Distance Education Options in Commerce
There are a number of distance education options in Commerce available to the students. Around 13% of all undergraduate students (18.31 Lakh) are enrolled in Commerce courses. Increasing job prospects in Finance and Banking industry and relatively cheaper cost of under graduate and graduate courses make this stream one of the popular streams.
Commerce students arguably have the most distance education options open to them. From normal graduation courses to professional courses, there’s a lot to choose from. Many of us are unable to pursue full time courses due to commitments and odd working hours, making distance education options viable.
Let’s take a look at some of the options that Commerce students can take up.
Distance Education Options in Commerce
For Undergraduates:
B. Com:
It is the most popular course among Commerce students. The course can be pursued as an honours course as well as a pass course.
Various important subjects like Taxation, Accounting, Law and Economics are taught to help students understand the elements and their nuances of businesses, preparing them with the right skills needed for doing Accounting, Auditing and Taxation based jobs. It is a great option that can be pursued as a distance course and can make candidates job ready.
B. A. (Economics):
Most Commerce students have Economics as a subject in the school level and it can be focused upon at the graduation level as well as a distance course. Economics is an important subject in the field of Finance, and it prepares students for employment in various organizations that depend on trade and commerce.
Just like B. Com there is a significant focus on numbers and students have to pursue subjects like Mathematics and Statistics.
BBA is a graduation course that focuses on management subjects and has a lot in common with MBA. From Organizational Behaviour to Principles of Management, some of the core MBA subjects are taught in the course. It provides the opportunity to students to become budding managers at the graduation level.
It generally consists of a lot more papers than other graduation courses like B.Com and B.A. and covers a wide range of subjects including Accounting, Taxation, Business Ethics, Human Resource Management, Cost Accounting, Marketing Management and Operations Research.
Bachelors in Banking and Insurance focuses on Banking and Insurance principles and policies. This course allows students to have a better understanding of the way banks and insurance companies operate.
The course can serve as a foundation for a career in Banking and Insurance and students can follow it up with several banking courses to become initiated into the industry.
For Graduates
Though these courses can be pursued at the undergraduate level but to practice, undergo internship or join a job, a graduation degree is mandatory. These courses are not true distance courses per se and there are internships involved that are mandatory and need to be completed by students, but they can be pursued without needing to attend full time classes and are self-study based.
Besides these courses, the students have option of opting for distance courses in other streams like management, finance or specific certification courses like those in CFA.
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA):
CFA is lucrative option for Commerce students. They can pursue this course immediately after graduation. While CFA is popular with MBAs and they generally use it to break into IB (investment banking) career, CFA is a strong brand on your CV if you are a Finance aspirant.
It is very different than many other degrees listed here. It includes subjects like Economics (micro and macro) and investment methodologies. It carries far higher weight in certain types of jobs.
Master of Business Administration (MBA Finance):
MBA Finance is an obvious choice for Commerce students if you do not want to get stuck in typical Finance roles which have more Accounting involved in them. MBA Finance roles are more strategic in nature. Getting an MBA from a top institute in country will open doors to CEO level jobs for you.
Many CAs climb up to CFO level but MBA Finance can help you reach a CEOs position easily. Hence quite a few CAs take up MBA courses after a few years in their career.
Company Secretary (ICSI):
Becoming a company secretary is one of the best career options for candidates who love Commerce. The course focuses on key elements of businesses including Taxation, Law and Corporate Planning. The course is focused on self-study and can be a viable option as a distance course.
Cost and Works Accountant (ICWA):
Students who are interested in cost accounting can appear for the Foundation course to make a career as a Cost and Works Accountant. It requires a keen aptitude in Commerce and focuses on Cost Accounting principles, Auditing and Business Management.
Chartered Accountant (ICAI):
One of the best paying professions in India, Chartered Accountancy is often considered to be the top career option for Commerce students and is deeply focused into Accounting and Auditing. Candidates can pursue the course at the 10+2 level by sitting for the CPT (Foundation) examination.
While the theoretical parts of the course are completely distance based, you will have to undergo a compulsory short part-time course on IT that is included in the course.
Paresh Dhake
Ten High Paying Jobs In Finance