Minor discipline options still a mystery for most DU students

Under the four-year course,a student will have to study six papers of one or two minor disciplines after the first year.

Officials at Ramjas College said the list of minor disciplines will be made available to students and they will be asked to mention their choice at the time of admission. “They can,however,change their minor discipline later,” a senior college official said.

St Stephen’s College also wants its first-year students to pick their minor discipline subjects “at the earliest”. Karen Gabriel,spokesperson for the college,said,“If not at the time of admission,then at least by the orientation session we would like to have some idea of the demand for subjects under the minor disciplines.”

Apart from eight subjects — Economics,English,History,Philosophy,Sanskrit,Mathematics,Chemistry,Physics — which will be offered as main and minor disciplines,St Stephen’s College will also offer Urdu and Persian as minor disciplines. The college has reserved a few seats for those who have studied Urdu till Class XII,in main disciplines such as History,English and Philosophy. These students will have to study Urdu in the first semester as one of the foundation courses. From the second year,they will have to study Urdu as a minor discipline.

Miranda House has also put up a list of minor discipline subjects on its website. The college,however,will not expect students to pick their minor discipline at the time of admission.

Principal Pratibha Jolly said,“In the second semester we will hold orientation sessions for students to help them choose their minor disciplines. We will have to devise criteria for choice for minors. It will be based on merit.”

Lady Shri Ram College has not yet finalised its list of minor disciplines subjects. “Several things,including students’ interest and teachers’ workload,need to be considered. It is too early too say what will be offered. We do not offer sciences courses. But if a student wants Physics as the minor discipline,will the college offer it?” a teacher said.