Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Political Science
Year 1: Foundational Concepts*
*Semester 1:*
- *Introduction to Political Science*: Key concepts (state, sovereignty, power, legitimacy).
- *Political Theory I*: Classical thinkers (Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes).
- *Indian Government and Politics*: Constitution, institutions (Parliament, Judiciary, Executive).
- *Sociology Basics*: Society, culture, and politics.
- *English/Communication Skills*: Academic writing and critical thinking.
*Semester 2:*
- *Political Theory II*: Modern thinkers (Locke, Rousseau, Marx, Mill).
- *Comparative Politics*: Systems of governance (presidential vs. parliamentary).
- *Public Administration*: Bureaucracy, governance, and policy implementation.
- *Economics for Social Sciences*: Basic micro/macroeconomic principles.
- *Foreign Language/Elective*: Optional introductory course (e.g., French, Spanish).
*Year 2: Intermediate Studies*
*Semester 3:*
- *International Relations I*: Theories (realism, liberalism, constructivism), Cold War, globalization.
- *Indian Political Thought*: Gandhi, Ambedkar, Nehru, and RSS ideology.
- *Research Methodology*: Qualitative and quantitative approaches.
- *Constitutional Law*: Fundamental rights, judicial review, federalism.
- *Elective I* (e.g., Gender and Politics or Environmental Politics).
*Semester 4:*
- *International Relations II*: Global institutions (UN, WTO), foreign policy analysis.
- *Western Political Thought*: Enlightenment, liberalism, socialism, feminism.
- *Public Policy*: Policy cycles, case studies (education, health).
- *Political Sociology*: Caste, class, religion, and identity politics.
- *Elective II* (e.g., Media and Politics or Conflict Resolution).
*Year 3: Advanced Specialization*
*Semester 5:*
- *Political Philosophy*: Justice, equality, rights (Rawls, Nozick, Sen).
- *Global Politics*: Climate change, terrorism, human security.
- *Indian Foreign Policy*: Relations with neighbours, non-alignment, nuclear diplomacy.
- *Elective III* (e.g., Development Studies or Human Rights).
- *Elective IV* (e.g., Political Economy or Urban Governance).
*Semester 6:*
- *Dissertation/Research Project*: Original research on a political issue (e.g., electoral behaviour, policy impact).
- *Contemporary Political Issues*: Populism, migration, digital democracy.
- *Elective V* (e.g., International Law or South Asian Politics).
- *Elective VI* (e.g., Political Psychology or Cyber Politics).
*Elective Options*
- Gender and Politics
- Environmental Politics
- Political Communication
- Postcolonial Theory
- Nationalism and Ethnicity
- Political Data Analysis (using tools like SPSS/R)
*Skill-Based & Practical Components*
- *Internships*: With NGOs, think tanks, or government bodies.
- *Debates/Model UN*: Simulated diplomacy and policy-making exercises.
- *Fieldwork*: Surveys, interviews, or case studies on grassroots governance.
- *Workshops*: Data analysis, policy drafting, or report writing.