MCA refers to the Master of Computer Applications programme offered by several educational institutions and universities. However, distance MCA refers to the correspondence mode of course delivery in which students can learn about the nuances of computer applications from a distance. Thus, they can also pursue this course from anywhere in the country, regardless of where their university or institution is located.
The distance MCA course is a three-year, postgraduate degree programme for graduates who want to be computer professionals. The industry considers this course as equivalent to an engineering programme. Professionals who have pursued the MCA course are treated at par with software engineers. This is the reason the MCA course is highly popular among students, especially those who are unable to clear entrance exams for engineering in computer science programmes.
The postgraduate course in computer applications comes with a plethora of career options. While some students may think that the Distance MCA course may not be available widely, but the reality is in contrast to it. Several public and private institutions and universities turn students into the best of computer professionals. These software professionals remain in demand in a variety of organisations and corporate firms. In fact, with the digitisation of processes and works, computer professionals have no dearth of jobs in any industrial sector. Thus, the scope of this course is very wide.
While MCA is a practically oriented course, it can be done well via distance learning if students are dedicated and passionate about the domain of computer science. Many leading universities and institutes make this distance MCA course available to interested candidates. Check out the list of some of these renowned academic institutions:
· Acharya Nagarjuna University Centre for Distance Education, Guntur
· Wellborn Group of Professional Studies, Lucknow
· Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu
· Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi
· Sikkim Manipal University, Bengaluru
· Alagappa University, Tamil Nadu
· Andhra University, Visakhapatnam
· Tamil Nadu Open University, Chennai
· Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune
· University of Mumbai, Mumbai
· Gauhati University, Guwahati
· Bharathiar University Distance Education, Coimbatore
· Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra
· Sambalpur University, Odisha
· Karnataka State Open University, Bengaluru
· Nalanda Open University, Bihar
· Punjab Technical University, Punjab
The course fee for MCA may vary as per the institution you select to pursue it. While some institutions or universities may charge less than INR 50,000, a few may go up to INR 5 lakhs for the MCA course through distance education mode. Thus, students interested in pursuing the Distance MCA course can make a choice of the Institute per their preferences.
Similar to regular MCA courses, the distance MCA programme demands candidates to be graduates in any stream. While this is the basic criterion, most candidates who have done BCA prefer to take admission in the MCA course. Most institutions also require candidates to have a minimum of 45 to 50 percent marks in their graduation exam. Still, thiscondition may vary for each institution and each candidate category.
Apart from the above, universities or institutions usually require candidates to have mandatorily studied the subject of mathematics at 10+2 level. Some institutes may even require them to have Mathematics as a subject at graduation level. However, the mandatory study of Maths at 10+2 level is a prerequisite in almost all universities offering the Distance MCA course. While merit-based admission in distance MCA is done in some universities, other institutes may follow the route of entrance exam to choose candidates.
The MCA course through distance education mode is usually a six-semester course in most academic institutions or universities. Students not only focus on the theoretical study of computer applications but also work on projects or dissertations. The Distance MCA course makes them learn about application development, as well as the latest programming tools and languages. As the MCA course is a specialised programme in itself, there are only elective subjects that students can choose in the later semesters.
While pursuing the Distance MCA course, students not only gain the knowledge of several aspects of Maths, Electronics, Statistics and Computation Theory but also of network and database Management, Algorithm Design, and several mobiles and web technologies. The MCA course, even if done through distance learning mode, can turn them into proficient software professionals who have an advanced knowledge of aspects like computer architecture and organisation, operating systems, software engineering, computer graphics, software testing, and numerical and scientific computing.
By doing the Distance MCA course, students get into an advantageous position in the ever-growing software industry. The constant innovation in technologies has opened wide avenues for software professionals. Ranging from the information technology firms to software consulting companies, MCA pass-outs can get suitable and satisfactory jobs in almost all industries. While students can get excellent salaries in the top IT companies, they can also grab good packages in start-ups or middle-level firms. Usually, the starting salary package in such a firm may fall between INR 2.5 to 3.5 lakhs.
The promotional opportunities for software professionals are also promising, provided they stay updated on their knowledge and experience. They can be accommodated in job positions in various domains or sectors, including banking and financial institutions, software and networking companies, government agencies, educational institutions, and even security companies.Students who complete the Distance MCA course can also start as technical support in different types of companies. Some other positions they can occupy include the following:
· Web designer
· Web developer
· Software consultant
· Software developer
· Programmer
· Software engineer
· Hardware engineer
· System analyst
· Systems engineer or developer
· Software application architect
· Networking specialist
In addition to the above job positions, computer professionals can become technical writers in IT firms and consultancies. They can even start their own ventures and become entrepreneurs and independent consultants. This will let them work on specialised projects of clients and help them practically explore several areas of computer applications they have learnt during their MCA programme.