Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) is a three-year undergraduate course that equips students with fundamental and advanced knowledge of Information Technology and Computer Applications. Throughout the program, students delve into various subjects like programming languages, operating systems, data structures, database management systems, web development, and software engineering.
Let’s explore the BCA course subjects and syllabus and take a quick look at the promising career opportunities that await BCA graduates.
BCA Course Subjects and Syllabus Overview:
The BCA course covers a diverse range of topics to ensure a well-rounded education in the field of computer applications. Here’s an overview:
Name of the Course |
BCA – Bachelor of Computer Applications |
Duration | 3-4 years depending upon the university |
Eligibility |
10+2 with at least 50% marks in any stream
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Subjects Covered |
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Average Salary | INR 5-6 LPA |
Careers |
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BCA Course Objectives
The BCA’s program objective is to provide a solid academic basis for a career in advanced computer applications and development.
- The main purpose of a BCA degree is to give industry-focused practical skill sets and knowledge to their students for making careers in the IT industry.
- He/She developed a strong firm foundation in computer fundamentals.
- Offer high-quality computer education to enhance logical programming and computing skills.
- Develop graduates with exceptional leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Utilize cutting-edge teaching, learning, and evaluation methodologies and procedures.
- Teach students to provide qualified solutions to real-world problems and how to think from scratch.
- To promote creativity and the pursuit of perfection in computer applications.
Required Skillset for BCA
Here are some skill sets mentioned that are crucial for a successful career in computer applications and developed throughout the BCA course.
- Basic knowledge of one programming language such as Java, C++, Python, or others.
- Curiosity to solve complex problems using logical reasoning.
- Basic knowledge of data structure & Algorithms (DSA).
- Familiarity with fundamental web development technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Knowledge of database management systems and SQL.
- Good understanding of computer networks and network security.
- Practical communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Adaptability and willingness to learn new technologies and tools.
BCA Specialisations
BCA is also offered in the following subjects and specializations. Here is the most critical BCA subjects list:
- Animation
- Accounting Applications
- Computer Graphics
- Cyber Law
- Internet Technologies
- Music and Video Processing
- Personal Information Management
- Programming Languages
- Systems Analysis
Prominent BCA Course Subjects
Below is a list of prominent subjects that you will study throughout your BCA journey. These subjects are taught in most BCA programs independent of college/university and are crucial from a career and job perspective.
- Fundamentals of Computers: This subject covers the basics of computer hardware and software, as well as the history of computing.
- C Programming: This subject teaches the fundamentals of programming in C, a popular programming language.
- Data Structures and Algorithms: This subject teaches how to store and organize data efficiently, as well as how to design algorithms to solve problems.
- Operating Systems: This subject teaches how operating systems work, and how to manage and control computer resources.
- Database Management Systems: This subject teaches how to design, create, and manage databases.
- Software Engineering: This subject teaches the principles of software development, from requirements gathering to testing and deployment.
- Web Development: This subject teaches how to develop websites and web applications.
- Computer Networks: This subject teaches how computer networks work, and how to design and implement networks.
- Artificial Intelligence: This subject teaches the principles of artificial intelligence, and how to develop AI-powered applications.
- Cloud Computing: This subject teaches how to use cloud computing services, such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure.
BCA Subjects List: Semester-Wise
Semester |
Core Subjects |
Elective Subjects |
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Semester 1 |
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Semester 2 |
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Semester 3 |
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Semester 4 |
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Semester 5 |
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Semester 6 |
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Note:- Please note that these are just some of the elective and core subjects that are offered in BCA courses. The specific electives that are available may vary from college to college.
Best BCA Books and Course Material
Book Name |
Edition |
Author |
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Data Structures and Algorithms | 5th Edition | Thomas H. Cormen, Charles E. Leiserson, Ronald L. Rivest, Clifford Stein |
Programming in C++ | 10th Edition | Bjarne Stroustrup |
Object-Oriented Programming in Java | 11th Edition | Cay S. Horstmann |
Operating Systems | 9th Edition | Andrew S. Tanenbaum, Herbert Bos |
Database Management Systems | 6th Edition | Ramez Elmasri, Shamkant Navathe |
Computer Networks | 6th Edition | Andrew S. Tanenbaum, Maarten van Steen |
Software Engineering | 10th Edition | Ian Sommerville |
Artificial Intelligence | 4th Edition | Stuart Russell, Peter Norvig |
Top Colleges Offering BCA Abroad
Here is a list of the top colleges for BCA Abroad, along with their world ranking that helps you to choose between different top colleges in abroad.
University or College |
Country |
World Ranking |
---|---|---|
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | USA | 1 |
Stanford University | USA | 2 |
University of Oxford | UK | 3 |
University of Cambridge | UK | 4 |
National University of Singapore (NUS) | Singapore | 5 |
University of Toronto | Canada | 6 |
Tsinghua University | China | 7 |
ETH Zurich | Switzerland | 8 |
Note:- Please note that this ranking is based on the 2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject. The specific ranking of a college may vary depending on the specific criteria used.
Top Colleges for BCA in India
Here is a list of the top colleges for BCA in India, along with their world ranking that helps you to choose between different top colleges across India.
University/College |
Country |
World Ranking |
---|---|---|
Christ University | India | 351-400 |
Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research (SICSR) | India | 401-450 |
SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) | India | 451-500 |
Lovely Professional University (LPU) | India | 501-550 |
Jain Deemed-to-be University | India | 601-650 |
Presidency University | India | 651-700 |
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | India | 701-750 |
Banasthali University | India | 751-800 |
Manipal University | India | 801-1000 |
Note:- Please note that this ranking is based on the 2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject. The specific ranking of a college may vary depending on the specific criteria used.
BCA Course Admission Process 2023
Eligibility for BCA Course
- For India
- Should Have 50% Marks 12th Class with any Stream. (For Private Colleges)
- Major BCA entrance exams include IPU CET BCA, KIITEE BCA, LUCSAT BCA, etc.(for Top Colleges)
- for Abroad (outside India)
- language proficiency scores such as IELTS, TOEFL, etc. as well as SOP and LORs.
- You might be asked to provide SAT and ACT scores(In countries like:- USA)
Application Process
- Both online and offline applications are accepted by universities that offer BCA courses.
- Follow the given instructions during submitting the application
- Visit the Admissions office or the institute’s website to get the application form.
- Fill out the form as instructed and upload the required documents in the specified sizes.
- Once the applications are processed, there will be rounds of Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interviews (PI) for selection.
- For BCA Entrance-Based Admissions, candidates need to take the entrance exam. If they pass, they will be invited for counselling or a Personal Interview Round.
Entrance Exams
Here are some of the common entrance exams conducted for BCA admissions in India.
- Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET) – (Approx. 50,000+ students)
- Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test (IPU-CET) – (Approx. 40,000+ students)
- AIMA UGAT – (Approx. 30,000+ students)
- Management Aptitude Test (BU MAT) – (Approx. 20,000+ students)
- Gitam Science Admissions Test (GSAT) – (Approx. 15,000+ students)
- Lucknow University Computer Science Admission Test (LUCSAT) – (Approx. 10,000+ students)
- North Maharashtra University Undergraduate Common Entrance Test (NMU UG CET) – (Approx. 8,000+ students)
- Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning Admissions Test (SSSIHLAT) – (Approx. 5,000+ students)
- RAMA University Entrance Test (RUET) – (Approx. 3,000+ students)
BCA Scope and Salary
The scope of BCA is very wide and there are many different job profiles that BCA graduates can pursue. Some of the most popular job profiles for BCA graduates include:
Job Profile | Average Salary Range (INR) |
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Software Engineer | 3.00 Lakh – 4.00 Lakh per annum |
Web Developer | 2.50 Lakh – 3.50 Lakh per annum |
Database Administrator | 3.50 Lakh – 4.50 Lakh per annum |
System Analyst | 4.00 Lakh – 5.00 Lakh per annum |
IT Manager | 6.00 Lakh – 7.00 Lakh per annum |
Data Scientist | 6.50 Lakh – 8.50 Lakh per annum |
Cyber Security Analyst | 7.00 Lakh – 9.00 Lakh per annum |
Artificial Intelligence Engineer | 8.00 Lakh – 10.00 Lakh per annum |
Note:– Your salary after completing a BCA degree depends on a number of factors, including the tier of the college you attended, the country in which you completed your degree, and your industry-required skills and communication skills. However, if you have these skills, you can still get a good offer through off-campus recruitment.
Conclusion
BCA is a popular course for students interested in pursuing a career in the field of information technology (IT) and computer-related industries, providing students with vital computer science and application training, making it valuable in the current IT job market. It offers various career opportunities in sectors like healthcare, finance, technology, etc., including unique roles in Indian Railways and public sector banks. While BCA graduates have promising job prospects, they must actively improve their skills to become job-ready.
BCA Course Subjects – FAQs
1. What are subjects in BCA?
Here are some core BCA subjects that are typically included in the BCA course curriculum, regardless of the college:
- Fundamentals of Computers
- C Programming
- Data Structures and Algorithms
- Operating Systems
- Database Management Systems
- Software Engineering
- Web Development
- Computer Networks
- Artificial Intelligence
- Cloud Computing
2. How many subjects will be there in BCA?
The number of subjects in BCA will vary depending on the college or university you attend. However, most BCA programs typically offer between 40 and 50 subjects over the course of the degree i.e 6-8 subjects every semester.
3. What are the subjects in BCA in 1st year?
Here is a list of BCA first-year subjects, organized by semester wise:
Subject Type
Semester 1 Semester 2 Core
- Hardware lab
- Foundational maths
- Creative English
- Digital computer fundamentals
- C programming lab
- PC software Lab
- Statistics I for BCA
- Communicative English
- Operating systems
- Data structures Lab
- Data structures
- Case tools Lab
- Basic discrete English
- Visual programming Lab
Elective
- Cloud Computing
- Gaming and Animation
- Computer Graphics
- Digital Marketing
- Data Mining
- MATLAB
- Agile Frameworks
- Software Engineering
- Multimedia Systems
- Artificial Intelligence
- Web-Based Applications Development
- Theoretical Computer Science
- Database Management System
- Data Communication and Computer Networks
4. Is BCA hard or easy?
The difficulty of BCA will vary depending on your individual skills and experience, as well as how the teacher teaches the course. However, in general, BCA is considered a challenging degree due to the demanding subjects that require a strong understanding of mathematics and computer science. Nevertheless, if you are willing to put in the hard work, BCA can be a rewarding and fulfilling degree that can get you a job in Top MNC’s such as Microsoft, Amazon, Apple etc.