What is the difference between BA Geography and BSc Geography?

Candidates interested in pursuing the Geography course usually gets confused about which course in Geography to opt from Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Geography and Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Geography. Check out the the difference between BA Geography and BSc Geography along with the syllabus of each course and which course is a better option for you in the article below.

Geography is the study of the Earth and its features and inhabitants. Candidates interested to seek knowledge of Geography can opt for the subject after 10+2. Candidates interested in pursuing the Geography course usually gets confused about which course in Geography to opt from Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Geography and Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Geography. There is a slight difference between both the courses BA and BSc in Geography. There are various branches which come under Geography such as the atmosphere we live in, to man-made buildings, roads, society. We have learnt about the various rivers, mountains and natural aspects of what the Earth has provided to the population of a state.

Discipline of Geography

Geography can be divided into three main branches namely human geography, physical geography, and technical Geography.

• Human Geography- deals with the built environment and how humans create, view and influence space.
• Physical Geography- deals with the natural environment and how organisms, climate, soil, water etc., produce and interact.
• Technical Geography- deals with the study and developement of tools and techniques used by Geographers. 

Geography UG Course: Highlights

Candidates can chek the highlights of Geaography UG course in the table given below:

Course Features	Course Details
Name of course	Geography
Duration of course	3 years
Course fees	Fees typically ranges below INR 1 lakh for the course
Eligibility	Candidates who have completed Class 12 with a minimum of 50 per cent aggregate. However, some colleges do not have minimum score criteria.
Admission process	Entrance/Merit-based
What after a degree in Geography?	Candidates can pursue a master's degree course. Alternatively, they can eye for job profiles like teaching, Environment Consultant, Logistics and Distribution Manager, Town Planner etc.

Also Read: List of Documents Required for Delhi University (DU) Admissions 2023

Let us divide the two courses and understand what the two courses have to offer.

BA Geography

A Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Geography is a three-year course which is offered by various universities and colleges. A BA Geography focuses more on the modern aspects of nature, which covers the Earth and its human and natural complexities. The course makes students understand how the planet that we live in, has changed drastically since man first started walking Earth. In BA Geography, subjects which are similar and are related to are as follows:

Anthropology	Archaeology
Economics	History
Rural Studies	Sociology

To relate better with what BA Geography is all about, understand what the BA Geography syllabus is like:

Semester – I
Geomorphology	Climatology
Cartographic Techniques	Geography of Population
Concurrent – Qualifying Language
Semester-II
Analytical Physical Geography	Oceanography
Thematic Cartography	Geography of Settlements
Concurrent – Credit Language
Semester – III
Economic Geography	Environmental Geography
Remote Sensing	Urban Geography
Concurrent – Interdisciplinary
Semester – IV
Geography of Natural Resources	Spatial Dimensions of Development
Statistical Methods in Geography	Geography in India
Concurrent – Discipline Centered I
Semester – V
Evolution of Geographical Thought	Social Geography
Field Techniques	Agricultural Geography
Biogeography	Political Geography
Semester – VI
Disaster Management	Regional Planning
Geographical Information System	Geography of Tourism
Contemporary Environmental Issues	Rural Development
Concurrent – Discipline Centered II

Also Read: Best Psychology Colleges in India

Top Colleges offering BA Geography

Candidates can check the below table to know about top colleges for BA Geography course.

Kirori Mal College	Dyal Singh College
LPU	NIMS University
SAGE University	Visva Bharati University
Aligarh Muslim University	>> Check More Colleges

BSc Geography

A Bachelor in Science (BSc) in Geography is also a three-year undergraduate course which is offered by various universities and colleges all over India. A BSc Geography covers the study of the Earth, its various lands, features, inhabitants and phenomena, besides map and geographical imagery-interpretation. The Science course covers the historical eras in geographical research which are the analyses of natural and human phenomena, area studies, the study of man-land and the research in earth sciences. The subjects which are related or similar to BSc Geography are as follows:

Agriculture	Biochemistry
Botany	Earth Science
Environmental Sciences	Fisheries Science
Geophysics	Geology
GeoInformatics	Horticulture
Oceanography	Zoology

To understand what BSc Geography is all about, students can go through the BSc Geography syllabus which is as follows:

Semester – I
Geography of India	Maps and Scales (Practical)
Semester – II
Physical Geography I	Representation of Physical Features (Practical)
Semester – III
Physical Geography II	Representation of Climate Data (Practical)
Semester – IV
Human Geography	Maps Projections (Practical)
Semester – V
Economic Geography	Distribution Maps and Diagrams (Practical)
Semester – VI
Introduction to Remote Sensing, Hours GIS and Quantitative Methods	Prologue to Remote Sensing and Field Survey Report (Practical)

Also Read: Top 20 Colleges of DU for Arts

Top Colleges offering BSc Geography

Candidates can check the below table to know about top colleges offering BSc Geography.

Presidency University, Kolkata	Jadavpur University
Adamas University	Madras Christian College
Asutosh College	IGNOU
Calicut University	>> Check More Colleges

Difference between BA Geography and BSc Geography

Now that we have understood what the two courses’ syllabus looks like, which is highly different, let’s understand the difference between the two courses which are as follows.

	BA Geography	BSc Geography
Focus	Human Geography: Developments, Population, Political, Economic and Social Aspects.	Physical Geography: Rivers, Rocks, Coasts, Glaciations, Mountains, Core and much more.
Training	Humanities and Social Sciences	Physical and Natural Sciences
Eligibility Criteria	Students can be a pass from any stream from a recognised board and should have secured a minimum of 45%.	Students should have done their PCB or PCM in Science stream from a recognised university and should have secured a minimum of 55%.
Admission Criteria	Admission through Merit or Entrance Exam	Admission through Entrance Exam.
Jobs Offered	Journalism, Geographer, Demographer, Travel and Tourism, Rural Development, NGO, Tourism Industry.	National Parks, Cartography Centres, Environmental Agencies, Urban Planning Agencies, Teacher, Professor, Research, Analyst, Environmentalist.

The major difference between the two is the area of focus, while a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Geography guides a student down more of a Humanities and Social Science role, a Bachelor of Science (BSc) guides students down physical and natural sciences which then branches on to various sub-fields in Geography. Geography is one fascinating subject and be it either course one selects, the outcome is that one gets to learn more about the planet that we live in.

Read More:

• Top MA History Colleges in India: Admission Process, Eligibility Criteria & Fees
• BSc vs BA: Difference, Syllabus, Salary, Career options
• Top MA Sociology Colleges in India: Eligibility Criteria, Admission Process & Fees
• Top Colleges to pursue BA Sociology: Eligibility Criteria, Admission Process, Fees