BA Philosophy
BA Philosophy or Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy is a 3 year undergraduate degree program, with each year comprising two semesters. The course is offered by various universities and colleges in India. The course deals with every possible aspect of philosophy like Indian philosophy, western philosophy, ethics, etc.
The basic eligibility criteria for pursuing this course is that the student should have cleared their senior secondary examination. Students should have passed 10+2 examinations from any recognized board with minimum 50% marks.
BA Philosophy is a subject for the students who are mastermind or critical thinkers. The course covers all the major aspects of Indian and Western Philosophy. Philosophy is a branch of study which enquires into the fundamental questions about human life. It is concerned about human knowledge, moral and scientific reasoning, art and society. This course has a vital part to play in professions like law, business, and public administration.
BA in Philosophy is an appropriate choice for students who are interested in a course in Arts and often find themselves contemplating questions of life and existence. The course prepares students to become critical thinkers and analyzers. Through the course students learn to analyze and frame arguments, write clear and persuasive arguments and understand new ways of thinking. The course basically revolves around human life and it's subtleness. It gives deep insights about a healthy way of living.
BA Philosophy Course Highlights
| Course Level |
Undergraduate |
| Full-form |
Bachelor of arts in philosophy |
| Duration |
3 years |
| Examination Type |
Semester / year wise |
| Eligibility |
10+2 (minimum 50% marks )and relaxation to SC/ST/OBC |
| Admission process |
Merit based selection or entrance exam |
| Top Recruiters |
Kotak Securities, CAPGEMINI, United Airlines, Axis Bank, etc. |
| Job Position |
Teacher, Public Service, Social Worker, Journalist, Sales Executive, etc. |
Why pursue BA Philosophy?
Over the past years, a lot of students have found BA Philosophy as one of the most sought after courses in India. The course comes with some special benefits and perks. Some of the benefits of pursuing BA Philosophy are given below:
- The course is a boon for students who want to pursue a Philosophy course. It provides them with a path to carve their careers in a completely different field.
- The course imparts in-depth knowledge about a healthy way of living. One gets to learn about the theoretical and practical aspects of philosophy in day to day life.
- The course imparts various skills to the students. Some of such skills include critical and logical thinking, analytical skills, decision making, problem solving skills, etc.
- There is yet another option for candidates who pursue BA in Philosophy. Instead of seeking jobs, they can pursue further studies. There are lots of postgraduate courses in the domain of Arts stream. One can choose any relevant course as per one's interest.
- After the completion of the course, graduates of the course can work as a teacher, social worker, Journalist, Philosopher, etc.
BA Philosophy Admission Process 2024
Admission to the course is done either on the basis of the marks obtained in the 10+2 examination or on the basis of the marks obtained in any relevant entrance test.
Some of the most popular entrance exams conducted to shortlist students for admission into this course include GATA, MUEE, Patna University Entrance exam, etc.
Entrance based selection
| Colleges or universities conduct their own entrance exams in order to shortlist students for admission into the course. |
| Students are required to choose the subject and register on the official website. |
| The dates of the examinations are notified on the official websites. Students must fulfill the eligibility before taking the test. |
| After examination, cutoff lists are released by the respective college or university. |
| The college or university then releases the final merit list of the shortlisted candidates. |
Merit based Selection
| Students are required to fill the application form of the colleges they are interested in. They must check the eligibility for the same. |
| The college or university then releases the cut off list based on the scores obtained in the +2 examination. |
| Students with marks above the cutoffs are offered admission. |
BA Philosophy Eligibility
Students seeking admission into the course must fulfill the eligibility criteria mentioned below.
* One must have passed 10+2 examinations from a recognized board.
* One must have obtained an aggregate of minimum 50% marks in order to be eligible for the admission process.
* Reserved category students are required to show their concerned certificates in order to seek reservation for the admission process.
How to get admission in a good BA Philosophy college?
| - Admission to the course is offered either on the basis of an entrance test or on merit basis. In the case of merit-based selection, the marks obtained by the students in the qualifying examination are considered for the purpose of granting admission to the course. Hence students must focus on performing well in their qualifying exams. |
| - In case of an entrance test, it is very important to score above the minimum required marks set by the respective college or university. |
| - One must keep track of all the important dates of the entrance so that one can register before the deadline for the exam. |
| - One must be well prepared with the syllabus of the entrance exam. One must solve the previous year papers to get acquainted with the exam pattern. |
| - Start preparing for the entrance exam a year before as this gives ample time for learning and revision. Do keep your target institute in min |
BA Philosophy Syllabus
BA Philosophy is a three years long undergraduate degree program. Each year consists of two semesters. The syllabus of the course differs from college to college. Topics covered in various semesters are given below:
| Semester 1 |
Semester 2 |
| Logic |
Ethics |
| Basic Logical Concepts |
The fundamental Questions of Ethics |
| Traditional Logic |
Virtue Ethics : Aristotle |
| Symbolic Logic |
Nishkama Karma (Bhagavadgita) |
| Informal Fallacies |
Non-Violence (M.K. Gandhi) |
| Semester 3 |
Semester 4 |
| Indian Philosophy |
Western Philosophy |
| IInductive Logic |
Plato : Knowledge and Opinion |
| Logic |
Spinoza : Substance |
| Theories of Causation |
Leibnitz : Theory of Monads |
| Theories of Reality |
Hume : Theory of Causation |
| Semester 5 |
Semester 6 |
| Indian Logic and Epistemology |
Vedic System of Values |
| Philosophy of Language, Epistemology and Metaphysics (Western) |
Concept of Man and Humanity |
| Ethics and Philosophy of Religion |
Purusharthas |
| Optional Paper |
Nature of Svadharma |
| Karma and Rebirth |
Varnashrama Dharma |
BA Philosophy Job and Career Prospects
BA Philosophy course comes with various jobs and career opportunities. Fresh graduates of the course can easily expect an average salary of INR 1.5 Lakhs to INR 3.5 Lakhs per year.
The compensation offered is proportional to the experience earned in the field. Some of the top job profiles offered to BA Philosophy professionals are given below.
| Job Profiles |
Job Description |
| HR executive |
A background in ethics and philosophy makes a Philosophy graduate adept in people skills and hence perfect for a role as an HR Executive. |
| Sales Executive |
A degree in Philosophy helps in understanding the needs of society making an apt background for the post of Sales Executive. |
| Teacher |
Those with a knack for sharing knowledge can find employment as a teacher in schools. |
| PR & Advertising Executive |
In BA Philosophy, students develop an informed perception toward life and society making them well equipped for a role in PR and Advertising. |
| Social Worker |
A Philosophy graduate learns the ethics and thought process of a society thus making them the ideal candidates for social work. |
BA Philosophy Future Scope
- BA Philosophy course comes with various jobs and career opportunities. Such professionals are hired in the position of HR executive, Sales executive, PR executive, School teacher, Student counselor, Journalist, etc.
- Besides doing a job, a philosophy graduate has a lot of opportunities to pursue higher studies.
- An obvious choice is an MA Philosophy degree which is available at all major Universities offering Postgraduate courses in India. A philosophy graduate can also opt for MA in English Literature, which also deals with various branches of philosophy and their contribution to literature.
- Those looking for a more professional option can opt for an MBA in Human Resource Management or MBA in Marketing.
Conclusion
After studying BA Philosophy, the candidates gain a proper understanding of solving critical philosophical problems and gain the skill of critical thinking. It teaches candidates to critically analyse themselves and communicate their own ideas clearly.