Take a big byte

Sonal Chawla

Computer technology is all around us in our everyday lives. Our interaction with it begins at dawn when mobile phone alarm wakes us up and goes on from using the GPS system in the car to the networking website we post pictures on. It is in use in everything from booking movie tickets to securing admission in various colleges. Therefore, learning how computers work and trying to understand the technology behind computers, mobile phones, the Internet and many other computing-based products seems an exciting preposition.

Getting in

There are many courses being run by a number of universities within the country whose major focus is on Information Technology, Computer Science or Computer Applications. Bachelor of Computer Applications is one such course. This is a three-year full-time undergraduate programme that provides students with necessary skills to make a successful career as a computer professional with satisfying jobs. BCA, thus, is a route for students after Class XII to join the band of computer professionals. 

Admission to the BCA course is based on the merit in the qualifying examination i.e. Class XII or its equivalent examination in any stream conducted by a recognised board with at least 40-50 per cent marks. This course is run at various colleges in and around Chandigarh by many universities like Panjab University; GNDU, Amritsar; Punjabi University Patiala; HPU Shimla; Jammu University, PTU etc. Each of these universities has more or less the same eligibility criteria for admission and some universities like Panjab University give extra weightage to students having maths or computer science in Class XII.

BCA is a route for students of Arts and Commerce streams. This field relates to design, development and use of computer applications. Application here implies the amalgamation of three basic areas of computers — Operating System (i.e. a software which runs a computer); a Utility (which performs maintenance or general-purpose chores); and Programming Languages (using which computer programmes are created). Thus, BCA graduates are able to develop and prepare documents, projects, presentations, design websites and demonstrate skills in running software programmes.

Computer applications professionals learn networking, integration, server management and the use of computers in the business world. They learn Software Development, System Programming, Systems Analysis, Systems Management and Project Management.

Road to higher gains

BCA also prepares students with the requisite background to proceed with confidence for higher studies in the form of MCA, MIT, MS in computers, MBA, MSc (IT) etc and thus acquire greater competency. 

Some universities have a few seats reserved in their master’s programme solely for the Computer Science students. PU has two seats for CS students in their MCA course. 

The course content is regularly updated to keep pace with the changes in the business environment. The BCA programme both in its aim and scope is very focused in its approach in preparing a student for other professions either directly after graduation or after pursuing a suitable higher degree.

Career-graph

BCA graduates can start their career in either the government sector or private sector since there are a lot of employment opportunities in both these sectors. In the government sector jobs exist in the banking, dairy, farming sectors whereas in the private sector there are numerous jobs in software firms. 

Besides higher studies, the student is prepared for various jobs in the industry like Technical Support Engineer, Software Engineer, Software Developer, Database Administrator, Data Analyst etc. Some of the BCA speacialisations include Computer Graphics, Computer Animation, Programming Languages , Internet Technologies, Accounting Applications etc.

— The writer is Chairperson , Department of Computer Science & Applications, Panjab University, Chandigarh

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BCA vs BSc (IT) debate

Several students wanting to get into a computer course after Class XII often face a dilemma when it comes to choosing between BCA and BSc (IT) courses being offered by different colleges. The confusion generally stems from similarities in both these courses. Both of these are of the same duration, both are technical courses that offer better job prospects to students in the field of computer applications.  BSc IT (Information Technology) is also a three-year undergraduate course. In this course, students are trained to perform well in computer applications and Software. This course aims to provide better knowledge in core subjects like operating systems, data structure and database applications.The main differences between these two courses  are:

BCA students are involved more in Computer Applications whereas BSc students can have advanced job opportunities in internet technology and database management.

After successful completion of the course BCA, students can go for postgraduate courses like MSc (IT), MCA and MBA. The students with BSc can go for courses on MCA (Master of Computer Applications).

Making the right choice

The criteria for making the correct choice depend mainly on the area of interest of a student. Those interested in having a job in software or in computer applications can choose to study BCA. and those interested in Database operations or Internet can opt for BSc (IT).