INTRODUCTION OF CREDIT SYSTEM AT
THE MPA DEGREE LEVEL.
PREAMBLE
The Department of Public Administration proposes to
introduce a credit based evaluation system for the Post
Graduate Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the
academic year 2004-05.
The two year, four semester course leading to the MPA
degree will comprise of Compulsory, Elective and Optional
courses (papers) along with a dissertation. The course aims
at providing a flexible course alternative to students who
wish to pursue the post graduate education.
Semesters and Credits:
1. An Academic year is divided into two semesters. The
normal Semester periods are:
Odd Semester: July to November.
Even Semester: December to April.
2. In each Semester courses are administered in about 15
teaching weeks. Each week has about 30 hours spread over 6
day week. Depending on the content, specialization and the
methodology, each of the course work (implementation of the
syllabus) would be determined by the teacher concerned.
3. The term Credit is used to describe
the quantum of syllabus for various courses in terms of
contact hours, and the methodology used to deal with the
syllabus (like assignments, seminars/presentations, internal
tests, field work/practical, reviews etc). It indicates
differential weightage given according to the contents of
the courses in the curriculum design.
The details of the Credit Course System (CCS) are
given below:
1.(a) The MPA degree programme is a two- year, four
semester programme.
(b) The Scheme of MPA Programme, under the Credit
Course System, shall have three components as given
below:
(i) Compulsory Courses;
(ii) Elective Courses; and
(iii)Optional Courses.
In order to be considered for the award of Master’s
Degree in Public Administration (MPA), a student
shall clear all the Compulsory and Elective Courses. In case
a student fails in Optional Course/s, that shall not affect
the award of the MPA degree.
2. There shall be 11 compulsory courses, 6
elective courses, 2 optional courses and a compulsory
dissertation spread over four Semesters in two years. In the
first year, in each of the two semesters, there will be 5
compulsory courses. In the second year, the third semester
will have 1 compulsory course, 3 elective courses and 1
optional course. In the fourth semester there will 3
elective and 1 optional courses along with a compulsory
dissertation. The Elective courses are arranged in 3 (three)
groups. Each group consists of 6 (six) courses specialized
in specific areas. The student will have to choose any one
group of 6 specialized courses, which will be offered in the
third and fourth semesters. The optional courses are
arranged in 2 (two) groups and the student shall offer one
course from each group in the third and fourth semester
respectively.
The three elective groups are in specialized
areas viz, Group EA: Human Resources Development; Group EB:
Crisis Management; and Group EC: Computer Applications and
Management. The post graduate degree MPA would be awarded
with the mention of the specialized areas, i.e. MPA (HRD),
or MPA (Crisis Management) or MPA (Computer Applications and
Management).The optional papers are grouped as Group OA and
Group OB.
3. Each course shall have a total of 40 credits and the
dissertation shall carry 40 credits. Thus the entire MPA
programme will have a total of 800 credits, and its
distribution during the four semesters is as below:
| Details |
First Semester |
Second semester |
Third Semester |
Fourth Semester |
| No. Of Courses |
Five( C ) |
Five (C ) |
Five(1-C ) (3-E )
(1-O ) |
Four and
dissertation
(3-E) &(1-O) |
| Dissertation |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Total Credits |
200 |
200 |
200 |
200 |
4. Out of the 40 credits for each course, 20 credits
shall be for continuous assessment and the balance 20
credits shall be for the End Semester Examination.
Continuous Assessment:
5. Credits in each of the courses shall be given by the
teacher concerned on the basis of contact hours,
assignments, seminars/presentations, tutorials, internal
tests, reviews etc. The teaching schedule shall be
prescribed by the teacher (the syllabus provides a broad
framework about the areas/topics that may be covered in each
of the course) and the credit weightage is indicated below.
The teaching schedule shall be made available to the
students who wish to pursue a particular course.
6. The credits (continuous assessment) in each of the
compulsory, elective and optional courses shall be as
follows:
(a) Contact hours/field visits/Library work/Practical
work etc 6 credits.
(b) Assignments/reviews (a minimum of 2) 6 credits.
(c) Internal Tests (a minimum of 2) 4 credits.
(d) Seminars/Presentations (a minimum of 2) 4 credits.
-----------
Total 20 Credits
-----------
The dissertation shall have 40 credits; 20 credits shall
be for the viva-voce examination and thebalance 20 credits
shall be awarded by the supervising teacher based on the
progress of research work.
A student shall obtain a minimum of 8 credits in
continuous evaluation in each course including the
dissertation. In case a student fails in a course/s in
continuous assessment, he/she shall not be permitted to
appear in the End Semester Examination in that course/s.
He/she shall be permitted to appear in the End Semester
Examination only after clearing the continuous assessment
(in course/s in which the student had failed) and that too
only at the subsequent relevant End Semester Examination (
Odd or Even Semesters).
7. The MPA programme, under the CCS, also has a scheme
under which students who wish tocomplete their programme in
fewer semester than what has been stipulated, may do so (say
in two or three semesters). However, in such cases the
student will have to undertake the programme in a minimum of
two semesters (i.e. one year). Students, who opt for fewer
semesters to complete the MPA programme, shall apply for the
same to the Departmental Committee and the decision of the
Committee, whether to permit or not, shall be final.
Attendance:
1. Every teaching faculty handling a course shall be
responsible for keeping record of the attendance of the
candidates in their respective course/s.
2. A student who has attendance less than 75% shall not
be permitted to clear a course in which the short fall
exists.
3. However, the rules and regulations relating to
attendance of this University would be adopted with a
provision that it would be applicable course-wise.
End Semester Examination:
1. There shall be one End Semester Examination of 3 hours
duration in each course. The End Semester Examination shall
be evaluated for 20 credits in each course. A
student shall obtain a minimum of 8 credits to clear or pass
a course at the End Semester Examination.
2. The mode of End Semester Examination and evaluation
shall be decided by the faculty concerned in consultation
with the Departmental Committee.
3. A student, who fails in any course/s in the
End Semester Examination, can repeat (arrears) End Semester
Examination in that course/s along with the subsequent End
Semester Examinations with a maximum of 3 attempts only.
4. Students who, due to unavoidable circumstances,
complete their programme beyond the stipulated period of
four semesters (but not later than 4 years or 8 semesters
from the date of their admission to the course) will
also be graded and awarded class.
Evaluation:
1. The performance of a student in each course is
evaluated in terms of credits obtained and Percentage
Equivalent of Marks with a provision for conversion to Grade
Point (GP). The sum total performance in each semester shall
be rated by the total credits and Grade Point Average(GPA).
PASSING CRITERIA FOR MPA PROGRAMME UNDER THE CCS:
1. The student shall obtain a minimum of 16 credits (out
of 40) in each of the compulsory, elective and optional
courses, to pass the course; similarly the minimum credits
that a student should obtain in dissertation are 16, to
clear the course.
2. A student who obtains a minimum of 320 credits would
be deemed to have qualified for the PG Degree of MPA.
3. (i) A student may obtain the minimum of 320 credits
from 18 courses (i.e., 11 compulsory courses, 6 elective
courses and the dissertation); If the student fails to clear
2 (two) optional courses, but still secures the minimum of
320 credits, he may be deemed to have qualified for the PG
Degree of MPA. For this purpose, the credits
obtained in the two optional courses in which the student
has failed would not be counted.
(ii) This provision will enable the students to opt for a
flexible approach towards the specialized areas. In other
words, the students may focus on the courses of their choice
and specialization.
4. Similarly, students who pursue more than the minimum
stipulated 20 courses (i.e, 11 compulsory ,6 elective
courses , 3 or more optional courses and
the dissertation), shall also have to obtain 320 credits to
pass the MPA Degree. In case of such students, the total
credits obtained shall be calculated from the 11 compulsory
courses, 6 elective courses, the dissertation and
the best credits obtained in any of the 2 optional courses,
out of the total optional courses that may be in excess of
2.
MPA Programme options for students (Under the
CCS):
1. A Student who wishes to pursue MPA programme can also
opt for 2 (two) optional courses ( i.e, one optional course
each in the third and fourth semesters) from other
similar and compatible PG programmes (that are Credit Based)
offered by different departments of this University
.
2. The MPA programme also provides opportunity to
students to pursue additional elective courses after they
complete the fourth semester with 20 courses. Under this
scheme, students who complete their MPA programme with any
one specialization can opt for one more specialization and
complete the same in two additional semesters. In such
cases, the students will be awarded one more degree of MPA
with additional specialization. (That is, a student can
obtain two MPA degrees with two different specializations in
a 3 year period (six semesters). The courses in the
additional semesters for obtaining the second MPA degree
shall include 6 elective courses, 3 optional courses and one
compulsory dissertation (not opted earlier for the
firstdegree).
3. Students can also opt for more number of optional
courses ( i.e., more than 2 (two) optional courses ) in the
third and fourth semesters, if they are keen in acquiring
additional information and knowledge . In such cases, the
total number of courses that a student may study will be in
excess of 20 courses.
Post Graduate Rules relating to
Admission to the MPA Degree Programme (CCS):
1. Graduates of any faculty viz, Arts, Commerce, Science,
Law, Engineering etc, of this university or a graduate of
any other recognized university accepted by this University
as equivalent thereto and with an aggregate of 50 %
marks or a second class are eligible to apply for
admission to the MPA Programme (CCS).
2. Admission to MPA programme will be based on a
selection test, which may include a personal interview
and/or a written test.
3. The Admission Committee for selection of Candidates to
MPA programme shall be as per the provisions of this
University.
4. There shall be a total of 30 seats for the MPA
programme.
5. Reservation for SC/ST and SEBC candidates shall be
according to the rules and regulations of this University.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION
SOUTH GUJARAT UNIVERSITY, SURAT.
MPA (CCS) Programme
Details of the Course Content.
First Semester:
Course Code Course Title
Compulsory Courses:
PA-C-01 Principles of Public Administration & Management
PA-C-02 Issues in Indian Administration
PA-C-03 Comparative Administrative Systems
PA-C-04 Economic Policy and Management
PA-C-05 Public Personnel Management
Second Semester:
Compulsory Courses:
PA-C-06 Bureaucracy and Organization
PA-C-07 State and District Administration in India
PA-C-08 Management of Financial System in India PA-C-09
Social Policy and Administration
PA-C-10 Administrative Law
Third Semester:
Compulsory Course:
PA-C-11 Basic concepts in Computer Applications
Elective Courses: (Any one Group of 3 specialized
papers):
PA-EA/EB/EC- 01 Paper 1 (Specialized group on HRD/CA &
M/Crisis Mgt)
PA-EA/EB/EC- 02 Paper 2 (------------Same as
above----------------------------)
PA-EA/EB/EC- 03 Paper 3 (------------Same as
above----------------------------)
Optional Course:
PA-OA- Any one (or more) course from the list of optional
courses offered under Group OA
Fourth Semester:
Compulsory Course:
PA-CD-12 Dissertation (based on project work)
Elective Courses: (Any one group of 3 specialized papers)
PA-EA/EB/EC-04 Paper 4(Specialized group on HRD/CA &
M/Crisis Mgt)
PA-EA/EB/EC-05 Paper 5(-------------Same as
above---------------------------)
PA-EA/EB/EC-06 Paper 6(-------------Same as
above---------------------------)
Optional course:
PA-OB- Any one (or more) course from the list of optional
courses offered under Group OB
List of Elective Courses (Specialization):
Group EA: Human Resources Development (HRD):
PA-EA-01 Values and Ethics in Administrative Sciences
PA-EA-02 Principles of Human Resources Management
PA-EA-03 Government and Labour Welfare Policy
PA-EA-04 Industrial Relations
PA-EA-05 Human Resources Development
PA-EA-06 Safety Management
Group EB: Crisis Management:
PA-EB-01 Disaster Management
PA-EB-02 Issues in Population Policy
PA-EB-03 Environmental Policy and Administration
PA-EB-04 Police Management
PA-EB-05 Water Resources Management
PA-EB-06 Public Health Management
Group EC: Computer Applications and Management
(CA & M):
PA-EC-01 Advanced Course in Computer Applications
PA-EC-02 Implementation of Computer Based Systems
PA-EC-03 Management Improvement Techniques
PA-EC-04 Project Management
PA-EC-05 e-governance and Cyber Laws
PA-EC-06 ICT and Knowledge Management
Optional Groups: Any one course from each of the
groups:
Group: OA (Third Semester):
PA-OA-01 Management of Development Programmes
PA-OA-02 Government and NGOs
PA-OA-03 Management of Public Distribution Systems
PA-OA-04 Hospital Management PA-OA-05 Research
Methodology
Group: OB (Fourth Semester):
PA-OB-01 Public Policy Analysis
PA-OB-02 Management of Public Enterprises
PA-OB-03 Women and Administration
PA-OB-04 Management of Local Governments
PA-OB-05 Management of Regulatory Authorities
