B.Tech in Computer Science and Master of Science in Computing and Human Sciences by Research (5 year Dual Degree)
About the Programme: Computers and its various incarnations are transforming our world in ways that are unprecedented, and even unintended. Comparable historical parallels are, perhaps, the emergence of the printing press and, some centuries later, the spread of hydrocarbon fuels like coal and oil; but perhaps computers are changing the world at a much faster rate. The academic competencies required to comprehend such fundamental transformations will not be found either within standard science and technology departments, nor within those of the humanities and social sciences. Both of these focus on one side of this complex phenomenon.
Academic advances in the human sciences in the 21st century will depend on an ability to work with computers. Similarly, computer science will be impactful when it understands the society it works in. This programme is for intellectual pioneers who are keen to take on this inter-disciplinary challenge of understanding computers and society in a holistic manner.
Students will be expected to engage in research which pushes our knowledge in either or both directions within computer and human sciences. Students will participate in innovative and pioneering research projects where computer science tools and methods are used to ask questions in the social sciences; or which use social science methods to understand computer science. They will graduate with an ability to identify new research areas, use radically new academic methods, and ask questions which cannot be accommodated within the currently available academic formats.
Objectives of the Programme: This programme aims to produce a new type of student – equally well trained in computer and social sciences – who can bridge the divide between technology and the human sciences.
The main objective of the course is to build social science and humanities graduates who are proficient in computer sciences, with cross-disciplinary research capabilities which compare with the best in the world. This will be achieved by training students in the rigorous methods and deep understanding of the human sciences, while at the same time equipping them with state-of-the-art computer science knowledge.
Details of the Programme: The student will have to do a total of 201 credits over the five years of the dual degree programme. An equal number of courses (about 15) will be in the human sciences and computer sciences. Students will also do courses in maths, natural sciences, and linguistics as well as take some electives in areas of their choice. They will have to take eight credits in semester long research projects and the thesis, to be written in the fifth year, will be worth 6 courses. Twelve credits will be earned from sports, arts and value education. The break-up is given in the Table below.
-
CREDIT DISTRIBUTION ACROSS SUBJECTS
Subject Courses Computer Science 15 Human Sciences 17 Maths 4 Natural Sciences 2 Other 6 Thesis 6 Total 50
The first two years will consist mainly of compulsory courses which will lay the foundation in both computer science and human sciences. Students will have some choice in elective courses from the third year, to help them focus on their area or theme of research.
The computer science courses will equip the student to programme, to use natural language processing, to work with big data, to deploy ML and AI solutions, etc. The human science courses will provide an overview of the different disciplines (such as sociology, history, literature and culture, philosophy, cognitive sciences, among others), lay a foundation of the particular methods and perspectives which define them, allow students to deepen their understanding of one of the disciplines and then develop a coherent research project.
Students will thus develop familiarity with the main ideas, structures, processes and events of the contemporary world in which they will situate their research projects. A cross disciplinary approach will be followed, however, while building world class competence in their selected discipline and area of research.
Future Prospects: The programme should enable young people to be equally at ease doing academic research or pursing jobs in industry, government or other sectors. Graduating students can join the top universities for further research in social sciences and humanities faculties, as well as computer science schools. Graduating students can find successful careers in industry, in government and administration, in the media, and with the social sector.
The ability to research and understand society will also be useful for entrepreneurship.
Eligibility Criteria: Students who have passed class 12 or equivalent qualifying examination with an aggregate of 60% marks in Maths, Physics and Chemistry.