MA or B.Ed: What’s the best option after a BA degree?

• Many students find themselves at a crossroads after completing a BA degree, confused about whether to go for a postgraduate programme or a professional degree
• MA and B.Ed are the most popular degrees that students consider after completing a bachelor's degree in the Arts

Mehwash Hussain, TT,  14 Aug 2022: Have you recently finished your graduation with a Bachelor's degree in Arts and are unsure what to do next? While some students know exactly what career they want to pursue and what courses they do next, the majority of students begin to experience performance pressure and thus become confused. In this article, we provide you with all the relevant information which will help you in deciding what to study next to follow your calling – MA or B.Ed.

MA and B.Ed: About the Degrees

It is always important to have an idea of what the course entails before you make a choice. Let’s take a look at the description and eligibility criteria required for the degrees.

Master of Arts

A Master of Arts is a postgraduate degree in your chosen humanities subject. MA courses typically are 2 years in duration. The basic eligibility criteria will usually be to pass an undergraduate programme with an aggregate of 55%. However, there are other detailed eligibility requirements which will differ subject-wise and college-wise.

Bachelor of Education

A B.Ed or Bachelor of Education is a 2-year professional degree specially meant for those wishing to pursue a career in teaching. Basic eligibility for B.Ed is an undergraduate degree (BA, B.Com or B.Sc) in any discipline from a recognised university with an aggregate of 50%.

MA and B.Ed: What are the Career Prospects?

Now that you know about the two degrees, let's shed some light on the career prospects that the two programmes offer you. Knowing the career prospects of the programme is essential since it sheds light on the types of jobs you will be able to apply to with the degree under your belt. We have clubbed the various prospects separately under each degree. Read on…

Careers after MA

Knowing what you can do after completing your Master of Art (MA) may be a good place to start considering the postgraduate degree. Check out the list of private sector career options after MA below.

• Journalist
• Translator
• Writer
• Lecturer or Professor
• Social Worker
• Publishing professional
• Content Writer
• Subject matter expert

Candidates can also prepare to apply for any of the available Government job which require an educational qualification of Master of Arts. Here is a list of Government job sectors to apply for:

• Railways
• Banking
• Civil Services
• State Government
• Staff Selection Commission (SSC)

Know more about Government Jobs in detail here.

Career after B.Ed

One of the most popular professional programmes in India is the Bachelor of Education or B. Ed. This is because there is always a high demand for teachers in the country and many candidates are keen to follow the path. However, even in the noble profession of teaching, there are a number of different career prospects. Some of the major career paths are as follows:

B.Ed: Government Sector

After completing a B.Ed degree, you can prepare to appear for the different Government examinations conducted for the recruitment of teachers who will be employed by the government at various levels. Candidates must meet certain eligibility requirements after receiving their B.Ed. in order to be hired for a teaching position in the government sector. One of those is that candidates must pass the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), which qualifies the candidate to apply for teaching positions in government-funded organisations. India has both central and state-level examinations for teachers, to recruit to one or the other of the following positions:

• School assistants
• Primary School Teachers
• Postgraduate Teachers
• Language Teachers
• Central Government Teachers

B.Ed: Private Sector

A large range of very good careers in the private sector are also available to those who have successfully completed their B.Ed. Candidates can join permanent, temporary, part-time, or full-time teaching positions, teaching the subject of their choice, in a city of their choosing, depending on their interests. Most private schools and educational institutes conducts their own recruitment processes and will give candidates the opportunity to further upskill and upgrade themselves on the job as well. Teaching positions in the private sector, open to B.Ed graduates, are:

• Teacher
• Education Counsellor
• Academic or Educational Content Writer
• Researcher
• Online Tutor
• Curriculum Designer

Check out career prospects in Fine Arts.

MA and B.Ed: Top Colleges in India

We hope you now have a little more clarity as to which of the two degrees you may want to pursue. However, it is essential to your success that you pick a college that can support you in achieving both your personal and professional objectives. To help you make the decision, we provide you with a list of top colleges in India for both MA and B.Ed degrees for you to choose from.

Top Colleges in India for MA

• Lady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi
• Loyola College, Chennai
• Christ University, Bangalore
• Presidency University, Kolkata
• St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai

Top Colleges in India for B.Ed

• Jamia Milia Islamia University, New Delhi
• Loreto College, Kolkata
• Bombay’s Teacher Training College, Mumbai
• Indira Gandhi National Open University
• Jadavpur University, Kolkata

Determining whether to pursue an M.A. or a B.Ed. after completing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree is not an easy decision for individuals. However, if a student is aware of his or her strengths, interests, and job goals, the task might be made more accessible.

After earning a B.A., students who are interested in pursuing a master's degree in the same subject and in learning more about it could pursue an M.A. The B.Ed degree, on the other hand, is recommended for graduates who desire to enter the honourable profession of teaching at the secondary school level. However, students wanting to build up a veritable knowledge base before entering into the teaching profession coils also complete their MA first and then go on to do a B.Ed. These individuals are likely to be inducted into more senior positions as teachers.

We hope you are now in a better position to decide, given your knowledge of the employment options available after earning either an MA or a B.Ed. But, most importantly, when choosing the correct career, don't forget to consider your interests, as they might just be the most crucial stepping stone to success.