About Arts Courses

Art has been an inseparable part of mankind's history and culture. It has been depicted through music, dance, painting, literature, sculptures, etc since time immemorial. When it comes to arts studies, it is a vast discipline wherein the emphasis is given to the development of critical and analytical thinking, acquiring knowledge in meaningful ways or creative expression. It is concerned with powerful forms of cultural, social, and personal expression. Therefore, students who are interested in learning about human psychology, and world affairs or have an inclination towards creativity can pursue courses falling under the arts discipline. It incorporates a wide variety of fields like literary arts (poetry, scriptwriting or creative writing), games (animation, graphic designing) performing arts (music, dance, singing, martial arts, theatre), and visual arts (photography, painting, interior design, sculpture). With the use of VFX, animation, and multimedia across different industries, the popularity of arts courses has been increasing the world over. After completing a degree in arts discipline students can make their careers as an animator, commercial artists, art directors, VFX artists, illustrators, art directors, etc.

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Who Can Opt for Arts Courses?

Arts is a broad discipline with a wide scope wherein students can choose from a number of subject options as per their interests. Arts studies offer promising prospects to graduates who pursue their higher education in fields such as media, advertising, public relations, research, government services, entrepreneurs, consulting, etc. The students who have a knack for creativity or arts and want to study Non-STEM subjects may opt for Arts courses. The wide range of subject options available under this discipline always caters to a variety of interest areas of students. For instance, if a student is interested in studying subjects like history, political science, psychology, English, etc he/she can pursue a Bachelor's course after 12th in the respective subject. On the other hand, if a student is inclined toward media and journalism, he/she can pursue UG or PG in Media and Communication / Journalism/ Film and TV Production, etc.

Arts Course Eligibility Criteria:

The arts course eligibility varies for different program levels and depends on criteria set by different partner institutes. However, general eligibility criteria for different program levels of arts discipline are given as follows:

Eligibility for UG Arts Courses

The bachelor of arts degree is a full-time course with a duration of 3 years and students can opt for it after completing their 10+2 in any stream. Undergraduate arts courses are awarded in the fields of humanities, social sciences, liberal arts, etc. As Bachelor of Art is a broad domain, the main and elective subjects differ across various branches/specialisations. Some of the popular subjects of the BA course are Sociology, English, Philosophy, History, Journalism and Mass Communication, Psychology, Political Science, Social Work, Fine Arts, etc.

Eligibility for PG Arts Courses

A master’s degree in arts is a full-time course with a duration of 2 years and interested students can pursue it after completing their undergraduate degree. In today’s time, arts and culture have spread to many domains, consequently, the demand for professionals in this field has also surged. So, attaining a post-graduate degree in arts courses open up many job options for students.

Eligibility for PhD Arts Courses

PhD is a doctorate level degree and the students can pursue it after their post-graduation in the science discipline. The students interested to take up research in any arts branch can go ahead to complete their PhD in arts courses after post-graduation in the relevant subjects.

**Note: The specific eligibility for various arts courses differs across institutes. Therefore, students should check the eligibility requirements at the time of applying through the ‘Course’ tab.

Arts Courses:

The Study in India partner institutes offer arts disciplines across 3 levels, namely - Undergraduate, Postgraduate and PhD.

UG Level

The 3-year bachelor of arts degree (BA) is one of the most common and popular courses offered by institutes around the world, including India. The UG arts courses are flexible and let students explore subjects that meet their interests. For instance, they can students can opt for courses such as BA English, BA History, BA Fine Arts, etc wherein these provide specialization in English, History or Fine Arts respectively.

PG Level

The 2-years master's degree in arts allows the students to study subjects like animation and graphic design, performing arts, literature, public administration, geography, etc. The curriculum of MA courses mainly focuses on the critical study of theories and concepts of relevant subjects.

PhD Level

PhD Arts is usually a 3-year duration course and offers specialisation in the concerned subject chosen by a student.

Arts Subjects and Syllabus

The subjects and syllabus of arts courses depend on the branch/specialisation picked by students for their UG, PG or PhD level. For instance, concepts covered under BA English are English literature, Twentieth-Century Indian Writing, Literary Theory, Contemporary Literature, etc. On the hand, concepts covered under BA Political Science are Understanding Political Theory, Generic Elective, Perspectives on Public Administration, Perspectives on International Relations, Global Politics, etc. However, there are some general subjects that are usually common for all the arts courses, like general knowledge, comprehensive ability, environmental studies, Population and climate change, etc

Admission Process for Arts Courses in India

The students aspiring to pursue arts courses in India across three (UG, PG and PhD) disciplines by applying to the Study in India Programme. The step by step process to apply is

Firstly students are required to register and become a part of the Study in India Programme. The registration form is simple wherein students need to fill in fundamental information such as Name, Country (name and code), Mobile Number, Email ID and Password.

Followed by the registration the students are provided with the login credentials that they need to save for future reference.

Although the students have to fill all three sections carefully, it is Choice Filling that is crucial. Because, during counselling, the final allocation of courses and institutes is done on the basis of choices filled by students.

While completing the Choice Filling form, students are required to give and rank a minimum of three preferences for arts courses and institutes they are interested to take admission.

Lastly, they are required to fill out the declaration form and submit their respective applications. The students can find a detailed explanation for filling out the SII Application here.

Arts Branches:

Arts is an interdisciplinary stream that includes the study of fine arts, virtual arts, performing arts, humanities and social science subjects. Hence, it opens up a number of career fields wherein students can make a career in research or fields like design, film or TV production, music, literature, public administration, etc. Students from all the streams can apply for arts studies and obtain a degree in the field of their interest. Popular art branches offered in India are mentioned in the table below:

Animation and Graphic Design	Anthropology	Applied Psychology
Communication and Media	Design	Education
English	Fashion Design	Film and TV Production
Fine Arts	French	Geography
German	Healthcare Tourism and Hospitality	History
Interior Design	Journalism	Liberal Arts
Literature	Music	Performing Arts
Philosophy	Political Science	Psychology
Public Administration	PR and Event Management	Painting, Printmaking or Sculpture
Theatre Arts	Dance	Visual Media and Communication

Most Popular Courses in Arts

As per the trend from the past couple of years here are some of the most popular branch choices for arts studies under Study in India:

A. Animation and Graphic Design

Animation and Graphic design is a subject that has lately gained popularity. Students are taught to create animations, multimedia applications, logos, interactive applications, packaging, web pages, etc. They are encouraged to develop skills in conducting research, creative thinking, and building visual languages. In a nutshell, it deals with animation or design technologies and practices.

B. Liberal Arts

In the current time, liberal arts deals with the knowledge of a handful of fields such as literature, sociology, creative arts, psychology, and much more. The study of liberal arts usually consists of four major areas namely arts, humanities, social science, and natural science. The main focus lies on the development of soft skills, communication, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills as well.

C. Education

Education is an art subject that enables specialization in childhood education, health education, primary/secondary /vocational teaching. In general, students opting for education are trained to teach a specific subject matter. Moreover, education as a subject puts emphasis on effective communication skills, problem-solving skills along with planning lessons, target learning, and curriculum designing.

D. English

In today’s time, English is one of the most widely spoken languages (native and non-native speakers). As a subject, it involves the study of literature, cultural studies, and literary history. It also offers a deep understanding of English grammar, and written, oral, and communication skills. A degree in English opens up a host of career opportunities for students (across many fields) such as teaching, language experts, publishing, etc.

E. History

History as an art subject consists of vast domains/ fields (such as art history, ancient history, cultural history, economic history, and world history) and the curriculum often differs across countries. Therefore, it is concerned with the study of how human civilization has evolved from prehistory to the present time.

F. Journalism

The study of journalism mainly revolves around developing searching/collecting skills as well as effective presentation of information to the audience. A course in journalism equips the students with theoretical knowledge of media and ethical or social issues. Apart from print media, a journalist can work in companies that deal in magazines, newspapers, television, or radio.

G. Media and Communication

In general terms, media and communication is majorly concerned with disseminating information/news among the masses. Apart from this, it also incorporates other branches such as reporting, film production and direction, event management, public relations, advertising, and corporate communication.

H. Political Science

Political Science is one of the most sought-after subjects around the world and it is concerned with the study of global politics, and how different governments, states, or agencies work. In addition to this, students are taught the practical application of all the learnings for the betterment of the country. Not only this, but students also get to learn about incorporating political ideologies, policies, and the study of diplomacy as well.

I. Psychology

Psychology is a multidisciplinary subject that delves deep into the study of human behaviour, personality, memory, reasoning, emotions, consciousness, and human development too. In addition to this, the study of psychology puts an emphasis on understanding mental health as well. Students are taught a range of topics from human behaviour, psychological disorders, psychology of individual differences, social psychology, and developmental psychology.

J. Fine Arts

In simple terms, fine art is a vast subject concerned with the study of performing arts (including painting, sculpture, photography, literature, and animation) and visual arts (including dance, theatre, and music). A fine arts course is good for students who have a creative bent of mind as they are trained to become artists in the field of their choice.

Popular Arts UG Courses in India

After completing 10+2 in the arts or humanities stream, students often get confused about which subject to choose for their higher education. The reason is the availability of a wide range of branch/specialisation options. It is advised that the students do thorough research about various arts courses offered by Study in India partner institutes for ease. While it is best to choose a course that is synonymous with a student’s interest and aptitude, given below is the list of popular arts UG courses offered by Study in India partner institutes.

English	International Relation	Multimedia and Communication
Political Science	French	Liberal Arts
Education	Spanish	Fine Arts
Economics	History	Animation and Graphic Design
English	Dance	German

Popular Arts PG Courses in India

The arts PG courses or Master of Arts is a valuable addition to a student’s academic qualification. A post-graduate degree in any arts subject increases the chances of employability. Additionally, it is helpful for students aiming to pursue advanced research and studies. Here are popular PG arts courses offered by Indian institutes. Students can specialise in the branch/subject of their choice by applying to the Study in Programme.

Journalism and Mass Communication	English	Education
Textile Design	Fine Arts	Film and TV Production
Creative Writing	Geography	Performing Arts
French	Graphic Design	Arabic
Development Studies	PR and Event Management	Women Studies

**Note: Before applying to the SII Programme, students must confirm if the concerned arts course of their choice is offered in the current academic year or not.

Career Options

After obtaining a degree in arts studies the students have multiple career options to choose from. Some of them are mentioned in the table below.

Psychologist	Psychotherapist	Counsellor
Photographer	Psychology Professor	Professional Artist
Social Worker	Teacher	Human Resource Manager
Career Counsellor	Special Education Teacher	Art Therapist

Arts Courses: Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the best career options after completing Arts Courses?

After completing a degree in Arts courses, you can choose from a wide range of career options like fashion designer, graphic designer, social worker, career counsellor, journalist, teacher, event manager, etc.

2. What are the skills required to have a good career in the Arts field?

Skills required to have a good career in the arts field include interpersonal and social skills, creativity, social awareness, problem-solving and decision-making, ability to work in a team, and verbal and written communication skills.

3. What is the eligibility criteria for arts courses?

The minimum requirement for pursuing an undergraduate degree in arts is 10+2, for pursuing a postgraduate degree it is bachelors, and for pursuing a PhD degree, it is a master's degree. However, you should check the specific eligibility criteria for different Arts courses at the time of applying.

4. What is the course duration of popular Arts courses?

The duration of popular Arts courses depends on different program levels. For undergraduate courses, it is 3 years, for post-graduate courses, it ranges between 1-2 years and for doctorate courses, it ranges from 3-6 years.

5. Why should you consider a degree in arts?

You can consider pursuing a degree in arts discipline as they equip you with soft skills, practical learning, problem-solving skills, critical thinking skills, etc. These skills help you make a successful career across different fields.

6. What are some courses after 12th for arts students?

Some of the courses after 12th for arts students include Bachelor of Arts (in English, Political Science, History, Psychology, etc) Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Design.

7. What is the difference between fine arts and applied arts?

Fine arts involves the study of painting, sculpture, drawing, pottery, literature, printmaking, etc. It deals with the aesthetic value of artform. On the contrary, applied arts involves the study of architecture, interior designing, graphic designing, fashion designing and visual communication. It deals with the application of design and aesthetics to objects of function and everyday use.

8. What is the difference between visual arts and performing arts courses?

Visual arts refers to art forms like architecture, painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, videos, filmmaking, design and crafts whereas performing arts refer to creative activities like theatre, dancing, singing, public speaking, etc.

9. I am interested in pursuing a career in psychology. How can I begin?

If you wish to make a career in psychology then the first step is to pursue higher education in this field. Once you are done with your 10+2, you can apply for a bachelor's in psychology. You may find this course under the Arts discipline on the Study in India website.

10. Is pursuing a career in political science a good option?

Political Science is one of the most sought-after arts subjects and is concerned with the study of global politics and the function of different governments and states. If you are interested in learning about political ideologies, policy-making or diplomacy then you can go ahead and pursue political science.

11. What can I do after BA in Political Science?

After you have obtained a BA degree in Political Science you can either continue your higher studies and pursue masters in the same field or you can start your professional career by finding a job.

12. Can I pursue a master's in Arts if I am a Science graduate?

Yes, you can pursue a master's in Arts if you are a Science graduate. However, it is advised that you check the specific eligibility at the time of applying.

13. Do Arts courses have scope in future?

Arts is one of the fastest-growing fields and it provides a wide range of job options to the students opting for courses under this discipline include Advertising Companies, Art Companies, Theatre Production Product Designing, Publishing Houses, Magazines, Television, Graphic Arts, etc. Hence, the arts courses have a good scope in the present times and will have even in the future too.

14. What are the skills required to have a good career in Art?

Students opting for arts courses are required to have creative and artistic skills, good drawing skills, an eye for details, time management skills, visual imagination, observation, story-telling skills, etc

15. What is the difference between a BA and a BFA?

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree is for students who want to pursue a career in the art-related field only. On the other hand, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree is for students who want to pursue a career in graphic design, or want to become a professional artist.