The Gandhian Centre for Philosophical Arts and Sciences (GCPAS), a constituent department of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), will offer a Master of Arts (MA) programme in ‘Ecosophical Aesthetics’ from August this year.

Terming ‘Ecosophical Aesthetics’ as a very new area, Varadesh Hiregange, Director of GCPAS, told BusinessLine that MAHE arrived at this course independently. Specially designed to meet the needs of contemporary times, ‘Ecosophical Aesthetics’ is an emerging area of study with immense contemporary significance.

Ecosophy combines ecology and philosophy. He said the two-year programme includes a philosophical appreciation of all art forms — music, dance, literature, theatre, cinema and painting — with a focus on writing. Ecosophy is the connecting thread. It is essentially art journalism from an ecosophical perspective, he said.

Asked if other universities are offering such a course, he said there could be certain art appreciation courses elsewhere. “I don’t think a postgraduate programme with the title ‘Ecosophical Aesthetics’ exists anywhere,” he said.

It is a two-year programme to fulfil the need for ‘art writers’. It is an intersection of journalism, philosophy, ecology, arts and sciences, he said.

The professional possibilities for this course include academics and research, journalism, media and communication, socio-cultural and environmental sector, and policy research.

Anyone with a graduate or equivalent degree can take up this programme. The classes will commence from August 1. He said the last date for sending in applications is May 31.

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