Effective fall 2023, HEC has implemented a groundbreaking policy, enriching undergraduate degrees to match the caliber of American Universities.
1. Four-Year Degree Programs which do not require licensure.
2. Five-Year Degree Programs which do not require licensure.
3. Four-Year Degree Programs which require licensure in order to enable graduates practice in the field. These are offered in disciplines which are regulated by their respective accreditation or professional councils.
4. Five-Year Degree Programs which require licensure in order to enable graduates practice in the field. These are also offered in disciplines which are regulated by their respective accreditation or professional councils.
5. Two-Year Associate Degree Programs These include two-year degree programs offering fundamental academic and working knowledge of a particular field to enable graduates enter in the job market. These programs do not require licensure.
The structure of undergraduate degree programs is designed to balance general education, disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and practical requirements to enhance the likelihood of student success. The structure of all undergraduate degree programs, irrespective of field of study, program duration and licensure requirements, is comprised of the following set of mandatory requirements:
General Education Requirements: This component comprises of the mandatory courses of general education aimed to prepare students to refine their scholarly abilities to reason and communicate clearly and effectively. The provision of general education courses ensures that every student is acquainted with the broad variety of fields of inquiry and approaches to knowledge and skills.
It offers students an intellectual foundation for their academic, professional, and personal attributes while focusing on critical thinking and writing, speaking or quantitative skills.
The minimum requirement for the general education component is 30 credits in all the undergraduate/equivalent degree programs including Associate Degrees.
Major Requirements: A major is the academic discipline or a specialized area of study in which the degree is offered. The minimum requirement to complete a single major is 72 credit hours. This is valid for all undergraduate/equivalent degree programs except for Associate Degrees.
Interdisciplinary/Allied Requirements: Interdisciplinary courses are those offered in allied or complementary disciplines to reinforce the notion of interdisciplinary competency and to support horizon of the major.
Field Experience/Internship: Field experience is a professional learning experience that offers meaningful and practical work experience related to a student's field of study or career interest. It is an opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom with practice in the field.
Capstone Project: A capstone project allows students to bring together the concepts, principles and methods that they have learned in their course of study and to apply their knowledge and acquired competencies to address the real world problems. /Ethics in lieu of Islamic
Arts and Humanities are the disciplines that study human culture and Artistic Expression. They include fields such as literature, history, philosophy, art, music, and dance. They also inspire us to create and innovate.
A course in the domain of Natural Sciences is introduced with an aim to promote an understanding and appreciation of the physical and the natural world through observation and experimentation. The study of subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Biology, Ecology, etc. helps students in developing their critical faculties as required to evaluate natural phenomena.
Arts and Humanities are the disciplines that study human culture and Artistic Expression. They include fields such as literature, history, philosophy, art, music, and dance. They also inspire us to create and innovate.
The study of subjects such as Sociology, Anthropology, Economics, Psychology, Social Work, International Relations, Political Science, etc. equips students with fundamental knowledge required for an effective civic engagement.
The ability to communicate well is one of the essential skills of an educated person and is indispensable for professional success. The course of Functional English focuses on the basic aspects of the English language and its use in its authentic context etc. Whereas, the course of Expository Writing is introduced with an aim to improve students' academic writing including technical and report writing skills etc.
In the current times, an early exposure to quantitative reasoning has become essential for professional success in all fields. Two courses of Quantitative Reasoning are introduced to enable students make an effective use of quantitative information and to understand and evaluate data and reach valid conclusions in situations influenced by multiple factors.
This course is introduced to familiarize students with the historical events that shaped the ideology of Pakistan and to familiarize them with the core provisions of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan concerning the fundamental rights and responsibilities of Pakistani citizens.
A course of Islamic Studies provides students with a comprehensive overview of the fundamental aspects of Islam, its history, beliefs, practices, and influence on society. Alternatively, the university may offer a course on Theology/Religious Studies/Ethics for non-Muslim students without altering the prescribed credit hours for the course.
This course is introduced with an aim to provide students with a practical understanding of how information and communication technologies (ICT) are used in various fields and industries. The course covers such areas of knowledge within the application of ICT tools, software, and systems as to enhance productivity, communication, decision-making, and problem-solving across different domains.
This course aims to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset and equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to start, manage, and grow their own ventures. Learning components of ‘Financial Literacy’ and ‘Export Management’ are also included in the learning outcomes of the course to provide students with a holistic understanding of business in priority areas of the economy.
This course aims to provide students with a foundational understanding of the principles, institutions, and processes of civic engagement in a democratic society. Moreover, the course will build the capacity of students as leaders and influencers by gaining fundamental understanding of leadership, citizenship, communication, advocacy, network building as well as having first-hand experience of community development through volunteer works.
Single Major:
An undergraduate/equivalent degree program with a single major is focused on one disciplinary specialization and comprises of a minimum of 120 credit hours.
General Education Courses
Major Courses
Interdiciplinary Courses
Field experience/internship
Capstone project
Total
30 Cr Hrs
72 Cr Hrs
12 Cr Hrs
03 Cr Hrs
03 Cr Hrs
120 Cr Hrs
Single Major with One Minor
An undergraduate degree program with a single major and one minor is focused on one disciplinary specialization and one secondary but supporting concentration and comprises of a minimum of 132 credit hours.
General Education Courses
Major Courses
Interdiciplinary Courses
Minor Courses
Field experience/internship
Capstone project
Total
30 Cr Hrs
72 Cr Hrs
12 Cr Hrs
12 Cr Hrs
03 Cr Hrs
03 Cr Hrs
120 Cr Hrs
Single Major with Two Minors
An undergraduate degree program with a single major and two minors is focused on one disciplinary specialization and two secondary but supporting concentrations and comprises of a minimum of 144 credit hours.
General Education Courses
Major Courses
Interdiciplinary Courses
Minor 1 Courses
Minor 2 Courses
Field experience/internship
Capstone project
Total
30 Cr Hrs
72 Cr Hrs
12 Cr Hrs
12 Cr Hrs
12 Cr Hrs
03 Cr Hrs
03 Cr Hrs
120 Cr Hrs
Double Majors
An undergraduate degree program with double majors without any minor is focused on two related or unrelated disciplinary specializations and comprises of a minimum of 192 credit hours including the requirements of field experience/ internship and capstone project.
General Education Courses
Major 1 Courses
Major 2 Courses
Interdiciplinary Courses
Field experience/internship
Capstone project
Total
30 Cr Hrs
72 Cr Hrs
72 Cr Hrs
12 Cr Hrs
03 Cr Hrs
03 Cr Hrs
120 Cr Hrs
An Associate Degree is a two-year post higher secondary school certificate (HSSC) academic degree offered by the universities primarily in the market-driven subjects based on local and regional community and industry needs. The immediate link of the Associate Degree with the requirements of the market place is a core requirement of this program. An Associate Degree program is structured to be comprised of four regular semesters over a period of two years and consists of 60-72 credit hours. After completion of the Associate Degree, the qualification holder will have the option of seeking admission in the fifth semester of a relevant undergraduate/equivalent degree program through exemption of courses already studied in the Associate Degree.
The courses to be exempted in this case shall be decided
i. General Education: 30 credit hours
ii. Major 30-42 credit hours
iii. General Education: Field experience/internship: Only applicable where prescribed by the respective Accreditation Council, National Curriculum Review Committee or the concerned university
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