BA Full Form: Courses List, Subjects, Colleges [2024]

Shivam Sharma
July 18, 2024
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What Is The Full Form of BA?

The full form of BA is Bachelor of Arts, a 3-year undergraduate course in the humanities stream. Students can pursue BA after completing their 10+2 education in any stream. Admission to BA programs is generally merit-based, although some universities may require entrance exams for admission.

There are a plethora of UGC-recognized universities that are offering both regular and distance BA along with different specializations. There are certain important facts to know about BA:

Bachelor of Arts is a 3-year program in the stream of Arts.
BA can be pursued either as a full-time course or as a part-time course and even in the distance mode.
Students of BA can pursue any specialization of MA.
BA course offers various specializations in different subjects like English, Political Science, Hindi, Mathematics, Sociology, and more.

UG & PG Programs Details Guide 2024

BA Program Quick Overview

Here is a quick overview of the course Bachelor of Arts:-

Full-Form	Bachelor Of Arts
Degree Level	Undergraduate
Duration	3 Years
Fee Structure	INR 45,000-INR 60,0000
Eligibility Criteria	10+2 from a recognized board
Mode Of Learning	Online, Regular, and Distance
Admission Procedure	Merit-based
Starting Salary	INR 3-6LPA

Should I even pursue a BA?

Bachelor of Arts (BA) is a course designed for students interested in gaining in-depth knowledge in subjects such as Political Science, Public Administration, History, Literature, Psychology, and more.

Eligibility for admission to BA requires completion of 12th grade from a recognized board. Admissions are generally based on merit, considering the academic performance of the candidates.

What are the types of BA courses?

You can pursue a Bachelor of Arts in different modes and there are 3 types of BA programs in order to fit your needs.

Regular BA – This is a full-time program where you will get classroom lectures on a daily basis. This is the traditional form of learning and admission to this program is merit-based only.
Online BA – Online BA is a new form of learning and also an advanced form of learning. Online BA is designed for students who are willing to do the job and graduation together.
Distance BA: Distance BA is also for working students but it does not offer any online exams and online lectures are offered by a few universities only like NMIMS. Distance BA is for those students who are more inclined towards getting a degree and can study on their own.

BA Course Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criterion is set by the university to assess the qualification and calibre of students to pursue higher education. The eligibility criteria for distance BA are:

Candidates for a BA course must have completed their 10+2 from a recognized board, according to the eligibility requirements.
Aside from that, some colleges stipulate that in order to be qualified to follow a BA course offered by them, aspirants must have received a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in their Class 12 year.
For SC/ ST candidates, some colleges give a 5% mark reduction in this criterion.
The candidates need to make sure that they are issued their 12th certificate from a recognized board.

Do I require work experience for admission to BA?

There is no need of having any prior experience to get admission in the BA course at any university. Admission to this course is based on the marks obtained in your 12th class.

Do I need to give any entrance exams for BA?

No, you do not need to give any entrance exam to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in any discipline. Students can take admission in these courses based on the score obtained in 10 + 2.

What is Distance BA?

Distance Bachelor of Arts (BA) programs are offered by several universities, allowing students to attend virtual lectures and access self-study materials in both hard copy and soft copy formats. Universities like Chandigarh University, DU-SOL, and IGNOU provide distance BA programs. These programs are recognized by the University Grants Commission-Distance Education Bureau (UGC-DEB), ensuring that the degree holds the same value as a regular BA.

The curriculum of distance BA is identical to that of regular BA programs, making it suitable for working professionals who cannot dedicate full-time to higher studies. This flexibility allows students to earn a valid bachelor’s degree while continuing with their jobs.

BA Course Specializations

Since BA is an extremely popular course and is the study of individuals and culture, you can choose from a variety of fields to specialize in. The specialization of both distance BA is almost the same as BA in the regular mode.

Here is a list of some of the most common BA specializations in India. Before applying to a university, make certain that the particular distance university offers your chosen specialization.

BA in Economics	BA in Psychology
BA in English or Literature	BA in Philosophy
BA in Languages	BA in Journalism
BA in History	BA in Religious studies
BA in Political Science	BA in Public Relations
BA in Archaeology	BA in Anthropology

BA Structure and Curriculum

Distance BA or distance Bachelor of Arts is a course of 3 years and universities either offer it in the semester mode or in the yearly mode.

The program distance BA consists of 6 semesters in total which means students will have 2 semesters in one year and have to give exams twice a year.
Whereas, distance BA is also provided by some universities in the yearly mode which means there are no semesters and students have to give term-end exams once a year.
Generally, students get 6 years in total to complete a distance BA or to pass all the exams of the distance BA course.

The syllabus of the general BA Program and its major specializations are as follows:

BA Subjects	BA Syllabus
General BA	Foundation Course in English-1 Or Foundation Course in Hindi-2 Foundation Course in Humanities and Social Sciences Foundation Course in Science and Technology Foundation Course in Hindi Foundation Course in Humanities and Social Sciences Foundation Course in English From Language to Literature The Structure of Modern English Understanding Poetry Reading the Novel Communication Skills in English English for Practical Purposes Understanding Prose Understanding Drama Writing for Radio Translation / Anuvaad Feature Writing Radio Lekhan (Hindi)
BA History	History of India-I Social Formations and Cultural Patterns of the Ancient World History of India-II Social Formations and Cultural Patterns of the Medieval World History of India-III (c. 750-1206) Rise of Modern West-I History of India IV (c.1206-1550) Rise of Modern West -11 History of India-V (c. 1550-1605) History of India-VI (c. 1750-1857 History of Modern Europe- I (c. 1780-1939) History of India-VII (c. 1605-1750) History of India-VIII (c. 1857-1950) History of Modern Europe- II (1780-1939) History Of Southeast Asia-The 19TH Century History Of Southeast Asia-The 20TH Century History of Modern East Asia-I(c.1840-1919) History of Modern East Asia-1I (c. 1868-1945) Generic Elective (Interdisciplinary Any Four) Environmental Issues In India Research Methodology in History Making of Contemporary India Delhi: Ancient Delhi: Medieval Delhi: Modern Issues in the Contemporary World Any Two: Understanding Heritage/ Art Appreciation: An Introduction to Indian Art/ Archives and museums/ Understanding Popular Culture Discipline-Specific Elective (Any Four) History Of United States Of America -1(C. 1776 -1945) History Of United States Of America -I1(C. 1776 – 1945) History Of The USSR-I (c. 1917- 1964) History Of The USSR-II (c. 1917- 1964) History Of Africa (c. 1500 – 1960s)
BA English	English Literature 4(i) Twentieth-Century Indian Writing(i) Concurrent – Qualifying Language English Literature 4(ii) Twentieth-Century Indian Writing(ii) English Literature 1(i) Concurrent – Credit Language English Literature 1(ii) English Literature 2(i) Nineteenth-Century European Realism(i)/ Classical Literature (i)/ Forms of Popular Fiction (i) Concurrent – Interdisciplinary English Literature 2(ii) English Literature 3(i) Nineteenth-Century European Realism(ii)/ Classical Literature (ii)/ Forms of Popular Fiction (ii) Concurrent – Discipline Centered I English Literature 3(ii) English Literature 5(i) Contemporary Literature(i) Anglo-American Writing from 1930(i)/ Literary Theory (i)/ Women’s Writing of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries (i)/ Modern European Drama (i) English Literature 5(ii) Contemporary Literature(ii) Anglo-American Writing from 1930(ii)/ Literary Theory (ii)/ Women’s Writing of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries (ii)/ Modern European Drama (ii) Concurrent – Discipline Centered II
BA Psychology	Introduction to Psychology Statistical Methods for Psychological Research-I Environmental Science General Psychology Biopsychology Psychology of Individual Differences English Communication Youth, Gender and Identity Development of Psychological Psychological Research Social Psychology Emotional Intelligence Psychology for Health and Well-being Understanding Psychological Disorders Statistical Methods for Psychological Research-II Applied Social Psychology Stress Management Psychology at Work Dealing with Psychological Disorders Developmental Psychology Positive Psychology Human Resource Management Organizational Behavior Counselling Psychology Health Psychology Community Psychology
BA Social Work	Beginnings of Social Work Fundamentals of Social Work Sociology for Social Work Concurrent Field Work Concurrent- Qualifying Language Basic Concepts in Psychology Contemporary Social Concerns Social Psychology Concurrent- credit Language Working with Individuals Working with Groups Social Deviance and Social Problems Community Organisation Communication and Development Physical, Mental and Community Health Social Policy and Social Development Social Legislation and Human Rights Social Action and Movements Social Welfare and Administration Research in Social Work Areas of Social Work Practice II NGO Movement
BA Economics	Introductory Microeconomics Mathematical Methods for Economics-I Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course – I Generic Elective – I Introductory Macroeconomics Mathematical Methods for Economics-II Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course – II Generic Elective – II Intermediate Microeconomics-I Intermediate Macroeconomics-I Statistical Methods for Economics Skill Enhancement Course – I Generic Elective – III Intermediate Microeconomics-II Intermediate Macroeconomics-II Introductory Econometrics Skill Enhancement Course – II Generic Elective – IV Indian Economy – I Development Economics – I Discipline-Specific Elective – I Discipline-Specific Elective – II Indian Economy – II Development Economics – II Discipline-Specific Elective – III Discipline-Specific Elective – IV
BA Political Science	Language – MIL/ English Environmental Science Understanding Political Theory Constitutional Government and Democracy in India Generic Elective – I Environmental Science Language – MIL/ English Political Theory-Concepts and Debates Political Process in India Generic Elective – II Introduction to Comparative Government & Politics Perspectives on Public Administration Perspectives on International Relations Generic Elective – III Ability Enhancement Course – I Pol. Process & Inst. in Comparative Perspective Public Policy and Administration in India Global Politics Generic Elective – IV Ability Enhancement Course – II Classical Political Philosophy Modern Indian Political Thought – I Discipline-Specific Elective – I Discipline-Specific Elective – II Modern Political Philosophy Indian Political Thought – II Discipline-Specific Elective – III Discipline-Specific Elective – IV

What is the average fee for pursuing a BA?

The cost of a BA varies as per the university and type of BA. Students are likely to incur less cost if they pursue BA in the distance mode. The average cost of BA is RS. 40000 – Rs. 65,00 per annum.

Can I get a scholarship for BA?

Some universities offer scholarships to students who meet certain requirements. The following are some of the scholarships that students are likely to receive from universities:

Scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit.
Scholarships are available for people who fall into the reserved categories of SC, ST, and OBC.
Scholarships are awarded based on a family’s income.

What are the top BA destinations?

Here is the list of all the major BA colleges for students:

IGNOU
University of Delhi
Chandigarh University
Jaipur National University
SMU
Tamil Nadu Open University

What should I pursue after BA?

In hindsight, most people consider MA or MBA after BA, however, there are plenty of different courses that you can and must consider as the demand for these courses has also increased with the ever-changing industry.

Master Of Arts (in any specialization)
Master Of Business Administration
PG Diploma in Journalism
Master of Journalism and Mass Communication
PG Diploma in Digital Marketing
Master of Fine Arts

Career Aspects of BA

BA is an immensely famous program and students opt for this either to pursue MA in a particular subject or to opt for jobs. The jobs you get after BA are totally dependent on the specialization you opted for.

Students can even pursue MBA or give exams for public administration jobs. Some of the examples of major jobs available after distance BA are:

Content Writing	Community Services
Sales	Public Relations
Journalism	Sales Executive
Broadcasting and Media	Project Management

What is the average salary of a BA graduate?

Bachelor of Arts (BA) is a course that offers numerous career opportunities, including preparation for government jobs. After completing a BA degree, the average salary ranges from INR 2,40,000 to INR 5,00,000 per annum.

Can I pursue BA after 30?

Yes, you can pursue a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree even after the age of 30. Distance universities typically do not impose age limits, as distance learning caters to a diverse range of students. Similarly, you can pursue BA in regular mode as well, provided there is no specific age restriction imposed by the university. It’s advisable to check the university’s website or prospectus to confirm any age-related criteria for BA admissions.

Full form of BA, remember?

The full form of BA is Bachelor of Arts as stated at the beginning of this blog. As the name suggests Bachelor of Arts explores the different fields of Arts and imparts the knowledge of concepts like humanities and social science, journalism, literature, history, public administration, and more. It prepares you for various private and government jobs in related fields.

Conclusion

BA is an outstanding career option for students who are interested in any of the related fields. However, although the course is primarily in the field of the arts, students from all streams will be able to integrate into the course and excel based on their abilities and interests.

So far, BA provides the most career opportunities for students, as well as a bright future. I hope this blog helped you in gaining enough insights about your BA or Bachelor of Arts.