Humanities Courses: After 12th, Syllabus, Curriculum, Jobs and Top Colleges in 2026

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Ishika Ray

Updated 3+ months ago

Humanities courses deal with the study of human culture, history, and societies from a critical perspective. Students who opt for humanities study history, art, literature, and philosophy in general. Likewise, humanities subjects like art, history, philosophy, sociology, psychology, mass communication, cinema, and journalism have the best career options after 12th humanities. 

Popular BA Courses in humanities include BA Sociology, BA Psychology, BA English Literature. Humanities courses are also available at the certificate, diploma, masters, and doctoral levels. The admission process varies, but it is mostly merit-based, provided that aspiring students have passed the class 12 examination with 50% marks.

Humanities, as a stream, offer a plethora of courses that can be pursued after completing their 12th grade. Pursuing any of these degrees prepares one to take a thoughtful approach to understand the various levels of humanities and, as a result, carve out a suitable career path.

Humanities candidates can apply for jobs in the Government sector such as banking firms, government ministries, law firms, and political analysts. Jobs such as Content Writer, Civil Services, Human Resource Manager, Defence Services, Lawyer, Journalist, Counsellor, and therapists can be applied for. Humanities graduates may expect to earn anywhere between INR 2,00,000 and INR 8,00,000 annually as freshers.

All About Humanities Courses

Humanities is one of the major academic disciplines. The field of study teaches students how history, art, music, religion and culture have shaped the modern world.

  • Humanities classes educate students to think creatively, reason, and ask the finest questions which are essential abilities to excel in a wide range of disciplines, from art and music to business and politics.
  • They also educate about civilizations and how they have changed over time allowing them to learn about communication, formation of ideas and knowledge, how society works, behavior patterns and problems, historical and cultural events, and human interactions and relationships.
  • Humanities courses are available at the undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, diploma, and certificate levels.
  • Lady Shri Ram College For Women, Banaras Hindu University, Presidency College, Loyola College, St. Xavier’s College, Madras Christian College and SRM University are some of the Top Humanities Colleges in India.
  • The duration of humanities Courses can be anywhere between 1 to 3 years. PhD Courses have a minimum of 2 years which can be extended as per the demands of the Research.
  • The course fee for Humanities Courses can be anywhere between INR 1,000 - INR 3,50,000.

Humanities Courses After 12th

There are numerous humanities courses that can be pursued after completion of 12th such as Certificate, Diploma, PG Diploma, Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctoral courses. The following sections will list the courses which are available at different levels.

  • Humanities courses provide a wide range of opportunities, whether it is honing and facilitating the necessary skills to appear in the most competitive government exams or instilling professional job-oriented skills.
  • After completing their Courses After 12th Arts, students have a wide range of job options available to them, ranging from editor, multimedia specialist, digital marketing specialist, archivist, to analyst, psychologist, data linguist.
  • Pure Arts, as well as some other popular programmes, are among the courses available after the 12th grade. Another thing to keep in mind is that these courses are available in both degree and diploma programmes.

These are the popular courses after 12th courses are as follows:

Top Certifications in Humanities

The duration of the Certificate Course is usually 1 year and is available both Online as well as Offline. Admission to certification courses in institutions is done in a systematic manner based on grades in the tenth or twelfth grades.

Applications for online certification courses are available on the course provider's website. The qualifying criteria may be 10th or 12th depending on the type of course and the provider. Here is a list of Certificate Courses in Humanities.

Course Name Providers/Colleges Course Fee
Certificate In Sketch Sketch Master, IndiaMART INR 15,000
Certificate Course In Fashion Design Delhi Institute of Fashion and Technology - DIFT, Delhi Inter National Institute of Fashion Design - Pune INR 5000 - 1,00,000
Certificate Course In Basic Techniques In Photography Nied Education Council, National Institute of Photography, Mumbai INR 3,500 - 25,000
Certificate In Indian Philosophy Kavikulguru Kalidas Sanskrit University, Maitri Institute of Management and Study -
Certificate Course In Child Psychology Delhi Degree Course, Punjab University INR 25000
Certificate Course In Journalism Madras Christian College, SDM College Ujire INR 5000 - 2,00,000

Also Check: Certificate in Humanities Colleges in India

Top Diploma Level Humanities Courses

Diploma courses usually have a duration of 2 years and PG Diploma courses are usually offered for the duration of 1 year. The eligibility for Diploma courses is class 10 or 12 depending upon the course while PG Diploma can be pursued after the completion of the Diploma or Graduation.

Admission to the courses are based on merit and the marks obtained in the previous qualifying examination. Here is a list of Diploma in Humanities Courses.

Course Name Colleges Course Fee
Diploma in Education Geeta Aadarsh College of Education, Bharat College of Education, SGS Tuli College of Education INR 3,000 - 1,25,000
Diploma in Interior Designing ITM University, JD Institute of Fashion Technology, Apeejay Institute of Design INR 10,000 - 3,00,000
Diploma in Travel and Tourism St. Xavier's College Mumbai, YMCA Institute For Career Studies New Delhi INR 25,000 - 2,00,000
Diploma in Event Management National Institute of Event Management Mumbai, University of Mumbai Mumbai, Impact Institute of Event Management - [IIEM] INR 20,000 - 3,00,000
Diploma in Photography Indian Institute of Photography New Delhi, Light & Life Academy Ooty, Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communication New Delhi INR 20,000 - 3,50,000
Diploma in Journalism IIMC Delhi, Amity School of Communication, ITM University Gwalior INR 8000 - 50,000
Diploma in Psychology CMR University, Banaras Hindu University, Institute for Excellence in Higher Education (IHE) Bhopal INR 6000 - 1,00,000
Diploma in Fine Arts MIT Institute of Design, Delhi College of Art, Institute of Design, Institute of Fine Arts INR 10,000 - 1,00,000
PGD in Travel and Tourism Banaras Hindu University, New Delhi YMCA Institute of Management, Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology & Applied Nutrition INR 50,000 - 3,50,000
PGD in Women’s studies IGNOU, Andhra University's College of Arts & Commerce, Andhra Pradesh Center For Women's Studies (CWS), Karnataka INR 5,000 - 50,000
PGD in Interior Designing NIFT Delhi, IIAD New Delhi, NID Ahmedabad INR 20,000 - 3,50,000
PGD in Event Management NIEM, EMDI, NAEMD, GD Goenka University INR 30,000 - 3,00,000
PGD in Journalism Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Institute for Excellence in Higher Education INR 10,000 - 5,00,000

Also Check: Diploma in Humanities Colleges

Top Undergraduate Humanities Courses

Undergraduate Humanities Courses have a duration of 3 years and have general as well as specialized courses. Students who have completed 12th with minimum 50 to 60% marks from a recognised board are eligible for the course.

Admission to these courses are based on merit as well as entrance exams. Admissions to most colleges is done through state level as well as national level entrance examination. Here is a list of Undergraduate Humanities Courses which are available.

Course Name Colleges Course Fee
BA Social Science NIMS University Jaipur, Chandigarh University Chandigarh, Lovely Professional University Jalandhar INR 10,000 - 4,00,000
BSc Psychology Christ University, Loreto College Kolkata, Presidency College Chennai INR 20,000 - 2,50,000
BSc Fashion Designing MATS University, National Institute of Fashion Technology, Lovely Professional University INR 15,000 - 3,00,000
BSc Geography BHU Varanasi, Hansraj College Delhi, Presidency College Chennai INR 10,000 - 3,50,000
BSc Economics St. Xaviers College Mumbai, Mount Carmel College Bangalore, Kristu Jayanti College Bangalore INR 15,000 - 4,00,000
Bachelor of Fine Arts Chandigarh University, Lucknow University, NIMS University INR 20,000 - 1,50,000
BA English Literature St. Stephen’s College, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Hindu College, Miranda House INR 10,000 - 3,00,000
BA Applied Psychology Bhim Rao Ambedkar College Delhi, JRN Rajasthan Vidyapeeth University Udaipur, Galgotias University Noida INR 15,000 - 3,00,000
BA French Loyola College Chennai, St. Xavier's Technical Institute Mumbai, Fergusson College Pune INR 2000 - 50,000
BA Japanese JNU, BHU, Ramjas College, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College INR 10,000 - 1,00,000
BA Tamil Loyola College, Presidency College, Madras Christian College INR 10,000 - 1,00,000
BA Psychology Amity University, S.K Somaiya Degree College Arts, Science & Commerce, St. Francis College for Women INR 3,000 - 3,00,000
BA History JMC New Delhi, Gargi College New Delhi, DCAC New Delhi, Bethune College Kolkata INR 3,000 - 3,00,000

Check: Top BA Humanities Colleges in India

Top Postgraduate Humanities Courses

The duration of the Postgraduate Humanities course is 2 years. Students who have completed graduation with minimum 50 to 55% marks from a recognised University or Institutions are eligible for these courses.

Admissions are based on merit as well as entrance. However, admission is mostly done through merit and state level as well as national level entrance examination. Here is a list of Postgraduate Humanities Courses.

Course Name Colleges Course Fee
MA Social Work Loyola College, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, INR 20,000 - 2,00,000
MSc Psychology Mount Carmel College Bangalore, St. Wilfred’s PG College Jaipur, Jain University Bangalore INR 10,000 - 3,50,000
MSc in Fashion Designing International School of Design, National Institute for Fashion and Technology, International Institute of Fashion Design INR 15,000 - 4,00,000
MSc in Geography Dibrugarh University, North Maharashtra University, Lovely Professional University INR 10,000 - 4,00,000
MA in English Literature Presidency College Chennai, Kristu Jayanti College INR 8,000 - 5,00,000
MA in Applied Psychology Tata Institute of Social Science, Manav Rachna Institute of Research and Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia INR 10,000 - 4,00,000
MA in Psychology Hindu College New Delhi, Fergusson College Pune, St. Xavier's College Mumbai INR 10,000 - 3,50,000
MA in History Miranda House College, New Delhi, Hindu College, New Delhi, Presidency College, Chennai INR 5,000 - 3,00,000
MA in Economics Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Loyola College, Chennai, Madras Christian College, Chennai INR 5,000 - 2,00,000

Check: Top MA Humanities Colleges in India

Top Doctorate Humanities Courses

The minimum duration of the doctorate course is 2 years which could be extended as per the demands of the research. Students who have completed masters courses are eligible for Doctoral courses in Humanities. Admission is done through Entrance Exams which are conducted at national or institutional level. Here is a list of Doctoral Humanities Courses.

Course Name Colleges Course Fee
PhD in English Literature Andhra University, Loyola College, Chennai, IIT Kanpur, INR 15,000 - 1,50,000
PhD in Psychology Amity University, Lucknow, Banaras Hindu University, Awadhesh Pratap Singh University INR 10,000 - 3,50,000
PhD in History University of Calcutta, University of Hyderabad, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi INR 15,000 - 2,50,000
PhD in Geography Presidency College, Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Milia Islamia INR 10,000 - 2,50,000
PhD in Economics Indian Institute of Technology, Indian Statistical Institute, Loyola College INR 15,000 - 1,50,000

Check: Top PhD Arts Colleges in India

Online Humanities Courses

Digital Humanities popularly known as Humanities Computing is the use of digital methods to study deeper into Humanities subjects such as history, arts and literature. Digital Humanities Courses teaches collection, analysing and visualisation of humanities data and processing digital information. Here is a list of Digital Humanities Courses by various platforms.

Humanities Courses on edX

Course Name Provider Course Fee
Introduction to Digital Humanities Harvard University (EdX) INR 11,074
PredictionX: John Snow and the Cholera Epidemic of 1854 Harvard University (EdX) Free
PredictionX: Omens, Oracles & Prophecies Harvard University (EdX) Free
Religion, Conflict and Peace Harvard University (EdX) INR 7,358
Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disaster Harvard University (EdX) INR 7,358
HOPE: Human Odyssey to Political Existentialism Princeton University (Edx) Free
Protecting Children in Humanitarian Settings Columbia University New York (EdX) INR 3,716
MicroMasters® Program in Humanities & Soft Skills Tecnológico de Monterrey (EdX) INR 59,800
Gender and Intersectionality The University of Iceland (EdX) INR 3,716
Invitation to The Tale of Genji: The Foundational Elements of Japanese Culture Waseda University (EdX) INR 3,642

Free Humanities Courses Online

Humanities Courses are also available for free online. Top platforms such as edx, Coursera, Classcentral, etc provide Humanities Courses for free. The following table is a list of free Humanities Courses.

Course Name Provider Course Fee
PredictionX: John Snow and the Cholera Epidemic of 1854 Harvard University (EdX) 1 week
PredictionX: Omens, Oracles & Prophecies Harvard University (EdX) 1 week
HOPE: Human Odyssey to Political Existentialism Princeton University (Edx) 10 weeks
Modern & Contemporary American Poetry (“ModPo”) Coursera 10 weeks
A Life of Happiness and Fulfillment Coursera 6 weeks
Miracles of Human Language: An Introduction to Linguistics Coursera 6 weeks
Introduction to Philosophy Coursera 5 weeks
Literature of the English Country House Futurelearn 8 weeks
Exploring English: Shakespeare Futurelearn 6 weeks
Academic Writing Swayam 15 weeks
World History by CrashCourse YouTube 8 hours

Also Check: Journalism Courses in India

Top Humanities Colleges in India

Various reputed Institutions offer Humanities Courses. The following is a list of top Humanities Courses Colleges in India.

College Name Course Fees
Hindu College University of Delhi INR 17,560 - 18,010
Miranda House, University of Delhi INR 14,160 - 14,530
Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi INR 15,870 - 17,976
Hansraj College, University of Delhi INR 13,309 - 20,945
MCC - Madras Christian College INR 3,500 - 6,000
Loyola College INR 11,400 - 19,830
Christ University, Bangalore INR 20,000 - 50,000
Gargi College University of Delhi INR 12,295 - 12,681

Check: Top Arts Colleges in India

Skills Needed to Study Humanities Courses

In order to pursue Humanities Courses, one needs various skills to be successful. The following table gives some of the crucial skills that are required to be successful in the field of Humanities.

Relational skills Interpersonal skills
Deduce pattern Marketing
Culturally diverse Creative writing
Communication skills Presentation skills
Research skills Analytical skills
Problem-solving skills Critical thinking
Ability to work in a team Ability to work independently
Competency skills Organisation skills
Decision-making skills Leadership skills

Scope of Humanities Courses

Humanities Courses have a huge scope. They assist in preparing students for success in the real world. They research the past, analyze it, and forecast the outcomes it should take in the near future. These courses are ideal for those who want to improve their skills.

  • One pursues a career in the various fields of humanities such as Law, films and journalism, marketing, fashion, TeachingCounselling, and tourism.
  • Humanities covers vast areas of studies and subjects more than any other stream, and has more opportunities to create a career by mastering them.
  • Humanities is a field that is not only interested in money, but also in people, their ideologies, beliefs, and manifestations via art and archaeology. 
  • This stream has enormous promise in topics such as mass media, economics, English, history, political science, public administration, and psychology.
  • One can also pursue higher studies in the field after completing undergraduate courses to understand more deeply.

Humanities Jobs and Salary

Job chances in the Humanities sector are determined by the topics they have studied, as well as their abilities and qualities. To be successful, one must have clarity. The following are some popular job profiles in the field of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Job Profiles Job Description Average Annual Salary
Content Writer They do research and produce material as directed by higher authorities and customer requirements. INR 2,82,000
Civil Services Become an IAS/ IFS/ IPS and contribute to the implementation of government policies as well as the maintenance of law and order. INR 9,00,000
Human Resource Manager They hire, interview, and negotiate pay with their employees. INR 6,88,000
Defence Services The military, whether Army, Navy, or Air Force. The only mission is to keep the country safe and secure. INR 8,32,000
Lawyer Advising and presenting clients' cases in judicial and legal matters. INR 4,82,000
Journalist They read, edit, and publish pieces about current events. INR 3,88,000
Counsellors and therapists They provide assistance and guidance to those who are suffering from mental illness. INR 3,10,000
Hotel Manager They plan and manage hotel services. INR 4,48,000
Social Service worker They safeguard society's most vulnerable members by advocating for their rights and offering essential help. INR 3,98,000
Archaeologist An archaeologist is a specialist who examines human origins, development, and behaviour. INR 3,00,000
Teacher/ Professor After obtaining the necessary qualifications, those interested in the subject of academics might opt to be a teacher in a school or a professor in a college/university. INR 3,07,000 - 10,01,000
Cultural Anthropologist A cultural anthropologist, also known as a sociocultural anthropologist, analyses society's art, traditions, customs, and languages to discover how mankind has evolved over time. INR 6,49,000
Editor A cultural anthropologist, also known as a sociocultural anthropologist, analyses society's art, traditions, customs, and languages to discover how mankind has evolved over time. INR 3,97,000
Geologist A geologist is in charge of researching earth activities such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, and volcanic eruptions in order to assess the ground and design safe building projects. INR 5,97,000
Historian A historian investigates, analyses, and interprets the past as it is documented in diverse sources such as newspapers, letters, unpublished manuscripts, and so on. INR 8,06,100
Linguistic Anthropologist A linguistic anthropologist investigates the nature of various languages and how people utilise them in their daily lives. INR 4,85,000
Museum Curator A curator is a professional who organises, catalogues, administers, and exhibits cultural and artistic collections in museums and galleries. INR 3,00,000
Park Interpreter A park interpreter is in charge of researching, creating, and delivering educational programmes to visitors to national, provincial, and local parks and conservation areas. INR 4,82,000

Humanities Courses: Top Recruiters

Amazon Goldman Sachs
Bain & Company Accenture
Microsoft Google
McKinsey & Company Boston Consulting Group

Humanities Courses: FAQs

Ques. What is the distinction between the Humanities vs the Social Sciences?

Ans. Humanities disciplines include Law, Linguistics, Languages, and Economics, whereas Social Sciences takes a scientific approach that necessitates study and covers subjects such as History, Philosophy, Anthropology, Political Science, and others.

Ques.  Is it more theoretical or practical to study humanities?

Ans.  More theoretical components must be learned and analysed in Humanities and Social Science disciplines. Simply said, higher education exists so that students may do research through programmes such as MPhil and PhD.

Ques.  What are the many types of Humanities?

Ans.  Humanities is divided into five categories: arts, literature, religion, philosophy, and history.

Ques.How long does an MPhil course last?

Ans.  A Master of Philosophy (MPhil) programme typically lasts two to three years, depending on the research work.

Ques. I completed Science in Class 12 but want to study Political Science; am I qualified for the course?

Ans. Every institution has its own set of eligibility requirements, however the basic requirements are that the applicant have completed their Class 12 from a recognised board and have a minimum of a 55 percent aggregate to apply for a BA in Political Science.

Ques.  Can I obtain a job after finishing my BA in History? 

Ans. Students can apply for jobs, but it is best to continue with your studies because history is mainly dependent on theoretical components. Higher education allows students to narrow down which courses they want to specialise in and subsequently pursue a career in.

Ques.  What is the distinction between BA and BA (Honours) programmes?

Ans.  A BA (Hons) course allows you to specialise in a field over the course of three years, but a BA programme does not allow you to do so.

Ques. What are the admission requirements for the MA in Sociology?

Ans.The candidate must have a BA in Sociology/BA (Hons) Sociology or a BA in a related subject from a recognised university and a minimum of a 55 percent aggregate.

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

Ans.  Candidates with an MA in Philosophy can find work in areas such as public relations, human resources, communications, advertising, politics, and many other fields.

Ques. Can I do BA Economics if I did not study Economics in Class 12?

Ans.  To be eligible for the programme, the student must satisfy the qualifying conditions. It is advisable to choose a course that you have previously studied because it will be counted in the best of four for the merit list. While some institutions provide admission based on merit, others offer admission based on entrance examinations. You will be eligible if you pass the admission exam.

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