Zollege is here for to help you!!
Need Counselling

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Course: Top Colleges, Syllabus, Scope and Salary 2023

Sounak Banerjee's profile photo

Sounak Banerjee

Associate Content Manager

B.A. {Hons.} in Political Science is a 3-year undergraduate course, the minimum eligibility for which is a 10+2 or intermediate qualification. Successful pursuance of the course builds in candidates reasoning and analytic skills, competency in oral and written expression, research and evaluation skills, the ability to arrive at decisions based on analysis and synthesis of information and data, and such skills which are valued in a wide spectrum of potential career areas.

The average tuition fee charged in India for the course ranges between INR 8,000 and 1.8 Lacs for three years.

Admission to the course is based on the candidate’s obtained merit at the 10+2 level, and in some cases, performance in a relevant entrance tests for universities such as the University of Delhi.

Successful graduates of the course are hired for roles such as Budget Analyst, Public Relations and Fundraising Manager, Legislative Assistant, Political Scientist, Political Campaign Manager, Market Researcher etc.

Major hiring industries include museum curation, genealogy, museum education and archeology, marketing, advertising and public relations, law, business and commerce, media, and such.

The average salary offered in India to such graduates ranges between INR 2 and 10 Lacs, depending upon the candidate’s experience and skillset.

B.A. {Hons.} in Political Science: Course Highlights

Course Level Graduate
Duration 3 years
Examination Type Semester System
Eligibility 10+2 qualification
Admission Process Based on merit/ counselling after qualification of entrance tests for colleges of the University of Delhi
Course Fee INR 8,000 to 1.3 Lacs for 3 years
Average Starting Salary INR 2 to 10 lacs per annum
Top Recruiting Companies Museum curation, Genealogy, Museum Education and Archeology, Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations, Law, Business and Commerce, Media
Job Positions Budget Analyst, Public Relations and Fundraising Manager, Legislative Assistant, Political Scientist, Political Campaign Manager, Market Researcher, etc.

B.A. {Hons.} in Political Science: What is it about?

Critical thinking is vital to evaluating a nation’s political parties and impacts of leadership changes. Qualified political scientists study different models of leadership from a historical perspective regarding the relative effectiveness of different approaches.   

Political science is the study of political values, institutions, processes, and policies, of people and societies struggling with enduring issues such as war and peace, order and freedom, and justice and equality.

Political Science is a branch of social science that studies and analyzes the theory and practice of politics and political systems. Subjects of study usually covered within this degree are Indian Constitution, Fundamental Rights and Duties, Principles of State program are Constitutional Amendment, Powers and functions of Rajya Sabha, Powers and functions of Lok Sabha, Judicial Structure, Federal Dynamics, Parties and Party Systems, Electoral and Coalition Politics, Decentralized Democracy, Economic System, International Politics, etc.

Students enrolled to the course study social, economic, and political life, nationally and globally, and on an advanced level. The course reflects the goals of a well-rounded, humanistic education. Accordingly, subjects such as International Relations, Comparative Politics, International Law and Organizations, and in Western European and Latin American Political Systems, constitute its core. 

Top Institutes offering B.A. {Hons.} in Political Science

Listed below are some of the top institutes offering the course in the country with the corresponding locations and fees charged by each.

Name of Institute City  Average Fees
Loyola College, Chennai Chennai INR 13,430 (course)
Christ University Delhi INR 1,68,000 (course)
Quantum University Roorkee INR 68,500
Fergusson College Pune INR 8,000 (course)
Madras Christian College Chennai INR 59,500 (course)
Indraprastha College for Women Delhi INR 19,000 (course)
Lingaya's University College Faridabad INR 9500 (course)
Jagran Lakecity University Bhopal, INR 22000 (course)
Valluvar College of Science and Management Karur INR 7000 (course)
Maheshwari College of Commerce & Arts Jaipur, INR 18000 (course)
Teerthanker Mahaveer Institute of Management and Technology Moradabad INR 11700 (course)
S.S Jain Subodh PG Mahila Mahavidyalaya Jaipur, INR 12350 (course)
Aklank Girls PG College Kota INR 10000 (course)
Suresh Gyan Vihar School of Humanities and Social Sciences Jaipur, INR 18000 (course)
Pacific College of Social Science & Humanities Rajasthan INR 25000 (course)
Amity University - Lucknow Campus Lucknow INR 1.83 Lakh (course)
Sandip University Nashik INR 90,000 (course)
Amity University, Mumbai Mumbai INR 1.73 Lakh (course)
BFIT Group of Institutions Dehradun INR 90,840 (course)
Indian Academy Degree College Bangalore INR 1.15 Lakh (course)
Galgotias University Greater Noida INR 1.50 Lakh (course)
St. Joseph's College, Bangalore Bangalore INR 18,500 (course)
The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda Baroda INR 90000(course)

B.A. {Hons.} in Political Science: Admission Process

Most institutes and universities offering the course in India follow a merit-based admission process. However, in cases of some institutes, admission to the course is made on the basis of the candidate’s performance in a relevant written test and/or a round of Personal Interview and/or performance in a relevant qualifying examination. Candidates in such cases are shortlisted based on both academic record and performance in a relevant national, State, or university-level entrance test.

Some such entrance tests conducted in the country for admission to the course are:

  • UGC-NET exam in History
  • Punjab University Entrance Exam
  • Kerala University Entrance Exam
  • Delhi University Entrance Exam
  • Nehru Arts and Science College Entrance Exam
  • Mahatma Gandhi University Entrance Exam.

Eligibility for B.A. {Hons.} in Political Science

As a minimum criterion of eligibility, candidates aspiring for admission to the course need to have:

  • completed the 10+2 level of education or attained equivalent qualification from a recognized educational Board.
  • attained a minimum aggregate score of 50% at the 10+2 level, with English as one of the main subjects (5% relaxation for SC/ST candidates).

B.A. {Hons.} in Political Science: Syllabus and Course Description

A syllabus-wise breakup of the course’s syllabus is tabulated below.

Semester I

Semester-II

Colonialism in India Nationalism in India
Understanding Political Theory Political Theory: Concepts and Debates
Constitutional Democracy and Political Processes in India
Government in India Language (Credit) [concurrent courses]
Language (Qualifying) [concurrent courses]

Semester-III

Semester-IV

Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics Political Institutions and Processes in Comparative Perspective
Theories of Administration Public Policy and Administration in India
Theories of International Relations and World History Global Politics
Interdisciplinary [concurrent courses] Discipline I [concurrent courses]

Semester-V

Semester-VI

Indian Political Thought-I Indian Political Thought-II
Classical Political Philosophy Modern Political Philosophy
Development Process and Social India’s Foreign Policy
Movements in Contemporary India One Optional from the following
One Optional from the following Contemporary Political Economy
Understanding South-Asia Feminism and Indian Politics
The African Experience: Polity and Economy The United Nations and Global Conflicts
Feminism Theory and Practice State Institutions and Civil Society
Dilemmas in Politics Organizations in India
Public Policy in India Discipline II [concurrent courses].

B.A. {Hons.} in Political Science: Career Prospects

Politics affects virtually every aspect of social life, including the availability of education, jobs, housing, and healthcare. Whether countries are at war or in a state peace, depends essentially on what governments do and who supports them.

Teaching, research, and publishing are typical occupations for a Political Scientist. Although a career in politics could be considered a typical opportunity for a Political Scientist, it is not a must.

Campaigns and elections are one of the more obvious career choices. Traditional campaign and volunteering jobs in politics can generally be found through individuals and local parties. Careers in campaign management are cyclical as they come and go with election schedules, but there are on-going opportunities with consulting firms or political action committees of interest groups. Political Science proves a useful base for a career in social work, human rights, social or political research, and urban planning.

Some of the popular professional avenues open to such graduates are listed below with the corresponding salaries offered for the respective positions.

Bachelor of Arts [BA] {Hons.} in Political Science
Job Position Job Description Average Annual Pay Scale in INR
Budget Analyst Budget Analysts apply expert analytical and mathematical skills to advise businesses, and local and federal government offices on how to organize their budgets. They also write and audit reports, and use such data to make recommendations to organizational leaders. In the government sector, Budget Analysts sometimes assist with policy analysis and in providing advice to law makers regarding budget regulation decisions. 2,95,493
Public Relations and Fundraising Manager Public Relations and Fundraising Managers are essential to the organizations that they support. Public Relations Managers are responsible for trending social, economic, and political issues that have a direct effect on the organization. They also make recommendations based on such trends that directly and positively enhance the public image of organizations. Fundraising Managers coordinate campaigns, formulate fundraising strategies, and plan events that would generate donations towards such campaigns. 4,47,559
Legislative Assistant Senators, Assembly Members, Representatives, and other elected officials at all levels of government hire assistants to help them in carrying out their duties. 2,55,347
Political Scientist Political Scientists examine various aspects of the governmental system, including the ways towns, cities and countries operate and interact, and make policy decisions. They research and analyze how government administrations and private organizations exercise power and react to change and accordingly suggest possible solutions to problems and issues that subsequently arise. To help make sound recommendations, Political Scientists evaluate public opinion polls, election results, and how changes in legislation can affect the political, social and economic climate.  9,50,000
Political Campaign Manager They hire, supervise, and delegate various tasks to campaign staff and volunteers. Upon analyses of political polls, they organize campaign strategies that involve marketing, communications, PR, and fundraising. Campaign managers are in charge of everything their candidate publicly says or does. 2,40,790
Market Researcher They collect information on customer opinions about services or products, assess and coordinate research projects. Market Researchers also communicate with clients to understand business objectives. 4,87,745

Ask your question

Answered Questions

YD

Yuvraj Dua

07 Oct 22

BA and BA Honors are both excellent choices for UPSC CSE. It will aid you in your preparation for the Prelims and Main exams.

In BA course, you must study three different subjects, such as political science, history, and geography, which means that 50% of the syllabus has already been covered, and if you choose Political Science as an optional subject, another 40% has already been covered. So taking a BA course will improve your chances. 

Now, moving on to the BA (Hons), you will study political science in depth, which will help you in the Mains because, as we all know, the difficulty level of optional is higher than the Bachelor level but lower than the Master's level, so it will benefit you greatly. However, because you will only be studying two subjects in your bachelor's programme, you will have to study the third subject on your own.

Thus, you should pursue a BA General course. However, as everyone knows, UPSC is all about extreme hard work, luck, proper planning, guidance, and several other factors. Make your own decision and put in your best effort.

...Show More

PD

Prithviraj Debbarma

21 Oct 22

One of my sister's acquaintances wrote 2016 mains with PSIR optional. She had been working in an IT firm till a month before prelims and had been preparing for a year before. 

Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) is quite fast. The study material provided by IGNOU is good for selective reading for specific topics like Justice, Equality, MN Roy, Sri Aurobindo, Theory of international relations etc. But she had an engineering background and revealed that the notes were not of premium quality.

Paper 1- Part A

Gauba is not bad. But you will need to read the book more than one time to interpret it completely. The information has been divided unevenly within the chapters making it a difficult read. One more good source is Shubra Ranjan's notes. They summarise the points in the UPSC syllabus format.

Paper 1- Part B

Complete Laxmikant.Read the interpretations given by famous analysts, their viewpoints, case laws and their history and the politics that played behind the evolution of laws and how and why the judiciary evolved. Again for this look into Shubra Ranjan notes. For the remaining topics look into Oxford publications.

Paper 2- part A

For this part, the best recommendation is Heywood’s global politics. It’s easy to understand and very well written. Combine this with IGNOU notes and you will get good results. You can also go through questions given in Baylis and Smith because sometimes they appear verbatim and quoting the exact same viewpoint can get you some extra points.

Paper 2 - Part B

Conduct internet research and make your own notes on the topics included in the syllabus. Then go through commentaries on IDSA /IPCS websites. This will give you a better understanding of and current status of relations.

Once you are done with all the study materials, focus on developing the vocabulary for PSIR. Make sure your answers are evenly distributed with theories, quotes, facts, years etc. Practice writing answers a lot. 

...Show More

NV

Nitesh Kumar Verma

30 Sept 21

For BA, the cut-off is usually around 80-85% as of previous year’s records for the Maharashtra students. If you belong to other states, the cut-off will be around 90-95%. depends on how the rest of your peers have performed.

These cut-offs are as per the 1st merit list for Open category students. If you fail to secure a seat, then try during the 2nd and 3rd merit list.

If you are financially stable, then there is an option to get admission at the college after paying donation money.

...Show More

SC

Shakshi Chaudhary

01 Oct 21

I have a friend who completed her BA in Political Science from CSJM. Here are some of the books she suggested. 

  • Laxmikant - Indian Polity or Gauba
  • J.C Lahiri, B.L Fadia - Public Administration
  • World Constitution - Vidya Bhushan
  • Political Thought - Asraf Ali
  • U.R Ghai - International Relations

These books are necessary for B.A Political Science. 

Here are some other factors that can help you get a gold medal. 

  • Conceptual clarity.
  • Real-world examples should be provided to back up your answer.
  • Finish the whole syllabus.
  • Read simple language books. Avoid using guides.
  • Every day is a challenge.

Having good handwriting also helps. 

...Show More

PS

Priya Sen,

03 Nov 21

One of my friends studied at Shyam Lal College (SLC) Evening. Let me share his views about the college which might give you some information.

  • The overall performance of the faculty is average. Ad-hoc teachers only take regular classes. 
  • The student crowd is not good. Students who are focused on their career are less, therefore have no sense of enthusiasm or competition.
  • The library is not good. Lots of study materials are unavailable.
  • Due to careless teaching and less dedication in studies, the students during the internals are bound to get low scores.
  • No extracurricular activities take place. Societies are for namesake. They exist only on papers.

It is suggested that you opt for other colleges because if you are very ambitious, you might get disheartened studying here.

...Show More

AS

Aviral Sharma

20 Oct 20

St. Xavier's College is one of the prestigious colleges of Kolkata. This higher education institute has secured 7th position in the NIRF ranking, 2020. Hindu College ranked at 3 in the NIRF all India ranking 2020. Hindu college is accredited by NAAC with an A+ grade, and SXC is accredited by A++ grade.

Admission:

SXC:

  • The required eligibility is +2 and the selection to the program is based on merit. English must be a compulsory subject at the +2 level.

  • Applicants are selected based on the index calculated with their +2 marks. The index is calculated as the sum of the percentage in English and aggregate percentage. There should be a minimum of 60% in aggregate subjects.

  • 1st-year fee for BA (Hons.) in Political Science is Rs.32,600.

Hindu College:

  • Admissions to UG courses are entrance based or merit-based.

  • The applicants should have a minimum of 60% in their +2 under a recognized board/university. Students should have passed in each subject individually, including the practicals.

  • According to 2019, the cut off required for BA (Hons.) is 99%.

  • 1st-year fee for BA (Hons.) in Political Science is Rs.17,560.

Placement Statistics:

SXC:

The placement cell enables the students to explore and utilize opportunities provided by different companies.

  • Students got placed with salary packages ranging from 3 LPA to 20.5 LPA.

  • The highest salary package offered is 14 Lakhs.

  • The average package was 9.5 Lakhs.

  • Tata Consultancy Services, Deloitte, KPMG, Ernst & Young, PWC, JP Morgan, Google, Zomato, United bank of Switzerland, Verity Solutions, Axis Bank, Citi Bank, ICICI Bank, HSBC, HDFC Bank, Infosys, etc. are the regular recruiter companies.

Hindu College:

The college has two cells namely “Disha”- The placement cell, and “Abhyas”- The internship cell to provide better career exposure to the students.

  • The college holds 95% of the total placement record.

  • Top recruiters are Google, Deloitte, HDFC, KPMG, Maruti, Jaypee, Ernst and Young, Protiviti, DE Shaw, Essar, and Royal Sundaram Alliance, among many others.

  • Companies like Design Karkhana, Philip Morris International, Indiabulls, Teach for India, Make a Difference, Empower India, Outlook India, Youth Alliance, Thilo, etc. offer paid internships to the students.

These are the facts that you need to consider while comparing the two institutes. As for which institute will be better for you, you should decide that.

...Show More

PS

Paoli Sengupta

14 Aug 20

Here are the comparisons of both Dyal Singh College and Atma ram Sanatan Dharma College for political science honours.

Factors

Dyal Singh college

Atma Ram Sanatan dharma college

Accredited

NAAC'A'Grade

NAAC'A'Grade

Total fee

39,500

30,500

Duration

3 year (full time)

3 year (full time)

Qualification

12th with 45% marks

12th with 45% marks

Total strength

70 seats

77 seats

Placement

4.5 lakh median salary

3.30 lakh median salary

  • Fee structure:

Both colleges provide political science (hons.) courses in B.A with full duration of 3 years at undergraduate degree level. But the fee charges are some more in Dyal Singh college (39,500) than Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College (30,500) for the full course. The fee is different for different sections of the people.

  • Placement:

Both colleges are public/government so they hold good placement records. Both colleges give nearly 90% placements in political science with a median salary of 4.5 lakh (Dyal Singh College) and 3.30 lakh (Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College).

  • Faculty:

Teachers at A.R.S.D College are helpful. They will always try their best. Methods used by the teachers for teaching are impressive. They used deductive, inductive, and sometimes open debate to teach all students.If we talk about faculty members of D.S College they are also good and well-qualified, but just like other Delhi University colleges, they won't take the pain to initiate. So you have to study yourself finally.

  • Total intake:

Total strength of the seats in political science of Dyal Singh College is nearly 70 and 77 for the Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College.

Qualification eligibility and duration of the course is the same for political science (hons.) of both the colleges. The qualification required for both colleges is 12th class pass out with a minimum of 45% marks. The total duration of the course is three years (full-time).

...Show More

SG

Saurabh Gupta

14 Jul 22

Yes, IGNOU offers BA (Hons) in Political Science. In order to get the BA (Hons) degree, you will have to complete 48 credits in it, during the 3 years. IGNOU course materials are thorough and to the point. IGNOU study materials can be helpful if you are planning on preparing for competitive examinations such as UPSC. The degree has the same valuation as any other Hons degree. 

...Show More

AP

Abhishek Pandey

10 Oct 22

If you are looking for a good college, you need a 90% or higher. There are Hindu, Ramjas, KMC, SGTB, and Hansraj for Political Science. And, to assist you further, Ramjas and Hindu College are the best choices among these. 

Keep a close eye on all of the deadlines before applying for admission. Go to North Campus on the day of the first cutoff. There are many senior students who can advise new students on good colleges, exposure, faculty, infrastructure, and so on. You should visit different colleges based on your cutoff and talk to everyone about the subjects you have to study in addition to Political Science because each college offers different subjects that may or may not be of interest to you. 

You should also look at college rankings. You must not forget to follow these steps before going straight for admission: carefully check cutoffs, visit colleges for guidance, and change admission if necessary if you get a good college in the next one.

...Show More

Similar Colleges You Might Be Interested In

Lady Shri Ram College for Women - [LSR]
BA 19.17 KFirst year Fees courses & fees >
No Ratings Found!!
Follow
Amity University

Amity University

Noida, Uttar Pradesh |
BA 1.30 LFirst year Fees courses & fees >
No Ratings Found!!
Follow
Lovely Professional University - [LPU]

Lovely Professional University - [LPU]

Jalandhar, Punjab |AICTEUGC
BA 1 LFirst year Fees courses & fees >
No Ratings Found!!
Follow
Jamia Millia Islamia University-[JMI]
BA 7.20 KFirst year Fees courses & fees >
No Ratings Found!!
Follow
Banaras Hindu University - [BHU]

Banaras Hindu University - [BHU]

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh |
BA 2.30 KFirst year Fees courses & fees >
No Ratings Found!!
Follow
Panjab University - [PU]

Panjab University - [PU]

Chandigarh, Chandigarh |
BA 10.70 KFirst year Fees courses & fees >
No Ratings Found!!
Follow
Prestige Institute of Management and Research - [PIMR]
BA 1.35 LFirst year Fees courses & fees >
No Ratings Found!!
Follow
Miranda House

Miranda House

New Delhi, Delhi NCR |
BA 14.16 KFirst year Fees courses & fees >
No Ratings Found!!
Follow

Subscribe To Our News Letter

Get Latest Notification Of Colleges, Exams and News

© 2024 Zollege Internet Private Limited