Demand to continue Psychology, Criminology in Arts stream

The Academic Council members of Mangalore University opposed the direction of the state government to include Psychology and Criminology in BSc course and not in BA course. The members urged the authorities to retain the subjects in both Science (BSc) and Arts (BA) stream rather than removing them totally from Arts stream.

The addditional principal secretary to Higher Education Department, in a circular dated February 19, 2016, had directed the universities to consider MA Geography equivalent to MSc Geography while appointing assistant professors to the Government First Grade Colleges. In addition, the government has directed all the universities to include Geography, Psychology, Statistics, Mathematics, Anthropology, and Criminology under BSc and MSc programmes and not under BA and MA programmes to bring in uniformity in undergraduation and postgraduation degrees.

Opposing the proposal at the Academic Council meeting here on Friday, a member said the withdrawal of subjects like Psychology, Criminology, Geography from BA courses will largely affect the number of students enrolling for BA at a time when students pursuing BA is decreasing.

Dr Kishori Nayak K said, “Psychology comes under Arts as well. Literature and Psychology are allied subjects. They need to be studied together. If any attempt to remove the subject from Arts stream will be a bad move.” Dr R Shashidhar said, “There is a fundamental misconception. Psychiatry is a science subject while Psychology and Psycho Analysis have to be included under Humanities.”

Another member said Psychology can be offered along with science subjects in the BSc. A majority of the social work students come from Psychology and Criminology background and the removal of the subjects from Arts stream will affect students fraternity as well. Vice Chancellor K Byrappa said that a letter will be written to the government on the apprehensions expressed by the members. In addition, the issue will be raised in the Higher Education Council meeting as well, he added. 

New courses
The Academic Council approved PG Diploma in Psychological Counselling, Child Counselling and Corporate Counselling to be offered as correspondence courses. It also approved Diploma in Radiotherapy Technology. The diploma will be for the students after their II PUC. It is a first-of-its-kind course in Karnataka. There is a shortage of radiation technologists in hospitals. The course will be of immense benefit to the students. They will be assisting medical physicists in achieving accurate and optimum doses to be delivered to the patients. In addition, the Academic Council gave approval for PG Diploma in Embedded System.

The draft statute governing the establishments of Postgraduate Department of Studies and Research in Botany, Department of Studies and Research in Computer Science and Department of Studies and Research in Environmental Studies at PG Centre at Chikkaluvara in Kushalnagar were also passed in the Council.