The document provides an overview of the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) implemented in universities. It defines key aspects of CBCS including what credits are, how they are assigned based on instruction hours, and how grades are evaluated. CBCS aims to make the education system more student-centered, flexible, and interdisciplinary. It allows students to choose from a variety of core, elective, and skill enhancement courses to earn credits for their degree. The number of credits required is typically 120-140. CBCS evaluates student performance each semester through the Semester Grade Point Average and overall through the Cumulative Grade Point Average.

1. WELCOME
Revisiting
Choice Based Credit System
G. MATHEW SRIRANGAM
ANDHRA LOYOLA COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS)
VIJAYAWADA

2. Choice Based Credit System

3. What is Choice Based Credit System ?
 Giving due credit to the various components of a
learning system;
 Student-centred approach to learning is
emphasized;
 Opportunities for students to pursue an
integrated programme with courses of their
choice;
 Academics attribute or assign certain number of
credits to each subject depending on their level
of learning and placement in a curriculum.

4.  This is not to undermine any subject as ‘easy’ or
‘hard’ to understand but it’s relative level to be
imparted at that point of study of the student for a
subject, is given due consideration.
 Flexibility of choice of subjects by the student in a
given duration.
 Flexibility allows a student to choose from a pool(s)
of subject(s) which he/she wishes to specialize in,
besides acquiring exposure to other related and
even not-so-related subjects of his/her choice.
What is Choice Based Credit System ?

5. Why Choice Based Credit System?
The main objective of the CBCS
 To provide broad based education;
 To provide students with greater flexibility in choice of
courses;
 To provide students multidisciplinary curriculum;
 To enable students to choose courses at basic/advanced
level;
 To enable students to acquire job oriented skills;
 To enable students to progress at their own pace and
 To enable highly motivated students gain extra credits.

6. Main Positive Features of CBCS
 Semester system
 Course (modular) format
 Diversity in courses (learning
experiences)
 Flexibility for lateral movement
 Multiple choices to students
 Weightage to courses in the form of
Credits
 CGPA system of evaluation (more
balanced)
 Scope for Higher Order Learning

7. Advantages of CBCS (-UGC)
 Shift in focus from teacher to student-centric education.
 Students can take as many credits as they can
 Can choose inter-disciplinary, intra-disciplinary, skill
oriented courses as per aptitude
 Education becomes broad-based and at par with global
standards.
 One can take credits by combining unique combinations.
For ex, Physics with Economics
 Flexibility to study at different times and at different
institutions to complete one programme.
 Credits earned at one institution can be transferred.

8. WHAT IS A CREDIT?
 The term ‘Credit’ describes the quantum of syllabi for
various programmes in terms of hours of study.
 It indicates differential weightage given according to
the content and duration of the course in the
curriculum design.
 Any given degree programme should have a
minimum number of credit requirement, e.g., a
Bachelor’s Degree could have approximately 120 –
140 credits.
 Institutions should provide students an opportunity
to earn extra credits.

9. Attributing Credits
 The central point of the credit system
lies in attributing credit to the subjects
of learning. In general, credits are
assigned based on two core issues. One
for the number of hours of instructions
(class contact hours) given to the
student and two, for other components
of the subjects, such as library work,
seminars, assignments, etc.

10. Thus, the term ‘credit’ describes the quantum of
syllabi for various programmes in terms of hours
of study. It indicates differential weightage
given according to the content and duration of
the course in the curriculum design. Generally
one hour per week has one credit. However,
there could be some flexibility because of the
practicals, field visits, and tutorials comprising a
course.

11. Credits
 The credits cannot be greater than the hours.
 Credits for certain programmes like extension
activities, Computer Literacy and
NCC/NSS/Sports/Extra Curricular activities,
etc., are not considered for computation of
class/grade at the end of the Degree Course. It
is only to recognize students’ involvement in
these. The credits in these, in no way, match
the hours spent.

12. Course – UGC’s Description
 Usually referred to as ‘papers’ is a component of a
programme.
 All courses need not carry the same weight.
 The courses should define learning objectives and
learning outcomes.
 A course may be designed to comprise
lectures/tutorials/laboratory work/ field work/
outreach activities/ project work/ vocational
training/ viva/ seminars/ term papers/ assignments/
presentations/ self-study etc. or a combination of
some of these.

13. Advantages of Course (Modular) System
Paper Course (Modular form)
Linear Multiples, Parallels
Open ended Rounded off
Part of entity Full as an entity in itself
Equal Unequal
Convergent Divergent
Intra-subject Inter and Multidisciplinary
No flexibility Flexibility
Very little choice to students Wide choice
Not outcome based Out come based
No weightages Weightages

14. Advantages of Course (Modular) System
Paper Module
Less scope for curriculum development High scope
Classroom (teacher based) Learning
Conventional mode
Multiple ways of learning
Conventional mode
Distance mode
Online mode
Twinning mode
Self learning
Skill learning
Limited ways of Testing
Conventional method
Multiple ways of testing
Conventional method
Distance method
Online method
Open book method
Skill testing
Limited career avenues More career avenues

15. Key Definitions (UGC)
 Core Course: A course, which should
compulsorily be studied by a candidate as a
core requirement is termed as a Core course.
 Elective Course: Generally a course which can
be chosen from a pool of courses and which
may be very specific or specialized or
advanced or supportive to the discipline/
subject of study or which provides an
extended scope or which enables an exposure
to some other discipline/subject/domain or
nurtures the candidate's proficiency/skill is
called an Elective Course.

16. Key Definitions (UGC)
 Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) Course: Elective
courses may be offered by the main discipline/subject
of study is referred to as Discipline Specific Elective.
The University/Institute may also offer discipline
related Elective courses of interdisciplinary nature (to
be offered by main discipline/subject of study).
 Dissertation/Project: An elective course designed to
acquire special/advanced knowledge, such as
supplement study/support study to a project work,
and a candidate studies such a course on his own with
an advisory support by a teacher/faculty member is
called dissertation/project.

17. Key Definitions (UGC)
Generic Elective (GE) Course: An elective
course chosen generally from an unrelated
discipline/subject, with an intention to seek
exposure is called a Generic Elective.
 A core course offered in a discipline/ subject
may be treated as an elective by other
discipline/subject and vice versa and such
electives may also be referred to as Generic
Elective.

18. Key Definitions (UGC)
 Ability Enhancement Courses (AEC): TheAbility
Enhancement (AE) Courses may be of two kinds:
Ability Enhancement Compulsory Courses (AECC)
and Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC).
 "AECC" courses are the courses based upon the
content that leads to Knowledge enhancement; i.
Environmental Science and ii. English/MIL
Communication.These are mandatory for all
disciplines.
 SEC courses are value-based and/or skill-based and
are aimed at providing hands-on-training,
competencies, skills, etc.

19. Key Definitions contd…
 Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA): Student
performance in a semester.
 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA):
Measure of overall performance of a student in
all semesters

20. Allotment of Credits
Learning Experience
Hours per Week
1-2 3-4 5-6
Theory
(Lectures, Seminars,
Assignments ,
Tutorials etc.)
1 Credit 3 Credits 4 Credits
Practicals
(Lab work, Field visits,
Models, Project etc.)
1 Credit 2 Credits --
20

21. Grades and Grade Points
Marks obtained by
student in a course
Letter Grade Grade point
90-100 O (Outstanding) 10
80-89 A+ (Excellent) 9
70-79 A (Very Good) 8
60-69 B+ (Good) 7
50-59 B (Above Average) 6
40-49 C (Average) 5
35-40 P (Pass) 4
<35 F (Fail) 0
Absent Ab 0

22. Credit Points
 Credit Point = Grade Point x Credit of the Course
 Example: Course – Z (Credits: 5)
Grade Point obtained by Student A
in Course Z: 8
Credit Points : 8 x 5 = 40

23. Semester Grade Point Average
(SGPA) Example: B.Sc. Sem – 1
Course Credit Marks Grade
Letter
Grade
Point
Cr Point
Cr x GP
SGPA
Cr Pt x
Credit
DSC - 1A 5 72 A 8 40
DSC – 2A 5 68 B+ 7 35
DSC – 3A 5 63 B+ 7 35
Eng 3 57 B 6 18
Sec lang 3 71 A 8 24
Total 21 152 7.23

24. Cumulative Grade Point Average
(CGPA)
CGPA =
 Sem 1 Credits X Sem 1 SGPA +
 Sem 2 Credits X Sem 2 SGPA +
 Sem 3 Credits X Sem 3 SGPA +
 Sem 4 Credits X Sem 4 SGPA +
 Sem 5 Credits X Sem 5 SGPA +
 Sem 6 Credits X Sem 6 SGPA
 Total Credits of Programme

25. UGC B.SC CBCS PATTERN
YEAR SEMESTER
CORE
COURSE
(12)
Credits 12 x 4
= 48
CORE
COURSE
PRACTICALS
Credits 12 x 2
= 24
Ability
Enhancement
Compulsory
Course
(AECC) (2)
Credits 2 x 2 =
4
Skill
Enhancement
Course (SEC)
(4) Credits 4 x
2 = 8
Discipline
Specific
Elective
DSE (6)
Credits 6 x
4 = 24
Discipline
Specific Elective
Practicals
DSE (6)
Credits 6 x 2 =
12
1st Year
I DSC- 1 A Practical 1 A (English/MIL
Communicatio
n)/
Environmental
Science
DSC- 2 A Practical 2 A
DSC- 3 A Practical 3 A
II DSC- 1 B Practical 1 B English/MIL
Communicatio
n)/
Environmental
Science
DSC- 2 B Practical 2 B
DSC 3 B Practical 3B
2nd Year
III DSC- 1 C Practical 1 C SEC-1
DSC- 2 C Practical 2 C
DSC- 3 C Practical 3 C
IV DSC- 1 D Practical 1 D SEC -2
DSC- 2 D Practical 2 D
DSC- 3 D Practical 3 D
3rd Year
V SEC -3 DSE-1 A Practical
DSE-2 A Practical
DSE-3 A Practical
VI SEC - 4 DSE-1 B Practical
DSE-2 B Practical
DSE-3 B Practical

26. UGC B.A/ B.Com CBCS PATTERN
YEAR
SEMEST
ER
CORE
COURSE (12)
Credits 12 x 5 =
60 + 12 Tutorial
Ability
Enhancement
Compulsory
Course (AECC)
(2)
Credits 2 x 2 = 4
Skill
Enhancement
Course (SEC)
(4) Credits 4 x
2 = 8
Discipline
Specific
Elective DSE
(4) Credits 4
x 5 = 20 + 4
Tutorials
Generic Elective
GE (2)
Credits 2 x 5 =
10 + 2 Tutorials
1st Year
I
English/MIL 1 (English/MIL
Communication)
/ Environmental
Science
DSC- 1 A
DSC- 2 A
II
English/MIL 1 (English/MIL
Communication)
/ Environmental
Science
DSC- 1B
2nd Year
DSC- 2 B
III
English/MIL 2 SEC-1
DSC- 1 C
DSC- 2 C
IV
English/MIL 2 SEC -2
DSC- 1 D
DSC- 2 D
3rd Year
V
SEC -3 DSE-1 A
GE 1DSE-2 A
VI
SEC - 4 DSE-1 B
GE 2DSE-2 B

27. B.SC CBCS PATTERN
YEAR SEMESTER
CORE COURSE (12)
Credits are given in
parentheses Total = 6 x
4= 24
CORE COURSE
PRACTICALS Credits
are given in
parentheses Total = 6 x
2 = 12
ABILITY
ENHANCEMENT
COMPULSORY
COURSES Credtis are
given in parentheses
Total = 12
FOUNDATION
COURSES
Credits are given
in parentheses
Total = 4
1st
Year
I DSC- 1 A 4h (4) Practical 1 A 3h (2) English - I 5h (3) HVPE 3h (1)
DSC- 2 A 4h (4) Practical 2 A 3h (2) MIL - I 4h (3) CSS 2h (1)
DSC- 3 A 4h (4) Practical 3 A 3h (2)
II DSC- 1 B 4h (4) Practical 1 B 3h (2) English - II 5h (3) Env. Edn 3h (1)
DSC- 2 B 4h (4) Practical 2 B 3h (2) MIL - II 4h (3) CSS 2h (1)
DSC- 3 B 4h (4) Practical 3 B 3h (2)

28. B.A/B.Com. CBCS PATTERN
YEAR SEMESTER
CORE COURSE (12)
Credits 6 x 6= 36
ABILITY ENHANCEMENT
COMPULSORY COURSES
Credtis are given in parentheses
Total = 12
FOUNDATION
COURSES
Total Credits = 4
1st Year
I DSC- 1 A 6h (6) English - I 5h (3) HVPE 3h (1)
DSC- 2 A 6h (6) MIL - I 4h (3) CSS 2h (1)
DSC- 3 A 6h (6)
II DSC- 1 B 6h (6) English - II 5h (3) Env. Edn 3h (1)
DSC- 2 B 6h (6) MIL - II 4h (3) CSS 2h (1)
DSC- 3 B 6h (6)

29. THANK YOU…….