The broad objective of the Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications (PGDCA) programme is to prepare graduate students for productive careers in software industry. The programme's thrust is on giving the students a thorough and sound background in theoretical and application-oriented courses relevant to the latest computer software development. The programme emphasizes the application of software technology to solve mathematical, computing, communications/networking and commercial problems.

This PG Diploma is a stand-alone programme consists of 10 courses (No. of Theory Courses–6, No. of Practical Courses–4) worth 32 credits. It has been designed with a semester approach in mind. The courses are aimed at skill development in computers using various technologies. It prepares the student to aim for a programmer level/web developer in a software company to design and develop small business application software or lab personnel/technician in institutions or a freelancer to develop software projects.

The details of the theory and practical counselling sessions are given below.

 

In distance education, face-to-face contact between the learners and their tutors/counsellors is relatively less. The purpose of such a contact is to answer some of your questions and clarify your doubts that may not be possible through any other means of communication. It also provides you with an opportunity to meet your fellow students.

 

There are academic counsellors at the Study Centers to provide counselling and guidance to you in the courses that you have chosen for study. Normally, these sessions will be held at the study centers on Saturdays and Sundays.

 

You should note that the counselling sessions would be very different from the classroom teaching or lectures. Counsellors will not be delivering lectures as in conventional teaching. They will try to help you to overcome difficulties that you face while studying for the PGDCA programme. In these sessions, you must try to resolve your subject-based difficulties and any other related problems.
 

The practical sessions will be held in the computer centers / labs of the Study Centers. In these computer labs, the participants will have the facility to use the computer and software packages relevant to the syllabus. The following points regarding the practical attendance must be noted:

 

(i)   75% attendance is compulsory for each lab course.

(ii)  This is a pre-requisite for taking the term-end practical examination in the respective lab courses.

 

Number and Duration of Counselling Sessions:

Completion of the programme requires successful completion of continuous evaluation (30%) and the Term end Examination 70% for each of the course in the programme.

Note: A learner should not apply for appearing at the term-end examination of any course without getting registered for the same and that if s/he does so, her/his result would not be declared and the onus shall be on her/him.

 

The main purpose of assignments, which is a tool for continuous evaluation, is to test student's comprehension of learning the materials they receive from the University and also to help them get through the courses by providing feedback to them. The information given in the printed course materials should be sufficient for answering the assignments. However, as the Computer Science is ever enhancing area, the students should make an attempt and work with extra reading material easily available in the study centre / Regional Centre libraries or through websites for working on the assignments. This will enhance your learning capabilities.

 

Medium of Instruction: English

 

Prof.P.V.Suresh,
PGDCA Programme Coordinator
Email: pvsuresh@ignou.ac.in ,
Ph.: 011-29572908