NEW COURSES ON THE BLOCK

The Nation’s Financial Hub Finally Offers A Degree In Stock Markets. With HSC Results Out Tomorrow, A Look At New Curricula

Hemali Chhapia | TNN

Mumbai: When senior colleges open their gates this year, classrooms may bear a new look. Some may get converted into mini brokerage firms, as students study the nitty-gritty of financial markets. Other classes may see students of science understanding market dynamics. Meanwhile, a degree in international hospitality will show that it is possible to bring the world to the classroom.
BCom (Financial Markets)
The idea probably came too late to the country’s financial hub. It was natural for officials at the University of Mumbai to wonder how there was never a course for students to understand financial markets. From this year, about 30 colleges in the city will offer graduation in commerce with a specialisation in financial markets.
“The course is an attempt to identify an emerging area and provide quality professional manpower for the financial sector,’’ said university vice-chancellor Vijay Khole. Admission to the six-semester financial markets degree course will be given on merit to those who have cleared the HSC. The course will cover almost every aspect of the stock market. Students will be exposed to the nature and purpose of fixed-income securities and markets.
They will also gain skills in modern valuation techniques, including the use of the zero-coupon curve, duration and convexity, option-adjusted spreads and the discount margin method for floating-rate notes.
Course content will also include valuation of fixed-income securities, mortgage-backed derivatives, domestic and international fixed-income instruments, valuation of bonds with options, corporate bonds and MTNs, mortgage-backed securities and other curricula.
BSc (Economics)
It is often said that scientists are poor managers. This year, colleges are offering a BSc in economics. The university is to yet finalise the curricula, but the process has begun. Parvathi Venkatesh, dean of arts, said economics offered to arts students is hardcore theory, while commerce students learn business economics.
But for students of science, the subject is likely to delve into economic principles, followed by tools of quantitative methods for solving theoretical or applied problems. The course, said a member of the board of studies, will help students get critical, analytical, research and problem-solving skills.
“There’ll be two papers in the first year, three in the second and three more in the third, with a combination of three more subjects, like math, statistics or other subjects,’’ added Venkatesh.
BSc (Hospitality Studies)
Till last year, the university offered a Bachelor of Hotel and Tourism Management Studies (BHTMS). However, this has been now altered to a BSc in hospitality studies, with the varsity whipping up a better menu for the curriculum.
The three-year course does give an edge to students as there is a six-month compulsory hotel attachment in the second year. Principal of Rizvi College, hotel management, Kashmira Umrigar said that the internship, which is meant to provide great hands-on training, is mandatory.
Some of the core courses are front office, housekeeping, food production, food and beverage, cookery, bakery, marketing, accounts, financial management, organisation design and management information system. There are also ancillary topics, like the basics of computing, accommodation division handling, catering science, communication and principles of management.
Some colleges are also starting a BA degree in international hospitality, which is being offered in association with the Indira Gandhi National Open University and the American Hotel and Lodging Association.
ADMISSION DATES
ADMISSION SCHEDULE FOR DEGREE COURSES: BA, BSc, BCom, BSc (Comp), BSc (IT), BMM and BMS SALE OF FORMS: June 5 to 12 COLLECTION OF FILLED ADMISSION FORMS: June 9 to 14 First merit list: June 16 evening Payment of fees: June 17 and 18
Second merit list: June 19 evening Payment of fees: June 20 and 21
Third merit list: June 23 evening Payment of fees: June 24
Final merit list: June 25 evening Payment of fees: June 26
PROPOSED NEW COLLEGES Arts/science/commerce: 84 | Law: 10 | BEd: 28 | Management: 27 | Fine arts: 1 | Engineering: 15 | Architecture: 3 | Pharmacy: 14 | MCA: 9 Colleges have been approved by the university, but are awaiting state government nod