PROFILE
The combined Colleges of Arts, Science and Technology was established in the year 1931-32 with Padmabhushan Mamidipudi Venkata Rangayya as the Founder Principal. Afterwards the College of Arts & Commerce was carved out from the combined colleges in the year 1966. Strong foundations for this college were laid by the eminent personalities like Sir.J.C. Coyajee, Prof. V. S. Krishna, Prof.B. Sarveswara Rao, Prof. G. Partha sarathi, Prof. K.V. Sivayya and by all other Principals. Due to their efforts, this college is emerged as the biggest constituent college of the Andhra University. Currently the college is having 203 teaching faculty members and 105 administrative and supporting staff members.
At present, a total number of 2841 full-time students and 480 Part-Time Students ( in different diploma and evening courses) are on rolls besides 356 Full-Time and 720 Part-Time Research Scholars. Every year a good number of research scholars are being qualified for UGC NET, JRF and A.P.SLET examinations. Significant number of research scholars are awarded with UGC and ICSSR Post Doctoral Fellowships. Besides, 432 M.Phiil Scholars are pursuing research programmes. It is significant to mention that about 60 scholars hailing from different countries like Ethiopia, Nepal, Bhutan and Srilanka have been doing research for their doctoral degrees.
The College is equipped with 23 academic departments i.e. Anthropology; Commerce & Management Studies ; Economics ; Education ; English ; Fine Arts ; Hindi; History and Archaeology ; Human Resource Management, Journalism and Mass Communication, ; Library and Information Science, Linguistics ; Music and Dance,; Philosophy, Political Science & Public Administration ; Psychology and Parapsychology; Physical Education; Sanskrit ; Social Work ; Sociology ; Telugu, Theatre Arts and Urdu.
The College is offering 33 different PG programmes such as Master of Arts in Anthropology, Economics, Education, Education, Adult Education, Special Education, English, Hindi, History and Archaeology, Lingistics, Library and Information Science, Music and Dance, Philosophy, Political Science & Public Administration, Psychology and Paraapsychology, Physical Education, Sanskrit, Social Work, Sociology and Telugu, Yoga, M.Com, M.B.A., (Retail Management and Banking and Financial Services), Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC), Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM),
The college is also offering (A): 3 Under Graduate Courses,: Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) ; Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) and Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA). In addition to that (B): 5 PG Diploma Courses i.e., PG Diploma in Cooperation and Rural Studies ; PG Diploma in Yoga; PG Diploma in Functional Hindi and Translation ; PG Diploma in Women’s Studies ; PG Diploma in Linguistics. (C): 13 Diploma courses viz., Diploma in Tamil ; Diploma in French ; Diploma in Japanese ; Diploma in Russian ; Diploma in Urdu ; Diploma in Arbic ; Diploma in Acting ; Diploma in Play Direction; Diploma in Yoga; Diploma in Light Music ; Diploma in Devotional Songs ; Diploma in Dance for Annamacharya Kirtanalu ; Diploma in Kuchipudi Nritya Pravesika and also (D): 8 certificate courses like Acting & Play Direction; Certificate course in Photography ; Certificate course in Folk Songs; Certificate Course in Acting Anchoring for TV Channels in Acting in Theatre Arts; Certificate course in Sound Recording & Editing ; Certificate course in Women Security and Self Defense Techniques and Certificate Course in Yoga. All the above courses are being run conducting in 13 different blocks.
Several departments in the College made pioneering beginnings and significant contributions since their inception. For the first time in the country, the University started an Honours Course in Commerce in 1934, and MBA (Full-Time) Programme in 1957. The Department of Economics was the first in the country to start MA course in Mathematical Economics in 1944. Likewise, the Department of English was the first in the Country to introduce Indian Writing in English and American Literature as compulsory papers . MA programmes in Social work and Parapsychology were started at Andhra University for the first time in the Country in 1957 and 1967 respectively. The University introduced a Ph.D. programme in Journalism which once again in the first of its kind in the Country. The Department of Adult and Continuing Education is working is working for the development of various skills required by the non-formal students. Recently the college introduced innovative vocational courses courses like MBA Retail Management, MBA Banking and Finance, Five Year Integrated MA Economics Course, Bachelor of Performing Arts, Master of Fine Arts, M.A. Dance, Theatre Arts and several Diploma courses in Foreign Languages including Japanese Language.
In addition to the above academic departments, the Colleges of Arts and Commerce supports the following Research Centers/Institutes to carryout research in selected fields or to offer specific services. They are : Centre for Agro-Economic Research(AERC), Centre for SAARC Studies, Centre for Women’s Studies, Population Research Cenre (PRC), Centre for Study Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, Centre for Gandhian Studies, Japanese Study Centre, Institute of Advance Studies in Education (IASE) and Institute for Yoga and Consciousness
The college is publishing a number four journals : Andhra University Journal of Humanities and Management, International Journal of Peace and Gandhian Studies by Gandhian Study Centre, International Quarterly Departmental Journal “Wisdom” by the Philosophy Department and Journal of Indian Psychology by Department of Psychology.
Many faculty members of the Arts Colleges have made rich academic contributions both at the National and International levels. Prof. K. Satchidananda Murty was honored with Padmavibhushan, Prof. K. Rama Krshna Rao and Prof. Y.Lakshmi Prasad with Padmasri by the Government of India. A number of former teachers of the Arts College like Prof. Srinivasa lyengar , Prof. K. Satchidananda Murty , Prof. K.V. Ramana , Prof. Y.C. Simhadri , Prof. K. Ramakrishna Rao , Prof. B. Sarveswara Rao , Prof. R.V.R. Chandra Sekhara Rao , Dr. M. Gopalakrishna Reddy, Prof.C.V.Raghavulu, Prof. K.S. Chalam, Prof. M. Gangadhara Rao, Prof. O.R.Reddy, Prof.V. Balamohandas, Prof. G. Subrahmanyam, Prof. C. Ratnam, Prof. J.V. Prabhakara Rao,,Prof. Smt. Nirupa Rani and Prof. George Victor assumed the Vice-Chancellorship of various Universities. A few teachers of this college have also been honored with coveted positions in Government/Semi-Government organizations. Prominent among them include : Prof.K.S. Chalam, Member of UPSC, New Delhi., Prof. K.C. Reddy Chairman, AP State Council of Higher Education, Prof. U. Tataji and Prof. P. Vijayaprakash Vice-Chairmans of AP State Council of Higher Education. Similarly Prof. G. Suryanarayana, Chairman and Prof. Paddaiah Members of APPSC respectively, while Prof. R. Sundarsana Rao, nominated a Member of State Finance Commission by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
During the recent past (2008-2015) the academic departments of the college carried out a number of national and international research projects. The departments organized a sizeable number of 265 conferences, seminars and workshops as well as training programmes. Similarly the faculty members attended about 480 conferences seminars workshops and training programmes. The faculty members of the college published a number of 687 research papers and 292 research papers in national and international journals respectively to their credit. Besides a number of 268 books and monographs were published by the faculty. The departments also under took a number of 82 collaborative research programmes with various organizations. In addition the departments organized a number of 312 guest lectures on contemporary issues of prominence. The faculty is conferred with 128 awards from various national and international organizations. The departments have produced a number of 1015 Doctoral degrees and 697 M,Phil degrees during the same period.
Regarding the placements more than 50 per cent of the students on average are able to get campus placements and remaining are able to get placements through different competitive and other examinations. The alumni of the different departments occupied prominent positions in several fields of activities particularly in professional, technical and managerial services in the corporate sector both in India and abroad. They also occupied higher positions in the field of politics.