Other links:
Other links:
Ashoka University’s undergraduate course curriculum is taught across three semesters: Spring, Summer and Monsoon (Fall). Courses are broadly divided into three categories – Foundation Courses (core curriculum), Major & Minor Courses and Co-Curricular Courses.
You may search courses offered at Ashoka here. Please use the drop down menu to choose the specific semester and subject to see the full list of courses under each department. Foundation courses are offered in all semesters and do not have prerequisites. Offerings in other categories differ in each semester. Some higher level major/minor courses may have prerequisites.
To view Summer Semester Courses-2024: Click here
Introduction:
Why do we think and act the way we do? Why do we believe in a certain moral framework, dream, desire, sleep, work, or eat the way we do? These may seem like the most banal set of questions, prompting a ‘that is just how it is’ response. However, implicated in their answers are hundreds of years of social, economic, and political thought. In this course, we will engage with different social, political, and economic ideas that have changed the way we look and interact with the world, and for this purpose, we will go straight to the horse’ mouth. In other words, we will read and engage with texts written by some of the greatest social, economic, and political thinkers from around the world such as Marx, Ambedkar, Berger & Luckmann, Rosa Luxemborg, bell hooks, and Fanon. However, using these foundational thinkers, we also try and engage with the questions that speak to our contemporary life such as:
Why do I have to do this bullsh*t job?
Can this planet be saved?
Is our present way of life, predicated on endless Amazon orders, quarterly earnings, new iPhone models going to continue forever?
Will my grandkids need a passport? (Also see related question: is the planet going to make it that far?)
The only precondition for the course is that students should be willing to engage with the texts.
Evaluation:
Grading Rubric
Attendance/participation – 20% (Comprises your attendance and participation in both lectures and discussion sections. Also see attendance policy below)
Midsemester exam – 20%
Memos (6) – 30%
End semester essay – 30%
Midsemester Exam: It will be held on Tuesday, 15th October, after your mid-term break. The syllabus will be all the readings that we have covered till then.
End Semester Take Home Essay: The tentative date for submission is 03 December
A word about memos: The weekly memos are supposed to be 500 word articles where you engage with the readings of the week. Over the course of the semester, you can submit any 6 memos of your choice. They are meant to be fun exercises meant to let your thoughts run freely, and in addition to the 500-words, you can use memes, images, cartoons, doodles, or whatever comes to your mind. Your memo is an exercise in engaging and analysing your text, not describing/summarizing it. Also, it need not be dense academic prose. Your memos can be in any mutually intelligible language, and thanks to our talented Teaching Fellows, our pool of languages got bigger, including, Hindi, Magahi, Malayalam, Punjabi, Urdu, and Arabic. Even creoles like Hinglish and Punjlish are fine – my only requirement is that you show genuine engagement with the text.
Memos have to be submitted by Thursday evening 7pm, and they should be based on the readings of that week.
Attendance Policy:
You are allowed 4 unexcused absences. Each unexcused absence over and above that will result in a proportionate grade cut.
Excused absence here means one that is given for the following reasons:
Physical/mental health issues (based on a certificate provided by a competent authority)
Personal Emergency (It has to be communicated to the instructor)
An academic/extracurricular engagement such as a conference (Due evidence has to be provided. Hangout session with friends does not count)
Please note: Stress during your assignment/exam season is known to adversely impact the health of your grandparents. Please take care of them.
Office Hours: The office hours policy is as follows. If it is a Tier 3 problem (i.e. logistics etc), try contacting our lovely TAs, Siya Gupta and Aan Rakshit first. If it is a Tier 2 problem (conceptual/assignment related), contact our brilliant TFs, Sameer Sayyed and Rupal Rupali. If on either levels, the problem isn’t resolved to your satisfaction, then contact me for office hours. However, you may approach me directly if you think the issue requires my direct intervention. Office hours with me are to be fixed through email. You may ask the TFs/TAs for their OH policy.
AI/ML policy: I discourage the use of machine learning tools such as ChatGPT in the class. Reason – I have faith in your talent and abilities, and in the long run, this helps you become a better writer and thinker (and more employable). However, if you have to use such a tool, please declare that you have used a ML tool for your assignment, and also specify exactly to what extent the tool has been used.
