About Humanities Courses

Humanities is an academic discipline that focuses primarily on culture and human society. The study of Humanities course puts an emphasis on the analysis and exchange of ideas as well as critical thinking. The scope of humanities studies extends to fields other than mathematics, natural, social sciences and training. The cultural aspects of humanities courses include the study of beliefs, arts, ideas, speech and technologies. In a nutshell, various branches of humanities provide insight into culture, history, language, economy and history. However, many times the field of study of Humanities and Social Sciences are understood as similar but they are different. Humanities courses involve interpretive methodologies wherein critical reasoning is used to contemplate different ideas/ideologies. Furthermore, it focuses on giving insight into concepts like the human condition and ethics. Students opting for humanities courses after 12th are provided in-depth learning of various aspects of society such as past events, human behaviour and relationship between different groups. Moreover, they are trained how to reason, ask questions and think rationally. Therefore, students who are intrigued about the social, moral and aesthetic values of various human cultures.

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Who can opt for Humanities Courses?

Humanities being a vast discipline is a storehouse of many courses and this is why students from all the streams can opt for humanities courses after 12th. Students can gain various essential skills by studying humanities courses that help them to take up the role of policy-makers, professors, marketers, public intellectuals etc. By pursuing humanities studies students learn to interpret things/ideas/ideologies in a better and clearer manner. Humanities courses help to hone skills such as creative and critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, relationship building, etc. In a nutshell, students interested to contribute their efforts towards creating a better society for people can pursue humanities courses after 12th.

Humanities Course Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility for humanities studies varies across different program levels and depends on criteria set by different partner institutes. However, general eligibility criteria for different program levels under humanities courses are as follows:

Eligibility for UG Courses

A bachelor’s degree in humanities discipline is usually a full-time course with a duration of 3 years. Students can pursue humanities courses after 12th in any stream. Since humanities is a vast discipline, it incorporates a number of courses focusing on the study of subjects such as literature, philosophy, history, art, theatre, etc.

Eligibility for PG Courses

A master’s degree in humanities discipline is generally a full-time course with a duration of 2 years. Students can pursue it after completing their undergraduate degrees in humanities courses.

Eligibility for PhD Courses

PhD in any subject of humanities is a doctorate level degree and the students can pursue it after their post-graduation (in the humanities subject they wish to pursue their PhD).

**Note: The eligibility for various humanities courses differs across different Study in India partner institutes. Therefore, students should check the eligibility requirements at the time of applying through the ‘Courses’ tab.

Humanities Courses

The Study in India partner institutes offer humanities courses across 3 program levels, namely - Undergraduate, Postgraduate and PhD and students have options to choose from a bunch of courses available under this discipline.

UG Level

Different 3-year bachelor’s degree in humanities courses focus on the expansive study of the subject/field of study opted by the students (like Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Theatre Arts, English, etc). However, in general, students pursuing UG level courses in humanities studies learn about how different societies function, the development of ideas, historical and cultural events, human interactions, etc.

PG Level

The 2-years master’s degree in humanities courses prove deep into a field of study that generally focuses on different aspects of human conditions. Students can enhance their analytical skills which will be useful in their professional paths.

PhD Level

Once the students complete their master's in humanities courses they can either take up job roles such as data linguist, psychologist, analyst, editor, historian, multimedia specialist, etc or go-ahead to pursue a doctorate degree in humanities subject of their liking.

Humanities Branches

Humanities being interdisciplinary covers a broad range of branches and focuses on the study of social relationships and human society. Students interested in pursuing humanities courses after 12th are presented with a multiple branches/specialisation, offered by most of the Indian institutes. So, before picking the humanities specialisation, students should research about these branches and accordingly pursue the humanities course of their interest. Given below are different branches of humanities studies offered by the Study in India partner institutes.

Anthropology	Culinary Arts	Development Studies
Development Policy, Planning and Practice	Economics	Education
English	Global Peace, Security and Strategic Studies	Health Administration
History	International Relations	Mass Communication
Labour Studies	Liberal Arts	Linguistics
Media Studies	Peace and Conflict Studies	Political Sciences
Psychology	Public Administration	Public Health
Sociology	Theatre Arts	Travel and Tourism
Visual Arts	Women Studies	Gender Culture and Development Studies

Humanities Subject and Syllabus

The subjects and syllabus of different humanities courses depend on the branch, program opted by students for their UG, PG or PhD degree. However, a general overview of the syllabus of humanities studies followed in different Indian institutes is mentioned below:

UG Level:

The syllabus of UG humanities courses differs across different branches/specialisations wherein field of study may include English language, Anthropology, Fundamentals of Sociology, Foundations of Psychology and Human Behavior, Women Studies, Population and Society, Methods of Social Research, Social Thinkers, so on and so forth.

PG Level:

The syllabus of most PG humanities courses focus on different aspects of culture, society, diverse ideologies, philosophies, etc. Some of the major subjects of humanities studies for masters include language, literature, art, history, philosophy, etc.

Admission Process for Humanities Course in India

Indian institutes offer multiple branches of Humanities courses and interested students can apply in the course of their choice through Study in India Programme. The step by step process to apply is as follows:

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.

Once registration is complete, students will have to fill out the SII Application. It is divided into three parts namely - Basic Information, Academic Information and Choice Filling.

Although the students have to fill all three sections carefully, it is Choice Filling that is important. Because, during counselling, the final allocation of the humanities course 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 the specific humanities course and institutes in which they want to take admission.

Lastly, students 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.

Most popular courses in Humanities

Some of the most popular specialisations offered by Study in India programme are mentioned as follows:

A. Development Studies

Development Studies is the subject concerned with the study of the evolution of developing nations on the social, economic and technological fronts. Furthermore, the main focus of this branch of humanities courses lies in the analysis of development policies and their effect on society. Students opting for development studies are taught how to carry out research on the development of the nation through planning, implementation and management.

B. Economics

Economics involves the study of a variety of fields like supply and demand, international trade, monetary policies, inflation, taxation, interest rates and unemployment. It is broadly classified into two categories, microeconomics, and macroeconomics. Microeconomics is concerned with how companies, buyers, and sellers operate whereas macroeconomics is concerned with the analysis of global economies, economic growth, government policies, etc

C. Education

Students interested in picking up a role or teacher or educator can opt for a course in education. It deals with the study of childhood education, health education, primary/secondary/ vocational teaching wherein students learn communication and problem-solving skills. Apart from skill development, students also receive training in target learning, lesson planning and curriculum designing.

D. History

History is concerned with the study of the evolution of human civilization from prehistory to the present time. The study of events and facts of the past is known as history whereas the method used to analyze the events past is known as historiography. Generally, the curriculum differs across various countries but students opting for history courses are taught a systematic narrative of events (related to country and people) that took place in the past. In addition to this, they also learn how to conduct analysis of artifacts, the overall impact of historic events or trends such as revolutions and civil wars.

E. Journalism and Mass Communication

Journalism and Mass Communication is a multidisciplinary humanities course wherein the focus lies in research and effective presentation of information in the public domain. It is a very vast branch and encompasses other specialisations like reporting, film production direction, event management, public relations, advertising, and corporate communication. With the availability of such diverse specialisations, students can work in many fields like public relations, advertising, online media, digital marketing, etc.

F. Philosophy

Philosophy is one of the most popular branches of humanities courses. The study of this subject revolves around understanding the meaning of life. It answers fundamental questions related to existence, values, languages, knowledge etc through critical and rational reasoning. Furthermore, philosophy is subdivided into

Metaphysics: It is concerned with the study of fundamentals of existence
Epistemology: Deals with the study of nature, origin and limitations of human knowledge.
Ethics: Involves the study of right and wrong behaviour
Aesthetics: Deals with the philosophy of art
Political philosophy: Involves the study of topics like justice, liberty, laws and rights.
Philosophy of Science: Concerned with the study of implications of science.

G. Political Science

Political Science is one of the most sought-after subjects around the world. It is concerned with the study of global politics and how different governments, states, or agencies operate and how all this knowledge can be used for the betterment of the country. Students opting for political science courses are taught about political ideologies, policies, and nuances of diplomacy.

H. Psychology

Psychology is the subject that involves the study of human behaviour, personality, memory, reasoning, emotions, consciousness. It is a multidisciplinary subject that consists of many sub-fields like human development, sports, health, clinical, cognitive processes and social behaviour. Students opting for psychology are taught a range of topics from human behaviour, psychological disorders, psychology of individual differences, social psychology, to developmental psychology.

I. Social Work

Social work means helping people overcome some of the other difficult challenges of life. It puts emphasis on development, social change and empowerment of people as well as communities. Students opting for social work learn about human development and behaviour. Furthermore, they are trained to address social injustice, support people to enhance their overall well-being and help them meet basic needs for better living conditions.

J. Sociology

Sociology is a branch of humanities courses that is concerned with the study of matters related to community, state and the world such as economic growth, population growth, war and peace, law and crime, social movements, urban community, religion and gender identity and many more. Sociology as a subject offers understanding, awareness and analysis of human social relations, common beliefs and behaviours within a particular society, social changes over time, different cultures and differences between social groups and overall societies. Students opting for sociology learn about Sociological Theories, Religion and Society, Sociological Research and Methods, Sociology of Development and Gender, etc.

K. English

English is one of the most widely spoken languages (native and non-native speakers). It involves the study of literature (including poetry, stories, novels and plays), cultural studies, and literary history. Furthermore, it also offers a deep understanding of grammar, written, oral, and communication skills. English language and literature courses involve book reading, theory analysis, critiquing prose and verse and critical assessment of signs and words.

Popular UG Humanities Courses in India

Humanities as a discipline is vast incorporating many courses for Bachelors. Consequently, students can choose from multiple options of humanities courses after 12th. A few popular UG Humanities courses include BA in English Literature, BA in History, BA in Sociology, BA in History, BA in Social Sciences, etc. For ease of students, top choices of branches under this course are mentioned in the table below:

Social Sciences	History	Social Work
Psychology	Sociology	English
Political Science	Liberal Arts	Visual Communication
Governance and Public Administration	Travel and Tourism	Environment and Sustainability
Culinary Arts	Economics	Journalism and Mass Communication

Popular PG Humanities Courses in India

Students interested to pursue PG in humanities courses can apply through Study in India programme and choose from a multiple branches to specialise in a particular subject/field of study. These courses help students to develop strong analytical skills that helps in building a stronger aptitude for carrying out academic research in the subject area picked by the students. To help the students choose the branch for their PG humanities courses, given below are some of the popular options offered by Study in India partner institutes.

Labour Studies	Peace and Conflict Studies	Sociology and Social Anthropology
Social Work	Economics	Society and Culture
Applied Psychology	Epidemiology	Political Science
Urban Policy and Governance	Archeology	Linguistics
Development Studies	Philosophy	English
Health Administration	Anthropology	Comparitive Literature
Theatre Arts	International Relation	Public Administration

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

Career Options

After pursuing a degree in humanities discipline the students can choose from a wide range of career options and some of them are mentioned in the table below.

Counsellors	Research Analyst	Historians
Policy Makers	Archivist	Public Relations Manager
Diplomat	Intelligence Specialist	Risk Advisory
Archaeologist	Social Worker	Psychologist

Humanities: Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between BA and BA (Honours) programmes?

A BA degree focuses on the overview of several humanities subjects whereas a BA (Honours) degree provides specialisation in specific subjects or humanities disciplines.

2. What could I do about a degree in Philosophy?

With a Philosophy degree, you can choose to work in a range of fields such as human resources, communications, public relations, politics, counsellors, research, etc.

3. What is the eligibility for taking admission in Humanities courses?

The minimum requirement for pursuing an undergraduate degree in humanities courses is 10+2 (in any stream), for pursuing a postgraduate degree, it is a bachelor's degree and for a PhD degree, you must have completed your master's. However, you can check the specific eligibility criteria for different humanities courses at the time of applying.

4. Top career options after pursuing a Humanities course?

Top career options after pursuing a humanities course include:

International relations specialist
Social Worker
Psychologist
Historian
Public Relations Manager
Archaeologist
Public Policy Researcher/ Policy Makers
Teacher
Journalist

5. Does a major in Humanities degree make me competitive in the job market?

A major in humanities courses helps you to gain in-depth knowledge about society (like human behaviour, past events, relationships between different groups living within the societies, etc). In addition, this degree also helps you to build strong interpersonal skills and analytical understanding, making you competitive in the job market.

6. Are Humanities subjects more theoretical or practical?

Humanities subjects are more theoretical and it involves analysis as well as research work. However, some of the subjects involve practical or field-work.

7. What are the branches of Humanities?

Some of the popular branches of humanities include History, Philosophy, Psychology, Political Science, Sociology, English, Social Work, Economics, Education, Development Studies, etc.

8. If I have not studied Economics in Class 12, can I take up BA Economics?

The minimum eligibility for taking admission in BA Economics differs across institutes and some of them may require 10+2 with Economics for BA Economics. However, you can check the specific eligibility criteria of different institutes at the time of applying.

9. What type of companies or employers typically seek students with a degree in Humanities?

One of the biggest advantages of a Humanities discipline is its vast applicability in the job market. Lawyers, teachers, curators, editors and writers are common career options and after completing a Humanities degree students can seek jobs that require soft skills such as interpersonal relations, good communication skills, reading and textual analysis, etc.

10. Is there any difference between Humanities and Social Sciences?

Humanities revolve around subjects like Law, Languages, Economics, etc whereas Social Sciences is more of a research-oriented discipline and includes subjects such as Political Science, History, Philosophy, Anthropology, etc.

11. Can I take up a job after BA History?

Yes, you can get a job after completing a BA in History. However, it is advised that you continue with your further studies in the same field. Pursuing higher studies helps to narrow down the choice of subject for specialisation and then make your career.

12. What are the skills you gain from Humanities courses?

Humanities courses are not only limited to William Shakespeare plays or the French Revolution but you can gain many valuable skills too. This includes communicating, working independently in teams, critical thinking, creativity, research abilities, writing skills, etc.

13. What are the options available after completing an MA in Philosophy?

After completing a MA in Philosophy, you can either go ahead with research work and take up a PhD in the same field or take up jobs in areas like human resources, -public relations, human resources, communications, advertising, politics, etc.

14. How can I choose different humanities subjects while applying for any course?

You can choose different humanities subjects while applying for any course and browse through the available options with the help of filters provided (like Discipline, Program Level, Nature of the Course, Specialisation and Institute Name).