BA Full Form is Bachelor of Arts. The length of a bachelor’s degree in arts is approximately three to four years. After class 12, you can do a Bachelor of Arts in any subject of study, such as Liberal Arts, Hindi, English, History, Journalism, Psychology, etc. You can learn a B.A. (Hons) or B.A. General course on a full-time, part-time, correspondence, or distant basis. You can seek admission to this degree course on the basis of your entrance exam score or merit.
B.A. Full Form
The full form of B.A. is Bachelor of Arts. This undergraduate program provides a broad base in social sciences, humanities, and other liberal arts subjects.
B.A. Course Details – Key Highlights
| Particulars |
Details |
| B.A. Full Form |
Bachelor of Arts |
| Duration |
3-4 Years |
| Eligibility Criteria |
10+2 from a recognised board |
| Specialisations |
English Literature, History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy, Fine Arts, Music, Geography, Languages |
| Entrance Exams |
Merit-based admission varies by the university or entrance exams |
| Career Prospects |
Education (Teacher, Counselor), Government (Administrative Services), Media and Communication (Journalist, Public Relations Specialist), Marketing and Sales, Law (with further studies), Social Work, Human Resources, Non-profit Organisations |
| Average Salary |
INR 3 LPA to 20 LPA |
Why Pursue a Bachelor of Arts?
More than 9 million students have opted for a Bachelor of Arts degree, making it the most popular program in India. Some of the reasons why one should opt for a B.A. after class 12 are as follows:
- In contrast to bachelor’s degrees in science or business, a bachelor’s degree in the arts has more career opportunities.
- A Bachelor of Arts encompasses a broad area of topics, as opposed to a B.Sc., BBA, or B.Com, which is specialising in a specific field.
- A bachelor’s degree provides the applicants with the chance to be employed in any field, whether medical, management, business, finance, or commerce.
- The best option for individuals who want to be employed by the government is to get a Bachelor of Arts degree since most government jobs and exams, such as the SSC, prefer candidates who possess an arts degree.
Who is a Bachelor of Arts Suitable For?
- Individuals who are interested in studying other cultures and backgrounds can consider getting a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature.
- Individuals interested in human psychology and studying coping strategies for emotional stress and related health concerns could opt for a B.A. in Psychology.
- If you prefer to opt for a Bachelor of Arts, you can specialize either in geography or history, giving you a greater insight into the world and the past.
- Another possibility for students who want to specialize in a specific language is that they can study for a Bachelor of Arts with a range of specialisations, i.e., B.A. Hindi, B.A. English, B.A. French, etc.
- Those students who are interested in pursuing a career in journalism can also do so through a Bachelor of Arts degree, which will secure them jobs at top media organizations.
Top B.A. Specialisations
A bachelor’s degree in arts (B.A.) offers various specialities. These allow you to focus on a specific field of interest among the social sciences, humanities, and other liberal arts. Below is a description of some frequent specialisations:
Humanities
- English Literature: It entails historical and literary pieces and linguistic and cultural contexts. Your analysis, communication and critical thinking skills will enhance through this specialisation.
- History: With this specialisation, you learn about historical events, cultures, and trends to understand contemporary issues. You can build your writing, research, and critical thinking skills by specialising in history. These are valuable skills in many careers.
- Philosophy: It is the examination of fundamental problems related to existence, reality, ethics, and knowing. With a philosophy major, you can gain effective communication, logical reasoning, and critical thinking skills.
- Languages: You study some languages, like Hindi, French, and Spanish, and their corresponding civilisations. You also learn a language to better be able to communicate and understand other cultures.
- Fine Arts: In this specialisation, you learn a variety of creative media, like sculpture, painting, and photography. It develops your artistic skills and provides the foundation for a successful career in the arts or design.
- Music: The study of music sharpens your verbal, analytical, and musical abilities. You have the chance to study composition, performance, history, and theory.
Social Science
- Political Science: It deals with power relationships, government structures, and political systems. Political science students sharpen their research, writing, communication, and critical thinking abilities. They become prepared for careers in law, public policy, or government.
- Economics: It deals with the examination of the production, exchange, and consumption of goods and services. You acquire your analytical, maths, and problem-solving skills through focusing on economics. These are skills which are desired in many industries.
- Sociology: It deals with the examination of social institutions, change within society, and human behaviour. Sociology students acquire research, analytical, and communication skills. These are job-specific skills in social work, education, and other fields.
Other Disciplines
- Communications: It focuses on public relations, media studies, and communication theory. Research writing and communication skills are all developed through communications specialisation. These skills are applicable to careers in public relations, journalism, and marketing.
- Criminology: It addresses criminal behavior, crime, and the criminal justice system. Criminology students acquire research, critical thinking, and communication skills. These are marketable skills in the legal, social service, and law enforcement sectors.
- Gender Studies: It is the study of gender roles, gender identity, and societal injustices. Gender studies majors gain critical thinking skills. They also enhance their research and communication skills. These skills are required for careers in advocacy, social work, or education.
- Religious Studies: The study of different religions, their philosophies, and their historical development is referred to as religious studies. Religious studies majors develop their writing, research, and critical thinking skills. These skills can be applied in interfaith work, social work or in education.
B.A. Subjects
There will be core and elective courses associated with the speciality in a programme for a bachelor’s degree. The B.A. curriculum is developed by experts in order to enhance applicants’ knowledge and requisite skills. The following table presents the major topics addressed in the B.A. course syllabus:
B.A. English Syllabus
| English Literature |
Twentieth-Century Indian Writing |
| Concurrent- Qualifying Language |
Nineteenth-Century European Realism/ Classical Literature/ Forms of Popular Fiction |
| Concurrent- Discipline Centred |
Contemporary Literature |
B.A. Political Science Syllabus
| Language- MIL/ English Environmental Science |
Understanding Political Theory |
| Constitutional Government and Democracy in India |
Generic Elective |
| Environmental Science Language- MIL/ English |
Political Theory- Concepts and Debates |
| Political Process in India |
Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics |
| Perspectives on Public Administration |
Perspectives on International Relations |
B.A. History Syllabus
| History of India |
Social Formations and Cultural Patterns of the Ancient World |
| Social Formations and Cultural Patterns of the Medieval World |
Rise of Modern West |
| History of Modern Europe |
History of Southeast Asia: 19th Century |
B.A. Psychology Syllabus
| Introduction to Psychology |
Statistical Methods for Psychological Research |
| Environmental Science |
General Psychology |
| Biopsychology |
Psychology of Individual Differences |
| English Communication |
Youth, Gender and Identity |
| Development of Psychological |
Psychological Research |
| Social Psychology |
Emotional Intelligence |
B.A. Philosophy Syllabus
| Indian Philosophy |
Logic |
| Greek Philosophy |
Ethics |
| Western Philosophy: Descartes to Kant |
Social and Political Philosophy: Indian and Western |
B.A. Social Work Syllabus
| Beginnings of Social Work |
Fundamental 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 |
Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) – Economics Syllabus
| Introductory Microeconomics |
Mathematical Methods for Economics |
| Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course |
Generic Elective |
| Introductory Macroeconomics |
Mathematical Methods for Economics |
| Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course |
Intermediate Microeconomics |
| Statistical Methods for Economics |
Skill Enhancement Course |
Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) – Liberal Arts
| Writing Seminar I and II |
Reason and Logic |
| South Asia in Global History |
Self and Identity |
| Research Methods: Quantitative and Qualitative |
India and its Environs |
| Paradigms in Science |
Introduction to Majors (Offered in 1st and 2nd Semester) |
| Curriculum Seminar |
Economics |
| History |
Philosophy |
| Sociology |
Psychology |
B.A. Geography Syllabus
| Geomorphology |
Climatology |
| Cartographic Techniques |
Geography of Population |
| Concurrent- Qualifying Language |
Analytical Physical Geography |
| Oceanography |
Thematic Cartography (Practical) |
| Geography of Settlements |
Concurrent- Credit Language |
| Economic Geography |
Environmental Geography |
| Geographical Information System |
Optional: Agricultural Geography, Biogeography, Political Geography, Geography of Tourism, Contemporary Environmental Issues and Rural Development |
Eligibility Criteria for B.A.
- Students from a recognised board must complete the 10+2.
- They should have at least 50% in the class 10 and class 12 exams.
- For SC/ST/PWD students, several universities grant a 5% reduction in the total score.
Scope of B.A.
- The B.A. holder can get employed in public as well as commercial sectors, with average pay ranging between INR 4 to 7 LPA.
- Some of the major industries where you can look for jobs include education institutions, economic development, export firms, foreign affairs, law firms, lobbying firms, media houses, etc.
- With less than one year of experience, Bachelor of Arts graduates can expect a minimum salary of about INR 18,000–25,000. An INR 22,000–28,000 minimum salary can be expected in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, and others.
- The minimum salary in other cities could be between INR 15,000 to INR 18,000, depending primarily on the company and the type of work.
Courses After B.A.
- After the Bachelor of Arts degree, you can go for professional courses like an MBA, an LLB, a B.Ed., etc.
- Apart from these, there are several professional diploma courses that can assist you in getting better jobs in the market, like graphic design, digital marketing, photography, and language courses (French, Spanish, etc.).
- Students can take up MBA courses after graduating with a B.A. For an MBA, a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 50% is necessary.
- If you wish to study for an MBA once you’ve graduated with your B.A., you need to prepare for the MBA entrance examinations.
- The age bar to study LLB is no longer a hindrance for students who desire to study an LLB once they’ve graduated with their B.A.
B.A. Salary in India
| Experience Level |
Salary |
| Freshers |
₹3 Lakhs – ₹5 Lakhs |
| Mid Level (3 to 5 years) |
₹5 Lakhs – ₹8 Lakhs |
| Senior level (5+ years) |
₹8 Lakhs – ₹15 Lakhs (or higher depending on role and industry) |
B.A. Job Profiles
| Job Profile |
Description |
| Content Creator |
Content creators may work in any industry, from copywriting to blogging to vacation writing. Large MNCs also need them to create content for branding and advertisements. |
| Social Worker |
Any subject, including child labour, women’s rights, unemployment, animal services, etc., can benefit from social work. Social workers are needed by a plethora of government authorities and organisations. Additionally, they work for both domestic and foreign NGOs. |
| Foreign Language Expert |
Experts in foreign languages assist in translating written documents and spoken discussions to enable people to communicate and do business across linguistic divides. |
| Executive Assistant |
An executive assistant works in a similar capacity as an administrative assistant or secretary. Typically, they do things like taking and returning calls, scheduling meetings, going over incoming paperwork, etc. |
| Historian |
A historian often documents historical events that have occurred in the past or present, either chronologically or in terms of particular subjects or social, ethnic, political, or geographic groupings. |
Conclusion
Through a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) qualification, you have the opportunity to thrive in most areas of expertise by acquiring skills that organizations across industries crave. Depending on the interest you hold, you may choose to follow your B.A. course of study in a field of interest that varies from English and History to Political Science and Liberal Arts.
FAQs
1. What subjects do most B.A. students take?
With a broad scope of elective subjects ranging from fine arts, psychology, economics, and politics to English, Hindi, History, Philosophy, and Political Science, a B.A. also includes professions.
2. Which occupations are typical with a B.A.?
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree are employed in the government, private, and public sectors in areas such as intelligence, lobbying, restaurant management, public relations, content writing and editing, counselling, policy formulation, academic writing, flight attendant, political analyst and consultant, archivist, historian, museologist, associate, academic writer, executive assistant, and social worker, among others.
3. Is a B.A. degree worth it?
Yes, it is absolutely worth the trouble. First of all, earning a B.A. it costs less than it would to study for any other degree. Secondly, there are numerous career opportunities open to individuals who finish their B.A., such as degrees in MA, B.A., LL.B., MBA, and other courses; further, there are employment opportunities open to individuals holding a B.A. degree, such as historian, lobbyist, content writer, editor, counsellor, consultant, policy maker, flight attendant, academic writer, executive assistant, social worker, etc.
4. What course should I do after completing?
After finishing a B.A. course, you can opt for a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), and many other professional diploma courses.
