DU's add-on courses: overhyped or useful?

The courses open the doors to not only traditional professions, but also off-beat ones like art or film critic.

They surely look good on one’s resume, but really how useful are the add-on courses, much sought after by students this year? Says Dr. Minoti Chatterjee, Principal, Kamala Nehru College, “The courses open the doors to not only traditional professions, but also off-beat ones like art or film critic, interpreter, decipherer of government material, etc.”

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She should know, being the head of a college that offers three add-on courses, in French, General Studies and Film Appreciation. In similar comments, Ramjas College Principal Dr. Rajendra Prasad said such courses boost a student’s odds of clearing a job interview.

“They serve as ‘extra’ qualification on one’s resume.” Ramjas offers 26 add-on courses, the highest by any Delhi University college. But students offered mixed reactions towards the courses. Parul Gupta, who did an add-on course in Mass Communication, said, “The courses definitely provide one with exposure. But as the name suggests, they are merely an add-on to your qualifications. If you are seeking a job in mass media, then an add-on course will help only if you’ve a graduation or diploma in the same field.”