Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology is an Undergraduate Program offered in Humanities at colleges across India. The program duration is of 3 years.

Students who have passed 10+2 or intermediate examination are eligible for admission to the program.

After a BA degree in Psychology, various prospects are available in terms of career across many different sectors. A Psychology graduate can find employment in hospitals, educational institutes, corporate organizations, schools etc.

Average starting salary for BA Psychology graduates ranges between 1.2 Lakh INR per annum to 2 Lakh INR per annum depending upon the sector of employment. 

Duration

The duration of the program is 3 years. For Distance mode BA Psychology program, the minimum duration is 3 years and maximum duration varies between 5 to 6 years in which a student is expected to fulfill all the requirements of the course.

History of the Course

In India, the study of Psychology began with the establishment of the Department of Experimental Psychology in Calcutta University in 1916. The first chairman of the department was Prof. Narendranath Sen Gupta. Another pioneer in the field of Psychology education in India was Gunamudian David Boaz, who set up the Department of Psychology at Madras University. Another prominent figure associated with psychology in India was Girindrasekhar Bose who was the first president of Indian psychoanalytic Society set up in1922. Girindrasekhar Bose is known for his dialogues with Sigmund Freud. Since then Psychology as a subject of study has only gathered prominence and has emerged as one of the popular choices among Arts courses in India in the recent years.

What is BA in Psychology about?

Psychology, in simple terms, is the study of human mind and human behavior. A student of psychology has to study how a human mind works in different situations, how it develops perception, what are the various circumstances and how they affect the development of human behavior.

Although psychology is introduced at school level in India, it is only at college level does one learn the basic theories and applications related to Psychology and Psychoanalysis. Psychology courses at undergraduate level are generally application based and prepare students for entry level jobs in related fields.

Which are the top Colleges for BA in Psychology?

With over 300 Colleges offering BA in Psychology, it is vital for students to select the right college. Some of the top colleges in country for BA Psychology course are listed below:

• Christ College, Bangalore
• Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi
• Fergusson College, Pune
• Jesus and Mary College, Delhi
• Jai Hind College, Mumbai
• St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad
• Loreto College, Kolkata

What is the difference between BA Psychology and B.Sc. Psychology?

In India, a bachelor degree in Psychology may be offered at colleges through Science, Arts or Social Science departments. While BA in Psychology is an Arts degree, B.Sc. in Psychology is a science degree. Apart from this, there is not much difference between the two courses as the core subjects generally remain the same.

A BA in Psychology deals with the counselling aspects of Psychology and are application based. A student with a BA degree in Psychology is more likely to find job as guidance counsellors with various organizations. BA Psychology is ideal for students who have a leaning towards Arts and Social Sciences and are willing to take up an in-depth study of psychology.

A B.Sc. in Psychology deals with the clinical aspect of Psychology and a student has to learn statistics and research methodologies in addition to other subjects associated with Psychology. B.Sc. Psychology is suited for students who have an interest in Mathematics and reasoning.

Further Academic Options after BA in Psychology

For students who wish to pursue further studies after BA in Psychology, multiple options are available in India. For starters, they can opt for an MA course in Psychology and its allied branches from any of the Universities offering Postgraduate courses in psychology.

Since BA in Psychology also deals with understanding personality, skills and potential of individuals, it prepares for an ideal ground for an MBA in Human Resources Management. MBA in Human Resource Management is offered at all leading B-Schools in India. 

Aspirants seeking admission to 3-year Full-time BA Program must have passed 10+2 from a recognized Board of Education or its equivalent.