Content Writer
Bachelor of Arts in History or BA History is a 3 years full-time undergraduate program. In order to be eligible to apply to this course, students are required to fulfill the basic eligibility criteria laid down by the admission authorities. Candidates must have passed Class 12 or equivalent from a recognized board to get admission to this program. Admission to the BA History program will be done either on the basis of candidate’s marks in the Class 12 examination or on the basis of the candidate’s performance in the entrance examination.
Bachelor of Arts in History can be pursued both in full-time as well as in part-time mode. There are a large number of colleges that offer BA History programs from distance education.
The average annual fee charged in India for BA History program ranges between INR 1,000 and INR 25,000 depending on the college/ university offering the program.
Some of the top institutes offering BA History program along with their The WEEK ranking are provided in the table given below:
| THE WEEK Ranking | Name of the College/ University | Admission Process | Average Annual Fees | Average Placement Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Madras Christian College, Chennai | Merit-Based | INR 7,500 | INR 4,00,000 |
| 6 | St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai | Merit-Based | INR 5,537 | INR 6,80,000 |
| 8 | Hansraj College, New Delhi | Merit-Based | INR 18,895 | INR 5,95,000 |
| 10 | Fergusson College, Pune | Merit-Based | INR 9,245 | INR 3,70,000 |
| 12 | Christ University, Bangalore | Merit-Based | INR 25,000 | INR 7,00,000 |
BA History is one of the top Arts courses offered by the universities/ colleges in India at the undergraduate level. The course curriculum of BA History focuses basically on teaching all aspects of History which includes Indian History, Modern History, Ancient World, European History, Contemporary History, etc.
With a Bachelor of Arts in History degree, students can opt for jobs in various fields including Public Administration, Social Work, Historian, Archaeology, Research, Teaching, etc. The average starting salary offered to BA History degree holders ranges between INR 3 to 7 lakhs per annum.
BA History Course: Highlights
Some of the major highlights of the course are tabulated below:-
| Course Level | Undergraduate |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Examination Type | Semester System |
| Eligibility | 10+2 in any stream from a recognized board with an aggregate of at least 50% marks |
| Admission Process | Merit/ Entrance Based |
| Entrance Exams | IPU CET, JNUEE, DSAT |
| Average Course Fee | INR 1,000 to 25,000 |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 3,00,000 to INR 7,00,000 |
| Distance Education | Yes |
| Distance Education Colleges | IGNOU, Tamil Nadu Open University, Annamalai University, University of Mumbai, Institute of Distance and Open Learning (IDOL), Osmania University |
| Top Job Areas | Archaeology and Archives Department, Historical Parks, Research Centres, Journalism, Museums, Radio Channels, Survey Officers etc. |
| Top Job Positions | Archaeologist, Historian, Auctioneer, Social Worker, Teacher, Travel Tourism Expert, Activist, etc. |
| Further Studies | MA History, MBA |
BA History Eligibility
Candidates seeking admission to BA History course need to fulfill the minimum eligibility criteria provided below:
- Candidates must have passed Class 12 or equivalent in relevant discipline with an aggregate of at least 50% (45% for candidates belonging to SC/ ST Category) marks from a recognized board.
- Students must have studied English as a compulsory subject in Class 12.
BA History: Admission Process
Admission to the BA History program begins after the declaration of Class 12 examination results. Aspirants are required to fill application forms for respective universities. After the ending of the application process, colleges/ universities release cut off marks or percentage for students seeking admission to BA History course. However, some universities also conduct entrance examinations for admission to BA History courses.
For entrance based admission, candidates have to register themselves for the entrance test and they will be considered for admission to the BA History program based on their performance in the respective entrance examination.
BA History Entrance Exams
Entrance examinations are an important aspect of the admission process in any Bachelor of Arts stream. Some of the top entrance examinations conducted for admission to BA History program are given below:
- IPU CET 2021: This is a university-level entrance examination which is conducted by the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. It is an online examination which is conducted for various UG and PG admissions.
- JNUEE 2021: This examination is conducted in the online mode by the Jawaharlal Nehru University for various UG and PG programs.
- DSAT 2021: Dayanand Sagar Admission Test or DSAT is a university level entrance test which is conducted by the Dayananda Sagar University for admission to various UG and PG programs in the university.
| Exam Name | Application Period | Date of Examination * | Mode of Examination |
|---|---|---|---|
| IPU CET | March 3- July 20, 2020 | To be announced | Online |
| JNUEE | March 2- June 30, 2020 | To be announced | Online |
| DSAT | January 9, 2020 to 3 days prior to each examination date | May 4 – 31, 2020 | Offline/Online |
*There may be changes in the dates mentioned here because of COVID 19 outbreak.
BA History Top Colleges
Some of the top colleges offering B.A. in History program are provided in the table given below:
| THE WEEK Ranking | Name of the College/ University | Admission Process | Average Annual Fees | Average Placement Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Madras Christian College, Chennai | Merit-Based | INR 7,500 | INR 4,00,000 |
| 6 | St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai | Merit-Based | INR 5,537 | INR 6,80,000 |
| 8 | Hansraj College, New Delhi | Merit-Based | INR 18,895 | INR 5,95,000 |
| 10 | Fergusson College, Pune | Merit-Based | INR 9,245 | INR 3,70,000 |
| 12 | Christ University, Bangalore | Merit-Based | INR 25,000 | INR 7,00,000 |
| 23 | Kristu Jayanti College, Bangalore | Merit-Based | INR 53,000 | INR 6,45,000 |
| 25 | Jai Hind College, Mumbai | Merit-Based | INR 5,635 | INR 3,20,000 |
| 30 | Nizam College, Hyderabad | Merit-Based | INR 4,600 | INR 3,30,000 |
| 36 | Lady Brabourne College [LBC], Kolkata | Merit-Based | INR 8,325 | INR 5,60,000 |
BA History College Comparison
Both St. Xavier’s College and Hansraj College are quite popular among students who wish to pursue a BA History program. The comparison between two of these colleges based on basic parameters is given below:
| Parameters | St. Xavier’s College | Hansraj College |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | St. Xavier’s College is one of the top colleges offering a variety of courses in Mumbai. The college offers exceptional placements to students that’s why it’s pretty popular among students. | Hansraj College is a deemed college affiliated to the University of Delhi and offers numerous programs at the undergraduate and the postgraduate level. |
| Location | Mumbai | New Delhi |
| THE WEEK Ranking | 06 | 08 |
| Average Fees | INR 16,569 | INR 56,685 |
| Average Salary Package | INR 6,80,000 | INR 5,95,000 |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Radio Channels, Museums, Govt. and Private Institutions. | Radio Channels, Museums, Govt. and Private Institutions. |
Source: College Websites
BA History: Distance Education
BA History course is also available for students who are not able to get admission in regular courses. Such students can pursue this course through distance education mode. IGNOU is one such university that offers BA in distance education mode.
Some of the distance learning institutions are:
| University | Location | Average Fees |
|---|---|---|
| IGNOU | New Delhi | INR 7,200 |
| Tamil Nadu Open University | Chennai | INR 6,600 |
| Annamalai University | Annamalai | INR 7,350 |
| University of Mumbai, Institute of Distance and Open Learning (IDOL) | Mumbai | INR 10,835 |
| Osmania University | Hyderabad | INR 10,200 |
Source: College Websites
BA History: Syllabus and Course Description
Students have to learn different aspects of national and world history. The program is designed in such a way that the study of history moves from general to specific encompassing all phases of Indian and World history.
Apart from the compulsory History courses, students also have to study a minimum of two Concurrent courses. The concurrent courses vary from a range of language papers to subjects from humanities.
The Bachelor of Arts in History Syllabus is almost similar in all the universities, with the name of modules may be different.
Below is a comprehensive syllabi structure for BA History course.
| History of India: Ancient to 600 CE | Reconstructing Ancient Indian History; Prehistoric Hunter-Gatherers; Harappan Civilization; Vedic Corpus and transition to Janapadas and Mahajanapadas; Mauryan and Post Mauryan era; Age of the Guptas; Aspects of Society; Religious Development; |
| History of India: 600 CE to 1500 CE | The emergence of major Political centers – Kannauj, Bengal, Peninsular India Arab; Ghaznavi and Ghori’s Invasion of India; Agricultural Expansion; Urban Centers; Indian and Oceanic Trade; Sanskrit Literature Temple; Cave Architecture Polity; Institutional Structure Varna System; |
| History of India: 1500 CE to 1800 CE | The Mughal Empire – Foundation and Consolidation of Mughal Empire; Ideology and State in Mughal India; Economy in Mughal India; Crisis of the Mughal Empire; Society, Religion and Culture in Mughal India; |
| History of India: 1800 CE to Modern India | East India Company: Theory of Rent; Socio-Religious Movements in India; Rural Economy and Society; Early Resistance to Colonial Rule; Revolt of 1857; Colonial Intervention and Growth of Modern Education; Indian Nationalism; The Gandhian Era; New Trends in National Movement; Pre-War Political Developments; Post War Upsurges; Communal Politics; Partition of India from 1947-1964 |
| Ancient World History | Paleolithic and Mesolithic Cultures; Bronze Age Civilization; Nomadic groups in Central and West Asia; Slave Society in Ancient Greece; Polis in Ancient Greece; Major centers of Ancient Mediterranean World – Mesopotamia, Egypt and Persia; Political History of Greece; Macedonian Expansion; Political, Sociological and Cultural History of Rome |
| Transformation of Europe | Nature of Feudal Society; Crisis of Feudalism; Economic Crisis in the 14th century; Europe Fall of Constantinople; Development of National Monarchy; Economy in the 15th century; Economic expansion of Europe in the 16th century; Proto-Industrialization Renaissance; Renaissance Humanism Economy of the 17th century; Europe Scientific Revolution; English Civil War of the 17th century |
| European History | Understanding the 18th century Europe; Social, Economic and Political background to French Revolution; French Revolution Napoleon Bonaparte – Rise and Fall; The Vienna Congress; Metternich and the Conservative Order Pattern of Insurrection in France and other Central European Countries; Emergence of nation-states in Central Europe; Unification of Italy and Germany; Russian Modernization; France Under the second Empire; Industrialization in Europe; Rise of Working-class movements and Socialist thought Art and Culture, Religion, and Science of 18th century Europe; The Third Republic, Paris Commune and German Reich Age of Imperialism; Anglo-German Antagonism Russian Revolution |
| World Politics | The Versailles Settlement of 1919; The League of Nations; The reparation issue and its impact on international relations; The Great Depression and its international repercussions; Fascism in Italy and Nazism in Germany; Diplomatic Background of the Second World War – Policy of Appeasement, the Munich Pact, Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact; The Spanish Civil War; United Nations Organization; Cold War; USSR’s relation with East European Countries; US foreign policy in the Post War period; Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan; Bipolarism and Regional conflicts – War in Korea, Crisis in Cuba, Conflict in the Middle East; Disintegration of European Empires and emergence of the Third World; The Non-Aligned Movement; Indo-Pakistan Relations; India and the Liberation War of Bangladesh; The Liberation struggle of Vietnam; Reunification of Germany; The End of Socialist Regime and the Disintegration of USSR; The End of Cold War Globalization |
| History of East Asia | China; Pre-colonial China; Colonial penetration in China; Popular movements in China including Taiping Revolution Restoration, Reform and Revolution in China; Nationalism and Communism in China; Japan Pre-restoration Period; Meiji Restoration; Popular and Democratic Movements; Economic Modernization; Emergence of Japan as an Imperial Power |
| History of the United States of America | Making of the Republic; Evolution of American Democracy; Early Capitalism; The Agrarian South AnteBellum Foreign Policy; Civil War Industrial America; U.S. Imperialism; Afro-American Movements; Women’s Movements; Religious, Cultural and Intellectual Trends |
| History of Africa | Historiography of Africa; Commerce and Migration (1500-1900); Patterns of Colonization; Structures of Colonial Control; Economic Transformation; Emergence of new Religious and Cultural Identities; Popular Protests, Rebellion and National Liberation Movements |
| History of Latin America | Conquest of America and its repercussions; Economic Transformations; Bolivar’s Vision and the emergence of New States in the first half of the 19th century; Assertion of the U.S. hegemony in the Twentieth century |
What is the Scheme of Assessment of BA History Exams?
The Scheme of Assessment is generally based on class participation and performance in the examination held at the end of the academic year or semester. Some colleges also require students to submit a project report/thesis on the topic of their interest related to Indian or World history.
The weightage given to different criteria for assessment is as follows:
| Assessment Criteria | Weightage |
| Theory Examination | 75% |
| Internal Assessment | 25% |
What are the Career Prospects of BA History?
On completion of the BA History program, students can find jobs in multiple private and public sector organizations. Some of the fields which offer employment to BA History graduates are as follows:
- Education
- Archaeology
- Public Service
- Private Sector
- Travel and Tourism
- BPO/ KPO
- PSBs
Students can also get hired by various private companies in various positions such as Associate, Executive Assistant, Counsellor, Consultant, Political Analyst, Historian, Content Writer and Editor, Feature Writer, Copywriter, Psychologist, Social Worker etc.
Various students clear numerous public sector government examinations and find jobs in popular sectors.
Some of the top job opportunities available to BA History graduates are provided below along with the corresponding salaries:
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Annual Salary Package |
|---|---|---|
| Archaeologist | The job of an Archaeologist is to study human history and prehistory by doing excavation of sites and the analysis of ancient remains and artifacts. | INR 4,80,000 |
| Historian | A Historian is a person who studies and writes about the past. They are basically known for representing history in a methodological and narrative manner. | INR 6,00,000 |
| Auctioneer | An Auctioneer is a person who manages an auction and is known for presenting the objects for bidding. | INR 7,00,000 |
| Teacher | On completion of the BA History program, one can opt for a job as a History Teacher and helps students in understanding the History of India and the World. | INR 3,80,000 |
| Archivist | The job of an Archivist involves evaluation, collection and preservation of useful records concerning the ancient era. | INR 5,50,000 |
BA History Salary Trends
Source: Payscale
BA History: Scope
On completion of the BA History course, candidates can opt for a wide range of professions.
- With the help of a BA History degree, students will be able to make their careers in the field of History. They can easily get a job as an Archaeologist or a Historian on completion of this course. The career scope is rising at a fast pace and will also continue to do so in the near future.
- There are numerous areas both in the private as well as in the public sector where a BA History graduate may start working. Students can also opt for a career as a History teacher in schools and other institutes.
What are the Future Prospects of BA History?
After completion of a BA History degree, there are a variety of job opportunities and career options. Students can choose in accordance to their skills and interests. Some of the most popular career choices after BA History are provided below:
MA History: After pursuing a BA History program, most of the students opt for MA History. You can pursue this program for better career options. It is always recommended to go for further studies after pursuing this program as otherwise, it won’t be that fruitful.
Teacher: If you wish to work after doing BA History, you can apply for teaching in govt. or private schools and become a History teacher.
Tutor: One can also pursue their career as a tutor to students and help them with their studies.
Government Jobs: If you are interested in working in the government. sector, then pursuing a BA might be the right career choice for you. Most BA students give tests such as UPSC, SSC, Banking, etc. to get a job with a high salary.
MBA: After the BA History course, you can also opt for MBA in any specialization to have a bright future in the field of Business Administration.
So, BA History program offers numerous attractive career options and you can choose any of the career options according to your skills and areas of interest. You can go for higher studies or you can also opt for a job. It all depends on you whether you want to do the job after completing BA History course or you want to study further.
Course Comparison
-
BA History and BA
Both BA and BA History are popular courses and are offered by various Indian colleges and universities. Some of the basic differences between BA and BA History are provided in the table given below:
| Parameters | BA History | BA |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification | Bachelor of Arts in History | Bachelor of Arts |
| Course Overview | Bachelor of Arts in History is a specialization in History and is a part of the Bachelor of Arts program. In this program, candidates study the subjects involving History. | Bachelor of Arts is a general course with no specializations. In a BA program, candidates have to study 5 subjects compulsorily including History, Political Science, Sociology, English, etc. |
| Average Annual Fees | INR 18,000 to 3 Lakhs | INR 1 Lakh |
| Average Salary | INR 4 to 12 LPA | INR 3 to 8 LPA |
| Colleges | Delhi University, Amity University, BHU, Punjab University, Lovely Professional University, GD Goenka University, Gurgaon etc. | Delhi University, Amity University, BHU, Punjab University, Lovely Professional University, GD Goenka University, Gurgaon etc. |
Also check: BA Top Colleges
Sources: College Websites
FAQs
Q. What is the full form of BA History?
Ans. The full form of BA History is a Bachelor of Arts in History.
Q. Is BA History a good course?
Ans. Yes; BA History program is pretty popular among Arts students. This program is not just limited to Arts students, it can be pursued by Science Stream students also.
Q. What are the options after the BA History program?
Ans. After pursuing a BA History course, you can opt for jobs as an Archaeologist, teacher, or a tutor or you can also go for further studies such as M.A in History program.
Q. What is the duration of the BA History program?
Ans. The duration of the BA History program is 3 years.
Q. Where can I pursue a BA History program in India?
Ans. Some of the top universities and institutes offering BA History program in India are given below:
- Hansraj College, New Delhi
- Gargi College, New Delhi
- Miranda House, New Delhi
- Lady Brabourne College – [LBC], Kolkata
- Fergusson College, Pune
Q. What are the common jobs for BA History students?
Ans. On completion of the BA History program, candidates can opt for jobs in various fields such as private, public, and govt. sectors as a Political Consultant and Analyst, Intelligence Specialist, Archivist, Historian, Public Relations, Content Writing and Editing, Consultant, Academic Writer, Social Worker etc.
Q. Which course can I opt for after completion of my BA History course?
Ans. After completing the BA History program, candidates can opt for courses like MA, MBA, B.Ed.
Q. Will there be any issues in the BA History admission procedure due to COVID 19 outbreak?
Ans. Yes, there might be some delay in the registration process in various colleges including the University of Delhi, JNU etc. owing to COVID 19 outbreak. Candidates are advised to visit the official website of respective colleges to stay themselves updated.
Q. Is a BA History degree worth doing?
Ans. Yes; BA History program is worth doing. There are a large number of career options on completion of BA History programs such as higher education such as MA, MBA, etc. and you can also opt for jobs in various govt. and private sectors.
![Jadavpur University - [JU]](https://images.static-collegedunia.com/public/college_data/images/appImage/26008_JADAV_New.jpg?tr=h-150,w-320,c-force)
![Jadavpur University - [JU]](https://images.static-collegedunia.com/public/college_data/images/logos/1435229665jable pur.jpg?tr=h-30,w-30,c-force)
![Madras Christian College - [MCC]](https://images.static-collegedunia.com/public/college_data/images/appImage/2708_MCC.jpg?tr=h-150,w-320,c-force)
![Madras Christian College - [MCC]](https://images.static-collegedunia.com/public/college_data/images/logos/1393668198Madras Christian College.png?tr=h-30,w-30,c-force)
