MSW Admission Brochure - 2012-13

2. Education for life
Satguru Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
Chancellor, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
There are two types of education
Vision Education for a living and Education for life
To provide value-based education and
mould the character of the students
When we study in a college, striving to become a doctor, a lawyer,
through an interplay and exchange
or an engineer – this is education for a living. On the other hand,
of ideas and actions, resulting in a
education for life requires understanding the essential principles of
society that is empowered with noble
spirituality. This means gaining a deeper understanding of the world;
character and wholesome values.
our minds, our emotions and ourselves. We all know that the real
goal of education is not to create people who can understand only
the language of machines. The main purpose of education should
be to impart a culture of the heart – a culture based on spiritual
values.
Communication through machines has made people in far off places
seem very near. Yet, in the absence of communication between
hearts, even those who are physically near to us seem to be far
away. Today’s world needs people who express goodness in their
words and deeds. If such noble role models set the example for
their fellow beings, the darkness prevailing in today’s society will be
dispelled and the light of peace and non-violence will once again
illuminate this earth. Let us work together towards this goal.

3. About Amrita University
With headquarters at Coimbatore and campuses at
Amritapuri, Kochi, Bengaluru and Mysore, Amrita
Vishwa Vidyapeetham has emerged as one of the
fastest growing institutions of higher learning in
India.
The university is managed by the Mata
Amritanandamayi Math. Sri Mata Amritanandamayi
Devi, Amma, one of the foremost humanitarian
leaders in the world today, is Chancellor of the
university.
Based on evaluation of all campuses and programs
by a peer review committee, the university has
been accredited by the National Assessment and
Accreditation Council (NAAC) with an ‘A’ grade.
Amrita has also been ranked in the ivy league of
Indian universities along with Indian Institute of
Science, Bangalore, Tata Institute of Fundamental
Research (TIFR), Mumbai etc. in the recent review
of Deemed Universities constituted by the Ministry
of Human Resource Development (MHRD) of the
Government of India. Amrita is ranked Category
1 in this review, popularly known as the Tandon
Committee Report, conducted by a high power
committee consisting of reputed academicians
At Amrita, all students have ample opportunity
for orientation in yoga, meditation and cultural
education. Integrated Amrita Meditation (IAM)
technique helps them to achieve holistic development
of mind and body. Students have demonstrated
their commitment to engaging with society and the
community by participating in disaster relief and
rehabilitation activities after the Gujarat earthquake
in 2001, Tsunami relief operations in Tamil Nadu and
Kerala in 2005-2006, flood relief operations in Bihar
in 2009 and Karnataka in 2010.

4. About the department Master of Social Work Programme
Amrita’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program is holistic
The Department of Social Work is actively involved in and unique. It is both academic and experiential. It comprises
providing evidence-based, quality oriented social work of classroom and fieldwork components spread across four
education through most advanced and emerging domains semesters. It encourages students to increase both self
of practice, research and field interventions. The core awareness and their awareness and sensitivity towards
values of love, honesty, and sacrifice for the welfare of all others. It integrates advanced concepts and developments
living beings in this earth permeate all aspects of learning, in the field of Social Work with a deeper understanding of
knowledge building and interventions. The curriculum is the traditional Indian value system. Students participate
also crafted in such a way that it provides a meaningful in the service activities initiated by the university’s parent
account of certain core processes that influence the day organization – Mata Amritanandamayi Math. The program
to day functioning of the larger society such as social prepares students to independently undertake challenging
justice, human rights, development and empowerment assignments with oppressed, at-risk, vulnerable and general
of the vulnerable/marginalized sections of the society. populations and helps them evolve as human beings with
The courses offered, enable students to appreciate the the commitment and service-orientation necessary to
dynamics, variations, and interfaces that pervade the reach out to the most under-privileged sections of society.
Indian Sub-Continent through the culturally significant The program is most suitable for those who would like to
patterns of social stratification and exclusion such as caste, build a career in social work and gives them an opportunity
class, gender, ethnicity and religion. to derive great joy by extending a helping hand to those
in need, including the under-privileged populations in
Mission & Objectives the society. The programme is strongly grounded with
The mission of the department is to prepare the students foundation courses catering to major social science
for specialized, evidence and rights-based practice among disciplines, basic courses on perspectives and methods and
the oppressed, at risk, vulnerable and general populations. elective courses in Physical and Mental Health, Community
The MSW programme provides rigorous intellectual base, Development, Disaster Management, and Child Protection
opportunities for skill development and a value-based and Child Rights. The field learning component comprises
educational experience. of concurrent and block field work, rural practicum, and
To achieve its mission, the department has evolved the field study engagements.
following objectives: Programme duration: 2 years
l To develop a new genre of professional social workers,
driven by timeless human values, equipped with the
best knowledge and skills and committed to serve all
types of people and nature with love, trust, tolerance
and humility.
l To enable students develop an integrative, holistic
approach to social work practice that permits versatility
in the choice and application of intervention methods.
l To give students an opportunity to develop self-
awareness and the ability to listen to others with deep
understanding and sensitivity.
l To provide students a good understanding of the
economic, social, cultural, legal, ethical, political and
spiritual framework within which individuals, families,
and communities operate.
l To train students to apply professional values, ethics
and the conscious use of self to professional social work
practice.
l To train students in research, to explore the frontiers
of evidence-based social work practice and to extend it
further in the service of humanity.
2 Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

5. Coimbatore Campus Located on a serene, lush green 400-acre campus at
the foot-hills of the Western Ghats, this institution,
which was started in 1994, grew in stature in a very
short time and became the preferred destination
of students, aspiring for a career in engineering,
from across the country. Eminent and highly
qualified members of faculty and the up-to-date
facilities together enhance the quality of education
imparted at this institution.
The university lays great emphasis on value -
based education system in which the students’
knowledge, skills and overall personality are
nurtured with a lot of care, meticulous planning
and professional execution. All those who leave
Amrita portals will not only excel in their chosen
career, but also bring about qualitative changes in
their working environment, social interactions and
personal disposition.
The 400 acre campus is well planned with infrastructure like
academic buildings, administration wing, central library,
hostels, guest house, staff-quarters, shopping complex,
swimming pool and play grounds. The campus has a built-
up area of over 28 lakhs sq.feet linked by 7 km black
topped roads. Eight hostels accommodate 5000 students.
A swimming pool meeting Olympic standards is utilised by
students, staff and others in the campus. Two power houses
are installed with total generating capacity of 1660 KVA to
meet the shortage in power supply.
Computing Facility
The 18 computer centres of Amrita School of Engineering,
Coimbatore are designed, laid out and equipped scientifically
so that students can spend hours together at the terminal
without fatigue. This includes the state-of-the-art CAD/
CAM centre, high end VLSI Design Centre and an exclusive
Digital Signal Processing lab. The CAD/CAM centre has
more than 70 workstations, CNC Milling machine and
CNC turning machine along with an Industrial Robot. The
software include I-DEAS, ProE, CATIA, Unigraphics, ANSYS,
ADAMS, MoldFlow, Autodesk Inventor Series, SolidEdge,
Hyperworks, LS-DYNA, CADian, ASPEN, STAAD Pro and
Abaqus. It also contains Paulson’s CBT on Injection Molding.
The VLSI Lab has more than 80 high-end Computers with
software such as Magma, ModelSim, LeonardoSpectrum,
XILINX ISE etc. The computer laboratories are equipped
with more than 2500 desktops/workstations. All buildings
are interconnected with high-speed fibre optic cable and all
the computers are networked over fast ethernet link. The
campus network is connected to the internet through a 35MB
leased line.
Department of Social Work 3

6. Library
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Central Library uses
an automated Library Information system connected
to the LAN/ Wi-Fi for quick interaction with the library
irrespective of the place in the campus where one is
located. The Library database system consists of more than
48,000 books, 385 journals, 4000 Project reports, 6000
back-volumes, 50 Magazines, 3800 project reports,and
4000 CD/DVD resourses. Library also subscribes to 5000
Online Journals, Conference Proceedings & Standards
viz., IEL (IEEE & IEE), ASME, ACM and Springer link
through INDEST-AICTE consortium. The Central library
also has access to the digital library of the State University
of New York at Buffalo. The Central library a carpet area of
81,000 sq feet.
Campus life
Hostels
Separate hostel facilities are provided for girls and boys. Their
stay in the hostel enables them to imbibe a holistic lifestyle with
activities like yoga, sports and extra-curricular activities. There
are eight hostels in the campus which presently accommodate
above 5000 inmates. P.G students and final year U.G students
are allotted single rooms. All hostels are equipped with solar
water heater for hot water supply. Pure vegetarian food prepared
under hygienic conditions is served in the student dining halls
and the canteens from a central Kitchen. Night cafeteria are
attached with all hostels. All students are expected to live in the
hostel during their course. However, local students who live with
their parents within a radius of 30 km from the campus will be
permitted to come from their homes. Students are not permitted
to live in rented houses, lodges, either alone or in groups. Amrita
attaches great importance to the nature of lifestyle in the
campus. Tobacco, in any form, and any other intoxicants are
strictly prohibited.
Sports facilities
Coimbatore campus has facilities for outdoor and in door
games like Hockey, Shuttle badminton, Ball badminton,
Cricket, Football, Table tennis, Weight lifting, Powerlifting,
Basketball, Kabaddi, Tennis, Handball, Throw-ball, Volleyball,
and Tennikoit. One state-of-the art synthetic tennis court and
a cement tennis court are also available. A swimming pool of
international standards of the size 50 x 25 meters is in operation.
Recently, the CBSE South Zone competitions were hosted in this
Olympic standard pool. A toddler pool is also available. There are
three gyms inside the campus equipped upride bicycle, motorized
threadmill, eleptical cross trainer, 6 in 1 multi-gym, 12 in 1 multi-
4 Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

7. gym and 8 station multi-gym. Each hostel has a separate sports room. Annual sports
and athletic meet render opportunities to all students and staff to display their talents
and win prizes. A 400 metre International standard track with gallery is also being
developed.
Medical facility
‘Amrita Dispensary’ works inside the campus round the clock providing medical
service to the students, staff and villagers. Three doctors and eight nursing staff are
on duty. The dispensary has ten beds for in-patients. Basic medical care, pharmacy
with adequate medicines, facilities like ECG Machine, Nebulisar, Oxygen cylinders,
Defibrillator, ECG monitor & Pulse Oxymeter and first aid are provided in the health
care unit. Cases which require immediate hospitalization and special medical attention
are referred to the nearby well known hospitals. Two ambulances are readily available
in the clinic for emergency.
Transport
Around 20 buses are being operated for transporting the day scholar students and staff
from Coimbatore city and nearby areas.
Banking
The Dhanalakshmi Bank operates an extension counter with ATM facility for the
benefit of staff and students.
Canteen
Three canteens are functioning inside the campus from 7.00 AM to 7.00 PM on all
days.
Amenities complex
A general store caters to the stationery and other requirements like domestic goods,
toiletry, provisions, books etc. The store also stocks our ashram publications, audio/
video cassettes, herbal/ayurvedic products and so on.
Department of Social Work 5

8. The campus is residential in
nature and accommodates nearly
95% of the student community in
Amritapuri Campus the hostels. Girls’ hostel is located
Amritapuri campus, located near the international in the Ashram premises. All the
headquarters of Mata Amritanandamayi Math, and having
students, except those who are
a global environment with its national and international
students, is committed to generate, disseminate and preserve staying with their parents within
knowledge. The campus has the advantage of basking in
the effulgent presence of Amma’s divine presence. Seeking a radius of 30 km, are required to
guidance and inspiration from the Chancellor - Satguru
Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, the campus instills hope and
stay in the hostels. They are not
confidence in the students to set their own pace, place and
allowed to live in rented houses or
time. The eminent professors and corporate professionals
from various foreign universities and industries share their lodges, either alone or in groups.
knowledge and experiences with the students and help
them apply their theoretical knowledge to real life corporate
situations. The campus, though located in a remote village
blessed with panoramic backwater expanse provides all the
modern amenities which help the students to make their
student-life a memorable one. They are groomed to become
leaders with value which is the fundamental need of a
developing country like India.
Central Library
Amritapuri campus has a Central Academic Library spanning over a
total of 15,000 square feet floor area. The Campus Library is established
to serve the students and the faculty with latest information, reading
materials - both printed, non-printed, advanced technological resources
such as the Web, on-line journals, full-texts, on-line books, reference
sources, digital libraries as well as self-testing materials for education,
self-directed learning, and research. The library also has access to
various e-resources. The central library has a collection of over 30,000
volumes and subscriptions of 200 journals in print. Students have also
access to thousands of International Journals from ASME, IEL, EBSCO,
INSPEC, Emerald, Cambridge Online, Institute of Physics Journals,
ERIC Database, ACM Digital Library and IBM Journal of Research and
Development. The Digital Repository (DSpace) collects, preserves and
disseminates the research output of the faculty, staff and students of
Amritapuri campus.
6 Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

9. Campus life
Banking Facilities
Arrangements with the Dhanalakshmi
Bank, which is having an extension
counter in the campus itself, makes
money transactions easy for the students
and the staff. A 24 hr ATM terminal is an
added advantage.
Transport
Transport facility is available for the day
scholars, faculty and staff. College bus service
is available up to Kollam towards the southern
direction and up to Harippad and Thiruvalla in
the northern direction.
Medical Services
The students can avail themselves of the services offered at Amrita Kripa
hospital situated in the Ashram premises. It is a well-equipped hospital with
facilities to admit patients. In addition to this, medical facilities are also made
available to the students and staff on the campus from 8.30am to 6.30pm.
Ayurvedic Clinc
Ayurvedic treatment including Panchakarma,
is available. Herbal medicines prepared in the
traditional manner by the monastic disciples are
available at the pharmacy.
Department of Social Work 7

10. General Store
The general store in the Ashram premises caters to the needs of all in the campus. Stationery
items and other domestic goods like eatables, dress materials, hand bags, sandals etc along
with the products of the Math, are available in the store.
Reprographic and STD Services
Photocopying facility is made available to the students. Use of
mobile phones in academic premises is strictly prohibited. To
compensate this, phone booths with local/STD/ISD services are
provided in the campus.
Canteen and Refreshments
Quality and tasty vegetarian food prepared in a hygienic
environment, providing wholesome and balanced nutrition,
is provided in the canteen. The students and staff can enjoy
North Indian cuisine in addition to South Indian culinary
delights. Canteen is open on all days from 7.00 AM to 7.00
PM, except on holidays.
State-of-the-art Computing Infrastructure
l 2300 plus networked desktops and workstations with 60 servers
l IBM blade sever with 36 blades for Virtual Computing Lab (VCL), each
blade is equipped with dual processors, 4 GB RAM and fiber attached
storage
l 6 Terabytes (TB) repository of audio and video lectures and
documentaries
l Enterprise class 20 TB storage area network with end-to-end 4 GBPS
fiber channel throughput
l 35 Mbps of Internet connectivity
l Wi-Fi hotspots for students with limited access to campus network
l Two VSAT links, the Indo-US initiative connecting 25 US Universities
and 43 premier Indian Institutions and the Amrita-ISRO initiative
interconnecting 4 amrita campuses
l Digital Library Lab with free internet access for academic purpose
l High speed Internet browsing center for students
l Computer labs with a total of 800 computers
l Video conferencing facility with ISDN and IP channels
l Email facility for the students and service logins with antispam and
antivirus support
8 Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

11. Faculty
The department at both the campuses is blessed with dedicated,
highly qualified and experienced faculty members actively
involved in teaching, research, extension and consultancy.
We have faculty members who have been groomed in various
institutes of excellence such as the Tata Institute of Social
Sciences (TISS), National Institute of Mental Health and
Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Indian Institute of Technology
Madras (IIT M) etc. Faculty members also have rich experience
in highly acclaimed international and national level NGOs
such as Action Aid International, Foundation for Ecological
Security etc. The expertise of the faculty covers areas like
Mental Health, Disaster Management, Natural Resource
Management, Life Skills, Community Organisation, Project
Management, Vulnerability Reduction, Child Protection and
Child Rights etc.
Full Time Faculty
Amritapuri Campus
Dr. Renjith R. Pillai Rajeev M. M. Surya Krishna
Assistant Professor and Chairperson Lecturer and Vice-Chair Lecturer
Research Interests: Family/Marital Research Interests: Disaster Research Interests: Sustainable
Enrichment Programmes/Interventions, Management, HIV/AIDS, Geriatric Care Development, Natural Resources
Life Skills Education & School Mental and Psycho Social Interventions Mangagement, Tribal Issues and Women
Health Programs, Disaster psychosocial Issues
care interventions
V. S. Kochkrishna Kurup P. K. Anand Yamuna Sandrine Bonin
Lecturer Lecturer Research Associate
Research Interests: Human Resource Research Interests: Tribal Issues, Research Interests: Sustainable
Management, Geriatric Care, School Participatory Approaches, Ecology and Development
Counselling Sustainable Development
Department of Social Work 9

12. Coimbatore Campus
Dr. J. Paranjothi Ramalingam Dr. P. Rangasami M. Nagalingam
Professor and Head Assistant Professor Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Health & Research Interests: NGO Management, Research Interests: PRI, Community
Mental Health, Women Empowerment, Child Protection Child Rights, Disaster Participation, Trafficking, Sustainable
Adolescence, Substantial Social Problems Management, HIV/AIDS and Migration Development
and General Social Work Practice
Dr. Priya K. R. Umamaheswari K.
Assistant Professor Lecturer
Research Interests: Social Organization Research Interests: Youth
and Cultural Change and Tribal Empowerment, Rural Mental Health,
Communities and Gender Studies Reproductive Health and Sex Education,
Child Welfare
Adjunct Professors/ Visiting Faculty/Guest Lecturers
1. Prof. Pravin P. Patkar, faculty for 20 years at 6. Ms. Enakshi Ganguly Thukral & Ms. Bharti Ali,
Tata Institute of Social Sciences, is an expert in rural HAQ: Centre for Child Rights, New Delhi.
development. He is also the Founder Director of 7. Dr. Sekar.K, Professor, Department of Psychiatric
Prerana – a Mumbai based Non-Profit Organisation Social Work, NIMHANS, Bangalore
(since 1996), fighting against commercial sexual
8. Dr. A. Thirumoorthy, Associate Prof. Dept of
exploitation and human trafficking. Prof. Patkar has
Department of Psychiatric social work, NIMHANS.
authored several books on trafficking.
9. Dr. Selvaraj, Asst. Prof. in Psychology, Govt. Arts
2. Dr. Babu Suseelan has thirty-nine years of social College, Coimbatore.
work practice and teaching experience in Germany and
10. Dr. P.K. Biswas, Professor, Sociology & Community
United States of America. His specialisation is Social
Development, Indian Institute of Forest Management,
Work Micro Practice, Aging, Criminal Justice, Mental
Nehru Nagar, Bhopal
Health, and Addiction. Dr. Suseelan has published
several books and journal articles in the broad area of 11. Dr. K.Muralidharan, Head, Department of Social
social sciences. Work, PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore.
3. Dr. Murali D. Nair, Director, College of Liberal Arts 12. Dr. R. K. Hebsur, Formerly Deputy Director, Tata
Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
and Social Science, Cleveland State University, Ohio,
USA. 13. Dr. Johny Augustine, Assistant Professor, School of
Social Work, St. Ambrose University Davenport, USA
4. Dr. Shobha Kapoor, Mukthi Satan, Mumbai
14. Dr. R. Parthasarathy, Professor & Head, Department of
5. Dr. Sujatha Sharma, Director, Parivartan – centre
Psychiatric Social Work, NIMHANS, Bangalore.
for Mental Health & Trustee, Consultant Clinical
Psychologist, New Delhi.
10 Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

13. Curriculum
Semester I
Course Code Course Title Credits
SWK501 Social Change and Social Development 3
SWK503 Guiding Principles in Social Work Practice 3
SWK505 Understanding Human Behavior 3
SWK507 *ISWP I - Social Case Work 3
SWK509 *ISWP II - Social Group Work 3
SWK591 Concurrent Fieldwork I 3
CUL201 Cultural Education P/F
Total 18
Semester II
Course Code Course Title Credits
SWK508 *ISWP III - Community Organization and Social Action 3
SWK510 Social Work Research: Survey Method and Case Study 3
Design
SWK512 Introduction to Public Health 3
SWK514 Disaster Management and Vulnerability Reduction 3
SWK516 Introduction to Child Rights and Child Protection 3
SWK592 Concurrent Fieldwork II (including Rural/ Tribal camp) 3
Total 18
Semester III
Course Code Course Title Credits
SWK601 Indian Constitution, Democracy, and Social Legislation 3
SWK603 Social Welfare Policy, Programmes and Administration 3
SWK605 Psycho-Social Care, Approaches and Counselling 3
SWK Elective Paper 1 3
SWK Elective Paper 2 3
SWK691 Concurrent Fieldwork III 3
Total 18
Semester IV
Course Code Course Title Credits
SWK608 Project Planning and Management 3
SWK610 Human Resource Management for Non-Profit Sectors 3
SWK Elective Paper 3 3
SWK Elective Paper 4 3
SWK692 Concurrent Fieldwork IV 3
SWK694 Block Field Placement (Internship) 3
SWK696 Dissertation 3
Total 21
Total Credits for the Programme: 75
*ISWP - Integrated Social Work Practice
Department of Social Work 11

14. Electives
ELECTIVE STREAMS (Any one of the following elective may be selected by the students based on their preference.)
Community Development
Course Code Course Title
SWK621 Rural-Tribal Community Development and Good Governance
SWK622 Urban Community Development and Good Governance
SWK623 Climate Change and Sustainable Development
SWK624 Social Mobilization for Social Action
Physical And Mental Health
SWK631 Mental Health Knowledge for Social Work Practice
SWK632 Social Work Intervention in Mental Health Setting
SWK633 Physical Health Knowledge for Social Work Practice
SWK634 Social Work Intervention in Physical Health Setting
Disaster Management
SWK641 Hazards, Risk, and Disasters
SWK642 Standards and Approaches in Disaster Relief and Recovery
SWK643 Psychosocial Intervention in Disaster Response and Recovery
SWK644 Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change
Child Rights And Child Protection
SWK651 Understanding Children as Vulnerable Groups
SWK652 Care and Support Services for Children
SWK653 Intervention for Child Rights and Child Protection
SWK654 Children in Humanitarian Crises: Interventions Therein
*An internship after second semester will be offered as a non credit course.
*CIR department will offer a non credit course on placement and communicative
skill in every semester.
Extension Activities
The department is actively engaged in many extension activities facilitating the planning and implementation of the social
welfare activities of the Mata Amritanandamayi Math. Other extension activities include holding environmental and health
awareness programmes for school, college students and the public; facilitating the activities of the Village Resource Centre
with farming communities; and in assisting NRHM on Palliative care – need and assessment; and promoting school
mental health. A significant milestone in the history of the Department of Social Work, Amritapuri has been the setting up
of UBARI – a research partnership between the SUNY Buffalo and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. The purpose of UBARI
is to initiate, encourage, support, and conduct interdisciplinary joint research in the social and behavioral sciences as
it relates to identified areas of need, such as sustainable development, HIV/AIDS, trauma, extreme events and disaster
management, community development, mental health and alcohol abuse. UBARI also provides prospective opportunities
for student and faculty exchange programmes, and conducting twin-degree programmes including doctoral studies.
Field work / outreach programmes/ students’ activities
Induction workshop programme for first year MSW students, titled, “Essentials in Professional Social Work” held at
Amritapuri Campus on 18th August, 2011
Guest lecture on “Research Methodolgy” by Dr. R.K. Hebsur, Former Deputy Director, Tata Institute of Social Sciences,
Mumbai at Ettimadai Campus from 23rd to 27th August, 2011.
Guest lecture on “Social Legislation” by Dr. Maharukh Adenwalla, Advocate, High Court, Mumbai at Ettimadai Campus
from 23rd to 26th August, 2011.
12 Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

15. Department of Social Work and SIMS, Kollam jointly organized an awareness programme on Alzheimer’s disease on the
occasion of “World Alzheimer’s Day” on 21st September, 2011
Cycle rally from Kollam to Amritapuri jointly organized by Departments of Social Work & Physical Education, Amritapuri
Campus on 26th September, 2011 to sensitize the public about effective waste management practices.
Poster exhibition/awareness programme at Primary Health Centre, Vallikkavu and Karuangapally on 10th October 2011 on
the occasion of WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY.
Workshop at Ettimadai campus on 21st October, 2011 on “Life skills education” by Dr.Radhakrishnan Nair, Head & Mrs.
Sunitha Ranjan, Lecturer, Department of School of Life Skills Education & Social Harmony, Rajiv Gandhi National Institute
of Youth Development, Sriperumbudur, Chennai.
The Department of Social Work, Amritapuri campus with the collaboration of HelpAge India (an INGO); Institute
of Palliative Medicine, Kozhikode and Four x 4 Consulting Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi conducted a “Survey Research Initiative”
and a two day preparatory workshop on “Research Methodology and Strategy” for the Field Investigators and Research
Supervisors (students and faculty of Department of Social Work) at Amritapuri campus on 21st and 22nd of October,
2011.
Department of Social work has taken a novel approach towards providing bicycles for field visits of social work trainees
as symbol of promoting environmental friendly and healthy living from Nov 12th, 2011 onwards.
Inauguration of Amrita Social Workers Association & Alumini meet by Mrs. M.C. Jayashree, District Welfare Officer,
Kollam on 20th November, 2011 at Amritapuri Campus.
Initiated and released the Department Newsletter, “DISHAA” on 20th November, 2011 at Amritapuri Campus
Tribal sensitization camp at Wayanad from 14-20th December, 2011 was organized by Department of Social Work,
Amritapuri Campus.
On 14th January, 2012, an interactive session between the Social Work students of Amrita University and St Ambrose
University, USA was organized at Amritapuri Campus.
Guest lecture on “Public Health” by Dr. Biju Soman, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences & Technology,
Thiruvananthapuram at Ettimadai Campus from 30th January to 5th February, 2012.
Invited talk on ‘Effective Self Enrichment’ by Dr. Shobha Kapoor, Director, Mukti Sadan, Mumbai for the MSW students at
Amritapuri Campus on 2nd March, 2012.
On 20th March, 2012, Blood Donation Camp at Amritapuri Campus and Inter-collegiate Social Work meet at Ettimadai
campus on the occasion of “World Social Work Day”.
ToT programme on “Non-profit organizations for entrepreneurship development” by Mr. Ulhas Kamat, I Create, India,
Bangalore from 9th -13th April, 2012.
Department of Social Work 13

16. Placements
The programme offers a wide range of career opportunities in
development sector, hospitals, and industries. Both the government
and the non-government organisations working at local, national and
international levels require social workers at various positions. The
programme prepares students to work as social workers, counsellors, How to reach
health workers, project officers, programme coordinators, community
organizers in the fields of health, sanitation, economics, education, The closest airport is in
sustainable development, and juvenile justice. Also there are openings Thiruvananthapuram (110 km south
in family services such as family courts, family counselling centres, of Amritapuri). At the airport you
adoption centres, and child welfare services. Further, the programme may go to the “Airport Taxi Service”
shapes the students to get placed in the funding agencies including counter and ask for a prepaid taxi
national & international, research-based organisations, advocacy and to Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham,
organisations working in specialised areas of disability, HIV/AIDS, Amritapuri. Cochin International
disasters, etc., Airport at Nedumbassery is 140 km
Dedicated Training and Placement Directorate offers training in north from the School. Kayamkulam
soft skills and communicative English. The directorate also ensures (12 km north of Amritapuri) is the
placements in INGOs, National level NGOs, Hospitals and Corporates. closest town situated north of the
Some of our recruiters are Azim Premji Foundation, Bangalore; Hand campus. Autorickshaws can bring
in Hand, Chennai; Reach-Out, Thrissur; Larsen & Toubro Limited (CSR you to the campus, which takes
initiative); Ahalya Foundation, Palghat and Friends of Tribals Society. about 20 minutes. Bus services are
also available from Kayamkulam
Bus Stand to Vallikavu, which is
approximately a five-minute walk
from the School.
14 Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

17. Admission Procedure
How to apply:
l Collect application form from Admission Coordinator (MSW) from any of the campuses
l By post: Write to Admission Coordinator at any of the campuses enclosing a demand draft for Rs.250 in favour of
“Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham”, payable at “Coimbatore”
l Download or apply online: http://amrita.edu/msw
Eligibility & criteria: Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university. Candidates appearing for their final
year degree exam are also eligible to apply. Desired qualification includes experience as a volunteer. Selection is based on
the marks scored in the qualifying examination and personal interview.
Filled in application forms shall be sent to:
Amritapuri (Kollam) Ettimadai (Coimbatore)
Admission Coordinator, The Admission Coordinator (MSW)
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Department of Social Work
Clappana P.O., Kollam. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
PIN – 690 525. Ettimadai (P.O.), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu – 641 112
Email: admissions@am.amrita.edu Email: msw@amrita.edu
Phone: +91 476 280 9400 / 1401 Phone: 0422 – 2685000
Fee Structure Fee Structure
Amritapuri Campus Ettimadai (Coimbatore) Campus
Sl. Head Term Amount Sl. Head Term Amount
1 Tution Semester 15000 1 Tuition Annual 30,000
2 Additional Charges Annual 12000 2 University Fee Annual 6,000
3 Caution Deposit One time 6000 3 Special Fee Annual 5,000
(refundable) 4 Insurance One Time 650
Total 33,000 5 Caution Deposit One Time 2,000
Total 43,650
Hostel Fee Hostel Fee
Sl. Head Term Amount Sl. Head Term Amount
1 Room Rent Annual 8000 1 Room Rent Annual 15,000
2 Establishment Charges Annual 8000 2 Medical Fee Annual 1,500
3 Mess charges Annual 30,000 3 Mess Charges Annual 34,000
4 Caution Deposit (Refundable) One time 3000 4 Caution Deposit One time 2,000
Total 49,000 Total 52,500
Department of Social Work 15

18. The Mata Amritanandamayi Math
T he Mata Amritanandamayi Math (MAM) is a
registered Public Charitable Trust dedicated to
serving humanity without distinction of nationality,
caste, race of religion.
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham is one of the major educational initiatives of the Math
which has its International Headquarters at Amritapuri in Kollam, Kerala (India) UN
Recognition for M.A.Math.
UN Recognition for M.A.Math The United Nations announced the distinguished
award of Special UN consultative status to Mata Amritanandamayi Math with the
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the UN. After a thorough review of
M.A.Math’s work and results for the past 15 years, including AIMS, Amrita University,
and all other major efforts, the United Nation’s committee of 19 member nations in
the ECOSOC Committee voted unanimously to grant Special Consultative Status.
The major ECOSOC body of 50 member
nations affirmed this decision on July 21, 2005.
Social Initiatives
Tsunami Relief - Mata Amritanandamayi Math (MAM) is implementing the largest
Tsunami Rehabilitation project in the country. The cost of the project is over Rs.200 crore
and most of the work is done by the volunteers. The Math has already constructed more
than 5000 houses, - of the proposed 6200 houses. It is the first NGO to hand over the
houses as per the specifications of the governments, in Kerala and TamilNadu and also
in other areas in India and Sri Lanka. The Math is particular that the villages which are
being reconstructed will be self-reliant: facilitated with community centres, anganwadis,
schools, primary health centres, markets and roads. Electrification and supply of water
are also given priority. Moreover, the affected people are also provided with FRP boats,
marine outboard engines and fishing nets. To make them self-reliant vocational training
in nursing and driving and given.
Amrita Kuteeram - Free houses
for homeless with a mission to
provide 1,00,000 houses in the
next 10 years across India.Already
more than 35,000 houses have
been built all over the country under this project.
In 2007, AMMA announced a Rs.200 crore Project to prevent Farmer
Suicide through education and the reduction of financial strain placed
upon impoverished agricultural families in Maharashtra, Kerala and
other states in India.This is being implemented by providing 30,000 full
scholarships for children of farmers living below the poverty line and
providing vocational training and start-up capital to help 5,000 groups
of women from agricultural families to form home-based businesses.
Amrita Setu - A suspension bridge constructed by the Math connecting
Alappad panchayath with mainland Kerala, as part of its extensive
tsunami relief programme. Should the Alappad community face any
future disaster, the bridge ensures that the villagers will have an escape
route through which 15,000 persons can be evacuated in 30 minutes.
Amrita Village Reconstruction Project, Gujarat - Rebuilt three
villages, with more than 1200 quakeproof houses with community
facilities, after the devastating earthquke of January 2001.
16 Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

19. 2010, New York
AMMA was conferred honorary doctorate in humane letters by
State University of New York, Buffalo, USA.
2006, New York
AMMA was presented with the Interfaith Center of New York’s 4th
Annual James Parks Morton Interfaith Award after speaking on the
topic “Understanding and collaboration between Religions”.
2005, Cannes
A film on AMMA titled “Darshan – The Embrace” by renowned
Satguru Sri Mata filmmaker Jan Kounen was screened at the prestigious Cannes
Film Festival.
Amritanandamayi 2004, Barcelona
AMMA delivered the Keynote Address at the Closing Plenary
Devi has given Session of the World Parliament of Religions.
2002, Geneva
Darshan to over 30 AMMA delivered the Keynote Address at the Global Peace
Initiative of Women Religious and Spiritual Leaders at the UN,
million people across after receiving the prestigious UN Gandhi-King Peace Award.
2000, New York
the world and has
AMMA also delivered the Keynote Address at the Millennium
Peace Summit, UN General Assembly.
been invited to address
1995, New York
AMMA spoke at the Interfaith Celebration, during the 50th
global fora
Anniversary of the UN.
1993, Chicago
AMMA was one of the main speakers at the World Parliament of
Religions, 100th anniversary.

20. “Children,
Sraddha is necessary for every action we perform.
Actions done without Sraddha are of no use.”
-AMMA