public Affairs and Critical Theory (C-PACT) at SNU anchored in the School of Humanities & Social Sciences is committed to research on a set of core themes: water, agriculture, health, land and heritage. The students are required to work on knowledge, governance and policy reforms on water.
These kinds of programs, however, still occupy a niche in the Indian higher education system and are yet to become a regular feature of undergraduate curricula