10 interesting courses after 12th standard

Here you are, at the crossroads. You have finished your 10+2, and are on a hunt for the course that best suits your taste and chances in the future. A good number of students choose Engineer, Medicine, Management or IT after their PUC. But there are other offbeat, yet interesting, courses too. Here is a collection of 10 of them. Check them out.

BACHELOR OF RURAL STUDIES

Course Detail
'The soul of India lives in its villages,' said Mahatma Gandhi. If you believe that you belong more to rural India than the urban India, this is a course for you. It instills skills in three key areas: society and personal development, agriculture and environmental management, and business management. It aims to prepare graduates to play multiple roles in the development of a rural and regional community.
What you will learn (subject to syllabus)
Agronomy
Animal Husbandiary and Dairy science
Horticulture and Forestry
Farm Management & Planning
Plant Breeding
Agricultural Chemistry
Clothing and textile
Diet therapy
Child development
Food microbiology
Principles of economics
Eligibility
A 10+2 in Science
Career prospects
Thought a post-graduation will better equip you for a job, a BCD can work for the following:
Private sector organizations that deal with rural issues
Public service organizations for local agriculturalists
Non-profit organisations
Government agencies
Rural development

BACHELOR OF HOSPITALITY SCIENCE

Course Detail
Here is a chance to play host to the whole world. The hospitality sector includes everything from hotels, restaurants, and resorts to the local convention center. The course is designed to make you play the perfect host, equip you to be the best intra-organizational manager, understand industry trends through research, and run a business of your own by critical thinking and problem solving.
What you will learn (subject to syllabus)
Hotel and lodging management
Food and beverage management
Event planning
Recreation planning
Industry ethics
Entrepreneurship development
Human resource development
Eligibility
Any 10+2
Career prospects
Travel/tour Agents
Managers of Food Service Establishments
Hotel/Lodging Managers
Caterers

BACHELOR OF DRAMATICS

Course Detail
'All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players.' If you love playing a big part of your life onstage, pick up dramatics. The course will hone your acting skills and tap your talent by emphasizing on emotional flexibility, improved perspective and other subtle nuances of stage acting.
What you will learn (subject to syllabus)
Playwriting
Singing, accents, dialect and phonetics
Mime, stage combat, yoga, dance and acrobatics
Improvisation and Audition Technique

History of theatre, art, music and dance
Eligibility
Any 10+2
Career prospects
Playwright
Performing arts
Education
PR, media and business

BACHELOR OF TEXTILE DESIGN

Course Detail
The textile degree is not just about attire design. It applies also in interior, automotive and licensing design industries. It encourages exploration in design and creativity, as well as developing technical and sustainability knowledge and digital media skills for translating textile concepts into marketable products.
What you will learn (subject to syllabus)

Hands-on printing, weaving and machine knitting
Fashion illustration, trend forecasting
Creating original design
Identify marketing opportunities
Planning development strategies
Eligibility
Any 10+2
Career prospects
Designer

BACHELOR OF YOGIC SCIENCE

Course Detail
How serene are you inside? Explore the strength of your inner self with a degree in Yogic Science. It equips you to teach Yoga in schools at primary and high school levels, and to the general public to promote positive living. Branches like Yoga & Management help create new changes in business and corporate lives.
What you will learn (subject to syllabus)
Yoga and its Streams
Yoga for Personality
Training in Organizing Workshops/Conferences
Yogásanas & Kriyás
Applications of Yoga
Teaching Methodology
Eligibility
Any 10+2
Career prospects
Yoga instructor
Yoga therapist

BACHELOR OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE

Course Detail
This course is different from your normal IT course, even though it is very much linked to Information technology. It teaches you to plan, manage, supervise and market electronic business operations, products and services provided online. Graduates will also acquire a keen understanding of the methods and strategies used by businesses in today's marketplace as they implement technology to meet their goals.
What you will learn (subject to syllabus)
Mobile computing and commerce
Enterprise resource planning
Business administration
Information resources management
Computer and Internet law and policy
Computer privacy and security
E-trading
Electronic marketing
Product and service networking
Basics of Macromeda Dreamweaver, Hotmetal Pro, Fusion, Corel Draw, Fireworks, Gif Animator and Macromedia Flash
Eligibility
10+2 in Science
Career prospects
Web site design and developer
Content developer
Web programming and application developer
Database administrator

BACHELOR OF TOURISM AND TRAVEL

Course Detail
The desire to explore the unknown and the unseen has been the driving force of tourism. Be a part of it and help explore. The booming industry of travel and tourism opens up new vistas every day.
What you will learn (subject to syllabus)
Principles of tourism management
Introduction to Heritage Management
Special Interest Tourism
Tourism Geography
Tourist Market
Behavioural Science
Foreign Languages
Air Travel and Transport
Sustainable Tourism
Environment and Ecology of Tourism
Communication Skills
Eligibility
Any 10+2
Career prospect
Travel agencies
Tour operators
Airlines
Hotels
Transport and cargo companies

BACHELOR OF JOURNALISM

Course detail
This course is for all those who have a nose for news. And options galore, from print, radio, tv to Web
Though journalism education sector is in its nascent stage
there are institutes and universities all over India that offer variety of courses. These courses equip you meet the challenges in today's fast-paced life of information.
What you will learn (subject to syllabus)
Writing and Editing for different media
Page layout/design
Media ethics and history
Sources of Information
Listening, Note-taking and interviewing Skills
Techniques of using sound to enhance impact, integrating sound and script
TV Production, Techniques and Methods
Eligibility
Any 10+2
Career prospects
In newspapers
Periodicals and magazines
Central information service
Press information bureau
Websites
Radio and TV channels

BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK

Course details
A degree in social work equips you to serve your country better. With issues related to women, environment, man-made and natural disasters, human rights, mental heath, HIV/AIDS and so on on the rise, opportunities for employment and career growth in social work are expected to increase in non-governmental and governmental sectors. Professionally trained social workers are required more than ever.
What you will learn (subject to syllabus)

Social Work Intervention with individuals and groups
Social Work Intervention with Communities and Institutions
Family Life Education
Substance Abuse and Counselling
Introduction to HIV/AIDS
Human Behavior in the Social Environment
Eligibility
Any 10+2
Career prospects
NGOs
Public agencies
Private businesses
Hospitals
Schools
Police departments
Courts

BACHELOR OF ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

Course details

The importance of imparting proper elementary education is obvious from the government's decision to introduce the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act. The Bachelor of Elementary Education programme will basically equip you understand children and teach them better. The four-year professional programme is designed to integrate the study of subject knowledge, human development, pedagogical knowledge and communication skills.

What you will learn (subject to syllabus)

Child Development
Nature of Language
Core Natural Sciences
Core Social Sciences
Cognition and Learning
Language Acquisition
Human Relations & Communications
Basic Concepts in Education
School Planning & Management
Logico-Mathematics Education
Pedagogy of Environmental Studies
Curriculum Studies; Gender & Schooling

Eligibility
Any 10+2

Career prospects
Teaching
Education departments

With Physics, Chemistry and Maths as the main subjects in 10+2, engineering is one of the main career options open. For engineering, one can prepare for entrance exams like AIEEE or the IIT-JEE to pursue a career in engineering.

If not successful in engineering, one can do a Bachelor's degree as BCA, B.Sc.(IT) or B.Sc.(CS) and follow it with a M.Sc.(IT) or MCA to enter into the IT sector.

A normal B.Sc. followed with M.Sc. and Ph.D can be a career in academics. One can also join the merchant navy by doing a course in marine engineering.

Apart from engineering, one can separately specialize in Physics, Chemistry or Maths i.e., according to the subject of his/her interest.

Today, Mathematics and Statistics are becoming popular subjects owing to their application in a wide field of study and research. A bachelor's degree in mathematics will prepare one for fascinating jobs in statistics, actuarial sciences, mathematical modeling, and cryptography; for teaching; as well as for graduate school leading to a research career in mathematics or statistics. A strong background in mathematics is also necessary for research in many areas of computer science, social science, and engineering.

A physics graduate basically do research work in various research and development establishments and government departments. Those who are having specializations in astrophysics, astronomy, geophysics, nuclear physics, meteorology can make career in respective fields. To facilitate both intensive and extensive study of physics, it has been divided into several branches.

Top 10 Engineering Colleges in India

1. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur - www.iitk.ac.in

2. Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi - www.iitd.ac.in

3. Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai - www.iitm.ac.in

4. Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai - www.iitb.ac.in

5. Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur - www.iitkgp.ac.in

6. Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee - www.iitr.ernet.in

7. Indian Institute Of Technology, Guwahati - www.iitg.ernet.in

8. Indian Institute Of Technology, Allahabad - www.iiita.ac.in

9. College of Engineering, Anna University - www.annauniv.edu

10. National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli- www.nitt.edu

Few other options that are open for PCM students are as follows:

M.Sc. Electronic Media: One can also do M.Sc. Electronic Media after your graduation. This will be more interesting and useful for you. It is a newly emerging field where one can learn about 3D animation, etc.

If interested in Mathematics: One can do your post graduation in maths. There is a huge scope in Statistics after post graduation in stats.

If interested in Chemistry: After finishing graduation in Chemistry, one can choose Biochemistry/Biotechnology or Bioinformatics at post graduation level which will be very interesting and there are great opportunities in abroad.

If interested in Computers: One can go for MCA or M.Sc.(IT) after graduation.

If interested in Physics: One can join B.Sc. Physics and then go for post graduation not only in Physics, but also in fields such as Astrophysics, Geology and newly introduced course called Geoinformatics.

After pursuing anyone of the above course, one can also go for Ph.D. For this the student can appear for NET to build a career in the field of teaching and research. All the options that we have mentioned have bright career prospects especially in the area of teaching and research.

CBSE to hold proficiency exams for Class X students

New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to hold special examinations for students of class X in May-June this year to help them determine their interest and proficiency in various subjects, a senior official has said.
The purpose of the examination will be to help the students to decide which subjects they should take up in class XI and XII, CBSE Chairman Mr Vineet Joshi said.
The examinations will determine which subjects the students are interested in and how much knowledge they have about them, he said, adding, the exams will help the students to decide which subjects they should take up next year.
A 100 marks, two-and-half hour exam will be held for every subject and questions will be based on the syllabi of classes IX and X.
The questions will be objective and the students will be given multiple choice to select their answers. However, there will be negative marking for wrong answers, Mr Joshi said.
MY Source: MSN

National level medical entrance from 2013

MCI counsel Ganesh Gole submitted before the court a communication received on December 30, 2011 from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to this effect.

According to the communication, the Union Ministry has decided to introduce the common entrance test for all medical courses offered by all colleges across the country as several states sought more time to implement new system of admissions. The court was hearing a bunch of petitions filed by the Maharashtra government, the Association of Management of Private Unaided and Dental Colleges of Maharashtra and a student Angad Randive.

The petitions had challenged legality and validity of MCI's notification issued on December 12, 2010 to hold a common eligibility-cum-entrance test on May 13, 2012.

Randive in his petition stated that the NEET syllabus was content-wise heavier than the MH-CET, the common entrance examination held by Maharashtra government.

Common test for science, engg on cards: Sibal

New Delhi: HRD Minister Kapil Sibal on Wednesday said a "resolution" on holding a common countrywide test for admission to undergraduate programmes in science and engineering is on the cards.
"We are heading towards a resolution on holding the common test," he told reporters after an extensive deliberation by ministry officials on the issue today.

Another round of meeting is expected before the proposal is put before the Central Advisory Board of Education for final approval. Today's meeting is understood to have decided on a formula for preparing an all-India merit list based on the combined weightage given to class XII exam and to a common test. The test will examine a students logic and non-subject matters.

Sibal had earlier said that weightage would be given to the marks obtained in class XII boards after the results are equalised for which Indian Statistical Institute will put in place a mathematical formula for equalisation. The IIT council and the NIT council have already given their nod to the test.

The government had constituted a committee under Secretary to the department of science and technology T Ramasami to examine implementation of a single entrance test. Six options were suggested for holding the test.

The single test, which is expected to be implemented during the 2013-14 academic session, is aimed at reducing the burden of students from appearing in multiple entrance tests.

Full marks for CBSE’s theory of no marks

There is a surge in interest among parents and students for the new evaluation system that the CBSE has introduced in Class 10
When the results were out on the last day of May this year, something that used to be predominant was simply missing on the campuses of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools -- suspense and allied tension.

That could, primarily, be the reason behind the sudden rush for seats in CBSE schools. Ask Manjula Raman, the principal of Army Public School, Bangalore. "Yes, there is an increase in interest and the number of enquiries that we get. Many are changing boards to take up CBSE, especially, in the past two years."

Earlier, choosing between the CBSE and ICSE used to be a task for parents. There used to be debates about that. But the introduction of the continuous comprehensive evaluation (CCE) in CBSE schools has spared the parents of that headache.

This year, the CBSE made the Std X board exam optional for students. Students who did not wish to appear for the board exam could opt for CCE conducted by the school. The CCE grades students based on their performance throughout the year and a final exam conducted by the school. No marks, just grades, so less of stress.

Across India, 67% of the 11 lakh Std X CBSE students opted not to take up the board exams. With most students opting for CCE, the passing percentage was unusually high. The schools and students had a fair idea of what grade they would get. Besides, there were no failures as the students with a grade below D (less than 33 marks in any one or all subjects) have been considered as eligible for improvement of performance. With options like these, it has become easier to pass the Std X exam under the CBSE syllabus.

"Taking up CBSE could be worthwhile for more than one reason. Not only does the grading system bring stress levels down, the educational system provides an all-round development," Raman said, citing 15 cases where students abandoned international syllabi for CBSE. "Our curriculum is new and evolving. Of course, it's challenging too when compared to the syllabi followed by other boards," she went on to add.

Malaika G Naidu, who just completed her Class 10 under the new evaluation system, agrees. "It's more challenging and interesting now. You have many activities here like conducting research, which I found fascinating. It discourages students from rote learning, since it's not about marks here. You don't memorise things for marks, you learn things with passion and interest. Learning has also become easier and effortless, thanks to the semester system that has been introduced."

As the new evaluation system becomes a talking point, parents, who are concerned about the high levels of stress among their wards due to the kind of educational system in the country, are looking at CBSE as a like-enough solution.

"I came to know about this new system of no marks through media reports that were published when the results were out. I am really tempted to change my child's school. I want the other boards too to follow the grade system and abolish marks altogether. ICSE should be the next to follow it," said Soumita Mishra, mother of two school-going children.

Mishra is not the only parent who thinks so. Babu V Naidu has admitted both his two sons in CBSE schools and calls it a wise decision.

"Introduction of the grading system is really a good thing. Besides, the curriculum is far more holistic and there is emphasis on other activities as well, besides academics," Naidu said. Another parent Anuradha Menon said: "I am mulling over getting my children admitted to schools affiliated to the CBSE. But I'll wait for a year to do that since this new system of grading has just been introduced. After a year, if I am convinced, I will change their boards."
The flipside

With the grading system coming into play, selection has become tough for the school authorities. 'We are finding it hard to eliminate students as these grades are posing a challenge. This time, there are so many applicants for the Science stream in Class 11. How to choose? Though the board has laid down the selection criteria, it's quite complicated. According to it, almost 90% of the students are eligible,' said MK Krishnamoorthy, principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya (Air Force Station), Yelahanka.

'At our school, we have four sections in Class 11 (three for Science and one for Humanities), with 40 being the capacity for students per class. The demand for the Science stream is so high. While we can offer only 120 seats for Science in toto (that's for students from all boards), there are over 220 students from the CBSE who want to pursue Science. And, as per the grades, all 220 are eligible,' he rued.

'Even if we increase the capacity, we can't accommodate them. There is also a limit to the number of students per class,' Krishnamoorthy added. Hence, many schools are conducting an aptitude test for entry into Class 11, since selection based on grades is not a viable way. 'We have our own entrance test, since we can't go by the grades to select students for +2,' said Manju Sharma, principal of DPS South, Bangalore.

'We assess the students' skills based on the parameters that we have fixed, since the grades aren't specific,' said M Srinivasan, principal of Gear Innovative School.
But that is what the Union human resources development (HRD) ministry and its minister Kapil Sibal -- who brought out this reform -- want: to reduce that competition based on marks.

CBSE pass percentage has gone up, says Kapil Sibal

New Delhi: Lauding the objectives achieved by CBSE schools under Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) scheme, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal today said the pass percentage has not only increased but there has been a qualitative improvement in assessment.

He also unveiled the CCE certificate awarded to students from this year, which not only shows the grades secured but also mirrors overall development of a student.

Sibal said pass percentage in class X this year went up to 96.90 per cent, even as majority of students (67 per cent) opted for school based examination.

He said the notion that more marks are being awarded in practicals has been put to rest under the scheme 'as marks in practicals have reduced from 92 per cent to 73 per cent'.

Sibal said 38,377 students got top-most grades in all five subjects as compared to 11,055 last year.

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