Best Courses after 12th – Science, Arts and Commerce

Completing the 12th grade board examination is perhaps one of the most important milestones in any student’s life. This is the culmination of one’s school education, and simultaneously the beginning of one’s higher education journey. Undergraduate Programme is the foundation for a lifelong career or vocation, hence its importance cannot be undermined. It is imperative within this context that students choose the programme they want to pursue in college carefully and with due deliberation. 

Things to keep in mind while making the course selection are:  

• Think what one is passionate about – The subjects one is passionate about and understands easily can lead to a fulfilling and rewarding career.One can also make an informed decision about the kind of work one would like to do, e.g. technical, client facing, business growth, research and innovation, etc. and match the course choice based on it.
• Career Plans and Job Opportunities – Career plan includes the choice of work domain, type of companies one wants to work with, geographical preference, career progression routes, job opportunities in a specific region or country etc. Keeping these factors in consideration while choosing one’s subjects is important and necessary since the knowledge and skill one learns in their college years will be used in one’s career. 
• Colleges and Scholarships -While students make a list of colleges in their order of preference for obtaining admission, they must have the factor of accessibility and the ranking of the college as the prime criteria. Scholarship offers can also be a motivating factor for students since they help offset some or all of the tuition fee cost.   
• Entrance Exams  – Some courses like engineering, medicine, management etc. require the student to appear for an entrance exam, which is the deciding criteria for admission to such courses. In India JEE and CET for engineering, NEET for medicine, and SAT for various subjects are popular entrance exams.  

What to opt for : Some of the best degree courses after 12th standard include:

Science

Science as a study field incorporates critical thinking, innovation, research, experimentation and hands-on work. The various streams or tracks under science can be as follows:

1. B.Tech – Bachelors in technology or engineering in technological field includes the courses on computer science, electrical and electronics, artificial intelligence, data engineering or Internet of Things. These are typically four years bachelors programs, after which a student can opt for a masters degree that is of two years duration.   
2. B.Sc. – Bachelor of Science degrees are in subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Bioscience, Environmental Science, Astrophysics etc. These three years long degree courses involve lab work and projects along with classroom education, and lead to masters and eventually PhD degrees if the student wants to go into a research or teaching career 
3. BCA – Bachelor of Computer Application is a popular course and trains students in all aspects of computers including hardware and software, computer languages, neural networks, database management and the like. Being a professionally oriented course students can seek employment immediately after completion of this course or go onto seeking admission in masters degrees.   
4. Architecture – Students who have a creative streak and are able to handle 3D designs are ideally suited for the architecture course. The course has a duration of five years at the undergraduate level and involves making models of proposed and real life architectural assignments. The typical career path emerging from this course includes working with real estate developers, government organisations, in private architectural firms, or starting one’s own business.  

How to enrol – Enrolment in these courses is based either on the result that a student obtains in his 12th grade exam or on the basis of an entrance examination. Students must seek the correct information about admissions criteria and apply accordingly. 

Job Opportunities – Science based courses lead to careers in industry, research, teaching, innovating and commercialization. 

Current Trends in these programs – The current trend in the science courses is 

multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary. Courses like BTech in Computer Science and Engineering, Data science, AI and Machine Learning, cloud computing, Architecture and City Planning, BSc. in Biochemistry etc are being undertaken by students in good numbers. 

Who can opt – The students who have studied science subjects in their high school are eligible to apply for the science based courses at the undergraduate level.

Commerce

1. B.com – Bachelor of Commerce degree requires the student to have a good foundation in Maths and Economics. This course is suitable for students desirous of making a career in banks, as Commercial Advisors in MNCs or corporate companies, or work as independent financial consultants.  
2. BBA – The Bachelor of Business Administration includes subjects that give an overview of the business and management aspects in an organisation. It focuses on teaching the students on aspects of communication, strategizing and planning, and marketing.   
3. B.Sc. – BSc. degrees in Commerce are interdisciplinary degrees that approach the subject of commerce from a scientific perspective. Statistics, data management and use of technology in Commercial transactions form important course modules in such courses.  
4. Law – LLB – Law is a combined degree that involves studying a bachelors degree in Science, Humanities, or Economics along with studying law courses. The law degrees can be in Civil, Criminal, Forensic, Commercial, Environmental or Patent law. 

How to enrol – The Commerce based degree admissions are typically done based on the 12th grade marks of a student. However, law requires students to take up the LSAT or CLAT entrance exams.   

Job Opportunities – Commerce based degrees lead to lucrative jobs in the industry, banks, private organisations, MNCs,  government etc. 

Who can opt for each program  – Students are expected to have studied Commerce and Accounting at high school level for the B.Com degree. For BBA and Law, students from science, commerce and humanities can apply.  

Current Trends in these programmes – These programmes are increasingly giving students opportunities for industry placements, internships, lab work, field visits, MOOCs for law degrees, and exposure in the form of competitions and artistic or subject based fests.

Arts

1. B.A – Bachelor of Arts degrees can be in subjects as varied as English or other languages, History, Psychology, Sociology, Geography, general knowledge etc. These degrees give a vast canvas of general subjects offerings to students who study to obtain a general degree that opens doors for the students in various professional areas. Students can go onto do masters in management or business, any language, tourism or aviation courses, Social-Psychology or other plethora of courses.   
2. B.des – An arts degree in design does not include any element of technology but is based entirely on the personal artistic talents of the students. Drawing, painting, sculpture, origami, weaving etc are all degrees in this category 

How to enrol – Bachelor of Arts degrees enrol students solely based on their 12th grade exams. Very recently for 2022 admissions some courses require students to take the Common Undergraduate Entrance Test (CUET) initiated by the Government of India. Design degrees require students to present a portfolio of their work from their high school days, and some involve an interview.    

Job Opportunities – The BA degrees lead to employment with schools as teachers, as researchers in social enterprises, advisors in educational policies, with NGOs, civil society organisations etc. Design degrees help students to become independent artists, work with design studios, or work with famous companies in the field of design.    

Current Trends in these programs – BA degrees are moving towards amalgamation of two or more subjects within a single course, such as geography and human diaspora, Sociology and management, Psychology and Ethics of Business etc. The design degrees are incorporating artistic elements from different countries and make the students equipped with skills relevant for collaborative working in international settings.

Who can opt for each program  – Students who want to experience many subjects at the undergraduate level before deciding on a specialisation track at masters level opt for BA degrees. Typically such students have studied the humanities stream in high school. Design degrees are ideal for students who have opted for subjects like drawing, painting etc in school.    

How CMRU is the right place for academically commited students-

CMR University, among the top degree colleges in Bangalore, offers numerous courses in science, arts and commerce. The University offers a wide range of courses for the students, helping them acquire various aptitude skills. The university has classroom teaching, lab work, industrial placements, invited speaker series, field visits, projects and presentations, research based dissertations, and innovation built into their curriculum. CMRU encourages students to participate in subject fests, national and international competitions, undertake study abroad trips and cultural exchange programs. 

What makes CMRU different 

1. Experiential learning – The University’s course structure does not confine students to classrooms alone. With enough opportunity to transfer their theoretical classroom learning into applicable assignments, projects, and collaborative presentations along with undertaking individual work based on their area of interest.
2. Faculty – CMRU’s faculty are highly qualified in their areas of specialisation with good  industry experience. The faculty undertakes research and continuous professional development to keep themselves updated with the latest pedagogical traditions and lead their teaching informed through their experience in the academia or industry.  
3. Placement help – The responsibility of a good educational institution does not end at imparting education. It should also help the student to be job-ready and facilitate placement in good companies and organisations through campus interview schedules. CMRU’s students have bagged good salary packages from reputed companies each year.  The university has good partnerships with top tier companies like IBM, Amazon, and Flipkart to name a few for students’ placement 
4. Campus and Labs  – CMRU campus has safe student study spaces, digitally equipped classrooms, well stocked design and art studios, state-of-the-art science labs, libraries and green areas to provide a serene overall environment to the students.    
5. Clubs – Student clubs form an integral part of the educational ethos at CMRU. The University encourages the students to participate in various extra-currcicular clubs and sports activities for an holistic development. Along with student clubs and cultural groups that are managed and led by students themselves. The CMR U Makerspace platform allows students to share knowledge, learn and innovate.

CMRU’s facilities are world class and its faculty outstanding and among the best minds in their subject areas. The University aims  to help the students become expert professionals and future leaders by giving them the best educational input.