Some of the basic science courses offered by the University of Madras will have a flavour of technology now. Undergraduate (UG) courses such as B.Sc. Physics and B.Sc. Mathematics will be offered along with Computer Applications.
The programmes were introduced by the University of Madras this year to improve the employability of students.
Around 60 per cent of the course will have mathematics or physics curriculum, and the remaining will be computer science. About six colleges have introduced the course this year.
According to A. Murugavel, chairman, board of studies for UG Computer Science, University of Madras, “After completion of the course students can go for an M.Sc. programme in Physics or Mathematics or Masters in Computer Applications. We have placed the request for the students to be accepted in the M.Sc Computer Science programme too which is likely to be accepted.”
R. Srinivasan, chairman, board of studies for UG Mathematics, University of Madras, says that the charm of the core Mathematics course has been retained in these programmes.
“Usually subjects such as Physics or Chemistry offered with the Mathematics course is replaced with computer science papers. But physics or Chemistry courses are optional,” he says.
Faculty members feel that most students take up computer courses outside to improve their employability, but in these courses the computer skills are taught in college.
The board has made sure that the weightage for the core courses are retained.
“Earlier the single discipline courses had allied subjects in which two extra papers in Computer Science were offered. But now at least six courses are given along with the practical subjects,” says P. Thangavel, head, department of Computer Science, University of Madras.
