M.A. (Master of Arts) - Courses, Admission Process, Subjects, Fees, Career
What is M.A. (Master of Arts)?
Master of Arts or MA is a postgraduate degree which can be pursued by students who have completed their bachelors (also known as, undergraduate degree). There are various specializations. There are various colleges and universities like colleges affiliated to Delhi University, Narsee Monjee College, Loyola College, Chandigarh University that offer MA in various specializations. The basic eligibility criteria to pursue MA is that the candidates must have graduated from a recognized institution/university and must have secured a valid percentage of marks (which may differ for each university or institution).
What is the Full Form of M.A?
The full form of M.A is Masters of Art. Only those candidates who have completed their graduation, they will be eligible to pursue M.A in the subject of their choice.
Some universities or institutions may also conduct an entrance exam to check if the candidate is eligible to get admission to the certain programme or not. To know more about the programme, like ways to pursue MA, specializations in master of arts, eligibility criteria in different colleges offering MA, benefits of pursuing master of arts, MA fees in different colleges that offer master of arts, syllabus of MA and frequently asked questions related to Master of Arts, continue reading the article.
Types of Master of Arts
Master of arts is a postgraduate degree offered to students who have completed graduation in any specialization from a recognized university and must have scored a valid percentage of marks. There are various specializations under master of arts and students can choose one to make a career out of it. If a student is interested in choosing a career that is based on a foreign language, such as, Spanish, then he/she can opt for bachelor of arts in Spanish. After graduating, to strengthen the base of the career, the student can pursue a master of arts in Spanish from a renowned university.
MA (Master of Arts) Eligibility
The eligibility criteria of MA consists of candidates being graduates with a valid percentage of marks and must have cleared 10+2. Following are the eligibility criteria of some reputed colleges across India:
Jawaharlal Nehru University: The eligibility criteria of JNU states that the candidates must be a graduate and must have scored at least 50 per cent marks in graduation. After which, the candidates will have to appear for Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Examination. To be specific, check the table given below:
School/Centre | Eligibility Criteria |
School of International Studies | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with minimum 50% aggregate marks |
School Of Arts And Aesthetics | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with minimum 50% aggregate marks |
School Of Sanskrit And Indic Studies | Bachelor’s degree in Sanskrit or in any other subject with minimum 45% aggregate marks |
Special Centre for Disaster Research | Bachelor's degree in any Social Sciences/ Natural Sciences or any other professional stream with 55% aggregate marks from a recognised university/institution |
School Of Language, Literature And Culture Studies | Bachelor's degree in any discipline with minimum 45% aggregate marks (50% marks in the case of English, German, Linguistics) with adequate proficiency in the concerned language |
School Of Social Sciences | Bachelor's degree in any discipline with following minimum aggregate marks:
|
Delhi University: In order to be eligible for the MA programme offered by DU, the candidates must be holding a bachelor’s degree with a valid percentage of marks for each specialization and the candidates have to appear for an entrance exam conducted by Delhi University. Check the table that follows for more information:
Specializations | Eligibility Criteria |
Arabic | Graduation with at least 55% marks |
English | At least 60% minimum qualifying score in BA (Honours) English of the University of Delhi Or, At least 45% marks in the BA (Honours) English of the University of Delhi Or, At least 50% marks in the aggregate of a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized Indian University Or, At least 30% marks as qualifying score in the Entrance Test |
Germainic and Romance Studies | Graduation in the language or literature concerned with 40% marks. Or, Graduation in any other subject with 40% marks plus 3 years Advanced Diploma in the respective language of the University of Delhi or an examination recognised equivalent thereto. |
Hindi | BA from Delhi University (Hons) Hindi Examination |
Library and Information Science | BA (Hons.) examination in Arabic with 45% marks |
Linguistics | M.A./M.Sc./M.Ed. examination in any subject from the University of Delhi or examination recognized with at least 50% marks in aggregate Or, B.A./B.Sc./B.Com (Hons) examination (Under 10+2+3) scheme of examination in any subject from the University of Delhi or any other recognised University with at least 50% marks in aggregate Or, B.A.(Pass)/Prog./B.Com. (Pass)/Prog./B.Sc (General)/B.EI.Ed. in any subject from University of Delhi or from any other recognized University with at least 55% marks in aggregate |
Modern Indian Languages and Literary Studies (Bengali and Tamil) | BA (Hons.) or BA (Advanced or B.Litt. Examination in Bengali/Tamil or an examination recognized as equivalent thereto) with at least 45% marks in aggregate Or, BA (Pass) or B.Sc or B.Com (P) from Delhi University of an examination recognized as equivalent thereto with at least two papers in Bengali/Tamil with at least 45% marks in aggregate and 50% marks in Bengali/Tamil Or, B.A.(Hons.) Examination in any subject (Arts or Social Science) of the University of Delhi or an examination recognized as equivalent thereto with at least one paper in Bengali/Tamil as a subsidiary at the graduate level with at least 40% marks in aggregate and 45% mark in subject (Subject to passing an eligibility test in Bengali/Tamil to be held by the Department) |
Persian | BA (Hons) Examination of the University of Delhi or an Examination recognized as equivalent thereto in Persian with at least 40% marks in aggregate Or, BA (Pass)/B.Com. (Pass)/ (B.Sc.l(Genl.),Fazil-e- Tib O-Jarahat. (BIMS Unani). Examination of the University of Delhi or an Examination recognized as equivalent thereto, with at least 2 papers in Persian at the Degree level examination with at least: (i) 40% marks in the aggregate or (ii) 40% marks in the aggregate & 45% marks in Persian |
Philosophy | B.A. (Hons.) in Philosophy with at least 55% marks and above in aggregate. Or, 50% marks in aggregate in the Bachelor Degree (or qualifying examination). |
Psychology | B.A. (Hons.) in Psychology with at least 60% marks and above in aggregate. Or, 55% marks in aggregate in the Bachelor Degree (or qualifying examination) and appearance in an entrance exam. |
Punjabi | B.A. (Hons.) in Punjabi with at least 40% marks and above in aggregate. Or, 40% marks in aggregate in the Bachelor Degree (or qualifying examination) and appearance in an entrance exam |
Sanskrit | 40% marks in aggregate in the Bachelor Degree (or qualifying examination) and appearance in an entrance exam |
Urdu | Admission via entrance exam or direct admission |
IGNOU: The eligibility criteria for master of arts in various specializations offered by IGNOU is given the following table:
Specializations | Eligibility Criteria |
Hindi | Candidates must be holding a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university |
Economics | Candidates must be holding a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university |
English | Candidates must be holding a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university |
Development Studies | Candidates must be holding a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university |
Psychology | Candidates must be holding a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university |
History | Candidates must be holding a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university |
Philosophy | Candidates must be holding a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university |
Political Science | Candidates must be holding a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university |
Public Administration | Candidates must be holding a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university |
Development Studies | Candidates must be holding a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university |
Sociology | Candidates must be holding a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university |
Master of Arts Admissions
There are a lot of ways to pursue MA. Candidates who are unable to pursue a regular degree in masters can opt for pursuing MA via correspondence. The students who wish to pursue the course have to first check the eligibility criteria of the specific college and apply for the course (if eligible). Candidates will be shortlisted or selected to the course based on their performance in graduation and entrance exam (if any).
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Check below to know about the various methods that can be used to pursue a master of arts degree.
Regular College: One of the preferred methods to study master of arts is through a regular college. There are numerous colleges and universities in India that provide the same. Gargi College of Delhi University offers MA in various specializations in regular and full-time manner. Although, the eligibility criteria and fees may differ for different ways. Students will get placements right after completing the degree.
Correspondence: People have different names for this method of studying: open-learning, correspondence, distance education. This method is convenient for students who are juggling with different things. Working students prefer open-learning as it helps them to balance their education and work efficiently. The best part of distance education is that the students do not have to quit their jobs in order to pursue MA.
Evening Colleges: As the name suggests, these are the type of colleges which conduct the classes in the evening. The classes usually start from 6 PM and conclude at around 9 to 9:30 PM. This method of studying is useful for students who are working and who do not want to quit their jobs to pursue higher education. Evening classes are beneficial as they come under the regular college category.
Master of Arts Specializations
MA is offered to students in various specializations to match their interests. For example, the students can opt for MA history if they are interested in the same, or they can choose philosophy or psychology or English. MA English is the course that is pursued by students who have graduated in the field of English and want to strengthen themselves to the core in that field. MA English is a widely pursued course by students who are interested in having a career as an English professor, translator, writer, editor and other such professions. Check other specializations in the list given below:
French
German
Hindi
Spanish
Chinese/ Mandarin
Greek
Latin
Economics
Political Science
History
Sociology
Rural Studies
Psychology
Geography
Philosophy
Literature
Social Work
Anthropology
Religious Studies
Library and Information Science
Archaeology
Linguistics
Master of Arts Fees
Different colleges charge different fees for MA programmes. To take as an example, IGNOU, being an open university, charges around INR 6000 annually for the programme. Regular colleges like St. Xavier’s College may charge upto INR 74,000 for the same. To know more, check the table given below:
Programme Fees of MA
College/University | Programme Fees (INR) |
50,000 (per annum) (Karnataka students) 60,000 (per annum) (other Indian states) | |
MA (AICHA) - I - 35,000 MA (AICHA) - II - 8,206 MA (PUBLIC POLICY) - I - 74,845 MA (PUBLIC POLICY) - II -74,857 | |
MA Economics - 19030 MA Music - 15330 MA (in other disciplines) - 14530 | |
865 | |
14,284 | |
MA English I - 10,680 MA English II - 6,085 MA Marathi I - 10,680 MA Marathi II - 6,085 MA Economics I - 10,680 MA Economics II - 6,085 |
Master of Arts Syllabus
Master of arts has various specializations and each specialization has its own syllabus. The syllabus is created in such a way that the students will get in-depth knowledge of the specific subject. Check the syllabus of some popular specializations opted by students like MA English, MA History, MA Psychology, and Rural Development.
MA English
Introduction to Linguistics | Linguistics and English Language |
Poetry I (Chaucer to Blake) | Teaching |
Poetry II (Wordsworth to Arnold) | Fiction I (Defoe to Hardy) |
Poetry III (Hopkins to Ted Hughes) | Fiction II |
Indian Literature in English I/American Literature-I | Literary Criticism & Theory I |
Indian Literature in English II/American Literature II | Literary Criticism & Theory II Indian Literature in |
Drama I (Marlowe to Wilde excluding Shakespeare) | Translation/New Literatures in English/Women Writing |
Drama II (Shakespeare) | |
Drama III (Twentieth Century Drama) Prose |
MA History
Principles of History | Environmental Crisis and World Religions |
Contemporary World | Major currents in Historical Thought |
Contemporary World (Part-II : 1945-2003) | Research Methodology and Historical Investigation |
Indian National Movement (1905-1947) | Indian Nationalism (Socio-religious and other protest movements) up to 1905 |
Ecology & Environment in History | Optional Papers |
MA Psychology
Advanced Biological Psychology | Stress Management in organizations |
Psychology of Personality | Methods of Cognitive Neuropsychology |
Health Psychology | Drug and Behaviour |
Rehabilitation Psychology | Advanced Statistics |
Psychopharmacology | Genetics, Environment and Behaviour |
Psychobiology of Emotion and Health | Advanced Cognitive Psychology |
Organizational Communication | Applied Psychological Assessment |
Cognitive Aging | Therapeutic Techniques |
Positive Psychology | Forensic Psychology |
Applied Psychological Assessment | Military Psychology |
Organizational Communication | Environmental Psychology |
Motivation and Emotion | Human Resource Management |
Advanced Research Methodology and Design | Motivation and Emotion Advanced Biological Psychology |
Psychology of Late Adulthood | Psychodiagnostics |
Neuroergonomics | Cross-Cultural Psychology |
Organizational Development and Change | Cognitive Neuropsychology of Attention and Memory |
Advanced Social Psychology | Counselling Psychology |
Organizational Behaviour | Animal Models of Human Behavior |
Neuropsychology | Advanced Social Psychology |
Human Factors | Community Psychology |
Minor Elective: Basic Psychological Processes | Advanced Research Methodology and Design |
Child and Adolescent Psychopathology | Applied Social Psychology |
Advanced Cognitive Psychology | Psychology of Adolescence |
MA Rural Development
Rural Development - Indian Context | Rural Health Care |
Entrepreneurship and Rural Development | Land Reforms and Rural Development |
Voluntary Action in Rural Development | Research Methods in Rural Development |
Rural Development - Planning and Management | Rural Development Programmes |
Communication and Extension in Rural Development | Rural Social Development |
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Salary Offered after Pursuing Master of Arts
The salary offered to students who have completed their master of arts with a specialization will be having salary offers according to the demands of the specialization field. For example, a Spanish translating company will have a demand of students who know spanish and students who have pursued the same will get a high salary. Check the table below for more information.
Salary Offers to MA Qualified
Job Position | Average Salary (INR) |
Content writer | 3,50,000 |
High school teacher | 3,24,000 |
Human resource manager | 7,94,000 |
Assistant professor | 4,00,000 |
Scope of Pursuing Master of Arts
There is a huge scope of pursuing MA in any specialization. For example, the students who have pursued MA will have a different thought or an advanced point of view on a particular subject.
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 masters can pursue doctorate because one of the main eligibility criteria to study doctoral programmes are the students having a master’s degree.
Students can master themselves in any field they like or are interested in like Economy, History, Archaeology, Education, Philosophy, Political science, Public relations, Psychology, Sociology, Philosophy, and Journalism, etc.
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 the students to get more and better job opportunities.
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Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) - M.A. (Master of Arts) - Courses, Admission Process, Subjects, Fees, Career
Question: What is the average salary of a human resource manager offered to students who have pursued MA?
Answer:
The salary offered to the human resource manager will be around Rs 7,94,000.
Question: What are the types of colleges that provide MA programmes?
Answer:
Regular colleges, distance-education colleges and evening colleges provide MA programmes.
Question: What is the fee of MA programmes in IGNOU?
Answer:
The fees of MA programmes in IGNOU is around INR 6000.
Question: What is the eligibility criteria for MA programmes?
Answer:
Candidates must have passed their bachelor’s with a valid percentage of marks.
Question: Which colleges offer MA programmes?
Answer:
Colleges like Gargi College, St. Xavier’s College, IGNOU, Ramjas College, etc offer MA programs.
Question: Name any five specializations of the MA programme.
Answer:
MA English, MA French, MA Psychology, MA Sociology, MA Hindi
Question: What is the duration of MA?
Answer:
The duration of MA is 2 years.