Modern Political Concepts
The course discusses the history and evolution of political science from its Renaissance-era roots to the more contemporary developments of thinking. While it begins with establishing basic concepts like a state, nation, and an individual’s duties to society, it quickly takes a more interesting turn. Politics is discussed not quite in the usual sense, but rather as the interaction between two people, or between a person and society. The beliefs and theories of renowned philosophers like Plato, Machiavelli, Rousseau, and Hobbes are studied.

Apart from the mid-semester and comprehensive exams, one self-study assignment (SSA) is given to students. Teams of up to four students can be formed for this purpose. Apart from the submission of the assignment, a presentation of the same will also have to be made. Grading is generally lenient, concentrated in the Bs and above, and proportionate to the content presented in each evaluation. It’s one of the more objective HuEls in terms of grading, where a good show in the papers will assure good marks.

International Relations
The course offers students a critical understanding of current global issues and events that have shaped the world order. The focus is on methods of approaching state relations and politics. Prof. Veena R incorporates contemporary events to relate the concepts learned. The curriculum explores geopolitical relations, realist, liberal and constructivist schools of thought, and influential thinkers such as Machiavelli and Rousseau.

Emphasizing general knowledge and clear, specific points in exam answers leads to good scores. Grading is fair, with a B grade awarded as the average score. Although attendance is not mandatory, it is highly recommended as in-class interactions prove to be valuable.

Heritage of India
This course deals with the history of ancient India, studying various aspects like philosophy, art, language, and literature. Focus is placed on indigenous lifestyles and civilisations, and pre-colonial-era practices and products are dealt with.

The course is taken by Dr Harikrishan Nair and can be expected to have four evaluative components, which are typical of all his courses. These include the mid-semester and comprehensive examinations, along with a self-study assignment (SSA) and its preliminary draft. Attendance is recommended as the lectures are engaging, and give critical insight into the course material. Dr Nair tends to award a B- or C on average, depending on the class strength. Due to the rigorous and demanding nature of his courses, they are available across all the Priority (PR) Numbers.

Gandhian Thoughts
This course examines Mahatma Gandhi’s profound philosophical and political ideas. It analyses how Gandhi’s experiences as an ordinary person shaped his actions during the freedom struggle. Instead of studying his ideas based on preconceived notions, the course attempts to understand his evolution as an individual.

The course — taught by Dr Harikrishnan Gopinadhan Nair — is rigorous and includes significant reading material. Due to its challenging nature, registration remains open at all PR numbers as most students enrol based on interest. While a B- grade is usually awarded at average, securing an A grade would prove competitive. Class attendance would be helpful due to the instructor’s interactive pedagogy. In addition to regular lectures, the course may include non-evaluative activities such as visiting Gandhi-related sites and attempting to spin the charkha.

The evaluation — identical across all of Dr Nair’s courses — consists of three parts, namely a mid-semester exam, a comprehensive exam, and a Self-Study Assignment (SSA), usually submitted as a term paper or video essay. The SSA typically accounts for 30% of the total course grade.

Environment, Development, and Climate Change
This course aims to help students understand the contemporary policies and environmental practices put in place and the anthropocentric dynamics of development and climate change. Sustainable development, socio-political and human impact on the environment, and global warming are a few of the various topics that will be covered in the course. It is recommended to take the course only if one is interested in it. 

Rote-learning is an essential skill needed for the course, as it requires students to memorize numerous topics and terms. Attendance is not mandatory but it is advised to attend classes as the professor highlights important points in the textbook. Apart from the mid-semester and comprehensive exams, the course has two evaluative components—a quiz and a 4000-word report. On average, students are awarded a C and a B- is given at around av+17. The course is available till relatively high PR numbers.

Development Theories
The course introduces students to the idea of development in several contexts. Core concepts pertaining to economic expansion, from the industrial revolution to the modern world, are studied. After the initial explanation of the meaning of development, certain key topics are focused on—like first, second, and third-world countries, the effects of political views on the development of a state, and the consequences of war. The course content is further exemplified by presenting case studies of some economies, nations, and time periods.

The course’s lack of popularity can be attributed to its extensive emphasis on theoretical content. Furthermore, attendance is recommended, as documentary screenings, group exercises, and class discussions are an integral part of the course. The evaluation components vary every year, with quizzes and assignments commonly serving as the standard evaluation methods. Grading is fairly standard, with a B- awarded to an average score.

Introduction to Conflict Management
Introduction to Conflict Management, taught by Professor Madhurima Das, offers a captivating exploration of conflict theory and its historical evolution. This interdisciplinary course integrates sociological and psychological perspectives, providing a thought-provoking and engaging learning experience. The course structure emphasises different social aspects and conflict management theories from various domains and eras.

Examinations in this course are closed-book, requiring a thorough grasp of the entire curriculum to effectively address the questions. In addition, two methodical assignments contribute to the students’ grades. The course is tough but rewarding, with B-/C being the grade awarded for a score equal to the average. Attendance is highly recommended for an in-depth learning experience. The course is available to students with any PR number.

Language Lab Practice
Language Lab Practice aims to polish students’ English skills — focusing on the fundamentals of reading, writing, listening and speaking. These make up the crux of the course, and all lectures revolve around developing competence in these areas. Class discussions, writing activities, and listening skills test modules are a part of many lectures. 

This course has two sessions per week, each of two hours. Attendance is mandatory, since this course only has in-class evaluations, and does not have mid-semester or comprehensive examinations. Evaluations include comprehension-based and listening-based MCQs, assignments, essays, and presentations — to cover the four skill areas. The grading is known to be more lenient than most other HuEls. Around 15 out of 40 students get an A. It is considered a CG-boosting course, and hence tends to close at low PR numbers.

Business Communication
This course aims to improve oral and written communication skills necessary for managerial tasks. Non-verbal communication, business presentations, interviews, resume writing, conflict resolution, and cross-cultural communication are covered. The focus is on contemporary writing techniques and exercises designed to improve professional communication skills effectively.

The course content is straightforward compared to most HuEls. The material is easy to comprehend and can be studied independently. Only evaluative components like presentations, group discussions, and interviews require class attendance. The instructor, Dr Sushila Shekhawat, is approachable and covers the material thoroughly. The grading system is balanced, with an average grade of B- and an A grade awarded to the top 15% of students. Due to the course’s high demand, it closes with a PR number of approximately 500. It promises to be enjoyable for those interested in the topic.

Introduction to Mass Communication
The course aims to teach students basic mass communication skills such as research, writing, presentation for news, and strategic communication on different media platforms. It also covers the functioning of various forms of mass media like cinema, social media, and digital media. 

Introduction to Mass Communication is usually available to students with a PR number under 650-700. The course material is not too difficult, making it easy for students to get through the course with a good grade if they simply attend the lectures and complete the assignments. There are usually four open-book assignments for a total weightage of 35%, the same as the comprehensive exam. The course typically sees higher enrollment compared to other HuEls due to its accommodating grading system and relatively less-challenging curriculum, making it more appealing and accessible to students.

Print and Audio-Visual Advertising
Print and Audio-Visual Advertising (PAVA) is a course aimed at giving a comprehensive working knowledge of advertising and marketing communication. It is designed to engage the students through various hands-on activities and to familiarize them with global advertising and promotion scenarios along with rural marketing. Creativity is greatly valued in this course and classroom sessions are highly interactive. 

The evaluative components apart from the mid-semester and comprehensive examinations consist of an in-class print ad as well as a take-home video and assignment. Attendance is not mandatory but highly recommended as all course material is covered thoroughly in the classroom. Students are awarded a B- grade at average marks, a B at slightly above average and top 10% of the class strength are awarded an A grade. The course is quite popular amongst students and one would require a good PR number as the course usually gets filled up around 300 PR. It is relatively tough to obtain during the substitution of courses as well. It usually sees an enrollment of around 120 students.

Mass Media Content and Design
This course provides detailed training in content conceptualization, design principles, multimedia integration, and media development for effective communication. It covers video editing and storyboarding, making it ideal for people who are interested in the filmmaking and advertising industries.
The course includes a lab component consisting of two evaluations, which together contribute to over one-third of the final grade. The main challenge in Mass Media and Content Design is memorizing a considerable amount of material for theoretical mid-semester and comprehensive exams. Consistent attendance in classes and labs makes the course more manageable. Grading is generally accommodating, and the course typically closes under the 550–600 PR number range.

Cross-Cultural Skills
Cross-Cultural Skills, a course taught by Professor Pushp Lata, offers engaging insights into diverse cultures and essential international business etiquette. She fosters active participation, making interactions a vital part of the learning process. Group discussions, presentations, and assignments are a vital part of the continuous evaluation scheme of the course.

Attending lectures is said to be pivotal to excelling in the course, as the instructor is said to award answers that align with the content taught in lectures. Additionally, while the textbook for the course is said to be relatively hard to obtain, the professor tends to share slides on time. The course tends to have a relatively low variance in scores, with a student being graded B- on average.

Applied Philosophy
Applied Philosophy presents a progressive study of philosophies across ages. The pre-midsem portion deals with the evolution of philosophy, beginning from Greek philosophers like Plato and Socrates, up to the Renaissance and Reformation-era contemporaries (Kant, Kierkegaard, Sartre, etc). This equips a student with technically sound tools to understand and potentially answer ethical questions encountered in real-world situations. The post-midsem content involves case studies, wherein the previously learnt concepts are made clear through examples.

Performing well in the course relies on the student’s ability to retain information from in-class discussions that extend to varying depths. Hence, being regular in classes is recommended. Dr Kumar values class participation which generally reflects in the final grades as a resort to a subjective constraint on the subject matter. The grading system ensures ten per cent of the batch gets an A, with the average score usually receiving a B-.

Introductory Philosophy
Introductory Philosophy is a very neatly organised and segmented collection of some major Western and Indian philosophical theories, and how their lines of thinking may be interpreted in everyday context. The first few modules introduce the nature of philosophy and its various divisions. The course then proceeds to study ancient Greek philosophers, eventually introducing several philosophers from post-medieval Europe and their modes of thinking within the first half of the course. The second part of the course deals with Indian philosophical systems, primarily the Vedic schools of thought. It also covers Buddhism and Jainism in the final module.

Apart from the mid-semester and comprehensive examinations, evaluative components include two quizzes and one small assignment. These are all easy to do well in, given sufficient studying. Attending classes is beneficial due to the discussions that are had. These usually revolve around the points listed in the slides, which are brief and tricky to understand without the in-class context. Studying on one’s own is highly recommended—from internet sources or books. Grading is standard, with a B- on average, few A minuses, and several As.

Professional Ethics
The course provides one with an acquaintance with various codes and frameworks of ethics, along with their real-life applications in areas such as general professions, business, management, education, engineering, and technology. It also discusses case studies concerning job dismissals, discrimination, whistle-blowing, marketing, and occupational health.

A fairly popular course, it is usually available until PR numbers near 500. Slides are considered enough to get through the course, although rote learning and writing skills are needed to score well. With only two assignments of fifteen marks each, the 100 mark-course is relatively less demanding. However, above-average attendance is required if one is aiming to earn a good grade in the course. The B grade starts to be awarded at around av+8, and an A is given roughly to the top fifteen per cent.

Introductory Psychology
This course aims to comprehensively track the evolution of psychology, and to understand its development as a science. It seamlessly integrates core concepts in psychology with the biological sciences, and also introduces students to different research methodologies in the domain. By teaching students to develop a conceptual framework for understanding the human mind, the course aims to make students understand the applications of this domain in various spheres. 

Evaluation components usually include surprise tests, and group discussions and/or assignments, apart from the mid-semester and comprehensive examinations. This course is readily available at all PR numbers as those who opt for it mainly do so out of interest. The grading in the course is standard, with a B- awarded at the average.

Organizational Psychology
This course, handled by Dr. Rajneesh Choubisa, aims at understanding organisations and their various functions from a psychological viewpoint. It also aims at understanding the behavior of humans at different levels of hierarchy in an organisation, and relevant issues and processes imbuing them. The course focuses on topics such as productive and counter-productive behaviour in organisations, motivation, job satisfaction, organisational commitment as well as group effectiveness and inter-group behaviour.

Attendance is not mandatory for this course. It is not a very popular course and is relatively easier to obtain with any PR number. It is easy to obtain in substitution as well, not being in great demand. The grading is said to be tough, as a C would be awarded at average marks. The course usually has an enrollment of about 100 students. Reading the textbook is considered largely beneficial to performing well on the course.

Human Resource Development
Human Resource Development (HRD) handled by Dr. Rajneesh Choubisa is a course aimed at developing a conceptual framework for understanding human behavior in organizations and developing human capital in various sectors of the world. It is also intended at enabling the learners to know more about how training programs are planned, conceived, constructed, and delivered to the potential stakeholders.

Attendance for this course is not compulsory and the instructor’s communication over email is  enough. A thorough reading of the textbook is recommended to perform well in this course. Students would be awarded a C grade at average marks, a B- at slightly above average, and approximately 10% of students of the classroom strength of 80–100 would be awarded an A grade. One would require a good priority number, about 200–300 to obtain this course, and it is not easily available during substitution of courses.

Critical Analysis of Literature and Cinema
Critical Analysis of Literature and Cinema (colloquially termed CALCi) is taken by Professor Kumar Sankar Bhattacharya and generally remains open to all PR numbers. Despite having more workload than most HuELs, it is taken up by many students. The course seeks to impart the appropriate knowledge required to critically interpret works of literature and cinema. Throughout the course different short stories, plays, comics, novels, and films are analysed with the latter involving discussions on its technical aspects as well. 

Lectures are said to be discussive, with great emphasis on the various lenses through which the given piece of media could be analysed. Attendance is a must as not only is there some weightage for attendance in the course, but also, the professor is said to award interpretations that closely adhere to what was taught in the class. A C is awarded on average with approximately 10% of the students getting an A.

Appreciation of Indian Music
This course aims to help students gain an appreciation of music and understand it as a fine art. It deals with the history and development of music on the Indian subcontinent. Various taals and ragas of Hindustani and Carnatic origin are taught throughout the course. There are modules dealing with Thaat and Melakarta, musical compositions, musical instruments etc. 

This course is easily available as not many people opt for it. However, those without any prior musical training might find the concepts unfamiliar and challenging. Regular attendance is recommended for this course. The evaluation components vary year-to-year, but in the past have consisted of quizzes, tests, assignments, and practical exams. The grading is relatively lenient, with the lowest grade awarded being C and the average B-.

Cinematic Adaptation
This course aims to understand how the movie adaptation of a literary work materialises. Various aspects of filmmaking and literature such as characters, themes, setting, cinematography, screenplay, and sound are also analysed as the course proceeds.

Attending lectures is recommended as they are said to be fun and interactive. Evaluative components consist of two assignments along with the mid-semester and comprehensive examination, all of which are usually open-laptop components. Both the assignments and a significant portion of the exams are centred around a film adaptation chosen by the student at the beginning of the semester. The grading is moderate, and a grade of B- or C can be expected on average, depending on the strength of the class. The course is fairly popular, usually closing around the 500 PR number.

Musicology — An Introduction
The Musicology course is designed to introduce students to fundamental musical concepts, their history, and their development through Indian classical music. The course has both theoretical and practical components. It begins with a study of musical notes and basic taals and then moves on to raags, note recognition, and taal recognition. Professor Anil Rai teaches this course and it has a lot of overlap with another one of his courses, Appreciation of Indian Music; however, it is comparatively more advanced.

The course is available throughout all PR numbers, though it is recommended to have a background in classical music prior to taking it. Additionally, the course is said to be competitive since the few enrolled students are primarily members of the campus’ various musical clubs who are already versed with the course content. Hence, the grade received depends more on the overall rank than how far above the average the score is. It is crucial to attend classes if one is unfamiliar with the course material, especially during practical classes, as Professor Rai does not share any slides.

Marxian Thoughts
This course aims to familiarise students with the fundamental principles of Marxist Theory. The reading material is considered to be slightly heavier than the average HuEl, including different interpretations of classic texts such as Das Kapital and The Communist Manifesto. The course also involves discussion of movies based on economic exploitation and social inequality — examples include Parasite and Modern Times.

The classes have been described as fun and engaging, with some class discussions exploring topics outside the syllabus as well. Nevertheless, attendance is important as it is sometimes included as an evaluative component. The grading is lenient, although the small class strength can mean rapid shifts in grades with each exam or assignment. The course is available across all PR Numbers. Usually, the only evaluative component in the course apart from the mid-semester and comprehensive examinations is an assignment. Open book evaluative components ensure that the course focuses more on creative interpretations of the literature taught rather than rote learning of Marxist literature.

Techniques in Social Research
The course is designed for students interested in designing and publishing research projects in the social sciences. It introduces research, outlining its general procedure, design and methodologies, and purpose. Students are introduced to methods of data collection, analysis, and validation. Some related topics like ethics in research, the politics of social research, and the value of conducting studies on demographics are also talked about.

Students are encouraged to read scientific papers and books to better understand academic writing and research procedures. There will be a report and presentation to submit, as the course is built around the concept of conducting independent research. While the course is not too popular, grading is generous, owing to its fairly easy nature and content. An average score is usually awarded B, while almost a quarter of the class receives an A.

Symbolic Logic
Symbolic Logic (SymLog) aims to develop basic analysis skills to understand the nature of and evaluate the status of deductive arguments using basic symbolic procedures. Students deal with boolean logic, truth tables, and proving and disproving fallacies. The course is much preferred by CS students as it closely mirrors one of their 2-1 CDCs, Logic in Computer Science. 

Evaluative components may require some rote learning but are mainly quite logical and straightforward. The range for B is quite vast, awarded on average, while only a handful of students are granted an A in the course. There is no strict attendance requirement for the course. Symbolic Logic is one of the most sought-after HuEls on campus and closes at PR number 300-500.

Srimad Bhagavad Gita
Srimad Bhagavad Gita aims to help students understand the timeless wisdom spoken by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. Beginning with fundamentals like the need to understand spirituality, the content includes the science of the soul, and a study of various types of yogic practices. 

Regular attendance is recommended as the professor goes over key terms and verses in detail. It is also usually not necessary to remember the verses verbatim; only memorising the key terms is sufficient. Apart from the mid-semester and comprehensive examinations, other evaluative components are quizzes and after-class assignments. The grading system usually has a B awarded at around five marks over the average, and a B- at the average. This course is usually available till PR number 500–600.

Copywriting
This course prepares students to write and develop an advertisement copy for various media while selecting tone(s), style(s), and approach(es) for the same. The course begins by introducing the concepts of copywriting and advertising. The curriculum enables the students to write creative copies for saleable ideas while exposing them to various copy practices in different media.

The course difficulty is said to be fairly straightforward. Notably, it is one of the few Humanities Elective worth two units. The grading for the course is moderate with a B- being awarded at an average score. An A grade is awarded at around av+20–25. The evaluation consists of the mid-semester and comprehensive examinations, along with two assignments.

Current Affairs
The course content is related to how news works, what type of topics make it to the news, what type of news is relevant to the readers, and how to distinguish that. The course IC Dr. Sanjiv Choudhary also covers different pieces of news as examples to demonstrate. Attendance is highly recommended. The midsemester exam is a fully open book, with students bringing in newspapers from the last few weeks. Evaluative components are based on incidents discussed in class. Reading newspapers gives an upper edge. A high PR number is required to get into the course, as it fills quickly. The average grade is around A- and B, with the professor giving out quite a few As.

Effective Public Speaking
The course on Effective Public Speaking proves highly advantageous for individuals aiming to enhance their speaking abilities. It delves into the fundamentals of public speaking, emphasizing effective listening, proficient use of body language, managing voice modulation, overcoming stage fright, fostering self-assurance, and tailoring speeches for specific occasions, among other aspects. According to student feedback, both lecture sessions and assignments are notably fruitful. Assignments typically revolve around group discussions, delivering speeches, engaging in debates, or conducting personal interviews. On average, students tend to achieve slightly above-average scores, often resulting in a B grade for their performance in this course.

Performance Studies
This course offers students a critical understanding of various aspects of performance—ritual, play, gender performativity, events, and repertoire. Building on these basic blocks of performance, the course moves on to discussions of folk culture, ethnography, painting analysis, etcetera, to study the range of behaviour in the form of performances from different parts of the world.

The course is taken by Prof. Prateek, who incorporates discussions on papers by social scientists and anthropologists to relate to the concepts learned. Apart from mid-semester and comprehensive exams, two assignments are given to the students. The grading is fairly lenient, with the average grade being B. Attendance is highly recommended owing to the professor’s interactive pedagogy. Partaking in class discussions and keeping up with the course notes generally leads to a good score. The course is available across all PR numbers.