Why pursuing CA, CS, CMA along with a degree is beneficial?

As the Indian market continues to change, the popularity of professional education is rising day by day. More professional and focused courses are being introduced to match the requirements of the economic changes in the country.

In the field of commerce, there are generic courses like B.com and BBA and professional courses like CA, CS and CMA. Let us have a quick look at these courses – 

  • Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) is an undergraduate degree course of 3 years. It is one of the oldest courses and continues to be extremely popular among students. Even today, approximately 80% of students of commerce background opt for this course. This course is inclined towards covering the concepts of accountancy and related fields.
  • Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) is also one of the most popular commerce courses spanning 3 years. Those who find business or management fields fascinating opt for this course. It is a professional course and considered a foundation for  those students wanting to get into business or management.

Courses like B.Com or BBA are considered generalised courses. In the era of specialization, professional qualification has become the need of the hour. To make a successful career in this emerging business environment, it is important for the students to pursue professional qualification like CA, CS or CMA along with studying for generalised courses like B. Com and BBA.  

So, let us find out the benefits of professional courses like CA, CS, CMA, and why these are considered one of the best commerce courses to pursue along with degree education.

What are the advantages of doing CA, CS, CMA?

  • Guaranteed Employment:- As per various estimates and due to India’s growth prospects, there is a demand for almost 30-35 lakhs Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, and Cost & Management Accountants in India. Against this, we currently have only around 3.5 lakh Chartered Accountants, 85,000 Cost & Management Accountants, and around 50000 Company Secretaries in India. As a result, these courses have a huge demand in the job market.
  • Handsome Salary:- The students completing these professional courses start their careers with excellent salaries. On an average, a fresh CA can get a starting salary of INR 60,000 a month (and this can go up to as high as INR 2 lakhs per month). The average salary of fresh Company Secretary and Cost & Management Accountant is around INR 45,000-50,000 a month which is considered a good figure for beginners.
  • Highest and Global Qualification:- CA, CS, and CMA are some of the highest qualifications for Commerce not only in India but across the world. These courses give you an edge by presenting lucrative opportunities and global recognition.
  • Flexibility to work or start your own practice:- Any students pursuing these professional courses of CA, CS or CMA has 2 options:
    • Option 1:- As an Employee – Work in a Company (MNC, Indian Private Sector or Public Sector or Government) at various responsible positions as an employee for a salary 
    • Option 2:- Own Practice – Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, and Cost & Management Accountants have a wide-ranging audit, consulting advisory, and signing powers. As a result, all these professionals have an opportunity to start their own set up which is referred to as PRACTICE.
  • Reasonable Cost:- It is relatively cheap to pursue these professional courses of CA, CS, and CMA. The average cost one spends is in the range of INR 1 lakh to 1.5 lakhs to register and appear for these courses at all levels (including Registration Fees, Coaching Fees, and Exam Fees) over a period of 3-5 years. 

Some of the commonly asked questions.

Question no. 1) Is doing CA with B.Com a burden?

The answer is a big NO. 

Out of 28 core papers across 6 semesters of B.Com, 25 papers are covered in CA course across CA Foundation and CA Intermediate. 

Let me prove it to you by giving an insight into how the syllabus of B.Com overlaps with the subjects covered in CA.

B.Com – Semester 1Covered in
Financial AccountingCA FOUNDATION
Indian Financial SystemCA FOUNDATION
Marketing and Services Management 
Corporate AdministrationCA FOUNDATION
B.Com – Semester 2Covered in 
Advanced Financial AccountingCA FOUNDATION
Retail Management
Banking Law and OperationsCA FOUNDATION
Quantitative Analysis for Business DecisionsCA FOUNDATION
B.Com – Semester 3Covered in 
Corporate Accounting CA INTERMEDIATE
Financial Management CA INTERMEDIATE
Business Ethics CA FOUNDATION
Quantitative Analysis for Business DecisionsCA FOUNDATION
Public Relations and Corporate CommunicationCA FOUNDATION
B.Com – Semester 4Covered in
Advanced Corporate AccountingCA INTERMEDIATE
Cost AccountingCA INTERMEDIATE
Stock and Commodity MarketsCA FOUNDATION
E-business and AccountingCA INTERMEDIATE
Principles of Event Management
B.Com – Semester 5Covered in
Entrepreneurship Development
International Finance Reporting StandardCA INTERMEDIATE
Income Tax-1CA INTERMEDIATE
Costing MethodsCA INTERMEDIATE
Elective-1 – Advanced Accounting CA INTERMEDIATE
Elective-2 – Goods and Services TaxCA INTERMEDIATE
B.Com – Semester 6Covered in
Business RegulationCA FOUNDATION
Principle and Practice of AuditingCA INTERMEDIATE
Income Tax – 2CA INTERMEDIATE
Management AccountingCA INTERMEDIATE
Elective-1 – Business TaxationCA INTERMEDIATE
Cost ManagementCA INTERMEDIATE

(Please note that for this comparison, we have referred to B.com syllabus as recommended by Bangalore University. The subject recommended in this syllabus is similar to the subjects taught for other universities as well)

After seeing the similarity in the syllabus across degree and a professional course, do you still feel it is a burden? 

Both the courses are complementary to each other, not a burden.

Question no. – 2) Is doing CS with BBA a burden?

Again the answer is a big NO

BBA with CS is one of the best combinations available because of the following reasons.

  • Similarity of syllabus 
  • BBA is inclined towards theory and CS is more of practical application, and theory with practical application is the best.
  • CS syllabus gives you more and deeper coverage of the subjects which will help you to ace your BBA Examination.

Let us see the similarity of syllabus between CS and BBA (For this comparison, we have referred to the BBA syllabus as recommended by Bangalore University. The subject recommended in this syllabus is similar to the subjects taught for other universities as well.)

BBA – Semester 1Covered in
Fundamentals of Accounting
Business Organization and EnvironmentCSEET
Quantitative Methods for Business-1
Management ProcessCS EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME
BBA – Semester 2 Covered in
Financial Accounting
Quantitative Methods for Business – 2
Organisational BehaviorCSEET
Production and Operation Management
BBA – Semester 3Covered in
Soft  Skills for BusinessCS EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME
Corporate AccountingCS EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME
Human Resource Management
Business RegulationsCS EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME
Corporate EnvironmentCS EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME
Business EthicsCS PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMME
BBA – Semester 4Covered in
Business Research Methods
Marketing Management
Financial ManagementCS EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME
Services ManagementCS PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMME
Banking Regulations and ManagementCS PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMME
Cost AccountingCS EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME
BBA – Semester 5Covered in
Entrepreneurial ManagementCS EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME
Computer Applications in BusinessCS PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMME
Investment ManagementCS EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME
Management AccountingCS EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME
Elective paper- 1 & 2Advanced Financial Management
CS EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME
Financial Markets and ServicesCS PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMME
Consumer Behaviour
Advertising and Media Management
Employee Welfare and Social SecurityCS PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMME
Strategic HRM
BBA – Semester 6Covered in
International Business
E-business
Income TaxCS EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME
Strategic ManagementCS EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME
Elective paper – 3 & 4International Finance
Stock and Commodity MarketCS PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMME
Brand Management
Retail Management
Organisational Change and Development
Compensation Management

As you can see above, there are lots of similarities in the syllabus covered across CS and BBA, hence making CS and BBA the most suitable combination to study without any extra burden.

The similarity of syllabus and specialization in the field with two different degrees is a win-win situation for a student and definitely open the gates of lucrative opportunities in your career!

Recommended Blogs

26 September 2023

In the dynamic realm of project management, the role of a Project Coordinator holds the utmost importance in ensuring the seamless execution and successful completion of projects. As implied by the title, the responsibilities encompass orchestrating and facilitating diverse project elements to maintain its trajectory, achieve goals, and provide value to the organization and stakeholders. In this blog, we will delve into the core duties, essential skills, and potential pathways associated with this career. ...

Project Coordinator Jobs: A Gateway to Organizational Success Read More »

24 September 2023

Program managers are in high demand in today's business world. They are responsible for overseeing the successful completion of complex projects, and they play a vital role in ensuring that projects stay on track and within budget. ...

Program Manager Jobs: A Career Guide for Aspiring Program Managers Read More »

20 September 2023

In today's dynamic and competitive business landscape, operations managers play a crucial role in the success of any organization. From ensuring efficient production processes to managing supply chains and delivering exceptional customer experiences, operations managers are the driving force behind a company's smooth functioning. In this blog, we will delve into the world of operations management careers, exploring the key responsibilities, skills, and opportunities this field offers. ...

Operations Management Careers: Navigating the Path to Success Read More »