HYDERABAD: For the first time in the country, students with humanities and social science background gets an opportunity to purse engineering in computer science stream. The unique programme, now being offered by the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad aims to provide admission to students who have completed their 12th grade in humanities and social sciences, provided they have good scores in math.

human sciences (CHS). According to the institution, candidates who have achieved high scores in the Class 12 Board exams are eligible for this special mode of admission into the dual degree programme. For the CNS programme, students must have scored 90% or above in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. For the CHS programme, a minimum eligibility of 85% in mathematics and one of the following subjects is required: History, political science, geography, economics, English elective, or sociology.In appreciation of their distinction in the exams, top applicants will be selected based on their performance in the exams and will be directly invited for an interview. It is important to note that the mathematics prerequisite refers to the standard course that includes calculus, and not business or commerce mathematics.

Explaining the rationale behind the programme, professor PJ Narayanan, director of IIITH, said that graduates in computer sciences or computing are predominantly involved in developing systems and tools that are utilised by non-technologists. Therefore, these systems must be designed with a focus on the broader humanity. "The technology students need to have a deep understanding of how individuals and society as a whole interact with these systems. By integrating computer science methods and tools into the study of humanities and social sciences, scholars in human sciences will gain the competence to work, create, and innovate computer science tools at the highest level," he said.