CHOICE BASED CREDIT SYSTEM

DRAFT REGULATIONS FOR Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) of WEST BENGAL STATE UNIVERSITY, BARASAT

The CBCS course will comprise of the following

1. Core Course: A course, which should compulsorily be studied by a candidate as a core requirement  of the chosen discipline(s) is termed as a Core course.

2. Elective Course: Generally a course which can be chosen from a pool of courses and which may be very specific or specialized or advanced or supportive to the discipline/ subject of study or which provides an extended scope or which enables an exposure to some other discipline/subject/domain or nurtures the candidate’s proficiency/skill is called an Elective Course.

2.1 Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) Course: Elective courses are offered by the main discipline/subject of study is referred to as Discipline Specific Elective. The University may also offer discipline related Elective courses of interdisciplinary nature (to be offered by main discipline/subject of study).

2.2 Dissertation/Project: An elective course designed to acquire special/advanced knowledge, such as supplement study/support study to a project work, and a candidate studies such a course on his own with an advisory support by a teacher/faculty member is called dissertation/project.

2.3 Generic Elective (GE) Course: An elective course chosen generally from an unrelated discipline/subject, with an intention to seek exposure is called a Generic Elective. P.S.: A core course offered in a discipline/subject may be treated as an elective by other discipline/subject and vice versa and such electives may also be referred to as Generic Elective.

3. Ability Enhancement Courses (AEC): The Ability Enhancement (AE) Courses will be of two kinds: Ability Enhancement Compulsory Courses (AECC) and Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC). “AECC” courses are the courses based upon the content that leads to Knowledge enhancement. These are mandatory for all disciplines. SEC courses are value-based and/or skill-based and are aimed at providing hands-on-training, competencies, skills, etc.

3.1 Ability Enhancement Compulsory Courses (AECC): i) Environmental Science, ii) English Communication/MIL Communication (MIL stand for Modern Indian Language).

3.2 Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC): These courses may be chosen from a pool of courses designed to provide value-based and/or skill-based knowledge.

The University also has plans for Introducing Research Component in Under-Graduate Courses at a later stage of the implementation process.  (Project work/Dissertation is considered as a special course involving application of knowledge in solving / analyzing /exploring a real life situation / difficult problem. A Project/Dissertation work would be of 6 credits. A Project/Dissertation work may be given in lieu of a discipline specific elective course.)

 

4. MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR DEGREE

1. An undergraduate (B. Sc, B. A., B. Com.) degree  with Honours in a discipline may be awarded if a student completes 14 core courses in that discipline, 2 Ability Enhancement Compulsory Courses (AECC), minimum 2 Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC) and 4 courses each from a list of Discipline Specific Elective and Generic Elective courses respectively.

 

1. An undergraduate (B. Sc General) Program degree in Science disciplines may be awarded if a student completes 4 core courses each in three disciplines of choice, 2 Ability Enhancement Compulsory Courses (AECC), minimum 4 Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC) and 2 courses each from a list of Discipline Specific Elective courses based on three disciplines of choice selected above, respectively.

 

1. An Undergraduate (B. A. General, B. Com General) program degree in Arts (Humanities/ Social Sciences) / Commerce may be awarded if a student completes 4 core courses each in two disciplines of choice, 2 core courses each in English and MIL respectively, 2 Ability Enhancement Compulsory Courses (AECC), minimum 4 Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC), 2 courses each from a list of Discipline Specific Elective courses based on the two disciplines of choice selected above, respectively, and two courses from the list of Generic Electives courses.

 

The credit(s) for each theory course/practical/tutorial/project/dissertation will be as per the details given in A, B, C, D for B.Sc. Honours, B.A./B.Com. Honours, B.Sc. Program and B.A./B.Com. Program, respectively.

* Wherever there is a practical, there will be no tutorial and vice- versa.

The courses for the different semesters will be as given in the following Tables E, F and G.

 

Table E : Distribution of courses in different semesters for Undergraduate (Honours) courses

Semester	Core	DSE	GE	AECC	SEC	Total credit
I	C1 C2		GE1	Environmental Science		20
II	C3 C4		GE2	English/MIL Communication		20
III	C5 C6 C7		GE3		SEC1	26
IV	C8 C9 C10		GE4		SEC2	26
V	C11 C12	DSE1,DSE2				24
VI	C13 C14	DSE3,DSE4				24
Total number of courses	14	4	4	2	2	140

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table F : Distribution of courses in different semesters for Undergraduate  course in Sciences

Semester	Core	DSE	GE	AECC	SEC	Total credit
I	DSC 1A DSC 2A DSC 3A			Environmental Science		20
II	DSC 1B DSC 2B DSC 3B			English/MIL Communication		20
III	DSC 1C DSC 2C DSC 3C				SEC1	20
IV	DSC 1D DSC 2D DSC 3D				SEC2	20
V		DSE1A DSE2A DSC3A			SEC3	20
VI		DSE1B DSE2B DSC3B			SEC4	20
Total number of courses	12	6	0	2	4	120

 

 

 

Table G : Distribution of courses in different semesters for Undergraduate  course in Arts (Humanities/Social Sciences) / Commerce

Semester	Core	DSE	GE	AECC	SEC	Total credit
I	DSC 1A DSC 2A English			Environmental Science		20
II	DSC 1B DSC 2B English			English/MIL Communication		20
III	DSC 1C DSC 2C MIL				SEC1	20
IV	DSC 1D DSC 2D MIL				SEC2	20
V		DSE1A DSE2A	GE1		SEC3	20
VI		DSE1B DSE2B	GE2		SEC4	20
Total number of courses	12	4	2	2	4	120

 

 

5. The University shall offer a number of choices of courses from different disciplines under Generic Elective and Discipline Specific Elective as per the availability of the courses/faculty at a particular time.

6. The University will evolve a system/policy about Extra Curricular Activities/ General Interest and Hobby Courses/Sports/NCC/NSS/Vocational courses/related courses which shall be intimated in due course of time.

7.  A student can opt for more number of Elective and AE Elective courses than proposed under the model curriculum of the University as per UGC rules. However the total credit score earned will not exceed 160 credits for UG Honours and 140 credits for UG Program degree.

8. A student admitted in a particular department must opt for Generic Elective offered by another department. i.e., a student admitted under B. Sc (Hons) in Zoology cannot opt for Generic Elective courses offered by the Department of Zoology.

9. Although as per UGC rules, a student  obtaining 24 credits in particular discipline has the minimum qualification for admission eligibility requirement for PG/ Technical courses in Indian Universities/Institutions, the University shall exercise and have the right to have admission criteria which is in addition to the said minimum eligibility criteria towards post graduate admission. The same will be fixed and determined by the respective post graduate admission body of the University.

10. An Honours students will be eligible as per minimum eligibility criteria for post graduate in another discipline provided the student opts for Generic Elective of a particular subject in each semester to earn 24 credits in the concerned discipline.

 

 

11. DURATION OF COURSE

For all the students obtaining admissions under the Three Year Under-graduate Program under CBCS starting 2018-19, the period to complete the course will be a maximum 5 years from the year of admission in the first semester, provided the student has completed all requirements to become eligible for appearing in the University Examinations as per rules.

 

12. Mechanism of computation of work-load per week:

i) 1 Credit = 1 Theoretical class of 1- hour duration

ii) 1 Credit = 1 Tutorial class of 1- hour duration

iii) 1 Credit = 1 Practical class of 2- hour duration

Semester duration : 15 weeks of direct teaching

 

13. MARKS DISTRIBUTION AND EVALUATION

 

13.1. Full marks for each course of

B.A./ B.Sc./ B.Com. (Hons. & Gen.), carrying 6 credits, will be 75

B.A./ B.Sc./ B.Com. ( Hons. & Gen.), carrying 2 credits, will be 25

 

13.2 The University has allotted 20% of the internal marks towards regular attendance to ensure the presence of students in the classroom which is the fundamental concept of the CBCS system.

 

13.3  Marks distribution for Theoretical Courses (no practical component) will be as follows

i) For a 6 credit course having 75 marks, 25 marks shall be assessed by the College (internal) and 50 marks by the University (End Semester).

ii) Out of the 25 marks allotted as internal evaluation the breakup of marks will be as follows

5 marks (20%) on attendance and 20 marks (80%) in the form of class test/ assignment/ seminar /any other method to be decided by the respective Board of Studies.

 iii) The marks (5) for attendance shall be allotted as

Attendance >90% = 5 marks

 Attendance >80% but less than  90% = 4 marks

Attendance >75% but less than  80% = 3 marks

Attendance >70% but less than  75% = 2 marks

Attendance >60% but less than  70% = 1 mark

 

 

13.4  Marks distribution for Courses, having practical component will be as follows

For a 6 credit course having practical component the total  marks will be distributed as Part A (Theory) 50 marks + Part B (Practical) 25 marks  = 75 marks

Part A

i) For a 4 credit theory course having 50 marks, 10 marks shall be assessed by the College (internal) and 40 marks by the University (End Semester).

ii) Out of the 10 marks allotted as internal evaluation the breakup of marks will be as follows

2 marks (20%) on attendance and 8 marks (80%) in the form of class test/ assignment/ seminar /any other method to be decided by the respective Board of Studies.

 iii) The marks (2) for attendance shall be allotted as

Attendance >90% = 2 marks

Attendance >60% but less than  90% = 1 mark

 

Part B

i) For a 2 credit practical course having 25 marks, 15 marks shall be assessed by the College (internal) and 10 marks by the University (End Semester)/college (as end semester) evaluation.

ii) Out of the 15 marks allotted as internal evaluation the breakup of marks will be as follows

3 marks (20%) on attendance and 12 marks (80%) in the form of continuous assessment of the practical classes /any other method to be decided by the respective Board of Studies.

 iii) The marks (3) for attendance shall be allotted as

Attendance >90% = 3 marks

Attendance >75% but less than  90% = 2 marks

Attendance >60% but less than  75% = 1 mark

iv) The End semester examination shall be in the form of a Grand Viva-voce/Laboratory note book evaluation/ hands on experiment/ demonstration/ any other method to be decided by the respective Board of Studies. However, the candidate shall be barred from appearing in the said end semester examination if atleast 60% of his/her practical assignments are not duly signed by the respective teacher in the college.

v) For Core and DSE courses under the Honours program the end semester evaluation will be organized by the University but for GE courses under the Honours program and Core, DSE and GE courses under the general program the end semester evaluation will be organized by the college where the student is registered.

 

 

13.5 The pattern and the breakup of marks allotted  for the question in the different examinations shall be finalized by the respective Board of Studies in the relevant subject. The University shall ensure that both objective and subjective questions are part of the evaluation system to assess the overall concept of the candidate.

 

13.6 For the AECC of 2 credits comprising of 25 marks, 5 marks (20%) have been allotted for regular attendance and 20 marks (80%) for End semester examination.

i) The marks (5) for attendance shall be allotted as

Attendance >90% = 5 marks

 Attendance >80% but less than  90% = 4 marks

Attendance >75% but less than  80% = 3 marks

Attendance >70% but less than  75% = 2 marks

Attendance >60% but less than  70% = 1 mark

ii) The End Semester Examination for Environmental Science shall be in the form of Multiple Choice questions which shall be evaluated by the college. However, question papers will be sent centrally by the University. The evaluation can be either through OMR or conventional methods.

iii) The End semester Examination of English/MIL communication shall be conducted by the college. The evaluation method is to be finalized after taking into account the course structure after due approval from the respective Board of Studies in the concerned subjects.

 

 

13.7 For the SEC of 2 credits comprising of 25 marks, 5 marks (20%) have been allotted for regular attendance and 20 marks (80%) for End semester examination.

i) The marks (5) for attendance shall be allotted as

Attendance >90% = 5 marks

 Attendance >80% but less than  90% = 4 marks

Attendance >75% but less than  80% = 3 marks

Attendance >70% but less than  75% = 2 marks

Attendance >60% but less than  70% = 1 mark

ii) The End Semester Examination shall be conducted by the College. The evaluation method is to be finalized after taking into account the course and the facilities available after due approval from the respective Board of Studies in the concerned subject.

 

13.8  The University shall hold the end semester examinations in a centralized manner for the Core Courses (CC)and Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) courses and the evaluation of the answer scripts will also be done in a centralized manner.

 

13.9  The University shall hold the end semester examinations in a centralized manner for the Generic Elective (GE) courses and the evaluation of the answer scripts will be done internally by the respective colleges.

 

14.The distribution of marks will be as follows

B.A./ B.Sc./ B.Com. (Hons)

 

CC :                        75 x 14 =              1050

DSE :                      75 x 4 =                   300

GE :                        75 x 4 =                   300

AECC :                   25 x 2 =                     50

SEC :                      25 x 2 =                     50

Total :                                                   1750 marks (140 credits)

 

B.A. & B.Com. (Gen.)                                                                     B.Sc. (Gen.)

CC :        75 x 12 =              900                                                        CC :        75 x 12 =              900

DSE :      75 x 4 =                 300                                                        DSE :      75 x 6 =                 450

GE :        75 x 2 =                 150                                                        AECC :   25 x 2 =                   50

AECC :   25 x 2 =                   50                                                         SEC :      25 x 4 =                 100

SEC :      25 x 4 =                100

Total :                                   1500 marks)                                                                                       1500 marks

(120 credits)                                                                                       (120 credits)

 

15. Pass Percentage and Promotion Rules for All the Under-Graduate Courses under Choice Based Credit System.

 

The following provisions shall be applicable to students admitted to the Three Year Undergraduate program under Choice Based Credit System (CBCS):

15.1 A student who appears in a semester examinations or who was eligible to appear in the semester examinations but remains absent in any or all the courses of the said semester, shall move on to the next semester irrespective of his/her result in the said examinations. This will only be applicable upto the 4^th semester examination.

15.2  A student who has obtained at least 40% in all the courses in theory examination (including internal assessment/ project work) and practical examination separately conducted in the different semester examinations shall be promoted to the next semester without any backlog.

15.3 A student who has not obtained at least 40% in all the courses in theory examination (internal assessment/ project work) and practical examinations separately, conducted in the different semester examinations shall be promoted to the next semester with previous uncleared backlog courses. However, the candidate must clear all his backlog courses before he is promoted to the final 6^th semester. In other word, a student cannot be promoted to the 6^th semester if he has not cleared all his previous courses.

15.4 Students who do not fulfill the promotion criteria mentioned above shall be declared fail. However, they shall have the option to retain the marks in the courses in which they have passed.

15.5 If a student has secured the minimum number of credit necessary for the relevant degree taking together all the courses in theory examination (including internal assessment/ project, wherever applicable) and practical exam separately till the end of the third year, i.e., upto the

end of the VIth semester, then she/he shall be awarded the degree in which the student

has been admitted.

15.6 A student who wants to re-appear for clearing backlog in a course will have to do so only when the corresponding course is offered/ evaluated in the next semester under regular examination procedure. A student failing in any Semeter examination will have to appear for clearing the backlog when the same semester examination is held next year and so on. However, the internal assessment/internal marks will remain unaltered.

16. Re-appearance for improvement

16.1 A student may re-appear in any theory course prescribed for a semester, on foregoing

in writing her/his previous performance in the course/s concerned. This can be done in the immediate subsequent semester examination only (for example, a student reappearing in course prescribed for semester I examination may do so along with subsequent semester III examination and not along with courses for semester V).

16.2 This option of reappearance for improvement will be available only once per course against prescribed fees. All request for reappearance for improvement must be made within 15 days of publication of result after which no such request will be entertained.

16.3 A candidate who has cleared the 6^th semester examination but wants to apply for reappearance for improvement in the 6^th semester course in the immediate subsequent semester when the course is being offered under regular study must forgo in writing his/her  previous performance in the course concerned within the prescribed time period of 15 days. However, candidates under this category will not be allowed to join in any postgraduate course under this university.

16.4 In the case of re-appearance in course, the candidate will have to forgo his earlier marks obtained and the result will be prepared on the basis of candidate’s latest performance in the examinations.

16.5 In the case of a candidate, who opts to re-appear in any course/s under the aforesaid provisions, on surrendering her/his earlier performance but fails to reappear in the course/s concerned, the marks previously secured by the candidate in the course/s in which she/he has failed to re-appear shall be taken into account while determining her/his result of the examination held currently.

16.6 Re-appearance in practical/internal assessment shall not be allowed. An exception to this will be only applicable when the candidate decides to rejoin the entire semester by taking fresh admission to the relevant semester after paying necessary admission fees as prescribed.

16.7 There shall be no supplementary examinations for any courses.

16. Letter grades and grade points

A student who becomes eligible for the degree will be categorized on the basis of the combined result of semester I to semester VI examinations under CBCS on a 10 point grading system with the following Letter Grades as given below:

Letter Grade                      Grade Point

O (Outstanding)                    10

A+ (Excellent)                        9

A (Very Good)                        8

B+ (Good)                              7

B (Above Average)                6

C (Average)                           5

P (Pass)                                4

F (Fail)                                   0

Ab (Absent)                           0

 

Issue of Transcripts: Based on the grades earned, a Grade Certificate shall be issued to all the registered students by the University after every semester and a consolidated transcript indicating the performance in all semesters. The Grade Certificate will display the course details (code, title of the course, number of credits, grade secured) along with SGPA of each semester and CGPA earned based on overall six semesters.