MA - Master of Arts Degree Syllabus & Subjects 2025

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Aug 20, 2025 21:15PM IST

MA - Master of Arts Degree syllabus & subjects 2025 span a wide range of disciplines, including English, Political Science, History, and Economics. The 2-year, 4-semester program includes core and optional subjects, research projects, dissertations, and practicals. Topics vary by specialisation, from English literature and linguistics to political ideologies and economic theories. Students also study communication, education, geography, and philosophy. Admissions are through CUET PG or merit-based. MA graduates pursue roles in teaching, research, journalism, administration, and social work. Fees range from INR 10K to 80K, with top colleges including Lady Shri Ram College, JNU, and Christ University.

MA - Master of Arts Syllabus & Subjects 2025

Master of Arts Degree Syllabus & Subjects 2025 is designed by the experts to provide maximum exposure both theoretically and practically in the chosen discipline. The MA syllabus and subjects vary as per the specialisation, as many courses are offered to the students to pursue the MA degree program. The MA Degree Syllabus consists of core subjects, elective subjects, research projects, internships, wherever applicable, and dissertations, etc, to provide maximum coverage to the students. The syllabus and subjects for MA courses also vary slightly from college to college, and the specialisations offered. One can do an MA Degree course in a wide range of subjects such as History, Political Science, Geography, Economics, Social Work, English, Hindi, etc., depending on the specialisation. 

The MA Degree course is a 2-year program that is spread over 4 semesters, and the MA syllabus is divided across all four semesters from basic to advanced level. Students must meet the basic MA Eligibility criteria to take admission in the MA Degree course. One must go through the MA Syllabus in detail if they are planning to appear for different entrance examinations, such as CUET PG, that grant admissions in different MA courses. MA admission is based on both entrance exams and academic merit. Specialisation will have different topics to cover under the MA Syllabus and subjects. Most MA syllabi include classroom instruction, lectures, group discussions, field trips, and a required dissertation submission. MA Course Syllabus and MA Subjects differ by specialisation and vary by course.

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Overview of MA - Master of Arts Degree Syllabus & Subjects 2025

For your ease, the details of the MA syllabus have been outlined below. 

ParticularsDetails
DegreePost Graduate
Full formMaster of Arts
Duration2 years
Age20 years
Minimum EligibilityMust have finished graduation in the relevant subjects.
Average FeesINR 10k – 80k
Average SalaryINR 3 - 15 LPA
Employment RolesTeacher, Professor, Social Worker, Banker, Psychologist, Historian, Archaeologist, etc.
Employment SectorsSchools, colleges/universities, Museums, Hospitals, Banks, etc.
Top RecruitersLady Shri Ram College for Women, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, National Museum, Fortis Hospital, etc.
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Year-Wise Syllabus of Master of Arts Syllabus & Subjects 2025

The MA syllabus is an academically focused syllabus that includes assignments, internships, research projects, and theory and practical lessons. For each specialisation, there is a different MA course syllabus and curriculum. In the MA first year syllabus core subjects are taught. Students can select from a variety of elective course types in the MA second year syllabus. English, Bengali, History, Economics, Sociology, Political Science, Hindi, Philosophy, and others are some of the specialties offered in the MA course. 

The tables below will go over each Master of Arts course's specific topics and curriculum semester wise.

MA English Syllabus

The table below lists semester wise MA English Syllabus taught in the majority of India's best MA colleges

MA English First Year Syllabus 
Semester I
Structure of Modern EnglishEnglish Fiction
PhonologyJonathan Swift: Gulliver’s Travels
MorphologyJane Austen: Pride and Prejudice
SyntaxGeorge Eliot: Middlemarch
CommunicationHenry Fielding: Joseph Andrews
SemanticsCharles Dickens: David Copperfield
Ben Jonson: VolponeBackground to Indian English Poetry
Traditional English DramaIndian Verses (Elective)
William Congreve: The Way of the WorldArun Kolatkar – Jejuri
Christopher Marlowe: Dr FaustusNissim Ezekiel
Sheridan: The School for ScandalThe Old Playhouse and Other Poems – Kamla Das
William Goldsmith: She Stoops to Conquer-
English Language and Literature Teaching (Elective)Research Methodology (Elective)
Methods and Approaches to Language TeachingWhat is Research?
Teaching of GrammarConstructing Research Design
Dimensions of Research in English Language and English LiteratureResearch Process
Teaching of Language SkillsDimensions of Research in English Language and English Literature
Approaches to Teaching of LiteratureDevelopment, Hypothesis and Preparation of Research Proposal
Teaching of Poetry, Drama, FictionMajor Concerns in the Thesis
-Parts of the Dissertation, Presentation of Research
Semester 2
The Structure of Modern EnglishEnglish Fiction
Language and SocietyThomas Hardy: Jude the Obscure
Distinctive Features of British, American andJoseph Conrad: Lord Jim
Indian EnglishD. H. Lawrence: Sons and Lovers
PragmaticsGraham Greene: The Power and the Glory
English in IndiaEM Forster: A Passage to India
Introduction to Stylistics-
Modern English DramaIndian Prose Works (Elective)
GB Shaw: CandidaBackground to Indian Prose
TS Eliot: Murder in the CathedralKanthapura
Samuel Beckett: Waiting for GodotLokmanya Tilak – Essays from Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Harold Pinter: Home ComingRK Narayan: An Astrologer’s Day
John Osborne: Look Back in AngerRohinton Mistry: A Fine Balance
The Structure of Modern English-
MA English Second Year Syllabus 
Semester 3
Literary Theory and CriticismEnglish Poetry
Aristotle: The PoeticsJohn Milton: Paradise Lost Book 1
Dr Johnson: A Preface to ShakespeareJohn Donne: The Sun Rising
Philip Sidney: An Apology of PoetryAlexander Pope: The Rape of The Lock
William Wordsworth: A Preface to Lyrical BalladsAndrew Marvell: To His Coy Mistress
Matthew Arnold: The Study of PoetryWilliam Blake: From Songs of Innocence
English Language and Literature Teaching (Elective)
Methods and Approaches to Language TeachingTeaching of Grammar
Relationship between Psychology and Teaching of LanguageApproaches to the Teaching of Literature
Teaching of Poetry, Drama and FictionTeaching of Language Skills
Semester 4
Literary Theory and CriticismEnglish Poetry
T.S.Eliot: Tradition and the Individual TalentColeridge: The Rime of Ancient Mariner
F.R.Leavis: Literature and SocietyWilliam Wordsworth Poetry
Northrope Frye: The Archetypes of LiteratureTennyson Poetry
Elaine Showalter: Feminist Criticism in the WildernessRobert Browning Poetry
Ronald Barthes: The Death of the AuthorW. B. Yeats Poetry
ShakespeareAmerican Literature (Elective)
Julius CaesarArthur Miller: The Death of a Salesman
TempestBackground Topics
MacbethJohn Steinbeck: Of Mice and Men
Measure for MeasureEdward Albee: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf
King LearPoetry

MA Political Science Syllabus

The table below lists semester-wise MA Political Science syllabi taught in the majority of India's best MA colleges.

MA Political Science First Year Syllabus

The MA Political Science first-year syllabus has been listed in the following pointers.

Semester 1

Western Political Thought (From Plato to Hegel)Contemporary Political Theory
Political DevelopmentTheories of International Relations
Ancient Indian Political ThoughtPractical Work/ Exercise
Research Methodology

Semester 2

Political SociologyTexts of Philosophers
Comparative PoliticsComparative Politics
Indian Constitutional SystemPractical Work/ Exercise
Administrative Theory

MA Political Science Second Year Syllabus

The MA Political Science second -year syllabus has been listed in the following pointers.

Semester 3

Public AdministrationPolitical Sociology
Politics in IndiaInterpreting Modern World
International PoliticsElectives
Modern Indian Political Thought

Semester 4

Concept and Issue in Political ScienceIndian Administration
Post-Cold War International RelationsDissertation and Viva Voce
State Politics with Special Reference to U.P.

MA Economics Syllabus 

Here is the detailed MA Economics Syllabus, as well as various optional subjects, listed below.

MA Economics First Year Syllabus

The MA Economics first-year syllabus has been listed in the following pointers.

Semester 1

Microeconomic AnalysisMonetary Economics
Elementary StatisticsOptional Paper I
International Trade

Semester 2

Macroeconomic AnalysisQuantitative Methods
Theory of Pricing and DistributionViva-Voce
International Finance

MA Economics Second Year Syllabus

The MA Economics second -year syllabus has been listed in the following pointers.

Semester 3

Economics of GrowthOptional Papers
Public EconomicsQuantitative Economics I & II
Issues in the Indian EconomyDemography I & II
Economics of IndustryEconomics of Gender and Development I & II
Optional Paper-IIFinancial Institutions and Markets I & II

Semester 4

Indian Public FinanceLabour Economics I & II
Economics of AgricultureEconometrics I & II
Growth Models in EconomicsEconomics of Infrastructure I & II
Selected Problems of the Indian EconomyEconomics of Insurance I & II
Viva-Voce

MA History Syllabus 

The table below lists the MA History Syllabus taught in various Indian colleges. 

MA History First Year Syllabus

The MA History first-year syllabus has been listed in the following pointers.

Semester 1

Principles of HistoryHistory of the Marathas (A.D. 1600 – A.D. 1707) or History of Republican China
History of Ideas in Modern IndiaResearch Methodology and Historical Investigation
Twentieth Century world (up to the end of World War II)History of Ideas in Modern India

Semester 2

Polity and Economics in Mediaeval IndiaHistory of Ideas in Mediaeval India
Society, Culture and Religion in Mediaeval IndiaState in India

MA History Second Year Syllabus

The MA History second-year syllabus has been listed in the following pointers.

Semester 3

Indian Nationalism upto 1905Indian National Movement (1905-1947)
18th to 19th century worldHistory of a Particular State

Semester 4

Tribal History of India with Special Reference to a particular state Status of women in Indian History
Historical Application in TourismDissertation

MA in Philosophy Syllabus

The table below lists the MA in Philosophy Syllabus taught in various Indian colleges. 

MA in Philosophy First Year Syllabus

The MA in Philosophy first-year syllabus has been listed in the following pointers.

Semester 1

Classical Indian Philosophy IGreek Philosophy
Formal LogicEthics

Semester 2

Classical Indian Philosophy IIModern Western Philosophy
Meta-EthicsCritical Philosophical Traditions of India

MA in Philosophy Second Year Syllabus

The MA in Philosophy second-year syllabus has been listed in the following pointers.

Semester 3

Analytic PhilosophyContinental Philosophy
Western Social & Political PhilosophyPhilosophy of the Western Mind 

Semester 4

Philosophy of LanguageContinental Philosophy
Philosophy of ReligionPhilosophy of Science

MA Hindi Syllabus

The table below lists semester-wise MA Political Science syllabi taught in the majority of India's best MA colleges.

MA Hindi First Year Syllabus

The MA Hindi first-year syllabus has been listed in the following pointers.

Semester 1

History of LiteratureGeneral Linguistics
Novel and Short StoryTranslation -Theory and Practice

Semester 2

History of LiteratureAncient and Medieval Hindi poetry
Prose 2-Drama and one-act playsOrigin and Development of Hindi Language and structure of Hindi

MA Hindi Second Year Syllabus

The MA Hindi first-year syllabus has been listed in the following pointers.

Semester 3

Modern Hindi poetry including ChayavadTheory of literature Indian and western

Semester 4

Post-Chayavad Hindi historyIndian Literature Trends
Current Trends in Indian literatureFeminist Writing in Hindi
Project Work

Also Read: MA Education

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Important Subjects Under Master of Arts Degree Syllabus & Subjects 2025

All MA subjects are taught in various specialisation courses, which help students in understanding the knowledge and pursuing a better PhD degree for future job opportunities.

The MA syllabus for subjects such as Literature, History, Fine Arts, Psychology, Sociology, Economy, Politics, Ethics, Novels, and so on taught in the MA course curriculum are required for postgraduates to expand their knowledge in theoretical and research aspects, which will benefit them to get a better scope in jobs in India and abroad based on their skills. Furthermore, some MA subjects, such as Language, History, Education, Writing, Theory, and Philosophy, are related to the Arts and Humanities MA syllabus.

Core Subjects of Master of Arts Degree Syllabus & Subjects 2025

Here are some core subjects of an MA degree.

Subject

Description

CommunicationsStudy of human and mass communication
MediaAnalysis of news, TV, and digital media
GeographyStudy of Earth’s landscapes and people
LinguisticsScientific study of language and sounds
ManagementOrganising and leading organisations
LanguagesLearning and analysing different tongues
PoliticsStudy of governments and political ideas
LiteratureAnalysis of prose, poetry, and drama
EducationStudy of teaching and learning methods

Optional Subjects of Master of Arts Degree Syllabus & Subjects 2025

Each college/university has some optional or elective courses from which you can choose the ones which to study in your MA course. These MA subjects are given some credits and are usually allocated in the MA second year syllabus of the course. 

List of Optional MA Subjects
Classical Theories of Value and DistributionInternational Monetary Systems
General Equilibrium AnalysisTheory of Industrial Organisation
Evolution of the Indian EconomyGame Theory with Applications to Economics
Analysis of Indian Economy (with special reference to Sectoral Problems)Law and Economics
Analysis of Indian Economy (with special reference to Resource Mobilization)Economics of Health
Problems and Techniques of PlanningFinancial Structures and Economic Development
Advanced General EquilibriumDatabase on Indian Economy
Production Conditions in Indian AgricultureIssues in the Contemporary International Economy
Structure and Growth of Indian IndustriesExperimental Methods in Economics
Foreign Trade, Aid and Investment PoliciesAuction Theory and its Application
Econometric Methods IEnvironmental Economics
Econometric Methods IIGlobalization and Development
Banking and Monetary InstitutionsLabour Economics
Public FinanceSocial Choice I
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Master of Arts Degree Syllabus & Subjects 2025 Specialisation List

MA programs are available in a variety of domains. Given below are some of the popular specialisations in MA course:

  • MA Language (English, French, German, Hindi, Spanish, Chinese/ Mandarin, Greek, Japanese and Latin)
  • MA Economics
  • MA Political Science
  • MA History
  • MA Psychology
  • MA Communication Studies
  • MA Philosophy
  • MA Archaeology
  • MA Sociology
  • MA Religious Studies
  • MA Geography
  • MA Literature
  • MA Library & Information Science
  • MA Linguistics
  • MA Teaching Education
  • MA International Relations

Also Read: Best Certificate Courses in India 

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Entrance Exam For Masters of Arts Degree Syllabus & Subjects 2025

Students must go through the MA Syllabus in detail if they are preparing to appear for any entrance examinations that grant admission to MA courses in different colleges and universities. Admissions to the MA Course are either direct or through entrance examinations. Some of the popular entrance examinations that allow students to be part of different universities are:

CUET PG: CUET PG entrance exam syllabus for the MA degree includes topics like language comprehension, verbal ability, reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and domain-specific subjects based on the chosen discipline.

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Important Books For the Master of Arts Degree Syllabus & Subjects 2025

There are many course books and study materials that your college will provide to score well on the semester-end exam. The MA course subject books help undergraduates expand their knowledge and vision about multiple topics covered in their classes. They will be different for each specialisation.

Following are a few of the books that you must go through to perform well in the examinations:

Name of the BookAuthor
Elements of Real AnalysisMD Raisinghania
Essentials of Educational PsychologySK Mangal
Research MethodologyPanneerselvam
Basic Concepts of Environmental StudiesDD Mishra
HistoriographyML Vare
An Objective History of English LiteratureBB Jain
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Master of Arts Degree 2025 Course Structure

The MA syllabus and MA course subjects are structured into two categories, namely core and elective subjects. The course for the curriculum has been divided into many specialisations, which have subjects consisting of an introduction to arts and humanities (language, political science, writing, economics, philosophy, media, drama).

Some of the MA course details are:

  • 4 Semesters
  • Core and Elective subjects
  • Research and Thesis
  • Projects/Assignments
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Teaching Methodology and Techniques For Master of Arts Degree Syllabus & Subjects 2025

The Master of Arts syllabus includes a variety of teaching methods and techniques that allow students in understanding the various topics covered in their classes. The following are some of the different teaching methodologies and techniques used in the Master of Arts degree course syllabus:

  • Live Demo Sessions
  • The emphasis of Practical and Theoretical Learning
  • Guest Lectures, Seminars, and Workshops
  • Group Assignment and Discussion
  • Learning through Industrial Visit
  • Research & Development
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Projects For Master of Arts Degree Syllabus & Subjects 2025

Master of Arts project topics are an excellent resource for researchers (Ph.D./MS) who want to finish innovative research and move forward with a doctorate programme, as well as students with backgrounds in the arts and humanities. Students can choose their Master of Arts project topics according to the subjects and syllabus of their specialisation, which will encourage them to learn more in order to finish the project. The following are some of the top Master of Arts project ideas:

  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Third-wave Feminism
  • New Religious Movements
  • Economic Context of a Novel
  • Human Cloning
  • Time Travel
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Master of Arts Syllabus and Subject Scope

The scope after pursuing an MA degree program from prestigious colleges and universities is enormous. MA subjects are very specific, and the MA syllabus contains all the elements that prepare students to be industry ready. MA Syllabus usually has detailed and practical analysis of all the topics and one becomes an expert in the respective specialization. One can choose from a wide range of career opportunities after pursuing an MA program and start doing jobs for different profiles such as Economists, Political Strategists, Social Welfare officers, translators, language experts, and many more. One can also pursue higher education and can do their PhD in the relevant discipline. Teaching at schools and universities is also a great career choice after completing a MA Degree course.

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FAQs about M.A Syllabus

Is MA first year Tough?

The first year of MA is not tough if you work hard and study regularly otherwise not just MA but every course will feel tough.

Is there a summer internship for MA?

It depends on the students whether they wish to undertake a summer internship or not.

What is the average course fee for MA?

The MA course fees vary from college to college and an average fees is somewhere around INR 15,000.
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