Syllabus for
Bachelor of Arts (Psychology, Economics)
Academic Year  (2023)

Course Description

This course is designed to give a systematic introduction to mainstream approaches to the study of microeconomics. The course begins by introducing students to the theories and derivation of demand and supply. Then the course proceeds with a systematic introduction to the theories of production. With the understanding of laws of production, cost, revenue, and functioning of various markets are introduced. The course has been designed in such a way that it stimulates awareness on essential variables for the understanding of how consumers and firms derive various decisions.

Course Objectives

The course has been conceptualised in order to help students:

• Develop an understanding of the conceptual foundations and analytical methods used in Microeconomics.
• Familiarise with the basics of consumer behaviour and decision-making criteria.
• Analyse and understand relationships and interactions in various forms of markets.

This course provides the basics of international trade theory stems from classical to new trade theories, and international economic policies on domestic and world welfare. This course begins with an introduction to international trade. Then the neo classical trade theories and new trade theories are discussed. The course concludes with a discussion on trade policies and its controversies. The course uses the empirical evidences to explain the theories and models in international trade.

This course is designed to introduce some branches of mathematics used to understand microeconomic theory and macroeconomic theory in a lucid manner. The course begins by introducing students to the idea of basic concepts of mathematics and its application in economics. The course then systematically introduces students to the higher level of mathematics such as, differential calculus and integral calculus; and their applications in the field of microeconomics and macroeconomics at the rudimentary level.

The course aims to help students to:

• understand the basic concepts, procedures and techniques of mathematical economics.
• apply mathematical techniques to economic theory in general.

Cognitive Processes are the most basic aspects in the attempt to understand the psychology of

individuals. This course will help students to understand the structure and functioning of

senses; the principles of perception, and how perception helps an individual to understand

their world; principles, and theories of memory and attention. Through classroom discussions

and research discussions, the student will also be able to apply this knowledge in their daily

lives to improve their own functioning, as well as apply it to evaluate various real-world

issues such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, design thinking and so on. The

experimental psychology laboratory practicum taken alongside the course during the semester

will help students understand various psychophysical experiments and connect the theoretical

underpinnings of such tests to concepts learned in this course.

The coursework aims to provide undergraduate psychology students with the knowledge and hands-on practice of experimental psychology. The course imparts training in classic and contemporary experiments from the domains of sensation and perception and other cognitive processes. The course introduces students to traditional psychophysical experiments and contemporary computer-assisted experiments. In the process, they will be provided with an understanding of central concepts, such as ethics, lab protocols and major elements of a psychological experiment, including variables and hypothesis. The course adopts a problem-based learning approach where students will get an opportunity to conduct a computer-assisted experiment to explain a given psychophysical phenomenon. Due attention is given to issues of identifying and selecting experiments, conducting experiment processes in an ethical manner and writing APA-style reports. The course has two components of lecture and laboratory work. The lecture classes will consist of a mixture of lectures and group discussions. Lectures are designed to clarify and deepen understanding of experimental methods and descriptive statistics. The laboratory sections will be a space to practice conducting psychological experiments and to begin learning some basics of data analysis.

Service learning combines community service with academic instruction, focusing on critical, reflective thinking and personal and civic responsibility. Service-learning programs involve students in activities that address community-identified needs while developing their academic skills and commitment to their community. It not only helps students to observe, analyze and understand the community but also allows the student to identify themselves in the community, build community partnerships and take up civic responsibilities. The course gives a first-hand opportunity for a student to utilize academic knowledge and skills by adopting a participatory learning approach. The course expects students to complete a minimum of 30 hours of community work under faculty supervision. There would be weekly class meetings that help students to reflect on their learning and learn from peers. 

Course Description

This course is in continuation to the Introductory Macroeconomics course offered in the second semester. The course first introduces students to the mathematical framework for Keynesian economics – ISLM. Then the links between output, inflation, and unemployment and the effectiveness of policies are discussed from the Keynesian and the Monetarist perspectives. The third unit then introduces students to the open economy framework, and the course concludes with a discussion on the contemporary debates in the field of macroeconomic theory and policies.

Course Objectives

The course aims to:

• enhance the understanding of the learners regarding the macroeconomic dynamics in the short-run closed as well as open economy.
• understand and analyse the nexus between output, inflation and unemployment in both the short-run and in the long-run.
• understand and critically evaluate contemporary macroeconomic policies, create reports and deliver presentations

Public Economics is the study of government policy from the point of view of economic efficiency and equity. This course introduces students to allocation,distribution, stabilisation and regulatory functions of government. The course discusses about concept of public goods, club goods, and merit goods, andanalyses causes of externalities and market failures. It then does a systematic analysis of sources of government revenue, expenditure, public debt which is inclusive of theories on taxation, public expenditure and Economist views on public debts to provide students a broader perspective to analyse such issues. Last unit, provides a thorough understanding on fiscal institutions with a careful analysis of the issues pertaining to budgetary policies in general and Indian experience in particular.

The course will help the students to develop an understanding of human development from conception to the later stages of life. This course has been conceptualized in order to provide a general introduction to various developmental concepts across the different stages of the lifespan, with the nature versus nurture debate as a concurrent theme. The primary purpose of this course is to examine the physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development of infants, children, adolescents, and adults and the various factors (e.g., genetics, parenting, peer groups, culture) that influence development. Prominent theories of development and research methods in developmental psychology are reviewed. Specific topics that are covered include prenatal development, aggression, attachment, gender development, language development, moral development, cognitive development, cultural influences, and ageing.

This course has been conceptualised for students to understand the historical and scientific developments in the field of social psychology. Students will explore the theoretical bases of the development of the social self and the dynamics of social perception and cognition, interpersonal attraction, prosocial behaviour, aggression, prejudice, attitudes, social influence and group processes in a social context. The course will engage students through pedagogy designed for a hands-on experience, critical reading of journal articles, discussion of contemporary social issues, and small study groups to facilitate a deeper understanding of human social behaviour. Further, the course aims to use a multicultural and intersectional lens to build on the student's understanding.