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A minimum of 8 credits of course work is required for passing Part I and become eligible to appear for Part II. A minimum of 8 credits of course work and thesis are required for passing Part II. Only if a student passes Part II will the award of the degree with GPA be awarded. If a student opts to take more courses within the department the student shall be awarded additional credits as assigned to the specific course and these shall be mentioned in the degree certificate. Those students in Part II who accept teaching assistance assignments in the Department for a minimum 114 hours shall get one credit in their Part II course. This additional credit will be separately mentioned in the degree certificate.

The University has introduced a 4-point grade scale for M.Tech. (Green Tech). We shall be following the same system. The overall GPA includes both institutional and transfer work. The students' performance will be monitored continuously through quiz, assignment, participation in class discussions/attendance and the end-term semester examination for all theory and practicals. The weightage will be 50 per cent for continuous evaluation and 50 per cent for the end-term examination.

Grade Point Averages are calculated at the end of each term after grades have been processed and after any grade has been updated or changed. Individual assignments/quiz/surprise tests are all based on the same criterion as given above. The instructor should convert his marking into the quality points.

The Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated by dividing the number of hours scheduled in all subjects attempted in which a grade of A, B, C, D, F or WF has bee received into the number of quality points earned on those hours scheduled.

For example, a student had the following schedule. The tutor determines the total number of quality points and the GPA as given below:

In all case where selection is to be done award - of prizes/placement etc., selection is based on CGPA unless some other measure is advocated under the conditions of the award. A student gets rigorous academic input here over the curriculum. The University expects absolute academic honesty from all the students. In the exams/assignments/tutorials/project a student must report his/her own work/analysis and conclusions. Whenever he/she uses other's work he/she must give proper citation references. The Department of Communication and Journalism has zero-tolerance for plagiarism. If found, the student shall be barred from further studies in the Department and all previous credits that the student may have acquired in the Department shall also be withdrawn.

Every candidate registered for the Degree of MA (Public Relations) shall be required to pass a theory examination which will be held in three parts: Part I - to be hereinafter referred to as Semester I and Semester II examinations and Part II - to be hereinafter referred to as Semester III. The Semester I will be normally of 16 weeks classroom teaching/lectures duration and the examination for this semester will be held during/after 17 th week after the commencement of the Semester I. Semester II will also be normally of 16 weeks classroom teaching/lecturers duration and the examination for this semester will be held during/after 16 the week after the commencement of Semester II. Semester III will also be normally of 16 weeks classroom teaching/lecturers duration and the examination for this semester will be held during/after the 16 th week after the commencement of Semester III.

Every candidate registered for the Degree of MA (Public Relations) shall be required to carry out research work in all the four semesters.

No candidate will be admitted to the Semester I examination unless he produces a satisfactory testimonial of having passed the qualifying examination referred to in O. and having kept one term to the satisfaction of the Head of the Department.

Failure to pass the Semester I examination of the MA (Public Relations) Course will not disqualify the candidate from continuing his/her studies for Semester II. Failure to pass the Semester I examination will not disqualify the candidate for presenting herself/himself on a subsequent occasion on a new application being forwarded and a fresh examination fee paid. Such a candidate is also allowed to keep terms and appear for the Semester II examination, notwithstanding the fact that he may not have cleared the Semester I examination. A candidate who has kept two terms to the satisfaction of the Head will be eligible to take the Semester II examination.

A candidate who has failed to clear the Semester I and/or the Semester II examination will be disqualified from presenting herself/himself for the Semester III examination because Semester III is a specialised component. Thus, a candidate must have cleared both Semester I and Semester II to be able to keep terms for Semester III. Only a candidate who has cleared Semester I as well as Semester II and kept terms of Semester III to the satisfaction of the Head will be eligible to present herself/himself for the Semester III examination. A candidate who has cleared both Semester I and Semester II shall be given a Certificate that the candidate has successfully cleared Part I of the two-year MA (Public Relations) course.

Failure to pass the Semester III examination of the MA (Public Relations) Course will not disqualify the candidate from continuing his/her studies for Semester IV. Failure to pass the Semester III examination will not disqualify the candidate for presenting herself/himself on a subsequent occasion on a new application being forwarded and a fresh examination fee paid. However, the result of the thesis will not be declared until the student has cleared Semester III and kept terms to the satisfaction of the Head.

Notwithstanding the paper/s the candidate fails to clear in any Semester, she/he will have to present herself/himself for an examination of all the papers in that Semester on a subsequent occasion on a new application being forwarded and a fresh examination fee paid.

Every candidate registered for the Degree of MA (Public Relations) shall be required to carry out research work for the thesis under the supervision and guidance of a recognised University Teacher. Whole or a part of the research work could also be carried out in an industrial establishment or a research institution approved by the Head. The research project shall be assigned within a four weeks of the beginning of Semester III. Three typewritten copies of the thesis embodying the result of the research project together with a synopsis and a statement indicating to what extent the candidate's work is original and to what extent it is referred to other sources, shall be submitted by the candidate to the Controller of Examinations, through the candidate's guiding teacher. The thesis shall be candidates' own work carried out under the guidance of her/his teacher and shall be submitted to the Controller of Examinations at the end of the Semester IV of attendance. The time limit for the submission of the thesis can be extended maximum up to the fifth semester, upon payment of fresh fees of Rs.5000/-. Extension of the limit will be on the basis of recommendations from the Research Supervisor and approved by the Head.

At least two months before submitting his/her thesis a candidate shall forward to the Controller of Examinations through the University Teacher under whom he has worked or by whom he has been guided, a statement giving the title and the synopsis of the thesis along with his form of application for admission to the examination and a fee of Rs 1,000 (Rupees One Thousand only). In the synopsis the candidate shall indicate the broad outlines of the work carried out by him. Before submission of the thesis every candidate should present Research Colloquium at least two weeks prior to the submission of the thesis. Colloquium schedule should be formally announced at least ten days before the presentation and the colloquium shall be open to all.

Every candidate shall submit a certificate signed by the guiding teacher under whom he has worked stating that there is a prima facie case for the consideration of the thesis. Such a certificate has to be submitted along with the synopsis of the thesis. Such a certificate shall be regarded as satisfying the Research and Recognition Committee for the Ad Hoc Committee of the Department of Communication and Journalism that the candidate has done sufficient work to enable him to appear for the examination.

The thesis shall be referred for examination and report to two referees, to be appointed by the Board of Examinations on the Recommendation of the Research and Recognition Committee or the Ad Hoc Committee of the Department of Communication and Journalism; one of the referees being always the guiding teacher. If both the referees recommend the thesis for the award of the degree, viva-voce examination shall be conducted jointly and at the time of via-voce examination, copy of the thesis should be in their possession. The referees to whom the thesis is refereed for examination, shall, after valuing the thesis and holding viva-voce examination, report to the Controller of Examinations whether the thesis should be accepted or rejected and their report shall be final.

If at the time of the viva-voce examination one of the referees rejects the thesis, while the other recommends it for the degree, the Board of Examination shall appoint a third referee and shall decide whether the thesis be accepted or not for the award of degree, after considering the reports of all the three referees. In addition, viva-voce examination of the candidate should be conducted once again by the new referee, guiding teacher and one of the members or nominee of the Research and Recognition Committee for the Ad Hoc Committee for the Department of Communication and Journalism. Majority decision as to whether the thesis should be accepted or rejected shall be final. This decision shall be circulated to the members of the Research and Recognition Committee of the Ad Hoc for the Department of Communication and Journalism and placed before the Board of Examinations for information.

In case the two referees differ in their opinion on accepting the thesis prior to holding the viva-voce examination, the Ad Hoc committee will appoint the third referee and shall decide whether viva-voce examination should be conducted or not depending upon two of the referees accepting or rejecting the thesis. If the thesis is accepted, two of the referees accepting the thesis for the degree will conduct viva-voce examination in accordance with the procedure outlined below.

If two of the referees reject the thesis, the viva-voce examination will not be conducted. The candidate may resubmit the thesis within one year from the date he is informed about the thesis being rejected. The candidate has to pay fresh tuition and examination fees. If the candidate does not submit the thesis within this period or if his thesis is rejected again, he will not be granted re-admission for the MA (Public Relations) Degree course.

Provided further that the thesis submitted and accepted for the degree shall be given a grade:

The grade to be awarded shall be decided by the referees valuing the thesis depending on the quality and the presentation of the research work and performance at the viva-voce examination. If the research work included in the thesis is already published or accepted for publication in a peer reviewed international journal, the candidate shall provide a proof of the same. Only such a candidate should be considered for A+ grade. A mention of the grade so awarded shall be made in the results of the examination.

The successful candidate shall be awarded the combined GPA in the final degree certificate jointly on the basis of the results of the Semester I, II and II examinations and the thesis submitted by her/him.

A thesis that has been rejected may be submitted again after due revision and payment of fresh tuition and examination fees. The revised thesis has to be submitted within two semesters after rejection.

A candidate registered for the degree of MA (Public Relations) may, on the merits of the individual case (GPA of 4.00 at the Semester I, II and III examinations) and on the basis of the research conducted by her/him during the third semester, will be eligible for the transfer of registration to PhD (Arts), provided the candidate's case has been recommended by a Committee consisting of (1) Head of the Department, (2) Research Guide and (3) Senior Professor, subject to the approval by RRC of the University. A slight change in the thesis title may be permitted while changing to PhD (Arts) Registration. In such an event, the candidate will not be awarded MPR Degree.

The scheme of papers for Semester I, Semester II and Semester III is laid down as follows:

Semester I

• Public Relations Theory and Practice ( 2 credits, 32 hours)

This paper will give a basic introduction to the subject and discuss the history, background, theoretical process and the current practice of this profession.

• Media Relations & Media Writing (2 credits, 32 hours)

This module will introduce media and non-media tools of public relations and the various forms of writing in public relations.

• Introduction to Organisation Behaviour and HR policies (2 credits, 32 hours)

Basics of Organisation Behaviour and Human Resource Policies and Practices will be discussed in this module.

• Introduction to Financial Management and Marketing (2 credits, 32 hours)

Concepts of financial management and marketing which are useful to the field of Public Relations will be introduced in this module.

Semester II

• Public Relations Campaigns (2 credits, 32 hours)

The aim of this module is to introduce to the student the theory and practice of developing public relations campaigns.

• Research Methodology in Public Relations (2 credits, 32 hours)

The importance of research methodology in the sphere of public relations is explained at length in this module. It empowers students to use research tools in conducting various types of research needed in public relations.

• New Media and Technologies in Public Relations (2 credits, 32 hours)

The new media tools and technologies that enhance effective communication today have been elaborately covered in this module.

• Introduction to Legal and Ethical Guidelines in public relations (2 credits, 32 hours)

Public relations functions in a business and legal environment. The aim of this paper is to prepare the student in company law and media laws.

The students has to undergo an internship in a company / agency - 6 weeks during summer vacation, where the student has to compulsorily prepare a report at the end of the tenure of the internship.

Semester III

• Public sector PR

This module would introduce to the students the nuances of this discipline and equip them with all the nitty-gritty's of government public relations.

• Private Sector PR

With the growing private sector in the country, knowledge of the functions of public relations in this area becomes extremely important. This module will train students in detail in the know- how of how the private sector public relations operates.

• Agency PR

This module intends to make entrepreneurs of students so that they are well-equipped to start off their own agency business. It will thoroughly train students in all the aspects of running an agency with all the processes involved in doing the business.

• Media Advocacy

India has been a rich country in political campaigning and advocacy of social issues. It is extremely important for students to understand the basics of this field and to explore in depth the processes of working on these issues.

Semester IV

• Research on an advanced topic for thesis (32 weeks, 8 credits)

Duration:
The duration of the course is four semesters. Semester I, II and III are devoted to the course work whereas Semester IV is a full time research leading to a dissertation. However, candidates can do preliminary background work such as experimental set-up, literature search etc during the first three semesters.