Education | The Indian Express
The Indira Gandhi National Open University has announced its first master’s programme in Home Science – MSc in Community Development and Extension Management. The course is designed to fulfil the educational aspirations of Home Science graduates and graduates from other disciplines who wish to become development practitioners and implement community development projects for livelihoods, skilling and beyond.
The two-year course is hosted by the School of Continuing Education in English medium with an Open Distance Learning mode.
Students will have the opportunity to learn the nuances of extension, development communication, social and behavioural change, advocacy, resource mobilisation, participatory media, gender mainstreaming, maternal and child health, community-based research, and interdisciplinary areas of Home Science in this programme, as mentioned in the press release.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants for this programme can be graduates of Home Science / Community Sciences, Social Sciences, Behavioural Sciences, Sciences or any other discipline, who wish to pursue careers in the development sector. Those learners with a science background can also benefit from this programme as it will help them in leveraging scientific knowledge towards community development.
Course content
In the MSc. 1st year curriculum, students will get knowledge of foundational and applied knowledge in development studies and community extension. The courses included are Fundamentals of Development and Extension (MHC-001), a theory paper carrying 6 credits, and Community Organisation and Community Development (MHC-002), also a theory course with 4 credits. The programme further offers Media in Development Communication (MDC-003) and Development: Information and Communication Technologies (MDC-005), each contributing 6 credits as theory subjects.
Additionally, students will study Programme Planning and Evaluation (MHC-003) and Participatory Community Development (MHC-004), both theory courses valued at 4 credits each. The curriculum includes a practical component titled Field Project in Home Science (MHCP-001), which carries 4 credits.
Students are required to choose between Gender and Development: Concept, Approaches and Strategies (MGS-001) and Rural Development Programmes (MRD-202), both theory courses offering 6 credits. This curriculum structure ensures a balanced blend of theoretical understanding and field-based application essential for professionals in the field of development and community extension.
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The MSc. 2nd year curriculum in Home Science, specialising in Community Development and Extension Management, offers a comprehensive set of theory and project-based courses aimed at equipping students with advanced knowledge and practical skills.
The courses include Community Sciences and Community Development: Emerging Issues (MHC-005), a theory paper carrying 8 credits, and Training and Development (MDV-110), a theory course with 6 credits. Students also study Management of Maternal and Child Health (MHC-006) for 4 credits and Social and Behaviour Change (MHC-007), which carries 6 credits.
Further, the curriculum includes Research Methods in Community Development and Extension Management (MHC-008) valued at 4 credits, and a Research Project in Home Science (MHCP-002), a project-based course carrying 6 credits. Students have an elective option to choose between Fundamentals of CSR (MEDS-051) and Rural Development: Issues and Concerns (MHC-009), both theory courses offering 6 credits each.
All courses, except the elective, are compulsory. The total credit requirement for this programme is 80, ensuring a balanced and in-depth learning experience for students pursuing a career in community development and extension management.
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Where to apply & Fee
Go to the Link ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in/index.php/site/programme-detail?id=9897460de15431e64831da324e291d2ade82a2cef239b47e94e9f8bacbefc44e1845 for more information. Aspiring learners can apply for admission through the IGNOU Samarth Portal:
ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in
Those interested will have to pay Rs 7000 per year. The fee is inclusive of the registration fee and the development fee. For more information about the course, students can contact the course coordinator, Prof. Heena K. Bijli & Dr. Meenu Verma— heenakbijli@ignou.ac.in and meenuverma@ignou.ac.in
Opportunities after the course
The employability scope of this programme extends to Programme / Project officers in Government, Intergovernmental, Multilateral and International Organisations across sectors like social welfare, rural development, health services and agriculture, NGOs, CSR Foundations, Corporations and Social Enterprises; Academicians, Researchers, PGTs in schools and Officers in skill development.
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