Frequently asked questions about online MA

February 25,

2024

A Master of Arts or MA is the next step to academic and professional advancement. A Master’s degree elevates your knowledge base, equips you with advanced skills in your domain, and opens pathways for more rewarding job prospects. An MA degree is quite a popular choice among students, both in India and globally, and there is a steady rise in the popularity of the degree pursued online. Most students pursue the program online from the comfort of their homes rather than attend a physical campus for the conventional offline course.

What’s more? The online MA degree is equivalent in value (recognition and credibility) to an offline course and offers a huge potential in career prospects for course graduates. All the more reason to choose flexibility in online learning over the traditional MA on-campus programs. This blog enumerates more such benefits of pursuing an MA online from Sikkim Manipal University and also attempts to answer general queries about pursuing an online MA degree.

Most asked questions about online MA

Before deciding to pursue an MA in the online delivery mode, it’s best to do your homework well and find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the course. Let’s begin.

Is online MA equally valuable as traditional MA programs?

If you find yourself asking this question as well, you are not alone. There are several students out there who think alike – is an online degree really worth it? Does it hold the same value as an on-campus degree? Will I be able to get a job with an online MA degree?

Let’s begin by clearing this doubt right at the outset – companies and several other professional organizations assign the same weightage and value to a degree earned online as they do to a traditionally pursued campus program. This is, of course, provided the online course is entitled by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Also, the university offering the online degree must be accredited by a reputable professional body.

Sikkim Manipal University offers the online MA degree program on the Online Manipal portal. Sikkim Manipal is accredited by NAAC, and the online MA course is UGC-recognized as well.

What is the duration of an online MA?

The average duration of an online course in MA is 24 months or 2 years. The course is divided into 4 semesters, and classes are held for a total of 15 to 20 hours per week.

Are university rankings & accreditations important for online MA programs?

Yes, the ranking of a university and its accreditation is a measure of the quality of its courses delivered. They also indicate the approval of the program or the university by authorized organizations, making the course more authentic. It is always important to check for the ranking and recognition of the university before pursuing a course, especially online, since there can be cases of fraud or spam.

Sikkim Manipal University is a NAAC-accredited university, and its online MA program is also UGC-recognized. The university is reputed as the Top Private University in North East and also featured amongst the Top 101-150 Universities in India in 2023. The Week has also ranked Sikkim Manipal amongst the Top 10 Multidisciplinary Universities in the East Zone.

What is the admission process for online MA?

One of the most asked questions about online MA courses is the process for admission to the online program. The procedure to apply for admissions to online MA at Sikkim Manipal University is fairly easy, involving the following simple steps:

Select the course you wish to apply for (online MA in English, online MA in Political Science, or online MA in Sociology). Register for the selected program by entering all the necessary details. Proceed to paying the registration fee.
You will now be required to enter all your educational qualifications and details on work experience (if so applicable).
Next, proceed to paying the fee for the selected course. You may choose to pay for the full course at once, for the first year only, or just for the first semester of the program.
You will now be asked to attach all the supporting documents to your application (as asked) and hit on Submit Application.

Note: For any assistance on the application process and deadlines for online MA programs, visit Online Manipal.

What are the eligibility criteria for online MA?

To be able to apply for an online MA course, you must have completed a 10+2+3 undergraduate degree or Bachelor’s from a recognized university. Alternatively, an equivalent qualification that is recognized by the Association of Indian Universities also makes you eligible to apply for an online MA.

What are the top universities for online MA?

Online MA courses can be pursued at many universities, some of which rank high and are considered among the top few in India. Some of the top-ranked universities offering online MA programs are:

Sikkim Manipal University (SMU)
Jain University
Lovely Professional University (LPU)
Chandigarh University
Annamalai University

What is the online MA course curriculum?

Online MA courses include a specific curriculum that lasts for 2 years and is divided into 4 semesters. Sikkim Manipal University offers online MA programs in 3 subjects – English, Sociology, and Political Science. The program structure and curriculum of online MA degrees for each of the subjects are listed as follows:

Course curriculum for online MA in English

Semester	Subjects taught
1	Fiction – I, Drama – I, Gender Studies in Literature Poetry – I, Literary, Theory, and Criticism – I
2	Fiction – II, Drama – II, Environment and Climate Change, Poetry – II, Literary, Theory, and Criticism – II
3	Post-Colonial Literature – I, American Literature Literature and Environment, Indian English Literature, Research Methodology
4	Post-Colonial Literature – II, Dissertation Diaspora Literature World Literature

Course curriculum for online MA in Sociology

Semester	Subjects taught
1	Social Stratification in India, Introduction to Sociology, Sociology of Globalization, Sociological Thoughts, Gender and Society
2	Perspective of Indian Society, Environment and Climate Change, Classical Sociological Theory, Rural and Urban Sociology
3	Research Methodology, Contemporary Sociological Theories, Sociology of Ethnicity and Nationalism, Culture, Personality, and Society, Sociology of Religion
4	Sociology of Health, Participatory Sociology (Dissertation)Sociology of Development, Social Movements in India

Course curriculum for online MA in Political Science

Semester	Subjects taught
1	Major Ideas and Issues in Public Administration, Political Theory, Interpreting Modern India, Indian Government and Politics, Comparative Politics: Concepts and Methods
2	Politics in India, Western Political Thought, Environment & Climate Change, International Politics: Theory and Issues, Political Sociology of India
3	Governance and Public Policy in India, Modern Indian Political Thought, India’s Foreign Policy, Research Methodology, Theory and Practice of Democracy
4	Indo-Pacific Emerging Trends, Dissertation and Viva Voce, Gender and Politics, International Political Economy

What are the top MA specializations to pursue?

Online MA courses allow students to choose a subject of their choice to specialize in. Students can opt for a domain of study based on their academic preferences, goals, and career aspirations. Some of the most popular MA specializations among students are:

English
Sociology
Political Science
Psychology
Economics
Hindi
History
Mass Communication/Journalism

What are the career options after an online MA?

Students graduating with an online MA degree are eligible to apply for a host of well-paying job positions in several key industries. Some of the top job roles that open up upon completion of online MA programs are:

Expected job role	Average annual salary (approx)
Communications Specialist	INR 10.53 lakh per annum
Marriage Counselor	INR 7,86,213 per annum
Technical Writer	INR 7.85 lakh per annum
Social Researcher	INR 5,10,000 per annum
Legislative Assistant	INR 4,25,041 per annum

What is the demand for MA graduates?

A Master of Arts or MA is a significant stepping stone to successful career advancement in various top industries, including marketing, nursing, accounting, software engineering, banking and finance, and many more.

With the right faculty support and resources for online MA students, the graduates can look forward to working in lucrative career roles in varied industries both within India and worldwide.

Conclusion

Considering the immense value that an MA degree can add to your resume, it is only beneficial to pursue it in the larger interest of career growth. Sikkim Manipal University offers online MA courses in three combinations – English, Sociology, and Political Science. You can choose to specialize in any combination based on your academic and career objectives.

Besides, pursuing an online MA from Sikkim Manipal University allows you to enjoy learning from the comfort of your home without attending a physical campus. The convenience and flexibility offered by the program, with the added advantage of affordability, makes an online MA by Sikkim Manipal an attractive choice.

Virtual classrooms on the Online Manipal platform where the course is offered present ample learner engagement opportunities for online MA students. The live interactions with expert faculty and peer discussions keep the course interesting and allow students to enjoy an immersive experience.

Disclaimer

Information related to companies and external organizations is based on secondary research or the opinion of individual authors and must not be interpreted as the official information shared by the concerned organization.

Additionally, information like fee, eligibility, scholarships, finance options etc. on offerings and programs listed on Online Manipal may change as per the discretion of respective universities so please refer to the respective program page for latest information. Any information provided in blogs is not binding and cannot be taken as final.

TAGS

Achieve more with online degrees - Enroll now!

I authorize Online Manipal and its associates to contact me with updates & notifications via email, SMS, WhatsApp, and voice call. This consent will override any registration for DNC / NDNC.