Which is the Best Course After BA? Here are the Top 10 Options
Now that you have completed your Bachelor’s in Arts (BA), are you wondering about the path ahead? We get it. A bachelor’s degree is no longer enough. With increasing competition, rising skills gaps, and lack of uncertainty in the job market, it is important to pursue specialized courses to boost your career. This blog discusses after BA which course is best to advance your career.
Top 10 Professional Courses for a Great Career After BA
Let’s dive into the subject and see after BA which course is best to specialize in.
1. Diploma in Data Analytics
Overview: Data is one of the most significant assets for modern organizations. Businesses use data analytics to gain insights into market trends, customer behavior, future demand, and resource allocation and optimization. Hence, data analytics is one of the most valuable roles in the 21st century as it facilitates data-driven decision-making and helps organizations gain a competitive advantage.
Career Prospects: Nearly every industry needs to leverage data for growth. Hence, data analytics or business analytics has a vast scope in finance, retail, healthcare, marketing, and other industries.
Skills Required: Key data analytics skills that you can utilize from your BA education are critical thinking, market research, and problem-solving.
Salary: The average salary of a data analyst in India is ₹650,000 per year.
2. Diploma/MBA in Human Resource Management
Overview: Another most promising corporate career in the 21st century is Human Resource Management (HRM). With organizations struggling to hire and retain quality talent, the role of an HR has become crucial in organizational growth. BA subjects such as human resource management, psychology, and labor law and compliance help BA graduates easily take on HR roles.
Career Prospects: After completing a human resource management course, you can become an HR generalist, training and development manager, or a talent acquisition specialist.
Skills Required: Some of the key skills you need to build a career in HRM are interpersonal skills, excellent communication, employee engagement, and HR technology.
Salary: Entry-level HR professionals earn an average salary of ₹605,000 per year.
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Best Sales and Marketing Courses
3. Bachelor of Education
Overview: If you have an interest in teaching and are wondering after BA which course is best, you must consider a Bachelor of Education (BEd). It is a two-year course after the regular BA that teaches pedagogy, educational psychology, curriculum development, and other relevant subjects.
Career Prospects: A BEd makes you eligible to teach in ICSE or CBSE schools. You can also join as a primary or secondary teacher in schools set up by the government. Other career paths are policymaking for child education and curricular design and development for edtech startups.
Skills Required: You need pedagogy, communication and emotional intelligence skills, and subject matter expertise.
Salary: The average annual salary for BEd graduates in India is ₹364,000.
4. MA in Public Policy and Administration
Overview: Public policy and administration is another popular option to consider if you are wondering after BA which course is best. This course helps you learn all about public policy analysis, governance and public administration, policy implementation, research methods, and public advocacy. It can be an ideal career choice if you are interested in governance structures, human rights, and public service.
Career Prospects: Some of the best public policy roles you can pursue are government advisor, policy research analyst, or as a consultant in Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and think tanks.
Skills Required: This field requires policy analysis, political acumen, project management, research, and decision-making skills.
Salary: Public policy and administration average annual salary in India is ₹1,100,999.
5. Diploma in Event Management
Overview: If you are someone who loves to plan, organize, and manage things, you can pursue a diploma in event management. This course will teach you all about event planning and execution, including vendor management, budgeting, and event promotion.
Career Prospects: The top career paths you can choose from after a diploma in event management are corporate event planner, venue manager, and event production manager.
Skills Required: Event management courses can help you learn communication, negotiation, marketing, client management, risk management, and other relevant skills.
Salary: Event managers in India earn ₹485,004 annual average salary.
6. Master’s in Business Administration (General MBA)
Overview: If you have business acumen and want to become an entrepreneur or work for multinational corporations in finance, marketing, or any other field, a general MBA course might exactly be what you are looking for. The course can teach you marketing, operations, and accounting processes. It also helps to advance your career by gaining leadership skills and offering networking opportunities.
Career Prospects: The most popular career paths to explore after a general MBA are management consulting and finance and investment banking. Moreover, corporate strategy and business development or marketing and brand management are also great options to consider.
Skills Required: The core skills you need for a generalist MBA are business acumen, problem-solving, analytical thinking, and logical reasoning.
Salary: The average annual salary for MBA professionals in India is ₹1,189,780
7. Diploma in Social Work
Overview: This specialized course is an ideal option if you are building a career in social service or community development. It teaches all about implementing and promoting social justice and equity, and contributing to social welfare policies.
Career Prospects: The most popular career paths after a diploma in social work are community manager or program manager for child welfare, mental health, or other projects.
Skills Required: The key skills required for a career in social work are problem-solving, adaptability, teamwork, and collaboration.
Salary: In India, the average salary for program managers at non-profit organizations is ₹707,689.
8. Diploma in Market Research
Overview: Market research is one of the core business strategies for decision-making. It helps businesses analyze market trends, consumer demands, and competitor strength to make profitable business decisions. Additionally, this course will help you learn market research and data analytics strategies and tools.
Career Prospects: Market research courses make you eligible for several well-paying roles, such as market research analyst, consumer insights analyst, or brand analyst.
Skills Required: Apart from proficiency in data analytics, you also need to develop critical thinking, research, and project management skills for a career in market research.
Salary: Market research analysts in India earn ₹561,750 average annual salary.
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9. Certification in Foreign Languages
Overview: Foreign languages is one of the best courses after BA if you are interested in learning about foreign history and cultures. Furthermore, a foreign language is especially helpful if you have plans to move to a different country. The most popular foreign languages in India are German, French, Spanish, and Japanese.
Career Prospects: Foreign language courses offer multiple career options. You can choose international business, or even pursue a career in translation and interpretation, international relations, education, and media and publishing.
Skills Required: This career option after BA requires communication, adaptability, and linguistic proficiency skills.
Salary: The average salary of a foreign language teacher in India is ₹905,030.
10. Masters in Psychology
Overview: Psychology has gained popularity as one of the top courses for modern professionals. In fact, psychologists are more relevant than ever, what with increasing lifestyle and workplace stress. Furthermore, there is also better mental health awareness among people today, which has also contributed to more job opportunities in psychology. If you are interested in understanding human behavior and mental processes, an MA in psychology can be one of the best courses after BA.
Career Prospects: With a psychology background, you can become a clinical therapist, career counselor, or human resources specialist.
Skills Required: The key skills you need for a successful career in psychology are active listening, problem-solving and most importantly, empathy.
Salary: The average annual salary of a psychologist in India is ₹409,582.
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What are the Top Career Options after BA?
Now that we have seen after BA which course is best, let’s also discuss some top BA career options.
1. Journalism and Mass Communication
Digital media and entertainment is one of the fastest-growing industries in India. Hence, journalism, mass communication, and Public Relations (PR) rank among the prominent BA career options. So, if you like to voice your unique thoughts and ideas, journalism and digital media can be a good career option after BA.
2. Law
Law is also one of the most popular and fulfilling career options after BA. You can pursue a three-year LLB (Bachelor of Legislative Law) from a recognized university after pursuing BA. The average annual salaries for lawyers is ₹770,000. Moreover, you can explore multiple career avenues after completing a lawyer. For instance, you can choose to practice in courts, work as a corporate lawyer in law firms, startups, or multinational companies. There is also an option to venture into legal journalism.
3. Civil Services
One of the most prestigious and popular career paths after a BA is civil services. To do so, you have to clear the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam to join the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), or Indian Foreign Service (IFS). However, remember that civil services exams are highly competitive and require a lot of hard work and persistence.
4. Digital Marketing
Another addition to the list of after BA which course is best is digital marketing. Nearly every industry and business requires talented digital marketers who can increase online visibility of businesses and boost revenue. If you join this field, your choices for specialization are many: SEO specialist, content marketing manager, email marketing manager, or a paid campaign specialist.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Average Salary for BA Graduates?
The average annual salary for BA graduates in India is ₹484,000.
2. How to Choose an Appropriate Career After BA?
For those wondering after BA which course is best, some of the best tips to decide are doing market research, analyzing popular courses, and assessing your skills and interests. You can also do internships in different domains to narrow down your interests. Moreover, networking with people and seeking mentorship can also help you find the best BA career options.
3. Should I Study Further After BA or do a Job?
It is quite a common question when you think of after BA which course is best. Is it, in fact, better to let learning take a back seat while you gain work experience? This is based on personal preference. However, doing an internship or job after BA can certainly be beneficial because it helps gain professional experience. There is also the fact that the academic curriculum in India does not provide sufficient practical learning. So, to bolster your academic base, you can pursue online skill-based courses to gain more theoretical knowledge.
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BA is one of the most popular undergraduate courses to pursue because it opens up multiple career opportunities. So your question of after BA which course is best radiates out into multiple avenues. You can work as a data analyst, join civil services, become a teacher, get into graphic designing, build your career in marketing and sales, or focus on product marketing. The opportunities are endless. However, not all BA courses offer specialization. Hence, you should do tailored online courses to gain relevant technical skills. Emeritus’ online career courses can offer practical learning in your chosen field. Explore them today to help you navigate your post-BA professional pursuits.
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