Kathmandu, August 11

Tribhuvan University has decided to launch a four-year bachelor’s course in humanities from the next academic session that begins in September-October.

The decision to introduce four-year bachelor’s course was taken by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Education Council today.

“Other faculties of the university have already introduced four-year bachelor’s courses,” said Shiva Lal Bhusal, dean of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Govinda Prasad Sharma, assistant dean, FHSS said, “The introduction of a four-year course in humanities has ended dissimilarity of course duration at the bachelor’s level.”

“Employers are recruiting students who have completed four-year degree. Students of humanities were at a disadvantage because of the shorter duration of the course,” said Sharma.

This will also make TU courses on par with international courses. “Earlier students had to study additional one year when going abroad for studies. This four-year course will end such problems,” added Bhusal.

Four-year bachelor’s courses have already been implemented in TU’s science, management and education streams. “It was difficult for us to introduce the four-year course as there are a large number of subjects in the humanities stream,” said Sharma.

As many as 34 subjects are being taught in TU’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

“Courses for all the subjects have already been designed and the curriculum will be made available online after we are done with official procedures,” said Sharma.

The course will be inter-disciplinary and students can study sociology, psychology, economics and other subjects within the same stream.

The university will also introduce Nepal Studies for the first time at the bachelor’s level as a compulsory subject to help students learn about Nepal. The subject will be taught in the fourth year. “Even after graduating many students lack basic knowledge about Nepal. We, therefore, have decided to introduce the subject to give students basic knowledge about history, geography, administration and culture of Nepal,” said Bhusal.

The four-year course will be of 2,000 marks (500 marks each year) and students can choose two subjects of 700 marks each as their majors and two subjects of 100 marks each as elective subjects.

There will be three compulsory subjects — English, Nepali and Nepal Studies. English will be of 200 marks, Nepali 100 marks and Nepal Studies 100 marks. English has been made compulsory in the first and third years, while Nepali will be compulsory in the second year.

The students will be evaluated on the basis of written examinations of 70 marks, while 30 marks will be for internal assessment, including mini project, classroom presentation and teamwork for each subject.

There are over 60,000 students in Tribhuvan University in its humanities programme.