Academic Degree Vs Professional Degree: What to Choose after 12th?

Every step of education requires a decision to be made. Remember when you completed class 10th, you had three streams to choose from? Deciding what to study has been a constant problem among students. Therefore, even after completing higher secondary school, one has to decide a course among more than 100s of courses. Generally, there are two types of degree courses one can consider after 12th, academic and professional degree courses.

A professional degree holder is equipped with skills to practice a profession. These professions include law, architecture, medicine, pharmacy and more. These professions require a specified degree course to be completed called a professional degree. For example, an aviation manager would have done a BBA in Aviation after class 12th or any other professional degree majoring in aviation.

An academic degree primarily focuses on a specific field of academics. The academic degree courses, commonly known as foundation courses, are designed to impart knowledge based on theory, history, and methodology, rather than practical knowledge that is typically delivered via a professional degree course. Academic degree courses include B.A., BSc, and B. Com. These courses might also have specialised subjects.

Academic Degree VS Professional Degree: Pros and Cons

After 12th commerce, higher education aspirants are more likely to land in a B.Com college and pursue an M. Com degree or a specialised professional course. B Com admission is generally based on the merit of a candidate in class 12th. So now you know the employment sectors, let’s hop on to what can be done after B. Com in terms of courses to have a well-defined career path with a handsome pay package.

Both the types of degrees have merits as well as demerits. To make an informed decision, one must know the pros and cons of choosing a course. Space below helps class 12th passouts in the course selection.

Benefits of an Academic Degree

Wide career options after the course: Primary benefits of pursuing an academic degree is availability of career options in diverse fields.

Merit based admissions: Most of the academic degree course admissions are based on merit of the qualifying exam. Candidates need not appear for any entrance exam for admission. However, some colleges offering professional degrees also accept the merit of class 12th for BBA Admission. On the contrary, most of the institutes would conduct an entrance exam.

Demerits of an Academic Degree

Doesn’t make you job-ready: Academic degree courses are designed to provide theoretical knowledge; hence, does not bring in predefined jobs.

Cutoffs are generally high: The admissions into a UG academic degree course is based on merit of class 12th. Institutes release cutoff scores for admission. These cutoff scores are released to screen students for the course. Cutoffs for admission after 12th are generally high, this makes a student consider an entrance exam for professional degree admission.

Benefits of a Professional Degree

Provides practical knowledge: A professional degree course is designed to provide practical skills to the students. Practical training, internships, field projects are some primary benefits that come along with a professional degree. Students become industry-ready before completing the course.

Admission based on entrance exams: Candidates need not worry about the class 12th scores as the eligibility includes mere qualifying the exam. The admission of a professional course is based on entrance exams. For example, to pursue a BBA LLB Course, aspirants need to have a CLAT rank and a class 12th qualifying certificate. In the case of an academic degree, one must have a high class 12th score for admission.

Demerits of a Professional Degree

Restricted job options: Pursuing a professional degree will lead to restricted career options. One pursuing an MBBS degree has very limited career options revolving around the medicine field. Thus, switching career paths becomes difficult.

Competition is high: The competition in the professional fields is generally high owing to a defined career path from the starting of the course.

Conclusion

Choosing a course at a higher education level can be a major life changing decision. Choosing the right college and course is important to provide a direction to the career of the student. Thus, one must make an informed decision based on his/her interests, future goals, and scope of the course.

Comparison between an MBA and a PGDM program

 Are you searching for a management course after graduation? Confused between an MBA and PGDM program? Well, this situation often arises in front of students when they plan for their higher studies. The reason why you pursue a postgraduate degree is to uplift your career and to get a better job opportunity. Most of the students consider a PGDM program and an MBA degree similar to each other. Here we have the answer to your questions. Check out below few differences between an MBA and a PGDM program.  

Difference between an MBA and a PGDM

1. Certification: Generally, the autonomous bodies approve the PGDM courses, and an MBA program is affiliated with a particular University. Before taking admission in an MBA or PGDM program you need to check their accreditations as there are some colleges and B-schools which do not have proper accreditations.
2. Curriculum: There is a huge difference between the syllabus of an MBA program and a PGDM program. In an MBA program, the curriculum is decided as per the University standards. The syllabus of an MBA program differs as per the particular University standards. On the other hand, the syllabus of a PGDM program covers the curriculum decided by a particular institute. The colleges change the syllabus of the PGDM program as per the latest demand of the industry.
3. Budget and Fee: The fee of an MBA program is higher as compared to the fee of a PGDM program. This is one of the most important factors why students opt for a PGDM program over an MBA degree. The fee of an MBA course is higher as the colleges offering this course are approved by the government. But there is an opportunity for the economically weaker class students to get a scholarship from the government. In the case of PGDM courses, there is no financial aid provided by the government. Therefore, the students have to bear the entire fee for the course. 

Is an MBA better than a PGDM program?

If you compare the benefits of doing an MBA, an MBA gives you more than compared to a PGDM program. A PGDM program is considered by the reputed companies only if you have completed it from a renowned B-shool. Therefore, you are highly recommended to check out the list of best colleges offering a PGDM course as if the institute is not affiliated with a University then there is no benefit of pursuing this course. 

An MBA program is considered better than PGDM as the colleges offering this program are affiliated with a University. You also have an option to go for higher studies after an MBA. At the recruitment time, most of the companies prefer an MBA graduate over a PGDM, as PGDM is just a diploma course and an MBA is a master's degree. 

Wrapping Up 

While opting among these two courses first you need to analyze your academic performance and your budget. If you have a good budget and can afford a high fee structure program, then definitely go for an MBA program. But, on the other hand, if your budget for higher studies is low and you want an affordable program then go for a PGDM program as per the choice of your specialization.

Again, if you have a good academic score and you are sure to crack any MBA entrance exam then it’s an opportunity for you as the government offers various scholarship programs for the meritorious economically weaker section students. So, you can easily do an MBA with an affordable fee structure.

Frequently Asked Questions about LLB Course

Entering a profession can be challenging. You ought to make several decisions such as pursuing a specific course, admission into an institution, etc. while choosing a profession. Becoming a lawyer can lead to several questions in your head. Knowing the process to become a lawyer might not be enough. Knowing every detail on the LLB course can take you towards your dream profession of becoming a lawyer.

Let me clarify; if Bollywood movies are your inspiration for becoming a lawyer, you must give it a second thought. Here are some frequently asked questions aspirants have regarding the LLB degree course.

5 Year LLB or 3 Year LLB - What’s the difference?

While considering the LLB programme, you will come across two programme options, i.e. a 5-year programme and a three-year programme. The five year LLB programme is an integrated programme designed with a bachelor's degree. In contrast, you can pursue a three year LLB programme after completing a bachelor's degree programme irrespective of the discipline.

You are eligible for a 5-year integrated programme of law after the 12th. In contrast, a minimum bachelor's level education is required before you plan to pursue an LL.B. course. 

How to Get LLB Admission?

You can appear for a national level or state level entrance examination for law admission. Besides the national and state level exams, several universities also conduct entrance exams for LLB admissions. You must start with shortlisting the institute for law admission and going through its selection process. Most of the institutes will accept scores of the national-level law entrance exam in India. Ensure you check the eligibility for LLB programme before applying for admission.

Can I Pursue Law After B.Tech/ MBBS/ MBA/ B.Com/ BBA/B.Des etc.?

Yes. Law is an independent field of profession. You can go for an LLB degree after any of the courses mentioned earlier. Law is a profession you can pursue irrespective of your age and your previous area of academics. If you have completed any of the following courses, you must go for a three year LLB programme ditching the five-year course.

What After LLB Course?

You can get jobs as well as go for higher studies after completion of the LLB degree programme. Some of the vital career paths after LLB are as follows.

1.       Advocacy

2.       Government services

3.       Legal advisor

4.       Legal Outsourcing

5.       Judiciary

6.       Teaching

7.       Work at MNC/ Private companies

8.       Join an NGO

9.       Corporate litigation

10.   Arbitration

What are the Higher Studies Options After LLB?

Once you complete the LLB degree programme, you can go for higher education in the area of law itself. Similar to other professional education, the law also has specialisations in higher degree programmes. Some of the courses offered after LLB are as follows.

1.       LLM

2.       MBA

3.       LLM-PhD

These are the most common doubts among law aspirants every year in India. Thus, you might get your queries resolved before you start formal education to enter into the profession. However, the power to decide is with you—all the best for your career.

Why is Digital Marketing important?

By the year 2020, active internet users have crossed 65% of the world's total population. The active internet users have been increased massively from the last few years due to the high usage of smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other smart devices. These gadgets are handy, easy to use, and easy to carry, resulting in online marketing. After a revolutionary development in information and technologies, we consume more than 80% of all the information and media from the digital platform, helping the digital marketing industry expand businesses globally. Now, all traditional and non-traditional companies have started using a digital platform to expand their businesses. 

Digital marketing has become a general term for internet marketing; it is all about advertising and promoting various kinds of businesses using digital platforms. At the moment, digital marketing uses multiple digital platforms, including websites, radio, television, social media, mobile etc. In other words, we can say any marketing media delivered through electronic platforms can be considered digital marketing. Digital marketing has become an essential tool to run modern companies as it provides several advantages to run and expand small and large businesses. 

Every year, more than 20 lakh jobs generated in the digital market industry. Therefore, the digital marketing industry has become a new favourite for many students across the world. Students have started studying professional digital marketing courses at different levels. Digital marketing courses equip students with the required skills of digital marketing. If you want to learn digital marketing, you can start with a professional degree or diploma course. You can choose to pursue BBA in digital marketing specialization at the UG level and PG level; you can pursue an MBA in digital marketing or o PGDM programme in digital marketing. One can also enter the digital marketing field through various diploma and certificates. If you ask the most popular digital marketing courses, the answer will be an MBA in Digital Marketing and PGDM in digital marketing.

A degree, diploma or certificate in digital marketing will let you come across the following fields of digital marketing: 

●        Analytics

●        Business and marketing strategy

●        Content management and curation

●        Copywriting and editing

●        E-Commerce

●        Email Marketing

●        Interactive Technology (like AI)

●        Marketing automation

●        Mobile Marketing

●        Search Engine Marketing (SEM)

●        Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

●        Social Media

●        Video and audio production

●        Web Design

●        Web Development

Why Digital Marketing?

●       In the modern-day business industry, marketing agencies, business owners and consumers are shifting to digital platforms, creating several job options for skilled professionals in digital marketing.

●       It is also known that most digital platforms such as websites, social media, and mobile advertising are straightforward to track than other old traditional media such as newspapers, magazines, print directories, billboards, and posters. 

●       The digital marketing sector needs skilled professionals, so this field offers diverse career options. 

●       As per various reports and survey, the average annual salary package offered to a digital marketing manager is between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 6 lakh, while an experienced digital marketing professional can earn between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 20 Lakh annually. 

Hope the digital marketing career seekers now know the way how to go ahead.

What is the scope of PGDM in operations?

 At the time of deciding to choose a career option, the first question which strikes every student's mind is ‘what are its benefits?’ and it's worth considering. You should always consider the opportunities and job prospects of a particular course as it gives you an idea about future growth. Due to updates in technology the business operations get updated from time to time. As the maximum number of business operations are being done with the use of technology nowadays.

Due to the competitive environment, business operations management has gained a lot of importance in the present business world. The PGDM in operations is specially designed to assist the students in developing the professional skills essential for business growth. To get admissionin PGDM program specialized operation management, you must have completed graduation from a recognized University.  The program covers all the concepts covered in operation and production management as logistics, procurement, lean operations, capacity planning, and quality management, which helps to improve the skills and abilities of the aspirants. The program provides comprehensive knowledge about the techniques to be used at the actual work in the industry. 

Every business organization needs employees who are specialized in their industry to maximize the profit of their business. In every industry, the operation field is very wide. It is one of the most popular courses for graduates to get an entry into the professional world. It covers the entire process from sourcing the raw material to the manufacturing, and supply of goods and services to the final client or customer. The position of operation management provides you with an option to get flexibility with different sectors and job roles. 

As e-commerce companies are increasing the demand for operation management is increasing in India. This change has occurred due to the implementation of the Make in India initiative by the government of India. Now, most of the companies are using technology for the up-gradation of their operations for better business results. 

Career Prospects

Most of the students are confused about the scope of this domain. There are several questions regarding the work profile, which the students get in their mind before opting for this course. Some profiles that are offered to the professional in operation management are Time Study Analyst, Operations Manager, Industrial Engineer, warehouse operating manager, Inventory Manager, Operation Analyst, Purchase Analyst, Schedule Coordinator, Supply Chain Manager, sourcing manager, Quality Analyst, Global community manager, Distribution Manager, strategic supply chain manager, Business Operations Supervisor, Procurement Manager, Quality Manager, and Plant Manager.

There is a huge demand for professionals in operation management in good manufacturing and service-providing industries as e-commerce, finance, healthcare, education, fast-moving consumer goods, and automobile. The major recruiters of this domain are like Wall-Mart, Myntra, Accenture, Flipkart, Deloitte, Amazon, Grofers, Snapdeal, Bigbasket, etc.

As this pandemic has changed a lot of business and working entities, and there is a shortfall of job vacancies for the professional. In such a scenario a PGDM in operations can be of great help for you to uplift your profile in the eyes of recruiters. The program will help you to become an integral part of the organization. The course will add some value to your profile and work as an investment for your career. Hence, it’s worth doing a post-graduate diploma in operation management after completing your graduation.

Things to know about 1 year PGDM Course

Getting higher education is an integral part of today's business world. Competition is increasing every day, and the more educated you are, the better your chances of getting a good job. Nowadays, many working professionals and students are going for a one-year Post-Graduate Diploma in Management.

The reason being is the course curriculum. One-year PGDM courses have an industrial orientation and concentrate on skills-based on market requirements. 

Once you have decided to pursue a one-year Post-Graduate Diploma in Management, you must know the following factors.

1.       Top institutes in India providing this course

2.       Eligibility criteria to pursue one year PGDM Course

3.       Admission procedure

4.       Fee Structure of the course

5.       Placement and Career aspects 

About the programme -

The one-year Post-Graduate Diploma in Management is a uniquely outlined course for the graduates. Those who inquire into it find some specializations about which they are passionate and take one year PGDM admission in that course. Many colleges in India offer various branch-specific PGDM programmes to aspiring candidates. They can check below the listed specializations -

1.        Marketing

2.       Human Resource and Business Administration

3.       PGP in Data Scientist

4.       Accounting

5.       Finance

The programme qualifies specific pointers, which makes it a valuable course to pursue. It offers an industry applicable course structure that keeps the applicability of the programme alive. The one-year PGDM programme will also provide professional training to the students to train them for future approaches. No doubt, this programme is an excellent option for those who are looking for a short duration management course.

Eligibility for 1 year PGDM Course -

Those interested in taking admission in one-year Post-Graduate Diploma in Management must have completed their graduation in any discipline under 10+2+5 from any recognized university/institute by the Government of India with at minimum aggregate marks as per prescribed by the institutes they are applying for.

Duration of the PGDM Course -

Candidates taking admission to Post-Graduate Diploma in Management in any course will take a minimum of one or two years to complete depending on the college. This course also includes research work and other required coursework.

Admission Fees of Post-Graduate Diploma in Management -

Candidates have to pay the fees after provisional admission into PGDM. The admission fees may vary across institutes offering the course.

Job Prospects after PGDM Course -

Nowadays, many organisations hire students right after their post-graduation. All the Post-Graduate Diploma in Management holder will be given the opportunity to work as the following - 

1.       Finance Executive

2.       Business Manager

3.       Management Trainee

4.       Marketing Assistant

5.       HR executive

6.       Client Relationship Manager

7.       Operations Manager

8.       Research Analyst

9.       Executive Taxation

10.   Business Development Manager

11.   Finance Analyst

Many research organisations also recruit PGDM management graduates as business analysts or analytical experts. 

Importance of one year Post-Graduate Diploma in Management - 

1.        This degree will increase your career opportunities.

2.       PGDM will help in increasing your network

3.       With a one year Post-Graduate Diploma in Management degree in hand, you can demand a higher salary. According to a 2007 Corporate Recruiters Survey, employers are willing to pay significantly more to those who have management degrees. 

Pursing a PGDM program puts you in a win-win position in terms of career growth opportunities. Choose the right b-school and fulfil your career aspirations.