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Students opting for courses under humanities 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, to ask questions and to think rationally. Therefore, students who are intrigued about the social, moral and aesthetic values of various human cultures.  

Program Levels: 

The Study in India partner institutes offers humanities courses in 3 levels, namely - Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and PhD. The choice of courses depends on students and eligibility set by different institutes. 

1) Undergraduate (UG)

A bachelor’s degree in humanities discipline is generally a full-time course with a duration of 3 years. Students can pursue it after completing their 10+2 in any stream. 

2) Post-graduate (PG)

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

3) PhD 

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

Please note, the eligibility for humanities courses differs across institutes. Therefore, students should check the eligibility requirements at the time of applying.

Branches of Humanities: 

The branches provided by the Study in India partner institutes under the humanities discipline are mentioned in the table below. 

However, some of the popular branch choices under of humanities discipline include:  

1. 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 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.  

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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. 

5. Journalism and Mass Communication

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

6. Philosophy 

The study of philosophy 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: 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.

7. 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. 

8. 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. 

9. 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. 

10. Sociology

Sociology is a branch of humanities 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. 

11. 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. 

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. 

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 specialization 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, counselor, 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 masters.  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 humanities major 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 specialization 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, Specialization and Institute Name).