Department of Lifelong Learning and Extension

HOD's/In-charge's Message

Welcome to the Department of Lifelong Learning and Extension at CSJM University, Kanpur.

In today’s rapidly changing world, learning can no longer be confined to the traditional classroom or limited to a particular age group. Lifelong learning is a continuous, self-motivated pursuit of knowledge for personal or professional development. At our department, we believe that education must extend beyond formal boundaries to reach every individual — especially those from marginalized and underserved communities.

Our programs aim to build capacities, enhance employability, promote active citizenship, and support inclusive social development through innovative extension activities. We are committed to bridging the gap between academia and society by empowering learners with relevant skills, values, and awareness.

About The Department

Established in 1986 by the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Department of Lifelong Learning and Extension at Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University holds a unique and evolving legacy. Originally founded with the primary mandate to train adults across varied disciplines to improve their employability, the department has dynamically evolved to vastly expand its academic scope. Today, it is a vibrant academic hub catering to a younger generation of students through a diverse portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes.

The department also offers Ph.D. in Philosophy, Hindu Studies, and Lifelong Learning, focusing on inter-disciplinary research in Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) and contemporary philosophical issues.

The department regularly organizes workshops and seminars in collaboration with national and international organizations and conducts interdisciplinary research focusing on critical areas, such as national transformation, social inclusion, and Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS).

Department Contact

Prof. Sandeep Kumar Singh
Department of Life Long Learning and Extension
Phone: 9415464292. E-mail:sandeep@csjmu.ac.in

For latest fee structure, please download Fee Structure

Note : 200/- towards library fee will be added in the programme fee.

Seats: 60 | Fee: Rs.16,200

Eligibility: 10+2 (Any stream)

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) programme offers a multidisciplinary education designed to develop critical thinking, analytical abilities, and a comprehensive understanding of society and human life. The programme includes History, which examines the development of civilizations and historical events; Philosophy, which explores fundamental questions of knowledge, ethics, and human existence; Political Science, which studies governance, political systems, and public policies; Economics, which analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of resources; Social Work, which focuses on community welfare, social justice, and human development; Sociology, which investigates social structures, institutions, and social change; and Geography, which studies the interaction between human societies and the physical environment. Together, these subjects equip students with valuable knowledge and skills for higher education, research, civil services, teaching, social development, and diverse professional careers.

Seats: 30 | Fee: Rs.19,200

Eligibility: 10+2 (Any stream)

3-year degree programme that provides a comprehensive understanding of Indian and Western philosophy, covering ethics, logic, and applied philosophy, empowering students with critical thinking ability, reasoning skills, independent thought, and self-expression.

By engaging with diverse intellectual histories, students develop robust reasoning skills, sharp analytical faculties, and the capacity for independent thought. This academic journey ultimately empowers graduates with the articulate self-expression and problem-solving abilities necessary for careers in civil services, law, academia, journalism, and philosophical counseling.

Seats: 50

Fee: Rs.26,200

Eligibility: 10+2 (Any stream)

3-year degree programme that provides a deep dive into political theory, governance systems, and international relations, sharpening students’ geopolitical insight and capacity for civic engagement.

Seats: 30

Fee: Rs.26,200

Eligibility: 10+2 (Any stream)

3-year degree programme that explores the evolution of human civilisation, equipping students with the ability to analyse complex historical narratives and fostering a nuanced understanding of the forces that shape our world.

Seats : 60

Fees : 16,200/-

Eligibility : Bachelor's in any discipline.

Duration : 2 Years (4 Semesters)

Purpose

There has always been a need for expertise in “Hindu Studies”. Such need will only grow with time, because of India’s rapid emergence as an economic, military, technological, and cultural power on the global stage, and the consequential heightened interest in Hindus and their civilization. Unfortunately, no Indian university offers such a program. A MA program in Hindu Studies fills this important gap.

What Will the Student Learn?

A student with a MA degree in Hindu Studies shall:

Develop a good understanding of foundational principles underlying Hindu civilization, society, and culture. These principles provide a basis through which Hindus, despite the endless diversity present amongst them, can relate to each other.
Develop a good understanding of analytical methods through which knowledge, is analyzed and processed. These methods fall in two categories:
1. Methods as laid out in Hindu darshanas: Study of these methods is important as it will help the student understand Hindu conceptions of the individual, family, relationships, society, state, environment, and the entire cosmos. Further, such methods will also help her understand other societies, states, and civilizations through Bharatiya lenses.
2. Methods as developed in the West: The principle methods amongst these are biographical, new-historicism, formalism, psychological (both Freudian and Jungian approaches), feminist, Marxist (and Critical theory) and post-colonial theory.
Develop a good understanding of Sanskrit, as it is in Sanskrit that an overwhelmingly large number of Hindu texts, both spiritual as well as secular, have been written. Thus, working proficiency in Sanskrit is a must for MA (Hindu Studies) program. Proficiency in an additional is also encouraged.
Develop a very good understanding of Hindu practices (related to the individual, family, society, and the state), and how these practices (past, as well as present) are manifestations of core Hindu foundational principles.
Shall acquire some expertise through electives in one or more of following areas of knowledge: history, economics, law, society, culture, politics, education, arts, ethics, literature, military, comparative religion, linguistics, and natural sciences. Such an understanding will help the student contextualize her understanding of “Hindu” in the present.

Qualifications

The MA (Hindu Studies) program shall be two-years long. Any student who has a three or four year’s bachelor’s degree will be eligible for it. Thus, students with bachelor’s degrees in sciences, engineering, and medicine are also eligible to pursue this program.

Programme Requirements

All students shall be expected to take for a total of 16 programmes. Each course shall have four credits. Of the sixteen programmes, 9 programmes shall be Core (i.e. compulsory), and the remaining 6 shall be Electives (i.e. optional). A single credit corresponds to 16 lecture hours. The MA (Hindu Studies) will be spread over four-semesters, i.e. two academic years.

Fees

Rs. 11,200/- per year

Seats

60 seats

Syllabus
Effective from : 2022-23