Add-on courses hit in DU colleges

At Delhi University (DU), students can both pursue their ambition and nurture their peripheral interest in other areas with the varsity colleges offering add-on courses in diverse subjects in each of the streams.

Giving an opportunity to pick up a career-oriented skill, these “add-on” or “short term” courses are gaining popularity among the students. Add-on courses, offered to the undergraduate students, are either certificate courses in foreign languages or specialised research programmes.

While a Humanities student can opt for certificate courses in foreign languages, tourism, mass media, and human rights, those pursuing Commerce and Science have courses in marketing, finance and accounting, forensic sciences and fingerprinting available at various colleges. “These add-on courses have made their mark over the years as joborientated courses. They not only help students pick up new skills and open up avenues that could lead to further specialisation, but also provide them specialised information while giving an edge in today’s competitive world,” Dr Renuka Gautam, a DU professor, said. Jesus and Mary College offers courses in theatre, acting, and dramatics in addition to media studies, while Miranda House offers green chemistry and environment, and operations research among others.

Certificate courses in foreign languages like German, French, and Russian are being offered at Hindu College and Ramjas College. Hindu College also offers actuarial sciences. Similarly, Sri Venkateswara College offers add-on courses in ayurvedic biology, and travel and tourism while Gargi College offers certificate programmes in Vedic mathematics, advertising, and peace building.

“Listening to different RJs on radio developed in me an interest in pursuing a career in the same field. So, while studying my honours course, I also studied about radio jockeying,” said Sana Kapoor, from Hansraj College.