The students can choose BA or B.Sc degree by knowing the eligibility criteria, benefits, syllabus and more which will help them decide the which degree to pursue as their higher education.
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BA vs. B.Sc is one of the most debated courses among students for quite some time now. While the differences might look slender between them, they're somewhat the deciding factor to opt for the course.
B.Sc is an undergraduate degree in sciences stream that offers coursework more oriented towards 10+2 science. On the other hand, BA is an undergraduate degree in arts stream focusing on liberal arts and creative thinking and theoretical studies.
BA vs B.Sc: Overview
BA and B.Sc are some of the most popular undergraduate degrees in India. When we talk about differences between them, maybe in terms of coursework, they might not differ much, but differences are plenty in career scopes.
B.Sc graduates have more high-paying roles than BA graduates in some specializations and vice versa. Listed below are some of the key differences between the streams we can use to compare BA and B.Sc.
| Criteria | BA | B.Sc |
| Full Form | Bachelor of Arts | Bachelor of Science |
| Duration | 3 Years | 3 Years |
| Eligibility | 50% in 10+2 from any stream of study. For certain specializations, there are some mandatory subjects required. | 50% in 10+2 from science stream. Students from either PCB or PCMB are eligible to opt for this course. |
| Average Course Fees | INR 10,000 - 1 LPA | INR 10,000 - 2 LPA |
| Entrance Exams | IPU CET, BHU UET,TISSNET,etc. | NEST, UPSEE, TS EAMCET ,etc. |
| Average Salary | INR 5 LPA | INR 6.04 LPA |
| Who can opt for this course? | Students who are more inclined to liberal arts and more theoretical studies opt for this course. | Students who are interested in technical studies with little practical work for research and lecturing purposes opt for this course. |
BA vs B.Sc: Definitions
BA or Bachelor of Arts is generally a three-year undergraduate arts degree that offers more importance to liberal arts, philosophy, and social sciences. Some of the broad spectra of specializations offered under the arts degree include Language programs, Economics, Literature, Art forms, and much more.
BA degree generally doesn't offer an in-depth study on specialization, especially when the specialization is more science-oriented.
Read More: BA
B.Sc or Bachelor of Science is a rather more technically oriented undergraduate degree. When we say technically oriented, most of the courses or specializations under B.Sc degrees have roots in fundamental science or PCB.
B.Sc degree generally prepares students for research-based work and not in terms of practical experimentation. B.Sc subjects are more domain-oriented, unlike BA and engineering, which offer interdisciplinary subjects.
Read More: B.Sc
BA Vs B.Sc: Eligibility
The admission process for BA and B.Sc streams has plenty of differences between them. Both the courses have a different set of eligibility criteria, which is the foundation for the admission process.
Respective universities set the course eligibility criteria under the guidelines laid out by UGC. Some of the eligibility criteria set for both the courses are given below:
BA Eligibilty Criteria
- For BA admissions, students should've cleared 10+2 from any stream with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. For certain specializations like economics, it is mandatory to have pursued an economics subject in 10+2.
- Along with a 10+2 percentile, students should clear the respective entrance exam conducted by either university or state. National level BA exams are not much in numbers, and BA admissions are diverse.
B.Sc Eligibilty Criteria
- Like a BA degree, there are no generic national-level examinations conducted for B.Sc admissions; rather, there are several state-level and university-level examinations conducted nationwide.
- The basic eligibility criteria for B.Sc admissions is that students should have passed their 12th grade in the PCB or PCMB or any sciences group. Students should also clear any entrance examinations for admissions.
- The cutoff score, which is the average of 10+2 score and entrance examination score, will determine admission into a particular university for both courses. There will be specific cutoffs for different specializations, which require students to get over the line for admissions.
BA vs B.Sc: Benefits
After clearing the 12th exams, students with no interest in engineering often get stuck with a dilemma between BA or B.Sc. Often students will raise questions to understand which is better than the latter. Let's take a deep dive into understanding the benefits of pursuing these courses.
Benefits of pursuing BA
Pursuing BA has its own merits when it comes to student satisfaction and job requirements. Some of the major benefits of pursuing a BA are given below:
- Since a BA degree offers students to explore interdisciplinary subjects along with their specializations, graduates have a variety of job opportunities in the current job market.
- The skills graduates possess helps them stand out among the rest of the candidates when it comes to employment.
- Apart from professional skills, a BA degree helps graduates to develop ethical and soft skills. It also enhances graduates' communication and language skills, which helps them to be successful in any organization.
- Compared to other degrees, a BA degree is cost-effectively provided its perks in the employment aspect. A BA degree helps graduates diversify and help them find the right job based on their traits and talents.
Benefits of pursuing B.Sc
Like BA, B.Sc also has its own set of merits, which markets it as a standout course for research studies. Some of the benefits of pursuing B.Sc are given below:
- The crucial perk of opting for a B.Sc is to help graduates land dream jobs in top research and development organizations.
- Certain B.Sc programs offer inculcated internships or practical training sessions to help graduates apply theoretical knowledge to practical applications. It also helps them to have prior work experience before graduation.
- B.Sc enhances graduates' research skills and theoretical knowledge and offers reasoning and qualitative skills that are an added advantage.
- There is substantial demand for skillful graduates across various fields, which often attracts B.Sc graduates with a lucrative pay scale and BA graduates.
BA vs BSc: Syllabus
The curriculum for BA and B.Sc differs. Here are the differences between the BA syllabus and the B.Sc syllabus:
BA Syllabus
- English Communication
- Development of Psychological
- Social Psychology
- Language
- Youth, Gender and Identity
- Psychological Research
- Emotional Intelligence
- Professional Communication
Read More: BA Syllabus
B.Sc Syllabus
- Basic Chemistry
- Real Analysis
- Introduction to Organic Chemistry
- Applied Physiology
- Moral and Value Education
- Research Methodology
- Applied Biochemistry
- Fundamental Programming
Read More: B.Sc Syllabus
BA vs B.Sc: Career Scope
The job scopes and opportunities for BA and B.Sc are considered very high in India and are at par with engineering recruitments. Speaking of BA scopes and opportunities, graduates have a spectrum of scopes that they can venture.
B.Sc graduates receive plenty of job scopes in domains related to pure science or applied sciences departments.
Some of the major employment areas and job designations for BA and B.Sc graduates are given below:
| Particulars | BA | B.Sc |
| Employment Areas | Fine Arts, Journalism and Mass Media, Literature, Civil Services, Advertising and Marketing, Public Administration, Civil Services, and much more | Research, Pharmacology, Information Technology, Software Development, Healthcare, and much more |
| Job Designations | Graphics Designer, Content Writer, Theatre Artist, Teacher or Lecturer, Journalist, Area Sales Manager, Advertising Head, Reporter, Business Development Manager, and much more. | Research Scholar, Software Developer, Operations Manager, Physicist, Analytical Chemist, Technology Consultant, Risk Analyst, Microbiologist, etc. |
BA vs B.Sc: Salary
Graduates of both BA and B.Sc streams are entitled to receive a competitive salary package wherever they're hired. Often the salary package depends on several factors like job designation, specialization domain, job sector, and experience. In any comparative study, average salary plays an important factor in comparing two courses. As the experience in the field increases, graduates pay grade increases proportionally. On a cumulative average, BA graduates receive an average pay scale of INR 4.38 LPA in the current job market. Some of the top job designation and average pay scale for BA graduates are given below:
| Job Role | Average Payscale |
| Relationship Manager | INR 3.68 LPA |
| Customer Service Manager | INR 5.68 LPA |
| Operations Manager | INR 6.78 LPA |
| Administrative Assistant | INR 4.2 LPA |
| Copywriter | INR 3.8 LPA |
Read More: BA Salary
The average pay for B.Sc graduates under any specialization is INR 6.02 LPAin the current job market trends. Salary packages for B.Sc graduates vary according to the sector employed, job designation, and scope of specialization in the market. Some of the popular job designations and the average pay for B.Sc graduates are mentioned below:
| Job Role | Average Payscale |
| Software Developer | INR 3.95 LPA |
| Operations Manager | INR 8.39 LPA |
| Area Sales Manager | INR 7.46 LPA |
| Data Scientist | INR 8.36 LPA |
| Assistant Professor | INR 5 LPA |
Read More: B.Sc Salary
BA vs B.Sc: Top Colleges
There are many colleges and universities in India that offer BA and B.Sc degrees. Following is a list of some of the best schools:
Top Colleges for BA
- Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi
- Loyola College, Chennai
- Christ University, Bangalore
- St. Xavier's College, Mumbai
- Miranda House, New Delhi
- Hans Raj College, Delhi
- Shri Ram College of Commerce, New Delhi
- Hindu College, Delhi
- Ramjas College, Delhi
- St. Stephen’s College, Delhi
Top Colleges for B.Sc
- Miranda House, New Delhi
- Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi
- Presidency College, Chennai
- St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata
- Hans Raj College, Delhi
- Gargi College, Delhi
- Thiagarajar College, Madurai
- PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore
- Lady Irwin College, Delhi
- Government Arts College, Coimbatore
BA vs B.Sc: Higher Studies Scope
Upon completing a BA or B.Sc undergraduate degree, graduates have plenty of scopes for higher studies. Graduates who are more into research-based studies or passionate about technical studies can opt for an MSc course in a specialized stream and further study a Ph.D. based on their interests.
Both MSc and Ph.D. have a great value in terms of jobs and scopes and often land them in high-paying jobs.
Apart from technically oriented studies, B.Sc graduates can also opt for a management degree if they have a genuine interest in management and administration studies. MBA after B.Sc is one of the most popular higher studies options for science graduates in India.
The same applies to BA graduates. Graduates who are more specialization inclined can opt for a Master of Arts or MA degree and further opt for a Ph.D. depending on their interests. Students can also opt for management studies like MBA after BA, which is also a popular option among arts graduates.
BA or B.Sc: Which One to Choose?
BA and B.Sc degrees in any specialization have an equal reputation and job scope in the current job market trends. BA is the degree for students interested in exploring creative thinking and artistic freedom and are moreover more passionate about their skills.
The BA coursework is structured to offer both specialization-oriented subjects and other basic arts subjects that help students broaden their skill sets. Similarly, B.Sc is the go-to course for students interested in science and applied for science research works.
The B.Sc degree offered intensive theoretical knowledge on fundamental science and applied sciences topics that help graduates master in any of the specializations opted. The growth of science-based research works has picked off massively in recent years, offering more scope to the graduate of a pure science degree.
BA vs B.Sc has always been a major discussion among graduates, and it has never been an easy call to take for a long time now.
1. Increasing Demand: There's always a demand for skilled graduates in the job market, but the demand has increased further due to the current pandemic situations. Organizations have begun to increase their recruitment standards by high margins.
It is essential for BA graduates, who are very vulnerable to the situation, to adapt to the market needs and requirements. The same applies to B.Sc graduates in unique specializations. The demand for skilled graduates is advantageous, and graduates need to get accustomed to market needs.
2. Personal Choice: Both BA and B.Sc offer a competitive pay scale for any specialization domain. Some specializations are offered both in the arts stream and in the sciences stream. In that case, the choice comes down to students' interests and thinking ability.
We have discussed plenty of BA vs B.Sc across several topics, but the real decision rests in the hands of the students. Both are advantageous in their paths, but aspirants must choose what they feel comfortable with.
Students should consider their personal interests over other factors when choosing the stream because pursuing a course with passion always leads to success despite whatever the course is.
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