M.A (Master of Arts): Course, Admission Process, Subjects, Fees, Career Options

M.A (Master of Arts): Course, Admission Process, Subjects, Fees, Career Options

Edited By Ankita Sinha | Updated on Feb 22, 2024 06:00 PM IST | #M.A.

Master of Arts or MA degree is a postgraduate degree programme in the field of arts, humanities and social science. MA courses can be pursued by students who have completed their undergraduate degree programme in a similar field. Master of Arts or MA degree is one of the most sought-after degree programmes that has been offered by universities in a lot of subjects. The MA degree is offered in various specialisations such as English, History, Hindi, Sociology, Political Science, Urdu, Economics, Tamil, and Odia.

This Story also Contains
  1. What is the MA Full Form?
  2. Highlight- Master of Arts (MA)
  3. MA Fees Structure
  4. Why Choose MA Degree?
  5. MA (Master of Arts) Eligibility Criteria
  6. Skill Required for MA Degree
  7. MA Application process
  8. MA Entrance Exams
  9. MA Degree Cut-Off
  10. MA Syllabus/Subjects
  11. MA Specialisations
  12. What After MA Course?
  13. Careers Opportunities After MA Degree
M.A (Master of Arts): Course, Admission Process, Subjects, Fees, Career Options
M.A (Master of Arts): Course, Admission Process, Subjects, Fees, Career Options

MA course is designed to develop various skills and expertise to work in numerous fields and sectors, such as academics, media, research, public administration, and cultural fields. BA degree programmes provide students with a thorough understanding of various topics including languages, society, cultural diversity, and literature. In this article, we will discuss MA course details, such as MA course duration, MA full form, MA subjects, MA admission process, MA course fees, and MA colleges in India.

What is the MA Full Form?

The MA full form is Masters of Arts a postgraduate degree programme and the MA course duration is two years. MA degree encompasses a wide range of topics, which includes humanities, social sciences, languages, literature, and different types of arts. Candidates who want to pursue MA must pursue BA in a similar field and they need to have an interest in the particular subject or field. In this article, we will discuss MA course details, such as MA course duration, MA full form, MA subjects, MA admission process, MA course fees, and MA colleges in India.

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Highlight- Master of Arts (MA)

Particulars

Values

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Degree Type

Postgraduate

Degree Duration

2 years

Entrance Exams

CUET PG

Eligibility Criteria

Bachelor’s degree

Admission process

Direct admission or based on the entrance examination

Fees for the entire duration

Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 3.10 Lakhs

Job profiles

Educational Counsellor, Teacher, Language Trainer, Content Writer, Researcher

Top recruiters

Schools, Colleges, and Various educational institutions

MA Fees Structure

MA course fees vary from one college to another and depend majorly on the type of college, whether it is private or government. Before enrolling in any particular college, students need to check the MA course details, such as the MA syllabus, MA subject, MA admission process, and MA course fees. The average BA course fee ranges from Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 3 Lakhs.

Why Choose MA Degree?

Graduates with a master's degree learn important skills that are required for their future careers, such as effective writing, public speaking, and critical thinking. MA degree can prepare students for many career opportunities in several fields. The students learn the art of managing money, managing time, balancing work and health and having a commitment to themselves in a negative environment like the real world. They may come in contact with people from many different walks of life and with many different backgrounds ahead of them.

MA degree provides various career opportunities in various fields, such as academics, media, public administration, research, and cultural industries. MA graduates possess critical skills that are applicable to various professions.

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MA (Master of Arts) Eligibility Criteria

In this section, we have covered a detailed description of the Master of Arts or MA eligibility criteria.

  • Candidates must have completed their undergraduate degree programme from a recognised university to be eligible for MA admission.
  • The minimum percentage required by the candidate for their MA admission is different from one university and college to another.
  • Candidates need to score at least 50 per cent in aggregate in their graduation to be eligible to get MA admission.
  • There is no age limit for taking admission to pursue MA courses.
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Skill Required for MA Degree

Master of Arts or MA degree in India requires students to develop a wide range of skills to gain success professionally. Skills can vary depending on the preferred specialisation. In the table below, we have mentioned some of the essential skills required for a MA degree.

Creativity

Communication skills

Visualisation

Presentation skills

Command over language

Critical thinking

MA Application process

MA admission is offered depending on the merit and marks obtained in the undergraduate degree programme as well as the marks obtained in the entrance exams conducted by the concerned institutes/universities. Some universities provide MA admission based on the entrance examination and merit.

  • Students should follow all the MA eligibility criteria before filling out the form for the entrance examinations.
  • Aspiring candidates have to score a minimum of 50 per cent marks to apply for the MA courses in both private and government colleges in India.
  • Candidates must pay the MA fees at the time of the MA admission procedure.

MA Entrance Exams

CUET PG: CUET PG or Common University Entrance Test (PG) is a national-level entrance examination conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) for candidates interested in applying to numerous postgraduate degree programmes in various disciplines.

MA Degree Cut-Off

Master of Arts or MA cut-off is used to evaluate the student's merit for MA admission. For the MA courses, the CUET PG cut-off is the primary criteria that almost every university accepts for the MA admission process. MA cut-off is based on the number of students appearing for the entrance examination, and the difficulty level of the question paper.

MA Syllabus/Subjects

MA degree is offered in various specialisations, such as Hindi, English, History, Economics, and Geography. The MA syllabus may vary from college to college. In the tables below have mentioned below Master of Arts in Hindi and MA in English syllabus.

MA in Hindi

1 st Year

Hindi Sahitya ka Itihas

Prachin evam Madhyakalin Kavya

Adhuni Kavita

Katha Sahitya

Kathetar Sahitya

Bharatiya Sahitya

2 nd Year

Bhasha Vigyan avam Hindi Bhasha

Prayojanmulak Hindi

Anuvadvigyan

Bhasha Prodhyogiki

Nai Media and Hindi

Hinditarpradesh – Hindi Bhasha avam Sahitya

MA in English

Semester I

Chaucer to Marvel

Shakespeare

American Literature

Introduction to Comparative Literature

SSS Course (English for Career Communication - Level-I)

-

Semester II

The Augustan Age

The Romantic Age

The Victorian Age

Canadian Literature

SSS Course (English for Career Communication Level-II

-

Semester III

Indian Writing in English

Study of English and English Language Teaching

Twentieth Century Literature

Literary Criticism

SSS Course (English for Effective Oral Communication- Level-I )

-

Semester IV

New Literatures in English

Translation: Theory & Practice

Research Methodology

Project

Introduction to Modern Drama (or) Modern Fiction

SSS Course (English for Effective Oral Communication-Level-II)

MA Specialisations

MA degree programme provides various specialisations, such as English, Hindi, History, and Geography. In the table below, we have mentioned some of the major MA specialisations.

MA English

MA in Political Science

MA Economics

MA Assamese

MA Tamil

MA Bengali

MA Geography

MA History

MA Rural Studies

MA Anthropology

MA Spanish

MA Philosophy

MA History

MA Psychology

MA Sociology

MA Linguistics

MA Journalism

MA Hindi

What After MA Course?

There is a huge scope of pursuing an MA in any specialisation. A Master of Arts degree will give students a strong academic background which will be very useful for their career. It also offers the students with good job opportunities. MA is like a gateway to pursue a doctorate. Students who have pursued a masters can pursue a doctorate because one of the main eligibility criteria to study doctoral programmes is the students having a master’s degree.

Pursuing a master of arts course is like opening a door and finding yourself surrounded with opportunities in the field that a student wants to have a career in. A master’s degree helps students to get more and better job opportunities.

Careers Opportunities After MA Degree

After completing an MA degree programme there are various career options that can be pursued by the graduates. In this section, we have mentioned some of the career options available after MA degree.

Teacher: A teacher is a professional who assists students in gaining wisdom, skill, or virtue. Along with numeracy and literacy, a teacher also mentors his or her students in the areas of the arts, religion, civics, history, community service, and life skills.

Counsellor: A counsellor is a qualified professional who offers advice and listens to people in order to help them. He or she offers support for issues including professional advancement, conflict resolution, physical health, and way of life.

Social Worker: A social worker is a professional who stands for society's social welfare. A social worker is a qualified someone who offers advise and listens to people in order to assist them.

Top Recruiters for MA Graduates

Times of India

HT Media

Netflix

Dell

Amazon

Marriott

Wrangler

Wizcraft

Nike

Pixar

NDTV

Disney

Salary After MA Degree

MA salary depends on various factors including the the company, highest educational qualification obtained and college reputation, relevant work experience, and skill sets for the working in the particular field. Below, we have mentioned the MA salary.

Job Profiles

Average Salary

Teacher

Rs. 5 LPA

Counsellor

Rs. 5.2 LPA

Social Worker

Rs. 6 LPA

Employment Areas

In India, there are several job prospects for MA graduates in a variety of industries. Graduates can pursue professions in academia as teachers or in the media, journalism, or publishing. Students may choose to pursue jobs in business. Many governmental and nonprofit organizations hire MA graduates for research, social work, and administrative positions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the duration of MA?

The duration of MA is 2 years.

2. Name any five specializations of the MA programme.

MA English, MA French, MA Psychology, MA Sociology, MA Hindi

3. Which colleges offer MA programmes?

Colleges like Gargi College, St. Xavier’s College, IGNOU, Ramjas College, etc offer MA programs.

4. What is the eligibility criteria for MA programmes?

Candidates must have passed their bachelor’s with a valid percentage of marks.

5. What is the fee of MA programmes in IGNOU?

The fees of MA programmes in IGNOU is around INR 6000.

6. What are the types of colleges that provide MA programmes?

Regular colleges, distance-education colleges and evening colleges provide MA programmes.

7. What is the average salary of a human resource manager offered to students who have pursued MA?

The salary offered to the human resource manager will be around Rs 7,94,000.

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Questions related to M.A.

Have a question related to M.A. ?

Hello there,

Yes, you can pursue science after completing your 12th in the arts stream. Here's how it works:

  1. Changing Stream : After 12th in the arts, you can apply for a science stream, but you will need to start fresh with subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics (or Biology) depending on your chosen specialization.

  2. Marksheets : Your arts stream marksheet will still be valid, and you will not lose it. However, for science studies, you will receive a separate marksheet for the science stream.

  3. College Admission : You can apply for a degree in science (e.g., B.Sc., Engineering) after fulfilling the eligibility requirements. Some colleges may have specific entry requirements, so make sure to check that.

You might need to clear an entrance exam or meet the minimum eligibility for science courses, but you are absolutely allowed to switch to the science field for higher education.


I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.


Yes, if you have studied Arts in 12th, then you can also study Science later. For this, you will have to appear for science exam. Also, your Arts mark sheet will also remain valid . However, admission cannot be taken simultaneously in two courses affiliated to the same university.

After studying in Arts and Science, you can go into different fields. After studying in Arts, you can go into fields like journalism, advocacy, social service, arts. Whereas, after studying in Science, you can go into fields like engineering, medicine, research.

Hope this is helpful to you!!


Yes, you can register for science again and yes your arts marksheet will be valid and so will be your science one but you can only use one sheet for one purpose only


To register for science you need to register as private individual or read guidline of board you are going to appear in.



Yes, to give boards a student must be at least 14 years old, your daughter will be around 14 or 15 in 2029, and she will be eligible for 10th boards.

For an MA Economics program in various universities, you can expect to take around 20-30 practice test papers to adequately prepare for the entrance exam, including a mix of full-length mock tests and topic-specific quizzes, depending on the university's syllabus and the depth of your prior knowledge in economics.


Entrance exam format:

Different universities may have different entrance exam formats, so check the specific pattern of your desired institution to tailor your practice tests accordingly.


Syllabus coverage:

Ensure your practice tests cover the entire MA Economics syllabus, including microeconomics, macroeconomics, statistics, mathematical methods, Indian economy, and relevant economic theories.


Difficulty level:

Include a mix of easy, medium, and difficult questions to get accustomed to different question types and challenge yourself.


Time management:

Practice taking tests within the allotted time to improve your speed and accuracy.


To find practice papers go for


University websites: Many universities offering MA Economics programs may provide sample papers on their websites.

Coaching institutes: Enroll in a coaching class for access to comprehensive practice papers and study materials.

Online platforms: Several online platforms offer mock tests for MA Economics entrance exams.

GOOD LUCK!!

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