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Have you ever wondered why most students enroll in an MA degree program right after finishing their BA course? It is because pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree program in any specific field is akin to an educational odyssey that lays the foundation for a Master of Arts (MA) degree program.
Choosing to pursue a BA before an MA is a strategic decision that offers a rich and foundational experience. One can get more benefits by doing an online BA rather than a traditional campus program before an MA course and can lay a well-rounded analytical base before specializing at the MA level.
So, fasten your intellectual seatbelt and explore with us the numerous advantages of having a BA before pursuing an MA. In other words, stay tuned to learn how a BA degree sets the foundation for an MA.
What is a Bachelor of Arts degree?
Looking for undergraduate courses in India? Well, a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree is a great option to consider. It is perhaps the first choice for anyone keen to do a graduation after 10+2 in a subject of one’s personal preference, be it English, Political Science, or Sociology. BA is a 3-year UG course that aims to prepare a student to take up a job in a variety of fields by gaining skills like critical thinking, written and verbal communication, digital literacy, and researching ability.
What you will learn in a BA degree
The best thing about a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree program is that it can be done in a variety of specializations. This way, students can easily align their interests with their career goals.
Listed below in the table are the common subjects taught in an online BA degree program that can help set a smooth ground for pursuing an MA course:
BA Specialization | Subjects |
---|---|
English Literature | Drama, Poetry, British Literature, American Literature, and Literary Analysis |
Political Science | Political Theory, Public Policy, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Political Economy |
Sociology | Social Inequality, Sociological Theories, Cultural Sociology, Gender Studies, and Social Research Methods |
History | Cultural History, Modern History, World History, Ancient Civilization, and History of Political Movements |
Psychology | Introductory Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Social Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Social Inequality |
Economics | Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, International Economics, Development Economics, and Econometrics |
Communications | Digital Communication, Visual Communication, Public Relations, Media Studies, and Journalism |
Fine Arts | Art History, Digital Art, Drawing and Painting, Photography, and Sculpture |
Languages and Linguistics | Translation Studies, Language Acquisition, Comparative Linguistics, and Linguistic Analysis |
Philosophy | Metaphysics, Epistemology, Existentialism, Political Philosophy, and Ethics |
Why BA sets the right foundation for an MA degree
The ease of transition from BA to MA programs needs no mention, yet we will try our best to explain why BA sets the right foundation for an MA degree. Check out the main skills acquired in BA useful for MA studies.

- Foundational knowledge: The basic foundation knowledge acquired during a BA course helps students get an extra edge for a specific area during their MA. They can adapt more to the specializations taught during MA after finishing an online BA course.
- Common subjects: The best benefit of first completing a Bachelor of Arts course and then proceeding with a Master of Arts degree program is a hands-on knowledge on common subjects taught in both, if you choose the same subject.
- Helps you choose the right specialization for MA: Another reason why BA before MA is always a good decision is because it facilitates the process of selecting the right specialization for an MA. During the BA program, students can interact with expert faculty to seek guidance for specializations aligned with a BA background.
- Helps you explore your interests: Doing an online BA before MA sets the stage for the exploration of personal and academic assassins. Students get the chance to explore different disciplines before becoming committed to a specific area of expertise.
- Helps acquire essential skills: Similarly, a BA course serves as a crucial foundation to develop vital skills needed to successfully finish an MA program. During a BA course, students hone not just their critical thinking skills, but master the art of effective communication and research.
SMU’s online BA curriculum
Sikkim Manipal University has meticulously crafted the curriculum for an online BA course, transcending the traditional boundaries to offer students a blend of academic depth and technological innovation with immense flexibility. The entire online BA course duration is of 3 years/ 36 months duration, split into 6 semesters.
Have a look at the table below to understand the online Bachelor of Arts curriculum offered at Sikkim Manipal University through the Online Manipal platform:
Semester Subjects | Semester Subjects |
---|---|
Semester 1 | Indian English Literature, Communicative English, Introduction to Sociology, Natural Science, Foundations of Political Science |
Semester 2 | Functional English, World Literature, Sociology in India, Environmental Science, Political Theory |
Semester 3 | Essays and Poetry, Academic Writing, Digital Fluency, Rural Sociology, Comparative Political Analysis |
Semester 4 | Women Writing in English, New Literature in English, Urban Sociology, Literary Terms, Forms, and Movements, Classical Indian Political Thought |
Semester 5 | Victorian and Modern Literature, Poetry: Evolution, Elements, and Genres, Children’s Literature, Social Problems in India, Human Rights |
Semester 6 | Novels and Short Stories, Comparative Literature, American Literature, Sociology of Change and Development, United Nations and Global Conflicts |
Why you should choose SMU’s online BA
Choose Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) as your destination for an online BA. It is not just the top private university in the North East, according to IIRF, but also counted among India’s top #101-150 universities in 2023. SMU is a part of the glorious Manipal group and offers UGC-entitled degrees for all courses that are globally recognized by all types of industries.
SMU is an NAAC A+ accredited institution that allows you to learn at your own pace and become future-ready with its unique Learning Management System (LMS), where you can get access to online lectures, and seminars, take part in group discussions, mark attendance, and even appear for assessments. The financial impact of fees when pursuing an online degree course from SMU is manageable due to its affordable fee structure. Moreover, the university also offers attractive scholarships to deserving candidates.
Conclusion
Apply today for an online BA course from Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) for a smooth transition to an MA through the Online Manipal platform. The admission criteria for MA programs after BA at SMU is pretty simple to encourage more and more students to enroll for the same. So, hurry and pave the path for a bright career with an online BA followed by an online MA course from Sikkim Manipal University now!
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