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IISc mentioned that it has plans for offering a four-year Bachelor in Science (BS) degree from 2011.
The BS degree, which will be unique in its way, will be a blend of fundamental science and training in engineering subjects, which will empower the students to have a better job prospect once the course is completed. This will also enable the students with a better chance for higher studies in engineering as well as in basic science.
The decision comes two years after the Council approved the proposal after discussing the pros and cons of the proposal.
The BS is a four year course which will be covered in eight semesters and will be offered in physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology and materials science. The engineering options include electrical, mechanical, civil and computer science. The first three semesters will be offering common courses with fourth having engineering courses. The students will have to choose the specialization from fifth to eight semesters.
"An interesting feature of the BS is a student specialising in physics can take, say, 70% of physics and combine it with 30% of biology or chemistry and a chemistry student can specialise in 70% of chemistry and opt for 30% physics. The plan is to make BS flexible to give students lot of options,'' an IISc professor in charge of academic affairs, said.
About 100-125 students will be offered the course every year. This will enable the students to do PhD directly without going for a post graduate programme.
"The BS will have a strong research orientation as we would be very excited to have students pursuing PhD in basic sciences which will be helpful to the cause of science in general. The under-graduate programme will be geared to create interest in higher studies and research. The programme will be similar to the ones at California Institute of Technology and Harvard.''
Professors said the BS is being introduced also because: "Experimental under-grad programmes are very few. Students should know where they are heading in science after four years. We hope to excite students into higher research in science.''
The professors are working on the selection process for BS. It may be based on the IIT-JEE performance or to have a separate selection test.
