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MA Programme

MA Programme

1. Structure of the MA programme

The MA programme carries a total of 64 credits. Students are advised to distribute these over four semesters in 16 credits per semester. In order to fulfill the requirements of the Master's programme, students are required to compulsorily credit the following set of Courses in the two years of their Masters programme.

► Overview Courses
► Period Specialisation Courses
► Non-Indian Courses
► Two Seminar Papers in the fourth semester

1.1 Overview Course

Overview courses seek to go beyond narrow themes and regions to explore the inter-connections between different processes within social formations. Three overview courses and one methodology course are offered during the semesters shown.

1. Ancient Society First Semester 4 Credits
2. Medieval World Second Semester 4 Credits
3.Capitalism and Colonialism Third Semester 4 Credits
4. Historical Methods Third Semester 4 Credits

All students credit these courses.

1.2 Period Specialization

Every student has to specialize in a particular period of Indian history. The Centre offers specialization in Ancient, Medieval and Modern History. All students must decide on their specialization before they join the Centre. Each student will do a minimum of 20 credits of lecture courses and one seminar course in her period of specialization.

For every period specialization, there is a set of introductory courses, offered in the first two semesters. These courses seek to provide a general perspective on the period, introduce students to the historiographical debates and the dominant historical trends, and equip students with some technical expertise.

1.3 Non-Indian History

Two non-Indian history courses have to be credited by all students.

1.4 Seminar Papers

Two seminar courses of 4 credits each have to be taken in the fourth semester. At least
one seminar paper will be in the period of specialization. Those who have chosen a theme specialization (see below 1.5) must choose their second seminar paper on that theme.

1.5 Theme Specialization

In addition to the period specialization, students may opt to specialize on a theme. This is to allow a deeper study of a theme of interest, which may go beyond the limits of the period of specialization.

a. Economic History
b. Social Popular Movements
c. State and Power
d. Ideology, Culture and Society

A minimum of 16 credits is necessary for specialization on a theme. This must include a seminar course in the 4th semester (See 1.6 below)

While period specialization is compulsory, theme specialization is not.

1.6 Open Options

A total of sixteen credits are Open Options. A full choice may be made from the following categories of courses:

a. Languages - total 4 credits, to be done in two 2 credit courses, one each in the 3rd and 4th semesters.
b. Additional courses in the period of specialization.
c. Courses in other Units (Ancient, Medieval and Modern).
d. Courses outside the CHS. To do such courses, applications must be made to the faculty, stating reasons for selecting these courses.

1.7 Four Credit and Two Credit Courses

Most of the courses offered by the Centre carry 4 credits. Some 2 credit courses are offered as open options. Students may take, when offered, two 2 credit courses in lieu of one 4 credit course.

1.8 Language Courses

These are optional. They are available as 2 credit courses in the third and fourth semesters.
Those who plan to do research in History would find these courses useful.

1.9 Possible Distribution of Courses Over 4 Semesters

The courses for the Programme may be spread over four semesters in the following manner:

First Semester
1. Overview Course: Ancient Society (Compulsory) 4 Credits
2. Period Specialisation: 3 Lecture Courses 4 Credits each X 3= 12
Total Credits Earned 16 credits

 

Second Semester
1. Overview Course: The Medieval World (Compulsory) 4 Credits
2. One of two from Period Specialisation
OR
One or two from Open Options		 8 Credits
3. One Non-Indian History 4 Credits
Total Credits Earned 16 credits

 

Third Semester
1. Two Overview Courses (Both compulsory)
a. Capitalism and Colonialism
b. Historical Methods		 4 Credits x 2=8
2. One Open Option (including Language options) 4 Credits
3. One Non-Indian History 4 Credits
Total Credits Earned 16 credits

 

Fourth Semester
1. Two Seminar Papers (Compulsory with at least one from Period specialization) 4 Credits x 2=8
2. Non-Indian History/Language options/Open options 8 Credits
Total Credits Earned 16 credits

Four credit lecture courses: For all four-credit lecture courses students have to write two assignments, attend tutorial discussions for the same, and appear for an End semester examination. The grades for the tutorials (i.e. written assignment + discussion) constitute 50% of the credit for the course. Tutorial discussions are important as they carry weightage in assessment. (However, there is no discussion for assignments written for overview courses and Historical Methods. Students are advised to enquire about the manner of evaluation in each of these courses from the particular course instructor)

Two-credit courses (other than the Language Courses): These courses will usually begin with about six two-hour lectures. Students will have to write two short notes and one extended essay. Not all these courses will have end semester examinations. (Students are expected to find out from the course instructors the mode of evaluation of specific courses).

The Language Course will usually have two mid-term exams and one end semester exam.

Seminar Papers

Seminar courses (fourth semester) are meant to introduce students to original research.

Regular seminar meetings throughout the semester are compulsory. Discussions and written scripts are both taken into account for assessing grade. Seminar papers are to be submitted at the office by the due date to be announced in the fourth semester.

2. Tutorial/Seminar Paper writing

Any written assignment produced by a student must be an original essay written by the student. Copying from any source will be penalized. A tutorial is an essay that seeks to present ideas in the writer's own words. If passages (or even sentences) from a book (or from any other source), are simply copied out then it is termed plagiarism, considered to be the, equivalent of stealing, and will earn the student and "F" (Failed) grade.

Tutorial essays must be concise and of approximately 2000 words.

A tutorial must be written approximately every ten days following a schedule announced at the beginning of the semester. Tutorial essays are to be submitted in the Centre's office before 5 p.m. on the due date. Please ensure that the submission is recorded in the office register. Grades are deducted for delay in submission. Tutorial scripts are not returned to students, so copies must be retained by them.

Seminar meetings held with the Seminar Instructor throughout the semester are compulsory. Discussions in the course of the semester and written scripts at the end of the semester are both taken into account for assessing grades. Seminar papers are to be submitted at the office by the due date.

A Seminar paper may have a word limit of approximately 8000 words. Students are encouraged to undertake original research using primary sources for the same in Seminar papers.

Passages (or even sentences) from a book (or from any other source), that are simply copied for a Seminar paper are termed plagiarism, considered to be the, equivalent of stealing, and will earn the student an "F" (Failed) grade.

Students may refer to the Style Sheet.

3. Other Important Rules and Regulations

►In any one semester a student normally registers for courses carrying 16-18 credits. In exceptional circumstances, she/he may take up to 24 credits, inclusive of courses that are repeated to improve grades.

► A student must complete a minimum of eight credits in a semester in order to be promoted to the next semester.

► A students would be allowed to repeat a course with the recommendation of the Centre, but no course can be repeated more than once. When a course is repeated, the previous grade in the course will be cancelled.

►The student may take additional courses with the recommendation of the Centre, and the CGPA would then be calculated with the highest grade for 64 credits, not over the total of courses registered. The grade for the compulsory courses, however, would always be taken into account.

► Registration of courses is the sole responsibility of a student. No students will be entitled to any grade in a course unless he or she has formally registered for it within the period specified by the university. At the beginning of each semester, members of the registration committee will be available for advice.

►Late registration will be allowed up to the date notified by the Dean of the School for every semester.

► A student will be allowed to withdraw from a course for which he or she has initially registered, up to the date notified by the Dean of the School for every semester.

► A student may wish to add courses after initial registration, by either dropping a course s/he has registered for, or as an extra course, up to the date notified by the Dean of the School for every semester.

►A student should inform the Chairperson of the Centre through the teacher in-charge of the course in the following cases:

  • Absence from a sessional or end-semester examination. The application should be submitted immediately before or after the concerned examination. If the absence is on medical grounds, a medical certificate must be attached to the application.
  • If a student wishes to extend the MA programme beyond 4 semesters (in order to repeat courses, also known as the fifth/sixth semester) the application should be submitted at the end of the fourth semester. The statutes permit two additional semesters but accommodation is usually not available for such students.

►All courses must be cleared. Getting an "F" grade in a course does not amount to clearing the course. A minimum CGPA of B minus is required for qualifying for the MA degree.

► A student will not be allowed to appear for the End semester examination of a Course unless they have completed one sessional, i.e. either a tutorial or mid-semester exam. The tutorial requirement implies the submission of the paper and participation in discussion.

► Zero Semester: If a student is unable to carry on with the required course work due to prolonged illness, he or she may apply for a zero semester and do an additional semester in lieu of that. The following is the procedure to apply for a zero semester.

• Report to the JNU Medical Officer immediately after falling ill.
• Inform the Chairperson of the Centre about your illness and inability to participate in the programme
• If you happen to be outside Delhi when you fall sick, you must inform the Centre Office and submit medical documents from recognized Government hospitals.
• Application for a zero semester must be made on a form available at the office of the Centre

► Students are assigned advisors from amongst the faculty. For any queries, doubts and problems related to their academic life or personal well-being, students may consult their advisors.

►Revaluation of a course is permissible within one month of the declaration of results for that semester.

4. Calendar

Monsoon Semester

►Classes for first semester students will begin from the second week (starting Monday) in August

►Orientation for the new students will take place on the second Wednesday in August

►Classes for the third semester students will begin from the last week (starting Monday) in July

►Classes end in the third week (ending Friday) in November

►Exams begin from last week in November

Winter Semester

►Classes commence from the second week in January (starting Monday)

►Classes end in the third week of April (ending Friday)

►Exams begin from the first week of May

A warm welcome to the modified and updated website of the Centre for East Asian Studies. The East Asian region has been at the forefront of several path-breaking changes since 1970s beginning with the redefining the development architecture with its State-led development model besides emerging as a major region in the global politics and a key hub of the sophisticated technologies. The Centre is one of the thirteen Centres of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi that provides a holistic understanding of the region.

Initially, established as a Centre for Chinese and Japanese Studies, it subsequently grew to include Korean Studies as well. At present there are eight faculty members in the Centre. Several distinguished faculty who have now retired include the late Prof. Gargi Dutt, Prof. P.A.N. Murthy, Prof. G.P. Deshpande, Dr. Nranarayan Das, Prof. R.R. Krishnan and Prof. K.V. Kesavan. Besides, Dr. Madhu Bhalla served at the Centre in Chinese Studies Programme during 1994-2006. In addition, Ms. Kamlesh Jain and Dr. M. M. Kunju served the Centre as the Documentation Officers in Chinese and Japanese Studies respectively.

The academic curriculum covers both modern and contemporary facets of East Asia as each scholar specializes in an area of his/her interest in the region. The integrated course involves two semesters of classes at the M. Phil programme and a dissertation for the M. Phil and a thesis for Ph. D programme respectively. The central objective is to impart an interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of history, foreign policy, government and politics, society and culture and political economy of the respective areas. Students can explore new and emerging themes such as East Asian regionalism, the evolving East Asian Community, the rise of China, resurgence of Japan and the prospects for reunification of the Korean peninsula. Additionally, the Centre lays great emphasis on the building of language skills. The background of scholars includes mostly from the social science disciplines; History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, International Relations and language.

Several students of the centre have been recipients of prestigious research fellowships awarded by Japan Foundation, Mombusho (Ministry of Education, Government of Japan), Saburo Okita Memorial Fellowship, Nippon Foundation, Korea Foundation, Nehru Memorial Fellowship, and Fellowship from the Chinese and Taiwanese Governments. Besides, students from Japan receive fellowship from the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.