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Q & A

Master's degree in archaeology

Archaeologists delve into the past.

Q. I am a history student. I want to pursue MA in archaeology. I would like to know about the colleges and institutions offering this course and also the career opportunities in this field. - Deepa, Thiruvananthapuram

A. Archaeology is the scientific study of the lives of early people based on the objects they left behind. It is the study of pre-history and history based on the examination of physical remains such as buildings, tombs, bones, tools, etc.

The principal activities of archaeologists include preliminary fieldwork, excavation, classification, dating and interpretation of materials collected from different parts.

Archaeology attracts students as it involves teamwork and outdoor physical activity with academic study. Master's degree in archaeology is a suitable higher study option for graduates in history or archaeology.

The Department of Archaeology, University of Kerala, University Campus, Kariavattom - 695 581 (Phone: 0471 2412053) is the only Institution in Kerala offering archaeology at master's degree level (MA archaeology; two year - 4 semesters). Intake - 12 seats. Graduates in arts/ science with 55 per marks are eligible for admission. SC/ST students require only pass marks. Five seats each are allocated to arts graduates and science graduates.

Selection is through university departmental-level entrance test with equal weightage to the qualifying examination.

The three-hour entrance test is of the objective type, covering questions on general awareness, general English, science, culture, civilisation, etc. Subjects taught are principles and methods of archaeology, world pre-history, Indian pre-history, Indian history, proto-history, Iron Age, Indian architecture, Indian art, paleography, epigraphy, numismatics, Indian religion and iconography, Kerala archaeology, museum method and antiquarian law, field archaeology, dissertation, etc.

Probable time of admission notification is June/July every year immediately after the publication of result of the BA/B.Sc. degree examination of the Kerala University.

The university is planning an M.Phil., Ph.D. programme in archaeology in August this year.

Some other Universities offering Archaeology at Masters Degree level are:

University of Madras, Banaras Hindu University, University of Pune, Nagpur University, Patna University, Punjab University, Gujarat University and University of Calcutta.

Those who have secured a master's degree in archaeology with 55 per cent marks and above (SC/ ST/OBC require only 50 per cent marks) can opt for a two-year postgraduate diploma course in archaeology with monthly stipend.

The admission is based on an all-India-level written test and interview in New Delhi.

The admission notification can be expected during June. Contact address - The Director, Institute of Archaeology, Archaeological Survey of India, Tilak Marg, New Delhi - 110 001. The institute gives greater emphasis to practical training and technical knowledge on excavation and exploration, which help the students career-wise.

Under the Central Government, The Archaeological Survey of India and under the State Government, the Department of Archaeology provides job opportunities as assistant archaeologists or archaeologists.

After obtaining a master's degree in archaeology with minimum 55 per cent marks, one can try to qualify the University Grants Commission-CSIR NET/JRF/Lectureship in order to secure a lecturer's post at the university/college-level.

Part-time Ph.D. in management

Q. I am a civil servant working in a non-academic institution under the Government of Kerala, since 1989. Recently, I took my MBA (Part-time), from Kerala University. I would like to know what options I have for undertaking a Ph.D. programme in Management on part-time or distance education basis under the universities in India or abroad.

- Namitha,

Thiruvananthapuram

A. Since you are working in Thiruvananthapuram, it will be more convenient for you to opt for part-time research leading to Ph.D. offered by the University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram.

Part-time research facilities are provided for employed persons, preferably lecturers of the affiliated colleges/university. Those who have a postgraduate/master's degree in management or in any other discipline with at least 55 per cent marks (50 per cent for SC/ST) are eligible to apply. They should have qualified either in the university-level Ph.D. entrance test or University Grants Commission - JRF/NET.

Candidates could carry out their research in a university department or in the department of a college recognised as research centre or in a recognised research institution under approved guide or guides.

Only candidates who have qualified the entrance test conducted by Kerala University or NET conducted by the UGC are eligible to apply for registration for Ph.D. research.

Vacancies available under each supervising teacher/research centre can be ascertained from the supervising teacher and head of the research centre.

Teachers of the University Departments and affiliated Colleges and persons engaged in research work in research institutions are permitted to register as part-time research scholars in the concerned subjects if they fulfil the eligibility requirements. However in exceptional cases, based on the recommendation of the Doctoral Committee, the Syndicate may allow persons, who do not belong to the above categories of employment, to register as part-time research scholars, provided they fulfil the eligibility requirements.

Candidates who select university departments as their research centres should send their applications to the head of the department concerned. Those who select recognised research institutions or departments of affiliated Colleges should send their applications to the registrar.

For more details contact the PRO, University of Kerala (Phone: 0471 2305738) or the Head, Institute of Management in Kerala, University of Kerala, Senate House Campus, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 034 (Phone: 2306422, 2301145, 2301513 Extn. - 296, 286).

In view of the increasing demand for teachers in management, many universities have introduced doctoral programmes. It is designed to prepare young men and women for challenging careers in teaching, research and consultancy. The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, offers Ph.D. /MS programmes under regular (with half-time research assistantship - HTRA), external sponsored and part-time schemes in management studies. Contact address - IIT Madras, Chennai - 600 036; (http://www.acadadmissions.iitm.ac.in ).

Atal Bihari Vajpayee - Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Gwalior, (deemed university) provides facilities for full-time/part-time research facilities leading to Ph.D. Those with a master's degree in engineering/technology or MBA and equivalent with at least 65 per cent marks are eligible for admission. Working industry professionals and teachers in technical institutions with three years relevant experience after master's degree or graduates with 65 per cent marks with five years teaching/technical/professional experience are also eligible for part-time registration for research.

For details contact - Chairman Admission (PhD Programme), ABV-IIITM, Gwalior - 474 003 (www.iiitm.ac.in ).

Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar, offers a doctoral-level fellow programme in management in specified research areas. There will be a research aptitude test. Details on http://www.ximb.ac.in

Some of the Universities offer M.Phil programmes through distance education of one-year duration. Among them are: