Assam’s premier educational institute, the Cotton University has announced the launch of its new BA in Liberal Arts programme in addition to its traditional three-year bachelor’s degree course.

This is for the first time, any university in Assam and Northeast will offer such a programme. It will begin in the next academic session with an intake capacity of 50 students.

M Hazarika, Core Committee Member, BA in Liberal Arts Programme, Cotton University said that the varsity is the first in the country, under government-funded higher education institutions, to offer the programme to students.

“In the traditional BA degree, as we all know, students either have a major subject, for e.g., BA with Economics major or BA with English honours, or student can also pursue BA degree without having any major subject,” said Hazarika.

Hazarika informed that in the case of BA in Liberal Arts, the students will learn many subjects such as Economics, English, Political Science and many others in the 1st year (first and second semesters).

“It is only in the 2nd year (third semester) that a student will choose his/her major subject from among the subjects studied in the 1st year. The major subject will be studied for the next two years intensively along with elective courses and skill enhancement courses,” the Core Committee Member added.

Hazarika said that such a format is unique and liberal in nature because the students shall get an opportunity to learn many subjects rather than specializing in only one subject.

“Hence it is called Liberal Arts. Though students will have a major or core subject, it will be called BA in Liberal Arts, rather than BA in Economics or BA in English,” Hazarika said.

The programme is designed in line with the draft National Education Policy, 2019.

Photo: Twitter