Saurav Anand
Table of Contents
M.A. in Society and Culture: Introduction
M.A. in Society and Culture is a disciplinary program implemented by the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar in the year 2014. M.A. in Society and Culture provides an in-depth focus and a comprehensive course in the field of social sciences and humanities.
It provides intensive learning in the field of anthropology, sociology, political science, and literature. This two-year course in M.A. in Society and Culture provides students with a good knowledge of political science and social science with cutting-edge formulations which helps the student to have a better understanding of the nation and society along with observations in real-life fieldwork.
In this article we are going to focus on what are the top colleges for M.A. in Society and Culture, what are the entrance exams, the average salary, and more.
M.A. in Society and Culture: Highlights
| Course Name | M.A. in Society and Culture |
|---|---|
| Course Level | UG level |
| Duration | Two years |
| Eligibility | Securing 55% in B.A., B.sc, and B.tech |
M.A. in Society and Culture Course Fees: The M.A. in Society and Culture course differs from college to college. But to give you an approx range the course fee ranges between 2 lacks to 3 lacks. Though for some the fee range is high so people generally opt for scholarship exams to cut the fee range from lakhs to thousands.
M.A. in Society and Culture Entrance exams: Many universities conduct entrance exams to opt for M.A. in Society and Culture. These entrance exams are conducted to judge and assess students in the field of politics, general knowledge, current affairs, society, and related fields.
The paper includes multiple choice questions or MCQs or even essay writing or subjective answer writing. The syllabus for the entrance exam is listed below:
- History of Culture
- Social and Cultural Theory
- Media and Culture
- Art and Culture
- Literature and Culture
- Philosophy and Culture
M.A. in Society and Culture Average salary: The average salary of an M.A. in Society and Culture ranges between 2,00,000 lakh to 6,00,000 lakh. The salary differs from place to place and position to position. Let’s see how much an M.A. in Society and Culture graduate gets paid in the job sector.
| Designation | Salary |
|---|---|
| Art Director | 7.5 lakh – 18.5 lakh |
| Cultural Correspondent | 15,000 – 30,000 |
| Cultural researcher | 1.5 lakh – 2.5 lakh |
| Museum administrator | 28,000 – 78,000 |
| Documentary filmmaker | 4.5 lakh |
| Lecturer or teacher | 2,00,000-6,00,00 lakh |
One thing while looking at the salary we should keep in mind is that these salaries increase with age and experience in a particular field. So if you think that the above salary is fixed then you are going wrong. The salary or the stipend starts at an average rate when you are a fresher and increases with your age and experience.
M.A. in Society and Culture: Admission Process
The admission process for an M.A. in Society and Culture includes four processes;
- Filling out an application form: The student needs to fill in the application form of the particular University or college which offers the course in M.A. in Society and Culture.
- Giving the entrance exam: After filling and submitting the form the candidate needs to appear for the concerned entrance exam of the particular college.
- Interview round: In certain colleges after the conduction of entrance exams, interviews are conducted. The interview round is the crucial stage for admission to the college. All kinds of questions related to the field of cultural studies and applied discipline are asked of the student.
- Selection round: The selection round is the final round of the M.A. in Society and Culture course. It is usually based on the entrance test and interview conducted.
Another way of the admission process is merit-based. The Merit-based admission is assessed based on how much they have scored in their bachelor’s. The expected percentage is 55 from any background but as it is an arts-based course students are expected to be from b.a Hons level because a certain level of pre-knowledge and practical and theoretical knowledge is required for this field.
Quick Question:-
What are the steps to get into a good college?
There are certain crucial steps that one needs to follow to get into certain good colleges or universities that provide a degree in M.A. in society and culture. The first step is to research. Research is the most important step to hunt and search for a good college and institute that provides the best course in M.A. in Society and Culture. The more you research, the more you develop a clear idea of what the course is all about, how the campus lives, the campus, and placements.
The next thing is to clear entrance exams. Clearing entrance be it for a premier institute or a competitive level exam can be back-breaking work as it requires a lot of preparation and hard work as well as determination. So if a candidate feels that self-preparation is not the only way to crack entrance exams for M.A. in Society and Culture then one can also opt for coaching and tuition classes as they have a full strategy with syllabus and notes to guide you as to how to prepare for entrances.
The next thing is that it might so happen that certain institutes charge more fees for M.A. in Society and Culture. In such instances, students belonging to below-average financial grounds make it difficult for them to get admission to their dream universities. In such situations, students can also opt for scholarship exams in which they need to clear the exam to get a fee concession and get a chance to study in their dream institutes.
M.A. in Society and Culture: entrance exams: how to prepare?
Till now we discussed what M.A. is in society and culture, what is the admission process of getting into good colleges offering an M.A. in Society and Culture, eligibility criteria, duration, and much more.
Now in this section, we would give some useful fingertips which will help you to prepare for your M.A. in Society and Culture entrance exam.
Firstly, have a proper schedule. This serves as a Bible for you in how to prepare for entrances and how to manage a particular time slot for each section like logical reasoning, aptitude test, and current affairs, and prepare accordingly.
Second, avoid any kind of distractions. As a student, we might face a lot of distractions and disturbances. The reason is that nowadays learning and education have turned into e-learning and e-education because of the growing era of digitization. In all this, the use of phones and laptops had increased a lot, and times to relax and chill students start binge-watching.
Binge-watching is not a bad thing but too much of it can derail you from your actual motive. This means a lot of your time will go into it thus leaving minimal time for your preparation. So having a proper balance between studies and relaxation should be maintained. Any kind of distractions from the use of social media must be avoided.
The next thing is self-study. Nothing can be more important than self-studying. No matter what coaching you join, until and unless you give yourself the time to have a quality study, joining tuition or a coaching class won’t prove beneficial.
The next thing is to get your concepts clear. Having a clear concept is very important. Until and unless your concepts are clear you won’t be able to solve questions related to your topic. Thus it is important to have a proper and clear concept.
The next thing and last weapon to crack Excel entrance exams for M.A. in Society and Culture are to give mock tests and interviews. As it is said that practice makes a man perfect, the same goes for entrance exams.
The more you practice mocks the more you have a clear idea as to how to solve questions, how to find answers, and how to complete the paper on time. Giving entrance is a brain-draining task. The more equipped and well-trained you are in terms of solving questions, the more you will be confident in giving exams.
M.A. in Society and Culture: Syllabus 2023
Listed below is the syllabus prescribed by different colleges and universities:
| 1. | Varieties of Cultural Studies I |
| 2. | Comparative Science of Cultures I, |
| 3. | Research Methodology Introduction |
| 4. | Reconstructing the Disciplines-History |
| 5. | Text-Orientalism – Edward Said |
| 6. | Understanding Western Culture |
| 7. | Research Methodology II-Argumentation |
| 8. | Text-Hind Swaraj – M.K. Gandhi |
| 9. | Colonial and Post-Colonial Views on Indian History-Major |
| 10. | Decolonizing Social Sciences |
| 11. | Research Methodology III-Practical |
| 12. | Varieties of Cultural Studies II, Indian |
| 13. | Varieties of Cultural Studies II, Indian |
| 14. | Reconstructing the Disciplines-Sociology |
| 15. | Text- The Interpretation of Caste- Quigley |
| 16. | Modern Indian Political Thoughts |
| 17. | History and Philosophy of Science |
| 18. | Conceptualizing cultural differences |
| 19. | Reconstructing the Disciplines-Anthropology and Folklore |
| 20. | Select Articles on Anthropology and Folklore, Dissertation |
M.A. in Society and Culture: Top Colleges in India 2023
Let’s now have a glimpse of the top colleges in India for M.A. in Society and Culture and their fees as well as the placement package provided:
| Serial Number | College Name | Course Fees | Placement package offered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christ University | INR 61.50K | INR 20 L |
| 2 | Lucknow University | INR 8.24K | INR 3.10- 10 L |
| 3 | Jamia millia Islamia | INR 7.20K | INR 9 L -25 L |
| 4 | IIT Gandhinagar | INR 48.50K | INR 15.31 L- 62 L |
| 5 | Annamalai University | INR 5.88K | INR 22 L |
| 6 | Tezpur University | INR 53.19K | INR 15.4 L |
| 7 | TISS University | INR 79.50K | INR 27.22 L – 49 L |
| 8 | SGRR | INR 16K | INR 13 L |
| 9 | Assam Women’s University | INR 16.92K | INR 19 L |
| 10 | Gujarat University | INR 30K | INR 21 L |
M.A. in Society and Culture: Top Colleges Abroad 2023
Given below is a list of top colleges abroad giving a degree in M.A in cultural studies Abroad:
- London Metropolitan University
- Charles Darwin University.
- University of Melbourne.
- Pompeu Fabra University.
- University of Jaen.
- University of Zaragoza.
- the University of Cadiz.
- Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
- University of the West Indies.
- University of Sydney
- Monash University
- University of Siegen
- Technical University of Dresden
- Humboldt University of Berlin
- University of Jewish Studies in Heidelberg
- University of Marburg
M.A in Society and Culture: Scope
In the field of arts especially in the area of cultural studies, there is a lot of scope and opportunities. Pursuing a master’s degree in society and culture can land you up being a cultural Analyst, an art director, a community specialist, a social activist, a cultural event manager, and a cultural journalist as well as a researcher.
This two-year course divided into 4 four semesters covers a wide range of topics in the field of cultural studies. Students in these two years of degree learn a lot many things about society and its cultural norms.
Students end up getting scopes in documentary production, cultural filmmaking, researchers, scholars, and experts in the field of culture, government cultural administration, art galleries, museum curators, theatres, and more.
Now If we talk about employment zones there are many for a M.A. in Society and Culture graduate to get in. Given below is a list of employment zone where a graduate of cultural studies can get employment:
- Radio Stations
- Theatres
- Film Industry
- Cultural Ministry
- Heritage Sites
- Colleges & Universities
- Museums
- Art Galleries
- Event Management Agencies
M.A. in Society and Culture: Job Prospect
A degree in M.A. in society and culture can open up huge job prospects for a graduate. Listed below are the job prospects of a graduate with M.A. in Society and Culture:
- Program Developer
- Documentary Filmmaker
- Lecturer/Professor
- Cultural Researcher
- Museum Administrator
- Media Commentator
Frequently Asked Questions about M.A in Society and Culture
Q. What is the eligibility for getting admission to a college offering M.A. in Society and Culture?
Ans. The eligibility criteria differ from country to country and college to college and might also differ in their rules and regulations if it is an autonomous body. But to keep a clear idea the eligibility is 55% from any stream of bachelor’s degree.
Q. Is M.A. in Society and Culture a good place to work in the field of research?
Ans. If you are highly interested in the field of cultural knowledge and societal problems then M.A. in society and culture provides you with the best place to practice and get a degree in the field of cultural research.
Q. What is the average salary an M.A in Society and culture graduate can get?
Ans. The average salary that a graduate with M.A. in Society and Culture can expect ranges between 2 lakh to 6 lakh INR.
Q. What is the scope of M.A. in Society and Culture?
Ans. The scope of an M.A. in Society and Culture is that it will make you learn and understand how culture is related to power, politics, ideology, everyday practices, and more.
Q. What is the study of culture called?
Ans. The study of culture is known as anthropology which helps you to understand human behavior with their involvement in the culture in the present and past and in the future as well.
Q. What are the prospects if I take up M.A. in society and culture?
Ans. The prospects are huge if we talk about social and cultural studies. Students end up getting jobs in the arts field, in museums, in government bodies as well in the entertainment industry like documentaries, and also in the field of media like a cultural correspondents.
Q. What is the duration of this course?
Ans. The duration of this course is 2 years divided into 4 semesters. The first year is more based on giving theoretical knowledge to students to develop a strong base for practical knowledge and the second year is more practical-oriented as students get into fieldwork and dissertations and all.
