Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ItemNo.4.30
UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI
RevisedSyllabusfortheS.Y.B.A./B.Sc.
Program:B.A./B.Sc.
Course:FoundationCourse
SemesterIII&IV
(AsPerCreditBasedSemesterandGradingSystem
witheffectfromtheacademicyear20122013)
FoundationCourse
SemesterIIIandIV
B.A.andB.ScProgramme
Fromtheacademicyear201314
Objectives
Develop a basic understanding about issues related to human rights violations, ecology and
urbanruraldisparitiesinaccesstohealthandeducation
Gainanoverviewofsignificantskillsrequiredtoaddresscompetitionincareerchoices
Appreciatetheimportanceofdevelopingascientifictempertowardstechnologyanditsusein
everydaylife
Unit1HumanRightsViolationsandRedressal (10lectures)
A. Typesandnatureofhumanrightsviolationsfacedbyvulnerablegroups,namelytheScheduled
Castes,Scheduledtribes,Women,ChildrenandMinoritycommunities
(3lectures)
B. HumanRightsviolationsfacedbyPeoplewithDisabilitiesandbytheElderlypopulation
(1 lecture)
C. Constitutionalprovisionsandlawsprotectingtherightsofvulnerablegroups(4lectures)
RighttoEquality,RighttoFreedom,RightagainstExploitation.
SalientfeaturesofsomeimportantActslike
ThePreventionofAtrocities(AgainstSC/ST)Act,1989;
The Domestic Violence Act, 2005; Vishakha Guidelines for Preventing Sexual Harassment at
Workplace,1997;
TheChildLabour(ProhibitionandRegulation)Act,1986;
The Persons With Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation)
Act,1995;
D. RedressalmechanismsattheNationalandStatelevels (2lectures)
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the SC/ST Commission, the National
CommissionforWomen;theMinoritiesCommission
Unit2DealingWithEnvironmentalConcerns (10lectures)
A. Threatstotheenvironmentarisingfromextinction,lossofhabitat,degradationofenvironment,
pollution,climatechange (2lectures)
B. Somelocallyrelevantcasestudiesofenvironmentaldisasters (3lectures)
C. Concept of Disaster and general effects of Disasters on human life physical,
psychological,economicandsocial ( 2
lectures)
D. Dealing with Disasters Factors to be considered in Prevention, Mitigation (Relief and
Rehabilitation)anddisasterPreparedness (2lectures)
E. HumanRightsissuesinaddressingdisastersissuesrelatedtocompensation,equitableandfair
distributionofreliefandhumanitarianapproachtoresettlementandrehabilitation
(1lecture)
Unit3ScienceandTechnologyI (10lectures)
A. Development of Science the ancient cultures, the Classical era, the Middle Ages, the
Renaissance,theAgeofReasonandEnlightenment (2lectures)
B. Natureofscienceitsprinciplesandcharacteristics;Scienceasempirical,practical,theoretical,
validatedknowledge (1lecture)
C. Science and scientific temper significance of observation and experimentation, empirical
explanationandobjectivity;scientifictemperasafundamentaldutyoftheIndiancitizen
(2lectures)
D. Science and Superstition the role of science in exploding myths, blind beliefs and prejudices;
roleofscienceandscientifictemperinpromotingtoleranceandharmonyinsocialgroups
(3lectures)
E. Science in everyday life technology, its meaning and role in development; Interrelation and
distinctionbetweenscienceandtechnology (2lectures)
Unit4SoftSkillsforEffectiveInterpersonalCommunication (8lectures)
A
I) EffectiveListeningimportanceandfeatures
II) Verbalandnonverbalcommunication;publicspeakingandpresentationskills
III) Barrierstoeffectivecommunication;importanceofselfawarenessandbodylanguage
(3lectures)
B
I) FormalandInformalcommunicationpurposeandtypes
II) Writingformalapplications,StatementofPurpose(SOP)andresume
III) PreparingforGroupDiscussions,InterviewsandPresentations (3lectures)
C
I) LeadershipSkillsandSelfimprovementcharacteristicsofeffectiveleadership
II) Stylesofleadershipandteambuilding (2lectures)
Unit5UnderstandingIssuesofRighttoHealthandEducation(7lectures)
A
I) Concept and Determinants of Health holistic health including physical and mental well
being;
foodsecurity,adequatenutrition,safedrinkingwaterandsanitation,healthyenvironment
andworkingconditions,availabilityofhealthcareandmedicalservices,genderequality
II) RighttoHealthrighttoasystemofhealthprotectiontoallwithoutdiscrimination;rightto
prevention,treatmentandcontrolofdiseases;Accesstoessentialmedicines;
III) Issuesofaccess,affordabilityandavailabilityinpromotingRighttoHealth(4lectures)
B
I) Right to Education universalization of education and obstacles to free and compulsory
educationforall
II) Issuesofaccess,affordabilityandavailabilityintheeducationsector
III) Contemporary challenges in the Education sectorincreasing privatisation of education,
decreasingfundallocationbyGovernment (3lectures)
Unit6Projects/Assignments (15lectures)
Projects/Assignments should be drawn for the component on Internal Assessment from the
topicsinUnit1toUnit5.Studentsshouldbegivenalistofpossibletopicsatleast3fromeach
unit at the beginning of the semester. The project/assignment can take the form of street
plays/powerpoint presentations/poster exhibitions and similar other modes of presentation
appropriate to the topic; students can work in groups of not more than 8 per topic. Students
mustsubmitahard/softcopyoftheproject/assignmentbeforeappearingforthesemesterend
exam.
15lectureswillbeassignedforprojectguidance.
Unit6willnotbeassessedinthesemesterendexam.
AssessmentPattern
ThestudentwillbeassessedonthebasisofInternalAssessmentof40marksandaSemesterEndExam
of60marks.Thestudentwillhavetosecureaminimumof40%marksinaggregateandaminimumof
40% in each component of assessment i.e. 16 out of 40 in Internal Assessment and 24 out of 60 in
SemesterEndExam.
InternalAssessment:
Therewillbeonemidsemestertestof10marksonUnits1and2;
Thetestwill,asfaraspossible,compriseofobjectivequestionsand/orshortnotes.
Thestudentwillhavetosubmitanassignment/projectfor20marksbeforeappearingforthe
SemesterEndExam.Thisassignment/projectwillbeonanytopicfromUnits1to5(asexplainedinUnit
6inthesyllabus)andcantaketheformofstreetplays/exhibition/powerpointpresentationsorsimilar
other modes suitable to the topic selected; students can work in groups of not more than 8 for the
purpose of this assignment. Students will have to submit a hard/soft copy of the assignment before
appearingfortheSemesterEndExam.Theassignment/projectwillbeassessedfor20marksofwhich
10 marks will be allotted for the presentation OR a viva, to assess the level of engagement of the
studentwiththetopicassigned.
10 marks will be allotted to the overall participation in classroom learning, and skills of
articulation, teamwork and leadership exhibited during the course in organizing related learning
activities,asclarifiedintheUniversitymanualforCreditBasedSemesterSystem.
QuestionPaperPattern
Therewillbefourquestionsinallwithinternaldivisionsasfollows:
QuestionNumber1,2and3willbeonUnitNumbers1,2and3respectivelyeachcarrying15
marks.
Eachofthesequestionswillbesubdividedintoonelonganswerquestionfor9marks,having
internalchoice;andoneshortanswerquestionfor6markshavinginternalchoice.
Questionnumber4willbeonUnitNumbers4and5andwillbeshortnotes,eachcarrying5
marks.Studentswillhaveachoiceofanswering3shortnotesoutof6.
TheQuestionpaperthereforewillreadasfollows:
Question1(onunit1) 15marks
1a)or1b)longanswer (9marks)
1c)or1d)shortanswer (6marks)
Question2(onunit2) 15marks
2a)or2b)longanswer (9marks)
2c)or2d)shortanswer (6marks)
Question3(onunit3) 15marks
3a)or3b)longanswer (9marks)
3c)or3d)shortanswer (6marks)
Question4(onunits4and5) 15marks
Anythreeshortnotes
4a,4b,4c,4d,4e,4f,4g (5markseach)
NOTE: All other rules regarding Standard of Passing, ATKT, etc., will be as per those decided by the
FacultyofArtsandtheFacultyofScienceandpassedbytheAcademicCouncilfromtimetotime.
Unit1SignificantRightsofCitizens (10lectures)
A. Rights of Consumersright to safety, right to be informed, right to choose, right to be
heard,righttoseekredressal,righttoconsumereducation;
ViolationsofconsumerrightsandimportantprovisionsoftheConsumerProtectionAct,1986;
Otherimportantlawstoprotectconsumers,likeIndianContractAct,1872,SaleofGoodsAct,
1930,TheEssentialCommoditiesAct,1955,ThePreventionofFoodAdulterationAct,1955,The
StandardsofWeightsandMeasuresAct,1976
Consumercourtsandconsumermovements (4lectures)
B. Right to Information Genesis and relation with transparency and accountability; important
provisionsoftheRighttoInformationAct,2005;somesuccessstories
(3lectures)
C. Protection of Citizens/Public InterestPublic Interest Litigation, need and procedure to file a
PIL;somelandmarkcases. (3lectures)
Unit2Ecology:Approaches,EthicsandIssues (9lectures)
A. Understanding approaches to ecology Anthropocentrism, Biocentrism and Eco centrism,
EcofeminismandDeepEcology (3lectures)
B. Environmental Ethics Libertarian ethics, Ecologic Extension and Conservation; concept of
intrinsicandextrinsicvalueofhumanandnonhumanlife;ecospirituality. (3lectures)
C. Somesignificantprinciplesandissuespolluterpaysprincipleandglobalandlocalissuesoffair
shareofcarbonspace (3lectures)
Unit3ScienceandTechnologyII (10lectures)
A. Technology and Development the interconnectedness between growth of technology and
developmentofsocieties (2lectures)
B. Somesignificantmoderntechnologies,theirbasicfeaturesandapplications:(6lectures)
LaserTechnologyLightAmplificationbyStimulatedEmissionofRadiation";useoflaser
inremotesensing,GIS/GPSmapping,medicaluse
Satellite Technology various uses in satellite navigation systems, GPS, and inprecise
climateandweatheranalyses
Information and Communication Technology electronic systems such as
telecommunication, radio, television, video and internet aided by computerbased
information systems; convergence of various technologies like satellite, computer and
digitalintheinformationrevolutionoftodayssociety
Biotechnology and Genetic engineeriong applied biologyand uses in medicine,
pharmaceuticals and agriculture; genetically modified plant, animal and human
lifeNanotechnology definition: the study, control and application of phenomena and
materials at length scales below 100 nm; uses in medicine, military intelligence and
consumerproducts
C. IssuesofControl,AccessandMisuseofTechnology (2lectures)
Unit4IntroductiontoCompetitiveExams (9lectures)
A. BasicinformationonCompetitiveExamsthepattern,eligibilitycriteriaandlocalcentres:
Exams conducted for entry into professional courses Graduate Record Examinations (GRE),
GraduateManagementAdmissionTestGMAT),CommonAdmissionTest(CAT)andScholastic
AptitudeTest(SAT)
Exams conducted for entry into jobs by Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection
Commission(SSC),StatePublicServiceCommissions,BankingandInsurancesectors,andthe
NationalandStateEligibilityTests(NET/SET)forentryintoteachingprofession
(3lectures)
[NOTE:Studentswillnotbetestedonabovetopics]
B. Softskillsrequiredforcompetitiveexams
i) InformationonareastestedQuantitativeAbility,DataInterpretation,VerbalAbilityand
LogicalReasoning,CreativityandLateralThinking
ii) Motivationconcept,theoriesandtypesofmotivation
iii) Goalsetting types of goals, SMART goals, Stephen Coveys concept of human
endowment
iv) TimeManagementeffectivestrategiesfortimemanagement (6lectures)
Unit5UrbanRuralDisparitiesinDevelopment (7lectures)
A. Concept of rural, tribal, semiurban and urban; disparity in availability of services like
health,education,transport,electricityandemployment (2lectures)
B. Distribution of natural resources like land, water and forests in rural and urban areas;
changinglanduseandimpactonrurallife (2lectures)
C. Increasing urbanisation and growth of megacities issues of adequate water availability,
affordablehousing,transport/trafficcongestion,wastemanagementandsocialtension
(3lectures)
Unit6Projects/Assignments (15lectures)
Projects/Assignments should be drawn for the component on Internal Assessment from the
topicsinUnit1toUnit5.Studentsshouldbegivenalistofpossibletopicsatleast3fromeach
unit at the beginning of the semester. The project/assignment can take the form of street
plays/powerpoint presentations/poster exhibitions and similar other modes of presentation
appropriate to the topic; students can work in groups of not more than 8 per topic. Students
mustsubmitahard/softcopyoftheproject/assignmentbeforeappearingforthesemesterend
exam.
Unit6willnotbeassessedinthesemesterendexam.
AssessmentPattern
ThestudentwillbeassessedonthebasisofInternalAssessmentof40marksandaSemesterEndExam
of60marks.Thestudentwillhavetosecureaminimumof40%marksinaggregateandaminimumof
40% in each component of assessment i.e. 16 out of 40 in Internal Assessment and 24 out of 60 in
SemesterEndExam.
InternalAssessment:
Therewillbeonemidsemestertestof10marksonUnits1and2;
Thetestwill,asfaraspossible,compriseofobjectivequestionsand/orshortnotes.
Thestudentwillhavetosubmitanassignment/projectfor20marksbeforeappearingforthe
SemesterEndExam.Thisassignment/projectwillbeonanytopicfromUnits1to5(asexplainedinUnit
6inthesyllabus)andcantaketheformofstreetplays/exhibition/powerpointpresentationsorsimilar
other modes suitable to the topic selected; students can work in groups of not more than 8 for the
purpose of this assignment. Students will have to submit a hard/soft copy of the assignment before
appearingfortheSemesterEndExam.Theassignment/projectwillbeassessedfor20marksofwhich
10 marks will be allotted for a viva, to assess the level of engagement of the student with the topic
assigned.
10 marks will be allotted to the overall participation in classroom learning, and skills of
articulation, teamwork and leadership exhibited during the course in organizing related learning
activities,asclarifiedintheUniversitymanualforCreditBasedSemesterSystem.
QuestionPaperPattern
Therewillbefourquestionsinallwithinternaldivisionsasfollows:
QuestionNumber1,2and3willbeonUnitNumbers1,2and3respectivelyeachcarrying15marks.
Eachofthesequestionswillbesubdividedintoonelonganswerquestionfor9marks,havinginternal
choice;andoneshortanswerquestionfor6markshavinginternalchoice.
Questionnumber4willbeonUnitNumbers4and5andwillbeshortnotes,eachcarrying5marks.
Studentswillhaveachoiceofanswering3shortnotesoutof6.
TheQuestionpaperthereforewillreadasfollows:
Question1(onunit1) 15marks
1a)or1b)longanswer (9marks)
1c)or1d)shortanswer (6marks)
Question2(onunit2) 15marks
2a)or2b)longanswer (9marks)
2c)or2d)shortanswer (6marks)
Question3(onunit3) 15marks
3a)or3b)longanswer (9marks)
3c)or3d)shortanswer (6marks)
Question4(onunits4and5) 15marks
Anythreeshortnotes
4a,4b,4c,4d,4e,4f,4g (5markseach)
NOTE: All other rules regarding Standard of Passing, ATKT, etc., will be as per those decided by the
FacultyofArtsandtheFacultyofScienceandpassedbytheAcademicCouncilfromtimetotime.
SuggestedReadingsforFoundationCourseSemesterIIIandIV
[Note:Thisisnotanexhaustiveorprescriptivelist;itismerelysuggestedreading]
Unit1 (HumanRights,ConsumerRights,PublicInterest)
Shivananda,J. HumanRights.AlfaPublications,NewDelhi,.2006
Rajawat,M. HumanRightsandDalits.AnmolPublications,NewDelhi,2005
Kaushal,R. Women&HumanRightsinIndia;KaveriBooks,NewDelhi,2000
Bajpai,A. ChildRightsinIndia;OxfordUniversityPress;NewDelhi;2003
Biju,M.R. HumanRightsinaDevelopingSociety;MittalPublications,New
Delhi,2005
PrakashKumar&Rai,K.B. RighttoKnow;VikasPublishingHouse,NOIDA,2008
Naib,Sudhir TheRighttoInformationAct,2005:AHandbook;OUP,NewDelhi;
2011
Sathe,S.P. JudicialActivisminIndia;OUP;NewDelhi,2002
Unit2 (Ecology)
Satpathy,N. SustainableDevelopment(AnAlternativeParadigm);Karnavati
Publications,Ahmedabad,
PachauriR.K& 1998SrivastavaL.(eds.)GlobalPartnersforSustainableDevelopment;Tata
EnergyResearchInstitute,NewDelhi;1994
Shiva,Vandana EcologyandthePoliticsofSurvival:ConflictoverNaturalResourcesin
India;SagePublications,California,1991
Pereira,W InhumanRights:TheWesternSystemandGlobalHumanRightsAbuse;
ApexPress;1997
Pereira,W& AskingtheEarth:Farms,ForestryandSurvivalinIndia;Earthscan
SeabrookJ Publications;1991
Goel,S.L. EncyclopediaofDisasterManagement,Vol.I,II&III;DeepandDeep
PublicationsPvt.Ltd.,NewDelhi;2006
ParasuramanS.&
UnnikrishnanP.V: IndiaDisastersReport;OxfordUniversityPress,NewDelhi,2000
Unit3(ScienceandTechnology)
EncyclopaediaofScienceandTechnology;McGrawHillPublication
JBSHaldane ScienceandEverydayLife;Macmillan,1941.Penguin,AyerCo.1975
reprint:ISBN0405065957
KleinmanDanielLee ScienceandTechnologyinSociety;JohnWileyandSons;2005
Unit4(EffectiveCommunicationsSkills)
Covey,Stephen 7HabitsofHighlyEffectivePeople;FreePress,2004
Iyer,Prakash TheHabitofWinning;Penguin,India;2011
Goldratt,Eliyahu TheGoal;TheNorthriverPress;3rdEdition;2004
Goldratt,Eliyahu ItsNotLuck;TheNorthriverPress;1994
Unit5 (Health,Education,UrbanRuralIssues)
AzimPremji TheSocialContextofEducationinIndia;2004.
Foundation www.azimpremjifoundation.org/;
HigherEducationinIndia;UGCReport;2003
Chaterjee,C Health and Human Rights; Vulnerable Groups in India, CEHAT, Mumbai
&Sheoran,Gunjan May2007
Datta,Prabhat TheGreatIndianDivide;Frontline;Volume21Issue14,Jul.0316,2004
Kundu,Amitabh RuralUrbanEconomicDisparitiesinIndia:DatabaseandTrends;
December2010;http://www.indiapolicyforum.org/node/21