Normally MCA course duration in India is of 3 years if the graduation of the candidate is a B.Sc degree course, whereas if the candidate is a BCA course graduate then through lateral entry system MCA course duration will be for 2 years.
The MCA course includes classroom teaching, practical assignments and project work which is a mandate in the MCA course syllabus. MCA course syllabus emphasis on the latest programming languages and tools to develop better and faster applications. Some colleges encourage students to spend a full semester working in the industry to explore and understand how IT works.
To train MCA course subjects offered by the universities are Data Structures and files using C, Project Visual C++, Computer Networks and Java programming etc. MCA syllabus varies from university to university and some of them are - Internet & JAVA Programming, Modeling and Simulation, Computer and ‘C’ Programming, Management Information System and many other.
The MCA course list also emphasis on certain specialization topics like Troubleshooting, System Engineering, Software Development, Hardware Technology etc. The candidates can also opt MCA course correspondence through Distance learning or MCA course in IGNOU. The MCA course subjects are mentioned below:
The syllabus vastly followed for the MCA course according to the curriculum throughout India is tabulated below:
| MCA Syllabus- Semester 1 | |
| Sl.No | Subjects |
| 1 | Programming Fundamentals |
| 2 | Fundamentals of Computer Organization |
| 3 | Data and File Structure |
| 4 | Mathematical Foundation |
| 5 | Elements of Basic Communication |
| 6 | Web Technology |
| MCA Syllabus- Semester 2 | |
| Sl.No | Subjects |
| 1 | InfoSystems Analysis Design & Implementations |
| 2 | Operating Systems |
| 3 | Oral and Wireless Communications |
| 4 | Accounting and Management Control |
| 5 | Probability & Combinatorics |
| 6 | Business Programme Lab |
| 7 | Unix & Windows Lab |
| MCA Syllabus- Semester 3 | |
| Sl.No | Subjects |
| 1 |
Database Management Systems
|
| 2 |
Computer Communication Networks
|
| 3 |
Object-Oriented Analysis and Design
|
| 4 |
Management Support System
|
| 5 |
Statistical Computing
|
| 6 | DBMS Lab |
| 7 |
Statistical Computing Lab
|
| MCA Syllabus- Semester 4 | |
| Sl.No | Subjects |
| 1 |
Network Programming
|
| 2 | Software Engg. I |
| 3 | Elective I |
| 4 |
Organizational Behaviour
|
| 5 | Elective 2 |
| 6 | Network Lab |
| 7 | CASE Tools Lab |
| MCA Syllabus - Semester 5 | |
| Sl.No | Subjects |
| 1 |
A.I and Applications
|
| 2 |
Software Engineering II
|
| 3 | Elective 3 |
| 4 | Elective 4 |
| 5 |
Optimisation Techniques
|
| 6 |
AI & Application lab
|
| 7 |
Optimisation Techniques Lab
|
| 8 |
Industrial Lectures Seminar, Project
|
| MCA Syllabus- Semester 6 | |
| Sl.No | Subjects |
| 1 | Project |
| 2 |
Seminar
|
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
| 8 | |
The list of subjects pursued in the MCA curriculum is mentioned below:
| Sl.No. | MCA Subjects |
| 1 | Mathematical Foundation of Computer Science |
| 2 | Accounting and Financial Management |
| 3 | Computer Organization |
| 4 | Computer and ‘C’ Programming |
| 5 | Paradigms of Programming |
| 6 | UNIX & Shell Programming |
| 7 | Programming Lab |
| 8 | Organization Lab |
| 9 | Unix /Linux & Shell Programming Lab |
| 10 | General Proficiency |
| 11 | Organizational Structure and Personnel Management |
| 12 | Data and File Structure Using ‘C’ |
| 13 | Object-Oriented Systems in C++ |
| 14 | Computer-Based Numerical & Statistical Techniques |
| 15 | Combinatory & Graph Theory |
| 16 | Computer Architecture & Microprocessor |
| 17 | Data Structure Lab |
| 18 | General Proficiency |
| 19 | Visual Basic |
| 20 | Modeling and Simulation |
| 21 | Software Engineering |
| 22 | Elective I (any one of the following) |
| 23 | Foundation of e-Commerce |
| 24 | Computer Graphics & Animation |
| 25 | Software Engineering Lab |
| 26 | Computer Graphics Lab |
| 27 | Visual Basic Lab |
| 28 | General Proficiency |
| 29 | WEB Technology |
| 30 | Elective II (any one of the following) |
| 31 | Net FrameWork & C |
| 32 | Microprocessor Lab |
| 33 | Design & Analysis of Algorithm |
| 34 | Operating System |
| 35 | Database Management System |
| 36 | Internet & JAVA Programming |
| 37 | System Programming |
| 38 | DBMS Lab |
| 39 | JAVA Lab |
| 40 | DAA Lab |
| 41 | ERP System |
| 42 | Elective III (any one of the following) |
| 43 | Management Information System |
| 44 | WEB Technology Lab |
| 45 | Net Frame-Work & C-Lab |
| 46 | Colloquium |
| 47 | General Proficiency |
| 48 | Industrial Project |
| 49 | General proficiency |
| 50 | Computer Networks |
| 51 | C++ Lab |
The specializations of MCA are listed as under:
