Time to be well integrated

Gauri Chhabra

Over the past decade or so, a major breakthrough in Higher Education has been the introduction of Integrated Courses after Class  XII. The primary objective of this move was to bridge the gnawing gap between the industry and the academia and also to save on the students’ time and money and to reduce the ‘time to market’. Some of the premier institutes like the IITs started offering flexible dual-degree programmes and integrated courses in Humanities, Engineering, and Management streams. Here’s a look at some such courses that can be useful for students in the long run 

Integrated MBA

If you have a razor-sharp focus and plan to get into business management, you can get into an integrated MBA programme right after Class XII. This will save you from the hassle of undergoing admission and selection procedure twice and also preparing for entrance exams like  CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT etc. Out of the popular programmes, IIM Indore, launched the five-year Integrated Programme in Management (IPM) in 2011, which is the first of its kind in India.

Institutes/universities 

• IIM, Indore, Integrated Programme in Management.
• Xavier University, Integrated MBA in Sustainability Management, 
• Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, BBA and MMS
• Mumbai University, Bachelor of Mgt. Studies and MBA.
• Jindal Global Business School, BBA( Hons) and MBA.

Integrated BSc. + MSc. in Fashion and Lifestyle Tech 

In case you wish to go in for a hands-on programme in Design that prepares you for the fashion and lifestyle industry, then check out the five-year Integrated Course in Fashion and Lifestyle Technology. This course readies students for jobs in, corporate, and academia as also to start up a private enterprise or venture. 

The subjects that you will study include: Fashion Journalism and Photography, Fashion Enterprise Management and Supply Chain, Quality Control, Cost and Logistics are some of the disciplines they are acquainted with during the course. 

You will be trained to be fashion illustrators, designers, pattern and product developers and are prepared to cater to the fast-moving fashion industry in every way. Their exposure  helps them fit into the niche market as well as in the mass market of fashion makers. 

The aim is to incorporate lifestyle management in professional and personal life of every student and to provide the institution a continuous feedback on the performance and development of all the pass out admission

Admission is on the basis of an aptitude test to assess the skill of candidates in free-hand drawing, sketching, designing, creating and general ability. Communication skills will be tested through an interview. Distribution of marks for preparation of merit list shall as under: Academics 20 per cent, Preference Criteria 10 per cent, Aptitude and objective test 60 per cent, interview 10 per cent.

An applicant must have passed plus II in science stream from any recognised board.

Institutes

Panjab University, Chandigarh

Integrated MTech

Integrated engineering courses are being offered by many universities in India now. The basic aim is to create technologists and engineers from all branches euipped with management skills. It also ensures that the graduating students are ‘industry ready’ with managerial skills. 

Integrated engineering inspires students to start their own ventures in their basic field of study with good business skills and knowledge.

Engineering students can opt for Integrated MTech programme which is a five-year full-time programme intended for students who have passed or are appearing for Class XII exams with mathematics or equivalent subject.

However, it is important to understand the difference between an integrated MTech and dual degree. An integrated course means a 4-year BTech combined with 2-year MTech, which can be done in a span of five years. In the integrated course, you get both bachelor’s and master’s degree is combined after five years. Dual degree course, however, means that a student gets a degree in two different disciplines. 

Institutes

1. IIT Delhi, offering BTech and MTech in 

• Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology Computer Science and Engineering
• BTech in Chemical Engg and MTech in Computer Apps in Chemical Engg 
• BTech in Chemical Engg and MTech in Process Engg and Design 

2. IIT Kanpur, BTech and MTech in 

• Aerospace Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Science and Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

3. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT KGP), Kharagpur

4. Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT M), Chennai

5. Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) (IIT BHU), Varanasi

6. Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad

7. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT I), Indore

Integrated Law

Some examples of Integrated law course programmes are: BALLB. (a combination of Bachelor of Arts and Law programmes), BCom. LLB (a combination of Bachelor of Commerce and Law programmes), BSc.LLB. (a combination of BSc. and Law programmes). 

Since there are two courses involved, the duration of this programme is five years.  

• BSc.LLB. Environmental Science (for science stream students)
• BSc.LLB Biotechnology (science stream)
• BSc.LLB IT (science stream)
• BTech.LLB. (science stream)
• BALLB. (arts stream)
• BCom.LLB. (commerce stream)
• BBALLB. (any stream)

Usually the LLB programme can be pursued only as a PG course.  To be eligibile, a candidate must have passed Class XII  from a recognised board. Students from science, commerce, arts or humanities can pursue this course. CLAT, AILET, SET-Law are entrance exams conducted for admissions in the five-year integrated law course.

Institutes

• PU Chandigarh,BA/B.Com LLB (Hons)
• Army Institute of Law, Mohali, BA LLB
• National Law University (NLU), Delhi, BA LLB (Hons), LLM and Ph.D. Programmes
• Bangalore University, BALLB 
• National Law University, Jodhpur
• NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad

Integrated MA (English)

If you wish to specialise in English for the purpose of pursuing career either in industry or academia, then the integrated master’s degree is for you. Rather than equipping students for a single job or career track, MA in English serves as a foundation for several careers. 

Institutes

• Amrita Vidya Peetham, Kochi, B.A and M.A (English), 
• The University of Hyderabad, offering integrated B.A and M.A 

Summing up

Once you have considered the subject, the course, and the university, you should think of coming out of the dilemma of integrated master’s or an ordinary degree. Well, looking at the criticality of time to hit the employment market, pick up an integrated degree that gives you an in-depth knowledge of your field and also saves out on your most valuable asset.