Humanities and Social Sciences Course Details - Fees, Subjects, Syllabus, Duration, Eligibility, Career Scope
Degrees offered: B.A., Ph.D, M.A., BS, B.A.(Hons)
What is Humanities and Social Sciences
Both humanities & social sciences go hand in hand as the basis of their existence is the study of mankind and their evolution. Humanities are a group of academic areas of study that involves examining what it is to be a human by reading literature, history, philosophy of various parts of our global community. That is how we express ourselves, communicate our thoughts and are our warm-self. It is all about human culture and heritage.
Social Sciences, on the other hand, has a scientific approach to study human relationships and society. It focuses on the periods and environment and culture beyond human control. It deals with human society and natural science. Administration, political science, psychology, education and economics are some examples of social sciences.
The courses under humanities & social sciences are provided by many colleges and universities in India. They are essential for a three-year duration bachelors program and two years if one wishes to pursue a Master’s program. The subjects are vast, and students have a lot to imbibe.
Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Humanities and Social Sciences
To get an admission in any university or college offering courses in humanities & social science, a student must fulfil some criteria, decided by the concerned authority. If the candidate satisfies those standards of admissibility, he/she gets an opportunity to study and learn humanities & social science in that institute.
Eligibility Criteria for Undergraduates:
A candidate belonging to the general category must secure a minimum of – 60% marks in 10+2 from a recognised board- ISC, CBSE or any State board.
Aspirants who belong to Schedule Caste/ Schedule Tribe/ Other backward category or is a person with a disability should also attain a minimum of 55% marks in their 10+2 examination.
Applicants should have passed their 12th standard examination or are awaiting results, both can apply for the entrance test.
The candidate must be at least 17 years of age when applying for the entrance test for graduation degree.
Eligibility Criteria for Graduates:
A student applying for the Master’s program must have a graduation degree in the related field.
The candidate must be at least 19 years of age when applying for the entrance test for graduation degree.
The applicant must also have secured a minimum of 60% marks in their Bachelor's program.
Humanities & Social Sciences Entrance Exam
Admission procedures for Humanities & Social Sciences degree programs differ from college to college. Some universities just consider a 10+2 board exam percentage to prepare the cut off list. But some colleges conduct entrance exams on a national level. A few entrance exams for students who want to study humanities & social sciences in India are mentioned below:
Humanities & Social Sciences Entrance Examination (HSEE) is a national level entrance exam conducted by IIT Madras for programs such as Integrated M.A. in Development Studies and Integrated M.A. in English Studies. The exams are held in April every year.
Tata Institute of Social Sciences Bachelors Admission Test (TISS-BAT) is an online entrance exam conducted in August, every year. They test on English, Quantitative aptitude, Logical reasoning and general awareness. The programs offered are – B. A (Hons) in Social work and B.A. in Social Sciences.
Delhi University Joint Admission Test (DU JAT) is conducted by the National Testing Agency, every year, the programs offered by qualifying this exam are – B. A (Hons)in Business Economics, B.A. (Hons) in Humanities & Social Sciences, B.A. (Hons) Mass and Media Communication and B.A. (Hons) Music. They ask 100 multiple choice questions based on verbal ability, quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning and general awareness.
Aligarh Muslim University Social Sciences Entrance Exam is conducted every year for students who wish to pursue a degree in BA Hons or BA LLB (Hons) or M.A. (Mass communication).
Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Examination (JNUEE) is organised by Jawaharlal Nehru University for students who wish to pursue B.A. (Hons), M.A. in Economics, History, Political Science, Geography and Sociology, Mass Media from School of social science. It is a three-hour online test.
Scope of Humanities and Social Sciences in India and Abroad
Humanities & social sciences courses help prepare an individual for progress in the real world. They read about the past, analyse it, and predict what shape it would ideally take in the near future. This study is best for those who would like to attain more skills.
Humanities is a diverse field and students can make a career in – law, films and journalism, marketing, fashion, education, counselling, and tourism. The number of subjects is more than any other stream and even more options to make a career by learning those.
The career in this field is an endless array. Humanities & social sciences is not a field where one only wishes to earn money, but also has an interest in humans, their ideology, beliefs, expressions through art, and archaeology. The potentiality of this stream is immense in subjects like- Mass media, Economics, English, History, Political Science, Public Administration and Psychology.
A student may pursue a master’s degree in humanities & social science and become experts in those fields.
Course Fees Humanities and Social Sciences
| Minimum Fees | Maximum Fees | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private | Government | Private | Government | |
| UG |
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Data not available
|
11.22 K
B.A.(Hons) in Humanities and Social Sciences at Katwa College, Burdwan
|
12.00 Lakhs
B.A. in Humanities and Social Sciences at Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
|
24.04 K
B.A.(Hons) in Humanities and Social Sciences at Dr Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar
|
| PG |
10.00 K
P.G.D in Humanities and Social Sciences at Singhania University, Jhunjhunu
|
5.03 K
P.G.D in Humanities and Social Sciences at University of Mumbai, Mumbai
|
1.52 Lakhs
M.A. in Humanities and Social Sciences at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad Off-Campus
|
2.68 Lakhs
M.S in Humanities and Social Sciences at Indian Institute of Technology Indore
|
| DOCTORAL |
---
Data not available
|
90.50 K
Ph.D in Humanities and Social Sciences at National Museum Institute of the History of Art, Conservation and Museology, New Delhi
|
11.57 Lakhs
Ph.D in Humanities and Social Sciences at NIIT University, Neemrana
|
4.01 Lakhs
Ph.D in Humanities and Social Sciences at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal
|
| DIPLOMA |
16.20 K
Diploma in Humanities and Social Sciences at Maharishi University of Management and Technology, Bilaspur
|
3.00 K
Diploma in Humanities and Social Sciences at Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University, Bhopal
|
16.20 K
Diploma in Humanities and Social Sciences at Maharishi University of Management and Technology, Bilaspur
|
18.36 K
Diploma in Humanities and Social Sciences at University School of Open Learning, Panjab University, Chandigarh
|
Course Subjects
Humanities and Social Sciences is a rich and diverse course with many assorted subjects. The bachelor’s program is for three years, and a Master’s program is for two years. Honours programs divide each year in two semesters. Subjects under these streams are:
Humanities:
Anthropology
Archaeology
History
Linguistic and Languages
Law and Politics
Literature
Philosophy
Religion
Performing Arts
Visual Arts
Social Sciences:
Civics
Demography
Economics
Media studies
Geography
Careers in Humanities and Social Sciences
There are a large number of career opportunities available for professionals who have completed their education in humanities & social science. Different job profiles are available both in the private sector as well as in the public sector. Teaching journalism, fine arts, civil services are just some of the most exciting career pathways available for the professionals.
Many humanities & social science graduates also like to work in the social sector and help less fortunate individuals lead their lives in a better manner. Working opportunities are available with NGOs, Social Welfare Organisations, Anthropology, Non-Profit organisations and several others.
The remuneration varies depending on the experience and the expertise of the candidates. Students who have completed their humanities & social science education from a reputed university will attract a better pay package as compared to those who have completed the course from a lesser-known institution.
Upcoming trends
Growing markets and flourishing journalism with the added benefit of the Internet of Things, the study of humanities is becoming a sought after field of interest for undergraduates.
They see the power of media, information and research that they relate to humanitarian grounds and want to be part of the change they feel the need by staying in the society. This calls for a high remuneration and a respectful job with a sense of purpose to fulfil.
The current generation is not just satisfied with earning money but also wish to make a lasting impact in the community for life-altering moves to better their standard of living. For this, they need an in-depth knowledge about the current situation and what rights they have via which they can make a strong impact.
With technology taking all industries by storm, one has access to information and serves in design firms, publishing houses, online teaching, participates in digital marketing and advertising agencies, and showcases their talent on online portals.
Upcoming trends in the profession of humanities are – Social Media expert, Counsellors, Animators, Event Managers, Genealogists and Content Writers. It indeed takes a lot of dedication and patience to build a career in the field of humanities. But the satisfaction of achieving is immeasurable.
Job Profiles and Top Recruiters
Humanities & Social Sciences Job Profiles
Job prospects for students in the Humanities & Social Sciences field depend on which subjects they have taken up, their skills and talents. One must have the clarity to lead to success. Some popular job profiles offered to Humanities & Social Sciences professionals are mentioned below:
Job profiles | Job description |
They research and write content as per guided by higher authorities and client needs | |
Civil Services | Become an IAS/ IFS/ IPS and work towards implementing policies of the government and maintaining law and order |
They hire and interview staff and decide the remuneration details with them | |
Defence Services | The armed force be it Army, Navy or Air force. The sole job is to keep the nation safe and secured. |
Lawyer | Advising and presenting cases of clients on judicial and legal based cases |
They read, edit, write articles about current affairs | |
Counsellors and therapists | They offer help and guide who suffer from mental health |
Hotel Manager | They plan and administer services at a hotel |
Social Service worker | They protect vulnerable people of the society by fighting for rights and providing necessary assistance. |
Top Recruiters in Humanities & Social Sciences Field
Amazon
Goldman Sachs
Bain & Company
Accenture
Microsoft
Google
McKinsey & Company
Boston Consulting Group
Average Salary
A graduate of humanities & Social science starts with an average salary of Rs 10 to 15,000 per month at an entry-level job. But based on the degree he/she attains and knowledge and experience, they gain the salary increases and can earn up to Rs. 1.5 Lakh per month.
Job profiles | Average Salary per annum |
Content Writer | Rs. 2.5 - 5 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Civil Services | Rs. 12 -24 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Human Resource Manager | Rs. 3.5 - 10 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Defence Services | Rs. 6- 10 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Lawyer | Rs. 3 – 7 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Journalist | Rs. 3 – 7 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Counsellors and therapists | Rs. 4 – 10 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Hotel Manager | Rs. 3 – 5 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Social Service worker | Rs. 2.4 – 5 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Required Skillset for Humanities and Social Sciences
It is believed that students of humanities and social science are all about soft skills as their study is all about humans and interpersonal behaviour. Some skills which scholars of arts must possess are mentioned below:
Relational skills – that is the way a person interacts with others and builds trustworthiness, patience and empathy. To be a psychologist or a mass media person, one needs this talent to gain information from clients and sources, respectively.
Initiative skills – It is an independent and self-driven skill to be able to gather their resources through research and evaluation. It’s important for journalists and PhD students for their respective jobs.
Deduce patterns- Scholars of this field have to grasp a lot of information. They should have an eye to connect and relate different views and see the difference and similarities in different approaches about the same study. I.T. helps to draw conclusions and have a better world view.
Marketing – The ability to communicate beliefs and ideas clearly and accurately is important to make people take an interest in the subject. Be able to convince and negotiate on terms
Culturally diverse – Have a broad mind to accept new ideas on a global level. Being judgmental or restricting oneself will constraint the knowledge to conclude the research.
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Course Curriculum for Humanities and Social Sciences
Students of Humanities and Social Sciences have a pretty flexible curriculum and can combine subjects based on their passion. But the main objective that each student must learn are:
Be able to comprehend and remain curious about the change and development of human societies.
They should be able to grasp and solve queries by thinking critically. This requires in-depth knowledge about a topic- historically, geographically, on societal terms and keeping economic factors into consideration.
Moreover, they are expected to communicate effectively and be adaptable.
They should be familiar with the components of Humanities, physical, psychological, social, aesthetic nature.
They must be able to identify human behaviour, thought process and human ideals
Must learn and appreciate the diverse and secular India is, naturally and culturally.
Understand India’s role in world affairs.
Popular Humanities and Social Sciences Entrance Exams in India
GATE
Exam Date: 01 Feb, 2025 - 02 Feb, 2025
CSIR UGC NET
Application Process: 09 Dec, 2024 - 30 Dec, 2024
CUET PG
Exam Date: 11 Mar, 2025 - 28 Mar, 2025 (Tentative)
CUET UG
Exam Date: 15 May, 2025 - 24 May, 2025 (Tentative)
UGC NET
Exam Date: 03 Jan, 2025 - 16 Jan, 2025
MET
Application Process: 14 Oct, 2024 - 15 Mar, 2025
Popular Humanities and Social Sciences Colleges in India VIEW ALL
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: Why study humanities & social sciences?
Answer :
One should pursue humanities & social sciences courses because: -
They will cultivate a variety of skills like – research, evaluating skills, analytical ability and communication skills.
The subjects are somewhere interrelated and hence flexible and can be moulded. A student can combine degrees according to his/ her interests
These domains help us learn about mankind and his evolution over time, even though the thoughts have evolved, adapted to digitalisation, are innovating and are constantly curious.
Question: Is it mandatory to do post-graduation in humanities & social sciences to make a career?
Answer :
It is both ways. Although there are different roles one can take after they complete their bachelor’s degree, there are certain research-oriented jobs which are only made available to someone who has completed their masters.
Question: Which are the best colleges to pursue humanities & social sciences in India and abroad?
Answer :
Top colleges to pursue humanities & social sciences in India are:
Lady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi
St. Stephen's College, New Delhi
Loyola College, Chennai
St. Xavier's College, Mumbai
Christ College, Bangalore
Hindu College, New Delhi
St. Xavier's College, Kolkata
Miranda House, New Delhi
Fergusson College, Pune
Presidency College, Chennai
The five top colleges for social sciences outside India are:
Stanford University
University of Cambridge
Oxford University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Harvard University
Question: What all is asked in D.U. (BA Hons) the entrance exam for humanities & social science?
Answer :
In this entrance test, students are asked to answer questions based on
General Awareness
General Knowledge
Current Affairs
Logical Reasoning
Analytical Reasoning
Communication skills (either Hindi or English)
It is a two-hour offline paper and has multiple choice questions only.
Question: What is the difference between humanities & social science streams?
Answer :
The stream of humanities deals with empathising with mankind and their social personalities. Its method is more philosophical and subjective, which helps gain a lot of wisdom. Without them, no nation can flourish.
On the other hand, Social Sciences is the scientific approach to human relations study. It helps spread knowledge about the global community and individuals in it from a scientific point of view.
