BCA - Bachelor of Computer Application

In India, many courses are equivalent to three years Bachelor's degree. The most popular out of them are Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com), and Bachelor of Science (B.S. or B.Sc.). Apart from these three popular streams, we also have several professional courses. We can choose the best suitable one to become a specialist in a particular area. This article will discuss the complete overview of the BCA degree.

What is BCA?

Bachelor Of Computer Application (BCA) is a three-year undergraduate professional degree program conducted in 6 semesters, each of 6 months of duration. As the name implies, the major focus of BCA is to make a strong emphasis on the application of computer science in the current scenario. Understanding how hardware works and the technical side of things in-depth isn't very important here, but a brief idea is much needed.

This program includes subjects as computer network, web development, mobile application development, multimedia technology, and the fundamentals of computer programming. Here we will also be taught a few of the subject that helps in improving and managing ourselves in the corporate field.

Why BCA?

BCA is a good choice, especially for those individuals who do not have science as a background in their intermediate (+2). Many colleges and universities enroll the student in BCA even with Arts and Commerce stream in their intermediate (+2). So even with a different background, one can have a better opportunity to get into the world of I.T.

Apart from this, one of the best and valid criteria for the selection can be its job profile. The individual's Graduates with B.Tech (A 4-years graduate course) and the individual Graduate from the BCA degree's can have a similar job profile when keeping the salary package at initial stage apart. Although with better performance and keeping self as an updated version as per market requirement, one can also eliminate these criteria.

Career Scope

Before entering a new world, and getting bothered about its future scope is something usual for all. Here we will discuss the future scope after getting into the BCA. In both the commercial and governmental sectors, a BCA graduate has several options.

Here's a list of a few of them.

1. Private Sector

India, maybe more than any other nation in the world, has seen the growth of the IT industry. It has resulted in an assortment of employment prospects for BCA graduates, particularly in the last two decades. Several private IT companies offer BCA graduates great career prospects with above-average pay packages. A few on the list are TCS, Infosys, Wipro are among the top names.

2. Government Sector

A BCA degree provides doors to various government jobs, including banking and security. For entrance into various government domains, exams like the UPSC, SSC CGL, UPSC CDSE, SSC, and others are held every year, and BCA degree holders are eligible to apply for these graduate-level admission examinations.

3. Freelancing

It is the most trending career nowadays. Sitting at home and working on a project as per the contract is something people love a lot. A BCA graduate can make a career as a freelancer and can make money through a secondary source. Startup companies and even an individual can approach with their project to you to work on. This particular career may give you the experience to work smoothly in the corporate.

Eligibility Criteria

Those who want to pursue a BCA degree do not need to have Chemistry, Physics, or Mathematics as a required subject in their Class 12th, unlike students pursuing a B Tech or B.E. degree in Computer Science and Engineering or Information Technology. Students with a background in the arts and commerce can also enroll in this course. However, below are a few fundamental requirements needed for enrolling in a BCA program.

1. They must have scored a minimum of 45 percent aggregate in English as a compulsory subject in class 12th.
2. Some institutions accept students based on their past academic performance, while others enroll students based on marks obtained in entrance exams and personal interviews.
3. Some state-level government institutions also conduct their exams for admission.

Admission Process

A Bachelor's degree in Computer Application is offered by a wide number of colleges around the country. Each institute, however, has its unique eligibility criteria for admissions. Some institutions, for example, admit students only based on class 12th grades, and the private institutions mostly do it. Some state universities administer their entrance exams. In contrast, others ask students to sit for the entrance exam, and also interviews are conducted.

Entrance Exams for BCA

Now let's talk about a few of the entrance exams for BCA. A few state and central universities or private institutions conduct various exams every year to enroll new students in this particular program. The eligibility criteria for different exams may vary slightly, so there is a need to have some idea while approaching those universities and Institutions.

1. LUCSAT

The Lucknow University Computer Science Admission Test, or LUCSAT, is a state-level entrance test for admission into Lucknow University's for various undergraduate degrees, and the BCA program is among one of them.

2. IPU CET

Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test, or IPU CET, offers another university-level entrance test for The Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) to get admission to several Bachelor's degrees programs in different disciplines of study. After clearing the exam, one can get admission to GGSIPU's BCA program.

3. KIITEE

The Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology University Entrance Exam, or KIITEE, is a university-level entrance exam conducted for admission to several undergraduate programs. It is an online test in which applicants need to clear to get considered for the BCA program.

4. AIMA UGAT

The All India Management Association (AIMA) performs the Under Graduate Aptitude Test (UGAT) yearly to screen candidates for getting admission into professional undergraduate programs such as Integrated BBA, BCA, BHM, B.Sc. (I.T.), B.Com, etc.

Prominent Subjects of BCA

This degree takes six semesters to get completed within three years, with each of six months duration. In each semester, you will be introduced to various subjects. The syllabus may vary from university to university but will cover most of the subjects mentioned below.

1. Fundamental Of C Programming
2. Computer Fundamental And Office Automation
3. Organizational Behavior
4. Mathematics I, II & III And Numerical Methods
5. Computer Network
6. Data Electronics And Communications
7. Data Structure
8. Software Engineering
9. Database Management System
10. Java With OOPS Concepts
11. Minor And Major Project

Top BCA Colleges in India

There are various institutions available in India, private and Government, that provide better career options ahead of the degree completion after preparing the student ready to explore themselves to the corporate field to get rid of all upcoming challenges in the field of technology as well as in the field of marketing.

Let's have a look at a few of the top colleges from all over India for the BCA graduate program,

Top BCA Colleges In Abroad

Most Common Job Profile for BCA Graduates

As the name implies, a Bachelor of Computer Application does not mean that one will only specialize in the I.T. sector. It's a program that makes you a multidisciplinary guy who can also explore marketing and the H.R. sector.

Now let's have a look at a few common job profiles for BCA graduates.

1. Software developer

Most trending one, the foremost purpose of a software developer is to create software that makes people's jobs easier and allows them to work more effectively. A software developer is also responsible for installing, testing, and maintaining the program.

2. Digital Marketing Jobs

The digital world has become increasingly profitable with each successive passing day. The digital market starts to grow at a ten time's faster rate than other traditional economies and businesses. A BCA graduate can also go for digital marketing jobs and openings to be proactive in today's era of the digital world.

3. Web developer

A web developer's job is to create and manage websites. CSS, JavaScript, HTML/XHTML, PHP, and a few other programming languages are required of a web developer. You can discover fine job possibilities in a variety of web designing organizations.

4. Full-time Freelancing

One may seek a job in freelancing after getting their BCA. Freelancing is an option for fresher who have a strong command of programming languages and design abilities, such as HTML5, Java, C, C++, XML, and a few others.

Options after BCA

Once the BCA program completes, one can go for the job in a particular sector with which the specialization matches. If not, there are a few more options to go for, and that is, one can go for the postgraduate program.

The following are some of the higher programs after BCA:

MCA

In higher education following BCA, students should pursue MCA, a postgraduate level program in computer application. The course allows students to go further into the area and empower themselves with the necessary skills and information to succeed. One must take MCA entrance examinations to get enrolled into an MCA degree from a well-reputed institution. There are various exams conducted every year like NIMCET( for the admission in NIT for MCA ), BHU, JNU, D.U., etc.

MBA

Following a BCA degree, enrolling in an MBA program to get a professional degree is a popular course choice for higher education. Many BCA graduates enroll in an MBA school after graduation for various reasons, including personal interest in the coding and managerial aspects of the BCA curriculum. Students must, however, take MBA admission tests such as the CAT, XAT, and MAT to be admitted to an MBA program from well-reputed institutions.

If one does not wants to go for a higher study but is interested in the government job, then also this degree comes into the role. The BCA degree also plays a vital role in many government jobs opening to fulfil its eligibility criteria. A BCA graduate becomes eligible to apply for all the vacancies based on the minimum criteria of being a graduate.

Conclusion

A BCA degree can be treated very similarly to that of the BE/B.Tech(CS) degree, as both are technology-specific courses. A graduate from either of these two courses has almost similar job opportunities. Although, when it comes to the fee amount and the course duration, there is a difference and the same difference counts in the salary package weightage. Keeping these evaluating attributes apart, we can say that BCA is a better option to go for, and why it is so, we have discussed almost all aspects above.