BCA Course Subjects

Bachelor of Computer Applications or BCA is one of the most opted computer courses after 12th standard. Running for 3 years, it imparts extensive knowledge in Computer Fundamentals, Programming Languages, Database Systems, Information Security, and Web Development. With the inclusion of programming languages like C++, the course nurtures you to become a specialist in the field of Information Technology. When it comes to the BCA syllabus, the name of the topics/subjects can vary from one university to another. However, the core components remain the same. So, if you’re someone who is looking for a list of BCA course subjects, you are exactly at the right place! 

Name of the Course	BCA – Bachelor of Computer Applications
Duration	3-4 years depending upon the university
Eligibility	10+2 preferably in the Commerce stream BCA Entrance Exams in India: IPU CET BCA, KIITEE BCA, LUCSAT BCA, etc. BCA Entrance Exams abroad: SAT/ACT; TOEFL/IELTS
Subjects Covered	Fundamentals of Computers C Programming Operating Systems Multimedia Systems Understanding Organisational Behaviour Data and Database Management Systems Web-Based Application Development Computer Lab and Practical Work
Average Salary	INR 5 LPA
Careers	Mobile Phone Application Developer Computer Programmer Software Programmer Web Designer Computer Technician Computer System Analyst Computer Maintenance Engineer

About Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA)

Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) is a three-year undergraduate course that imparts students with the foundational and advanced knowledge of Information Technology and Computer Applications. BCA course provides students with the knowledge of computer applications as well as how to solve various problems and issues related to a computer or its applications. The BCA subjects cover programming languages like C++ and JAVA, Networking, Fundamentals of Computers, Multimedia Systems, Data Structure, Web-Based Application Development, Web Designing, and Software Engineering amongst others.

Required Skillset for BCA

Strong programming knowledge	Sound knowledge of Computers and IT
Ability to develop applications for practical aspects	Analytical Thinking
Strong communication skills	Creativity
Teamwork	Strong database concepts

BCA Specialisations

BCA is also offered in the following subjects and specializations:

• Animation
• Accounting Applications
• Systems Analysis
• Personal Information Management
• Programming Languages
• Internet Technologies
• Computer Graphics
• Music and Video Processing
• Cyber Law

Also Read: What to do After BCA?

Prominent BCA Course Subjects

Though there are scores of subjects that you will study during the journey of the program, here are some of the most important BCA course subjects:

• Fundamentals of Computers
• C Programming
• Operating Systems
• Multimedia Systems
• Understanding Organisational Behaviour
• Data and Database Management Systems
• Web-Based Application Development
• Computer Lab and Practical Work

BCA Course Subjects Semester-wise

Check out the semester-wise course subjects for the BCA course here.

Core Subjects

Semester	BCA Subjects
I	Fundamentals of IT & Computers Digital Electronics Basic Mathematics English Communication C Language Lab
II	Operating Systems and Fundamentals Organizational Behaviour C Language Advanced Concepts Advanced Mathematics Advanced C Programming Lab
III	Database Management Systems Open Source Technology Software Engineering Web-Based Applications DBMS and Web Technology Lab
IV	Web Designing Data Structures Introduction to Linux Object-Oriented Programming Elective
V	Software Engineering – II Java Programming Python Language eCommerce and Marketing Elective Advanced Java and Python Lab
VI	Artificial Intelligence Information Security Application Development Elective Project/Dissertation

Note: This is a generalized list. The core subjects and electives can vary from one university to another. 

Electives

Apart from the core subjects, the Bachelor of Computer Application degree also has open elective courses in which one has to opt-in different semesters to complete the degree program. Here is a list of some of the popular electives in the BCA course:

• Cloud Computing
• Gaming and Animation
• Computer Graphics
• Digital Marketing
• Data Mining
• MATLAB
• Agile Frameworks

BCA Subjects in Detail

Now that you are familiar with the list of BCA course subjects and syllabus, let us have an overview of some of the important subjects.

Software Development

In this course, topics like multithreading, inheritance, networking, database programming, and web development are covered along with gaining experience in advanced programming languages like Python, Java, Assembly, COBOL, C, Lisp, etc. You also get to design, implement, test, and debug large programs.

Software Engineering

This subject covers the fundamentals of Software Engineering which aim to provide methodologies and procedures for designing, developing, and maintaining a reliable software system useful to humans. Some of the few units covered in this subject are, designing software solutions, software implementation, and maintenance.

Multimedia Systems

Multimedia data has become an essential part of today’s world and modern research projects. The subject gives a thorough understanding of multimedia standards, systems and tools, content representation to multimedia retrieval, and also multimedia network communication.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence or AI is one of the major components of Web 3.0 creating machines or computers as intelligent as humans. This is one of the unique BCA course subjects covering two of the major topics: machine learning and algorithms, building intelligent agents, and robots, and solving AI problems using Python programming. With expeditious development and growth in technology, we can expect more thrilling features and uses of AI in the future.

Web-Based Applications Development

The subject focuses on designing and developing web-based applications using a wide range of tools and programming languages. Learning in-depth HTML and XHTML coding along with design concepts in CSS (Cascading Style Sheet) allows students to create web pages. The course also gives an advanced knowledge about PHP, which is one of the world’s most eminent programming languages for web development.

Theoretical Computer Science

Theoretical computer science comprises the understanding of the theory of computation along with mathematical tools. These include topics like algorithms, automata theory, logic, computational complexity, and combinatorics. 

Database Management System

Database Management System or DBMS primarily aims at providing a mechanism to store and retrieve database information efficiently and conveniently. Some of the core concepts covered in this subject are relational algebra, SQL, relational design theory, online analytical processing, data mining, and much more. 

Data Communication and Computer Networks 

The transmission of digital data between a computer network or data network and two or more computers is termed data communication. A computer network allows computers to exchange data either through cable media or wirelessly. In modern information and retrieval system, the communication platform is channelized towards a more creative and interactive mode. Essential topics covered in data communication and computer network (DCN) include signal transmission, encoding, and interfacing, transmission media, data link control and multiplexing, LANs, and WANs. 

BCA Books and Course Material

Name of the Book	Name of the Author
A Textbook on C: Fundamentals, Data Structures, and Problem Solving	Karthikeyan
The C Programming Language	Brian W Kernighan
Data Structure Using C	A K Sharma
Operating System Concepts	Avi Silberschatz and Peter Galvin
Design of the Unix Operating Systems	Maurice Bach
Software Engineering	Ian Sommerville
Algebraic Methodology and Software Technology	Grigore Rosu and Jose Meseguer
Fundamentals of Numerical Computation	G Alefeld and R Grigorieff
Object-Oriented Analysis and Design with Applications	Booch

Top Colleges Offering BCA Abroad

Several BCA colleges offer a diverse curriculum and opportunities to gain industrial exposure through their comprehensive program in this field. Some of them have been listed below:

World Universities for BCA	Country	QS World Rankings 2022
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	United States of America	1
Stanford University	United States of America	=3
University of Cambridge	United States of America	=3
Harvard University	United States of America	5
University College London	United Kingdom	=8
Cornell University	United States of America	21
University of Michigan	United States of America	=23
University of Toronto	Canada	26
University of California – Berkeley	United States of America	32
Carnegie Mellon University	United States of America	=53
University of Warwick	United Kingdom	61
The University of Texas at Austin	United States of America	67
University of Birmingham	United Kingdom	90

Top Colleges for BCA in India

Here are the major colleges offering BCA in India:

• Loyola College, Chennai
• Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research, Pune
• Amity Institute of Information Technology
• Vellore Institute of Technology
• Lovely Professional University
• Parul University
• University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES)
• Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies

BCA Course Admission Process 2022

Merit-based and entrance-based admissions are both a part of the BCA admissions process. A minimum of 50% in a 10+2 or similar test with computer application/science as an additional or core subject is required for enrolment in a BCA program.

Eligibility

• The eligibility criteria for the BCA course is that the applicant must have completed 10+2 preferably in Commerce and some universities might also have their specific entrance tests for this course.
• Major BCA entrance exams include IPU CET BCA, KIITEE BCA, LUCSAT BCA, etc.
• If you are planning to study BCA abroad, then you might be asked to provide SAT and ACT scores in countries like the USA. Additionally, you will also have to submit language proficiency scores such as IELTS, TOEFL, etc. as well as SOP and LORs.

Application Process

Both online and offline applications are accepted by BCA universities that offer admission to this program.

When applying for the BCA Course, follow the instructions below:

• Visit the Admissions office or the Institute’s official website to obtain BCA entry application forms.
• As instructed, complete the application form, and upload the required documents in the relevant sizes.
• After applications are processed, rounds of GD and PI are completed, and then the ultimate choice is chosen (if any).
• Candidates must take the entrance exam to be considered for BCA Entrance-Based Admissions; if they pass, they are then invited to the counselling process or Personal Interview Round.

Entrance Exams

Here are some of the common entrance exams conducted for BCA admissions in India.

• Management Aptitude Test (BU MAT)
• Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning Admissions Test (SSSIHLAT)
• RAMA University Entrance Test (RUET)
• Indraprastha University  Common Entrance Test (IPU-CET)
• Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET)
• North Maharashtra University Undergraduate Common Entrance Test (NMU UG CET)
• Gitam Science Admissions Test (GSAT)
• Lucknow University Computer Science Admission Test (LUCSAT)
• AIMA UGAT

BCA Scope and Salary

After completing your bachelor in Computer Application, you can readily go for a post-graduation degree like a master’s in Computer Application (MCA) or master in Business Administration (MBA). This will help you dwell deeper into the subject and develop the necessary skills and tools to be successful in this field. Here are the most popular BCA jobs:

Job Profiles	Average Salary
Computer Programmer	₹3,00,000 – ₹4,00,000 per annum
System Engineer	₹4,00,000 – ₹5,00,000 per annum
Web Developer	₹3,00,000 – ₹4,00,000 per annum
Web Designer	₹2,00,000 – ₹6,00,000 per annum
Software Developer	₹4,00,000 – ₹5,00,000 per annum
Software Architect	₹15,00,000 – ₹20,00,000 per annum
System Security Officer	₹4,00,000 – ₹5,00,000 per annum
Software Tester	₹4,00,000 – ₹5,00,000 per annum
Network Administrator	₹5,00,000 – ₹6,00,000 per annum
System Manager	₹8,00,000 – ₹9,00,000 per annum

In India, the average salary of a BCA graduate is 2.5 Lakhs to 5 Lakhs per annum depending upon the profile and company. The top IT companies that hire BCA graduates are, Microsoft, Wipro, Cognizant, Aricent, HCL, and TCL.

FAQs

Are you ready to kick start a career in computer application and IT? The mentors and career counsellors at Leverage Edu are here to help you discover the right college or university offering all the desired BCA course subjects.