Bangalore University (BU) Academic Council on Friday approved the introduction of five new integrated post-graduate courses in humanities and science streams from the academic year 2007-08.

Accordingly, in the next few days, the university will issue the admission notification for five-year integrated courses in social sciences, business studies, earth and atmospheric sciences, biological sciences and tourism administration.

Eligibility is 50 per cent in II year pre-university and intake in each course will be restricted to 30 students.

Presiding over the meeting, BU Vice-Chancellor H A Ranganath said the varsity decided to introduce the courses to provide an opportunity to have an holistic understanding of various disciplines.

For instance, the integrated MA in social science is offered with the belief that an understanding of the history, economy, society and polity of a country can be complete only if there is an holistic approach.

The course in earth and atmospheric sciences intends to integrate geography, geology, atmospheric sciences and environmental sciences. Each integrated course will run for five years (ten semesters).

While II year PU students from any stream are eligible to apply for the integrated courses in social science, business studies and tourism administration, only science stream students can apply for the courses in earth and atmospheric sciences and biological sciences.

The detailed notification on admissions will be published soon, Prof Ranganath said. Selection will be based on the marks scored in the II PU examination and students from across the State can apply.

The Council dropped a proposal to conduct entrance tests for admissions to these courses and resolved to consider only the II PU marks.

It also approved the syllabus for the first four semesters.  Prof Ranganath said BU would soon be writing to various academic bodies and also the UPSC and KPSC regarding the content of the integrated courses.

Languages

The Academic Council also resolved to introduce languages for BCA, BBM, BHM and LLB courses on par with traditional degree courses like BA, BSc and B Com.

Hitherto, students of undergraduate courses in computer application, business management, hotel management and law studied two languages only for their first two semesters unlike their traditional under-graduate counterparts who studied languages for four semesters.

Flight dynamics

The Council approved a MSc course in Applied Flight Dynamics as per a proposal submitted by Air Force Test Pilots’ School.

The course will have both theory and applied training. However, the applicant will need to have background training of high performance military aircraft flying.

Two new courses- MArchitecture in construction and project management, and MArchitecture in landscape architecture- were approved.

The Council gave its assent to enter into a memorandum of understanding with Bureau of Police Research and Development for collaborative programmes including doctoral fellowships in police and prison issues to PhD scholars.