Everything you Need to Know About BA Courses

Have you passed high school and are wondering what to study in college? Do the usual choices of Science or Commerce streams seem unappealing to you? Whatever the case may be, you must know there is another stream out there – one that many stereotypical Indian parents don’t approve of. Yes, we are talking about the Arts or Humanities stream.
While the Arts stream is undervalued at the school level, it is a totally different ball game in college. You can opt for a BA or Bachelor of Arts program after passing your 10+2 in a number of colleges across the country. This course is very versatile, both in terms of subjects and specializations offered and job opportunities. So if this has tickled your fancy, read on and find out more.
Overview of BA Courses
A Bachelor of Arts is a three-year undergraduate degree course that many people go for due to its versatility. This program is usually taken on a semester basis, with 2 semesters per year for a total of 6 semesters. BA programs usually comprise a few core arts subjects and some electives, also in the arts stream.
BA General vs BA Honours
If you look at the BA courses on offer in BA colleges in Jaipur, or anywhere else in India, you will see that there are two options – BA or BA (Hons). The first one, also known as BA General offers students a selection of subjects that can range from Geography, Philosophy, and History, to Languages, or even Home Science. Students in this course have to study all of their selected subjects on the same level.
While in the case Of B.A. Hons, students have to choose 1 subject, for example, English, History, etc, to specialize in. They can also choose a few elective subjects that they will have to study on the same level of complexity as B.A. General students.
Subjects Offered
B.A. Courses generally have a lot of choices among subjects that students can choose to study. Some of the popular subjects that students can choose in a B.A. Courses as a core subject or honors specialization or elective are mentioned below.
- English
- Bengali
- Hindi
- Sanskrit
- Philosophy
- History
- Geography
- Psychology
- Law
- Political Science
- Social Service
- Sociology
- Religious Studies
- Foreign Languages
- Mass Communication & Journalism
- Home Science
And many more.
Eligibility
The eligibility criteria for BA courses at the best BA colleges in India are more or less the same. While some colleges take admission on the basis of entrance exams like CUET, IPU CET, or NPAT, or even conduct their own admission test, most do not. A student from any stream can apply for admission to a BA course with 45% or more in their 10+2 from any recognized board.
Types of BA
BA courses can be availed in three types of modes:
- Full-time: The most common option for BA courses and also the most comprehensive as the students can interact on a personal level with their teachers.
- Distance Education: This option is for students who cannot attend physical classes daily because they are working side by side or for any other reason. Distance education programs for BA courses require the students to attend a few classes only and appear for exams, while all the study material is sent by mail to the students.
- Online BA: Fully online BA courses are now available and accredited by the UGC. Many foreign universities also offer online BA programs.
Best Colleges and their Fees
Some of the best BA colleges in India and their fees are listed below.
College Name | Average Fees (INR) |
Arya College, Jaipur | 63,000 |
Mithibai College of Arts, Mumbai | 8,000 |
Miranda House, Delhi | 14,160 |
St Xaviers College, Kolkata | 32,600 |
Universal Group of Institutions, Bangalore | 1,50,000 |
St Mira College for Girls, Pune | 19,350 |
SP Jain School of Management, Mumbai | 12,77,940 |
Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi | 20,370 |
University of Calcutta | 2,899 |
Hindu College, Delhi | 17,560 |
Scope after BA
There is no dearth of options available to BA graduates when it comes to job opportunities. Depending on the subjects they choose, students from the best BA colleges in Jaipur can work in industries such as the following.
- Law
- Advertising
- Broadcast
- Social Work
- International Relations
- Civil Services
- Journalism and Mass Communication
- Policing
- Business Process Outsourcing Units
- Social Work
And many more.
Future Studies
BA graduates can also choose to study further if they wish, as the BA degree leaves open plenty of avenues for higher studies. Some of the higher education options for BA graduates are mentioned below.
- MA (Master of Arts)
- MBA (Master of Business Administration)
- M. Phil
- Ph.D.
- B. Ed
- Civil Services
Common Job roles and their Salaries
While there are no limits to the number of job roles a graduate from any of the best colleges in Jaipur for BA might be eligible for, we have still attempted to list the roles, responsibilities, and salaries of a few common jobs.
Job Role | Responsibilities | Annual Salary (INR) |
Content Creator | They are hired to develop content, in any form like blogs, advertising content, videos, etc. | 3.5 LPA |
Flight Attendant | Ensure the safety and comfort of passengers on a flight. | 6 LPA |
Historian | Records past events for study, in various perspectives like social, ethnic, political, etc. | 4.5 LPA |
Psychologist | Conduct diagnostic interviews, psychotherapy, etc as a team or individual. | 4.2 LPA |
Social Worker | Work with government or NGOs in areas like child labor, elderly care, unemployment, disaster relief, etc. | 2.9 LPA |
Conclusion
It should be clear by now that a BA course, such as the one Arya College offers, is unparalleled in the diversity of subjects and job options it offers. BA graduates, whether honors or general, have a lot more options available to them than their Science or Commerce studying peers. The simple eligibility criteria, the multiple modes of study, and the sheer range of subjects offered make the BA course one of its kind.
FAQs
- Can I get a government job after my BA?
Yes. Lots of government posts require you to be at least a graduate to be eligible to sit for their qualifying exam. A BA degree will work just fine in this regard.
- Is it possible to be a Primary teacher after completing a BA?
Yes. However, you will have to follow it up with a B. Ed degree to be eligible for a primary teacher role.
- Can I get into research with a BA degree?
Yes. You will have to follow up your bachelor’s degree with a master’s degree too, after which you will be eligible for an M.Phil or P.hD. which involves research.
- Can I do a BA from a foreign university?
Yes. While they are more expensive by a huge degree, many reputed foreign universities also offer BA degrees which you can pursue.