Common Curriculum

The Common Curriculum brings all students in the programme together to study areas and themes that we believe are necessary to make learning effective, rich and satisfying.

Students will be introduced to ways and modes of thought through the study of themes that emphasize and build critical and analytical abilities, and sensibilities for dialogue, reflection and cooperative learning. These capacities evolve and develop over a lifetime and the common curriculum is expected to be a rich initiation into this process.

All students will be required to complete a total of 36 credits as part of the common curriculum.

Foundations

The "Foundations" courses focus on strengthening the fundamental capacities of students need to become active self-directed lifelong learners. The students will engage with and develop critical reading and analytical ability. Effective writing and oral communication will be encouraged. The Foundations will also have courses that emphasize critical thinking, logic, argument and public reasoning.

Understanding India

Who are we? Where have we come from and what does the future hold? These questions about personal and collective identities and about the context in which we live are addressed by a series of courses which explore the exceptional, cultural and ecological diversity of India. The focus will be on understanding challenges and opportunities, and developing practical skills through self-reflection and dialogue about historical, political, social and environmental contexts in India.

Courses and field work will offer both theoretical and practical exposure to the reality of the diversity of life in India and help understand these through conceptual and experiential engagements.

Interdisciplinary studies

Students have to choose one interdisciplinary study topic from the following areas:

• Development
• Sustainability
• Education
• Media, Society and Development

Note: The list above is indicative. Interdisciplinary study areas available for each cohort will be announced at the end of the second semester.

Creative Expressions

Engagement with and instruction in art, craft, music, and other forms of creative expression will be a key dimension of the common curriculum. Introducing students to the dimensions of multi-modal understanding through work and play in activities seemingly as diverse as sport, games, dance, pottery and theatre will be a key part of this.

Common Curriculum

All undergraduate programme students come together at the beginning of the year for the Common Curriculum courses.

We help you to build all tools you will need for the next few years of study. We introduce you to different modes of thought and themes to help you think critically, read closely, and write well. We also emphasise creative expression with arts, music and craft.

The common curriculum has two components.

Foundations

The "Foundations" courses focus on strengthening the fundamental capacities students need to become active self-directed lifelong learners. The students will engage with and develop critical reading and analytical ability. Effective writing and oral communication will be encouraged. The Foundations will also have courses that emphasize critical thinking, logic, argumentation and quantitative reasoning.

Understanding India

Who are we? Where have we come from and what does the future hold? These questions about personal and collective identities and about the context in which we live are addressed by courses which explore the exceptional cultural diversity of India.

All students will be required to complete a total of 18 credits as part of the common curriculum.