BA Political Science vs Public Administration: Which Course Should You Pick?
Both the BA Political Science and the BA Public Administration courses provide an in-depth understanding of politics and government. Know the course details and career options to choose wisely.
The students who are planning to take admission in BA courses and are confused regarding what to choose: BA political science or BA public administration, must know the course details and career options to discover their interest. To make a wise choice, it is important to understand the purpose of the BA Political Science and BA Public Administration and the course material. To assist you in choosing the right option, let us take a quick look at both disciplines.
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BA Political Science vs. BA Public Administration: Course Highlights, Eligibility, Scope
Check out the major highlights for both the courses: BA Political Science and BA Public Administration from the table below:
Factors | BA Political Science | BA Public Administration |
|---|---|---|
Focus | Theory and analysis of political systems | Implementation of government policies |
Scope | A vast and comprehensive study of global politics and economy | Specialized focus on government administration |
Career Opportunities | Political analyst, lobbyist, politician, diplomat, policy analyst | Public administrator, policy analyst, budget analyst, human resource manager |
Duration of UG Programme | 3 years | 3 years |
Duration of PG Programme | 2 years | 2 years |
Eligibility Criteria | BA Political Science: 10+2 from any recognized Board with minimum 50% aggregate. MA Political Science: Bachelor's degree in Political Science from any recognized University with minimum 55% aggregate. | BA Public Administration: 10+2 from any recognized Board with minimum 50% aggregate. MA Public Administration: Bachelor's degree in Public Administration or relevant subject from any recognized University with minimum 55% aggregate |
BA Political Science vs. BA Public Administration: Career Orientation
The students confused regarding the career options after pursuing the BA political science vs BA public administration must consider the details from the table below:
Career Path | BA Political Science | BA Public Administration |
|---|---|---|
Civil Services (IAS, IPS etc) | BA political science provides strong base, which is strong for polity & IR sections in civil services | BA Public Administration syllabus overlaps in optional subject in civil services |
Academia/ Research | BA Political Science is suitable for MA political science, IR or public policy | BA Public Administration is suitable for MA public administration, governance or developmental studies |
Corporate/NGO Management | BA political science is of Moderate relevance | BA public administration is high relevance for NGOs, administrative and HR roles |
Policy Making and Think Tanks | BA political science provides strong background in political systems and governance | BA public administration is strong in implementation and in administrative systems |
Journalism, Law, Diplomacy | BA Political Science course is very relevant in journalism, law, and diplomacy | BA public administration is not as helpfua as BA political science but it is helpful in public affairs journalism or legal administration |
BA Political Science vs BA Public Administration Career: Which Course to Pick
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The student who wants to prepare for the UPSC exam can choose the BA political science subject, as the syllabus overlaps with the civil service exam. Whereas the students who want to work in NGOs, the public policy domain, the development sector, or policy implementation can choose the BA public administration course.
BA Political Science and BA Public Administration are two closely related yet different courses. Both are important to social studies and impart knowledge that complements each other. However, their nature and objectives in the course curriculum are different from each other. The BA Political Science focuses on creating a framework for government machinery, while BA Public Administration works within that framework.
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