MA Full Form: Courses List, Subjects, Colleges [2024]

07 February,2024  |  By Brainwonders

What is MA Full Form?

MA full form is Master of Arts; it is a 2-year postgraduate course which helps students gain immense theoretical and practical knowledge in areas like History, Journalism, Public Administration, Politics, etc. Thus, the MA course is specially designed for students interested in continuing their studies by pursuing the postgraduate course.

Master of Arts or MA is a specialised course that helps students incorporate and excel in different humanities, arts and social sciences areas. Students can pursue an MA course either full-time or in distance mode.

Distance MA helps individuals who are already involved in a job or pursuing a different course. Various universities have started offering distance learning MA courses for working individuals or those involved in their studies.

MA Course: Quick Highlights

MA full form	Master of Arts
Degree	Masters or Postgraduate
Duration	Two years
Course Types	Regular and Distance
Specialisations	MA EnglishMA Hindi MA Education MA Psychology MA Philosophy MA in Political Science MA History MA International Relations MA Sociology MA in Economics MA HR Management MA Journalism MA Social Work
Average MA Starting Salary	Up to Rs. 4 LPA
Average MA Cost	INR 10,000 – INR 1,00,000

Should I even pursue an MA?

As we all know, completing the BA is not enough; to bring you various employment opportunities, you have to go for higher studies. That is why students mostly preferred to opt for an MA course. 

Students can either pursue a regular MA or distance MA to get in-depth and insightful information about the subjects which they are willing to study. After completing the MA course, students can get more extensible job opportunities. 

Even so, students can even pursue MA along with their employment with the help of correspondence courses. Students can get the MA degree at less cost and even without compromising their job and other undertakings. 

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What are the different types of MA courses?

Regular MA

In this course, the students have to attend regular lectures in the traditional method. This course is suitable for fresh graduates who can devote 2 years to their higher education. 

Distance MA

Distance MA is a course which is specially designed for working individuals. In this course, students do not have to attend on-campus classes, offering them more flexibility. Distance MA course can also also be called a Correspondence in MA course. 

Online MA

Online MA is a high-level curriculum that addresses the needs of working professionals. Students in an online MA course receive timely online lectures and online tests via a Learning Management System. 

Types of MA	Duration	Eligibility	Mode of Learning	Top Colleges	Entrance Exams
Full-time/Regular	2 Years	Graduation + Entrance marks	Offline	University Of Delhi, Christ University, JNU, etc.	Universities conduct their own entrance exams
Online MA	2 Years	Graduation	Online	Jain Online, ICFAI, etc.	No entrance
Distance MA	2 Years	Graduation	Online + Offline	Chandigarh University, Hindustan University, Andhra University, etc.	No entrance

The average salary after MA

The jobs you will get after completing the MA course depend entirely on the specialisation you selected, and your salary will keep fluctuating accordingly. Generally, the average salary of the MA postgraduate ranges between INR INR 3,00,000 to INR 6,00,000 per annum.

Who can apply for admission to MA programs?

Every university sets the eligibility requirement for admission to courses, and this criterion is completely dependent on the course and the university. The eligibility criteria for an MA course are:

• Candidates must have completed a Bachelor's degree (mainly in the arts) or 10+2+3 or 10+2+4.
• A bachelor's degree from an Indian university recognised by the UGC (University Grants Commission) is required.
• Candidates must have received at least 50% in their bachelor's degree, and the minimum mark requirement varies by university. 

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Do I require work experience for MA?

No, you do not need to have any work experience to pursue an MA course from any university. The admission is based on the marks obtained in the undergraduate degree.

Do I need to give any entrance exam for MA?

Yes, in order for students to be accepted into the MA programme, they are required to clear the entrance tests given by the universities. Students who wish to enrol in a master's degree programme offered via distance education are exempt from taking an entrance examination. 

What are the different types of MA Specializations?

The Distance MA, or Master of Arts, is a specialized program designed to equip students with profound knowledge and skills across various subjects. The specializations available in Distance MA are comparable to those offered in traditional MA course. Reputable universities provide a wide range of Distance MA specializations, allowing students to explore and excel in their chosen fields.

Opting for a specific specialization enables students to become experts in that area, as they concentrate exclusively on a single subject without diversions. The key Distance MA specializations include:

MA English	MA Hindi	MA Education	MA Sociology
MA Psychology	MA Philosophy	MA History	MA International Relations
MA in Economics	MA HR Management	MA Journalism	MA Social Work

Top Courses After Completing M.A 

Careers	Average Salary
Bank Probationary Officer PO	₹25,000-80,000
Craft Designer	₹10,000-30,000
Customs Officer	₹22,000-26,000
Primary School Teacher	₹10,000-38,000
Lecturer	₹15,000-50,000
Theater Artist	₹20,000-50,000

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The course curriculum of MA courses

MA English
Introduction to Linguistics	Poetry III (Hopkins to Ted Hughes)
Poetry I (Chaucer to Blake)	Drama III (Twentieth Century Drama)
Drama I (Marlowe to Wilde excluding Shakespeare)	Literary Criticism & Theory 1
Prose	Indian Literature in English I/American Literature-II
Linguistics and English Language Teaching	Fiction II
Poetry II (Wordsworth to Arnold)	Literary Criticism & Theory II
Drama II (Shakespeare)	Indian Literature in English II/American Literature II
Fiction I (Defoe to Hardy)	Indian Literature in Translation/New Literatures in English/Women Writing

MA Economics
Microeconomic Analysis	Economics of Growth
Monetary Economics	Public Economics
Elementary Statistics	Issues in the Indian Economy
International Trade	Economics of Industry
Optional Paper-I	Optional Paper-II
Theory of Pricing and Distribution	Growth Models in Economics
Macroeconomic Analysis	Indian Public Finance
Quantitative Methods	Selected Problems of the Indian Economy
International Finance	Economics of Agriculture

MA History
Principles of History	Contemporary World (Part-II: 1945-2003)
Contemporary World	Indian National Movement (1905-1947)
Ecology & Environment in History	Environmental Crisis and World Religions
Major currents in Historical Thought	Research Methodology and Historical Investigation
Indian Nationalism (Socio-religious and other protest movements) up to1905.	Optional Papers

MA Psychology
Advanced Biological Psychology	Minor Elective: Basic Psychological Processes	Psychology of Adolescence
Advanced Cognitive Psychology	Applied Social Psychology	Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
Advanced Research Methodology and Design	Community Psychology	Animal Models of Human Behaviour
Advanced Social Psychology	Counselling Psychology	Cognitive Neuropsychology of Attention and Memory
Practical: One practical from each of the above papers	Psychodiagnostics	Cross-Cultural Psychology
Applied Psychological Assessment	Genetics, Environment and Behaviour	Drug and Behaviour
Motivation and Emotion Advanced Biological Psychology	Methods of Cognitive Neuropsychology	Environmental Psychology
Advanced Cognitive Psychology	Military Psychology	Forensic Psychology
Advanced Research Methodology and Design	Neuropsychology	Human Factors
Advanced Social Psychology	Organisational Behaviour	Neuroergonomics
Practical: One practical from each of the above papers	Organisational Development and Change	Organisational Communication
Practical: One practical from each of the above papers	Organisational Development and Change	Positive Psychology
Advanced Statistics	Cognitive Ageing	Psychology of Late Adulthood
Motivation and Emotion	Psychopharmacology	Health Psychology
Psychology of Personality	Psychobiology of Emotion and Health	Rehabilitation Psychology
Stress Management in organisations	Therapeutic Techniques	Human Resource Management

MA Political Science
Modern Indian Political Thought	Comparative Political Analysis
International Relations-Theory and Practice	Western Political Thought
Indian Politics-Major Issues and Debates	Seminar on Field Project
Contemporary Political Theory	Dissertation-I
Soft Skills	Teaching and Research Aptitude-I
Politics of Developing Countries	Departmental Elective 2
Contemporary Political Issues	Departmental Elective 3
Major Ideas and Issues in Public Administration	State Politics in India
Research Methods in Political Science	Dissertation-II
Departmental Elective 3	Teaching and Research Aptitude-II

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What is the cost of an MA?

The average cost or the tuition fee of a distance MA course ranges between INR 10,000 to 20,000 per annum. Furthermore, a regular MA course costs more than a distance MA course. Students are required to pay between INR 10,000 to 1,00,000 per annum.

Is there any MA scholarship?

Universities typically award scholarships based on students' performance and demographic category. To enhance your chances, submitting your application early and carefully reviewing the scholarship requirements is recommended. It's important to note that certain universities allocate scholarships specifically for students in reserved categories, and others may have specific cut-off criteria for eligibility.

What are the top destinations to pursue MA?

In India, hundreds of universities offer distance MA courses with different subjects of specialisation. Some of the top universities are:

Chandigarh University	SV University	University of Delhi
IGNOU	Maharshi Dayanand University	Jagannath University
Jaipur National University	Vidyasagar University	University of Kashmir
JECRC University	University of Kerala	Shivaji University

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What are the job profiles available after MA?

There are a variety of specialisations available after completion of the MA course. Career opportunities are already present in each of the career prospects; the only thing is you have to be excellent in that particular area. Then you can create a bright future for yourself. Listed below are some of the top job titles after completion of the MA course:

Administrative Officer	Content Writer
Counsellor	Consultant
Foreign Language Expert	Operations Associate
Policy Analyst	Psychologist
Teachers/Professors	Journalist

Candidates who complete an MA degree programme may pursue an MPhil/Ph.D. programme in the future, or they may seek employment. Candidates should be informed that they will be offered positions based on the discipline they studied in their MA degree, whether traditional or distance learning. 

We hope that this blog is helpful to you in providing the detailed analysis of the MA course.

Visit Brainwonders if you are still unsure about which career or course to pursue. We at Brainwonders will assist you with career planning by providing vital potential insights into the industry in which you wish to excel.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1. What career can I make after MA in English?

Ans: After completing an MA in English, individuals have the option to either pursue a Ph.D. in English for a career in academia as professors or explore various job opportunities such as Content Writing, News Writing, Anchoring, Magazine Writing, Copywriting, Editing, and more.

Q2. In the MA History program, may I select a specialization?

Ans: Yes, it is possible. Candidates interested in pursuing an MA in History will choose from three specializations: Ancient History, Medieval History, and Modern History.

Q3. What are the requirements to take admission in an MA History?

Ans: The applicant must have earned a BA in History/Anthropology/Philosophy or a related discipline from a recognized university with a minimum aggregate of 55 percent.

Q4. Is doing an MA or master’s degree worth it?

Ans: Your present salary would increase with a master’s degree. A master’s degree in English, for example, can help you earn at least Rs. 4 LPA in the field of news writing or content writing.

Q5. Is it possible for me to become a teacher after completing an MA in any subject?

Ans: No, in order to teach, an applicant must complete a BEd or a Ph.D. A postgraduate course can only increase your knowledge and value but to become a qualified teacher/Professor you need to pursue Ph.D. in one particular subject.

Q6. What would I do with a master’s degree in political science?

Ans: You can pursue a career in Public Administration, Social Media, Mass Media, Reporting, Writing, Public Relations, Campaigning, Politics, and other fields after completing your MA in Political Science.