Welcome to Tata Institute of Social Sciences

Bachelors Programme
Introduction:

The B.A. (Hons.) in Social Work, with Specialisation in Rural Development, programme aims to build commitment and competency in facilitating participatory change and transformation in rural areas at the level of individuals, groups and communities; in government and non-government organisations (NGOs); and in law and policy. The programme is expected to shape personnel competent to develop and implement rural development programmes independently.

Keeping this objective in mind, the main areas identified for learning are:
  • Programme and process skills through integrated practice
  • Understanding of the rural context (ecological, economic, social, cultural and political)
  • Orientation to development; government policies and programmes; the voluntary sector
  • Skills in communication; working with individuals, families and groups; community organisation and action; project/ programme planning, baseline assessment, evaluation and administration; research, advocacy and networking
  • Orientation to macro-micro development linkages.

Seats and Reservation:

The intake of this programme is 20 students. The TISS is an equal opportunity institution and there is no discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, age or physical disability. As per Government of India directives, there is reservation for the following groups.
  • 15% for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates and 7.5% for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates.
  • 3% of seats are reserved for the persons with disability of which 1% each is reserved each for (a) Low Vision/Blindness, (b) Hearing impairment, and (c) Locomotor Disability/Celebral Palsy.
  • Government of India norms will be applicable for Kashmiri Migrants and OBCs.
  • 15% supernumerary seats for international students.

Duration of the Degree Programme:

The duration of this Bachelor's Degree Programme is for 3 academic years. However, students may complete the formal requirements of credit hours over 6 years from the date of admission to the programme.

Medium of Instruction:
The medium of instruction is Hindi and English. The students may write their assignments and examination in any of these 2 languages, that is English and Hindi.

Teaching Method:
We believe that learning by doing is an extremely crucial aspect of the teaching-learning praxis of adult learners. Therefore, the methods of training are participatory in nature and learner-centred. Our teaching methods involve classroom teaching, lecture method, fieldwork exposure, group discussions, social work laboratory sessions, and role-plays.
Course Framework: The programme is spread over 6 semesters. The distribution of credit hours and details of the courses taught are as follows:

Distribution of Credits
Year Details Credits
I 18 Courses 30
Field Work 12
II 17 Courses 30
Field Work 12
III 11 Courses 22
Field Work and Internship (including Viva Voce of the Internship) 13
Field Work and 13
Programme Viva Voce 1
Total 120


Semester-wise Listing of Courses

Semester I
- History and Philosophy of Social Work
- Human Growth and Development
- Gender Analysis
- Society: Structure, Culture and Change - I
- Environment and Development
- Introduction to Computer Applications - I
- Language I: English Proficiency
- Life Skills - I
- Social Work Methods Laboratory - I

Semester II
- Rural Economy of India
- Society: Structure, Culture and Change - II
- Working with Individuals and Families
- Working with Groups
- Community Organisation/Work - I
- Language I: English Proficiency
- Life Skills - II
- Introduction to Computer Applications - II
- Social Work Methods Laboratory - II


Semester III
- Political Economy of Rural Development
- Agriculture and Allied Activities - I
- Education: Policies and Programmes
- Health: Policies and Programmes
- Local Self-Governance: Policies and Programmes
- Language II: Creative Literature
- Community Organisation/Work - II
- Life Skills - II
- Social Work Methods Laboratory - III


Semester IV
- Social Welfare Administration
- Non-Farm Sector and Rural Poor
- Quantitative Research Methods in Social Work
- Language II: Creative Literature
- Life Skills - IV


Any three of the following Optional Courses:
i) Agriculture and Allied Activities - II
ii) Education: Skills
iii) Health: Skills
iv) Child Rights
v) Disability
vi) Social Accountability and Rural Development


Semester V
- Human Rights
- Social Action, Movements and Campaigns
- Management of Non-Governmental Organisations
- Law and Social Work - I
- Qualitative Research Methods in Social Work
- Communication and Analytical Skills
- Integrated Social Work Practice
- Social Work Seminar


Semester VI
Any three of the following Optional Courses:
i) Law and Social Work - II
ii) Social Harmony and Conflict
iii) Information Technology for Rural Development
iv) Disaster Management
v) Development Communication
vi) Training Methodology and Management


Eligibility:

The applicants who have passed the Higher Secondary Examination, 10+2 or its equivalent (HSC/PUC/Pre-Degree) course with minimum aggregate marks of 50% (40% for SCs/STs) are eligible to apply to the Bachelor's Degree Programme. The candidates should produce all the relevant documents in original at the time of admission preliminaries. The applicants who have appeared in their Higher Secondary Examination, 10+2 or its equivalent (HSC/PUC/ Pre-Degree) and are awaiting their results will also be eligible to apply. In such cases, admission to the Bachelor's Degree Programme of the SRD shall be provisional. If a provisionally admitted student fails in the Higher Secondary Examination, 10+2 or its equivalent (HSC/PUC/Pre-Degree) course or secures less than required marks, as mentioned above, the offer of provisional admission will be automatically cancelled.

Selection Procedure:

Those satisfying the eligibility requirements will be assessed for selection through a Written Test (100 marks), Group Discussion (40 marks), and Personal Interview (50 marks). General candidates should obtain a minimum of 45% marks and SC and ST candidates 35% marks in the Written Test to qualify for the Group Discussion and Personal Interview.

Final selection will be based strictly on merit using the criterion of highest marks obtained out of total 200 marks. However, General Candidates should obtain a minimum of 45% marks and candidates applying under reserved seats 35% marks out of total 200 marks to qualify for the final selection.

Career Opportunities:

The TISS Social Work students are valued in the voluntary and inter-governmental organisations and the government organisations. The B.A. (Hons.) in Social Work with Specialisation in Rural Development graduates have good employment opportunities with the government and voluntary sector, at the district and sub-district levels, and local self-governing bodies. The programme is expected to shape students' competence to develop and implement rural development programmes independently.

Contact Details
P.O. Box 09,
Tuljapur, Dist.,
Osmanabad 413 601.

Telephone: +91-2471-242061/560

Fax: +91-2471-244325 E-mail: infosrd [at] tiss [dot] edu