Top Courses to Pursue After BCA
There are several courses that can be considered best courses after BCA. These include masters and PGD programs. Some of the courses students can pursue after the BCA program include a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA), Master’s in Computer Applications (MCA), PG Diploma in Computer Applications (PGDCA) and a Master’s in Data Science (MDS). There is no clear ‘best’ course after the BCA program. However, students can pursue whichever postgraduate programs appeal to their interests and career goals. Courses after the BCA program help prepare students to develop better skills and diverse knowledge in several fields. They also help students be more appealing to employers for better jobs as well. Most courses after the BCA program are a duration of 1-2 years. These programs cover a variety of different topics. These topics include IT, software development, management, economics and data science.
Courses After BCA: Highlights
Listed below are the need-to-know details about the courses students can pursue after the BCA program:
Also read - BCA Subjects List
Why Pursue Courses After BCA?
After finishing the BCA program, not all jobs are available to graduate students. A lot of jobs require more technical experience. Jobs that require more technical skills and experience also tend to pay more. This is where postgraduate courses such as PGDs and Masters programs help students. These courses help equip students with deeper knowledge in fields after finishing the BCA course.
Postgraduate courses after the BCA program also help students be well-prepared for other fields as well. In fields such as business and data analytics, just having a background in computer applications limits the opportunities students can get. Programs such as MBAs and MDSs help equip students with the necessary skills to work and thrive in these fields and apply their skills in computer applications.
Also read - BBA vs BCA
Types of Courses After BCA
After completing the BCA course, students can pursue several courses in different fields. Provided below is an overview of the different postgraduate courses that students can pursue after the BCA course,
The best postgraduate courses that students can pursue after the BCA course are as follows:
1. Master’s in Computer Applications (MCA)
The MCA course is a natural next-step for most graduates after the BCA course. The MCA program is for a duration of 2 years. The course offers a lot of specialized knowledge in the field of computer applications. This course is a lot more difficult to work on when compared to the BCA course. It is highly intense. The course teaches students about designing complicated computer architectures, databases and software.
The MCA course also prepares students for more difficult and advanced job roles in the fields of software development and computers. The MCA course opens a number of well-paying top job opportunities in areas such as retail business, IT companies and research organizations.
2. Master’s in Business Administration (MBA)
An MBA is a very popular choice for those students interested in breaking into the field of business. Doing an MBA after the BCA course allows students to bring their knowledge of software into the business world. Most MBA courses are for a duration of 2 years.
The MBA course gives a lot of insight into different topics and fields of business. These include business management, finance, IT and data analytics amongst other topics. MBA programs prepare students with a background in Computer Applications to apply these topics in other fields, especially businesses. MBAs also have a variety of specializations that can be very beneficial to students.
Some of the specializations for MBA programs that students choose after the BCA course are as follows:
- Information Technology
- Data Analytics
- Business Analytics
- Marketing
- International Business
- Economics
3. Master’s in Computer Management (MCM)
The MCM course is a 2 year program. The course combines elements of software, IT and computers with management. This allows students to have a broad understanding of both computers and business.
The course is a fair middle ground that students can choose to pursue. It allows BCA students to build a much stronger understanding in the software field. It also helps these students with a BCA background know the essentials of management. The course includes both, commerce and computer-based subjects. Some of the commerce-based subjects include E-Commerce, IT Project Management and Financial Management with software. On the other hand, the computer-based subjects that students work on as part of the MCM course include Cyber Security, Computer Networks and Operating Systems.
4. Master’s in Information Management (MIM)
The MIM course is for a duration of 2 years. This postgraduate is another program that combines the fields of Computers and Business. This postgraduate course prepares students to work in the fields of IT, software development and management. Unlike the MCM course, the MIM program focuses a lot more on the business and management side. This also allows students from a BCA background to have a very good understanding of management while still working within the field of IT.
Some of the subjects that students can expect to be part of the MIM program include Management Information Systems, Database Management and IT Infrastructure amongst other subjects. The program prepares students to work in IT Management jobs such as Information Systems Managers, Tech Consultants, IT Managers and E-Commerce Managers.
5. Master’s in Data Science (MDS)
The Masters in Data Science course is a 2-year program. The course aims to train students in the interpretation, collection and analysis of data. The course is very useful to students interested in breaking into the field of Data Analytics. It is also very useful to students who see themselves pursuing careers that have a lot of responsibilities with relation to Data. The MDS course also is very useful to students with a background in Computer Applications as they can properly work and develop trending technologies such as AI Chatbots, Voice Programming, Cloud Platforms and Big Data Technologies.
6. PGD in Computer Applications (PGDCA)
The PDCA course is a short-1 year program. This course is aimed at students who wish to pursue and broaden their understanding in the field of Computer Applications without committing to a full-time postgraduate course. The program dives into a variety of different ways students can use computers and software. The course provides a lot of insight into several different fields of Computer Applications that students can work on. These include data management, software development, cyber security and artificial intelligence.
Also read - BCA Course Eligibility
Best Colleges for Courses After BCA
After the BCA course, students will have to apply to a number of different colleges for the postgraduate courses. Due to the variety of courses, students will have several different top colleges that they can aim to get into in India. Listed below is an overview of some the top colleges and relevant fee details:
1.Top MCA Colleges
The top colleges that offer the MCA postgraduate course in India are as follows:
Read more about BCA Entrance Exam
2. Top MBA Colleges
The top colleges that offer MBA courses that BCA graduates can aim to get into are as follows:
Courses After BCA Jobs: Salary
Upon completing postgraduate courses after the BCA program, students can pursue several well-paying jobs. Pursuing postgraduate courses after a BCA course opens a lot of opportunities to students that are not available at an undergraduate level. The average salary most can expect to start with ranges between INR 6 - 7 lakhs per annum. With more work-experience, the scope for higher salaries goes up for students. Listed below are some of the jobs students can pursue upon finishing courses after the BCA program. The top jobs are as follows:
To conclude, there is no clear ‘best’ course after the BCA program. While a Master’s in Computer Applications seems like a natural choice, several different factors should influence a student’s postgraduate program of choice. These include a student’s interests, needs and overall career goals. The BCA course allows students to pursue a number of different courses and fields. With a background in computer applications, students can apply this knowledge beyond just IT but also in areas such as data analysis and management where they can have satisfying careers.
