tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18871255904835402.post2242887631115222671..comments2024-03-20T13:32:48.857+05:30Comments on Inside the Campus: Flexibility in curriculum or a cruel jokeDheeraj Sanghihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06367519409840642182noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18871255904835402.post-16348727280410784252015-06-03T18:33:10.505+05:302015-06-03T18:33:10.505+05:30I don't think fractal system will solve the pr...I don't think fractal system will solve the problem, since the problem is lack of planning by the Institute, lack of interest in teaching non-department students by the faculty, and extra credits required for major. None of these issues get resolved by fractal system.Dheeraj Sanghihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06367519409840642182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18871255904835402.post-12459075408995902042015-06-03T18:32:03.603+05:302015-06-03T18:32:03.603+05:30@Varun, I can not talk about individual department...@Varun, I can not talk about individual departments in US, but what we have noticed is that about 4 courses constitute minor, 8 courses constitute major, and 12 courses constitute a degree. In our case, we have said minor would be 3-4 courses (and most minors are 3 courses), but major is a bit more, about 9-10 courses (since our degree requirement is 15+ courses in that discipline). I am not sure whether that 1-2 extra courses would be such a strong negative influence on students' decision. I do find that most students want to graduate in 4 years, unless they are getting an extra degree. A minor can be done within the specified credits (open electives can be used for minor courses), but a major will require some extra credits, and unless the student has planned the major right after the 1st year, and taken appropriate courses in the open elective slots, and done 1-2 courses in the summer, an extra semester becomes essential. And since most departments wouldn't allow non-department students till they have been "admitted" to the major, therefore such planning is fruitless.Dheeraj Sanghihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06367519409840642182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18871255904835402.post-73992216037689548412015-06-02T08:19:21.648+05:302015-06-02T08:19:21.648+05:30Dear Prof. Sanghi,
Do you allow now CS folks into ...Dear Prof. Sanghi,<br />Do you allow now CS folks into your class at IITK? <br />Also why do most departments shun away non departmental students? Can the reason be that the bar for getting a major is too high and other departments do not want to have special preparatory classes for those students.<br />At UPenn, if folks want to major in Computational Biology they have to take a few basic algorithms/probability/statistics/genetics classes. This bar is not high and a lot of undergrads major in this area. The requirements for just CS major are also similar (algorithms/complexity/introductory programming and structures/2 more classes). <br />I think that IITK might have an artificially high requirement for a secondary major or minor, which would entail a lot of effort from the different departments. Maybe this is the reason why they discourage non departmental folks.<br />Do you think that IITH fractal system coupled with independent projects/lab work is the solution to this conundrum? <br />VarunAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07855251110515944369noreply@blogger.com