Choosing a career path after 10+2 is probably one of the most critical decisions a student has to make in his/her life. However, despite all the misconceptions, opting for a career in Arts or Humanities is one of the most versatile decisions one can make. There are a number of career opportunities that students can choose from once they graduate with a degree in Arts or Humanities.
There are plenty of subjects to choose from while pursuing a career in Arts or Humanities like law, literature, linguistics, psychology, sociology, etc. Courses like BA in Ancient History, BA LLB, BA in Economics, BA in Sociology, etc. are some of the courses that are both in demand and exciting to pursue. There are also courses like BA in Fine Arts and BDes whose curriculum includes fine arts, design, etc., and are greatly sought after. There are multiple diploma courses as well like the Diploma in Education, Diploma in Event Management, Diploma in Multimedia, etc. that offer a good career path.
Although many institutes grant admission to candidates based on their 10+2 board marks, there are a number of entrance tests that the candidates have to appear for to gain admission in the most prestigious universities pursuing the most prestigious courses. These entrance exams include the BHU UET, JNUEE, Jamia Millia Islamia Entrance Exam, UCEED, CLAT, etc.
There is a wide range of career opportunities that graduating students can delve into.
After completing the degree in an Arts or Humanities stream candidates can explore their career in diversified fields like journalism, law, aviation, fashion design, criminology, psychology, and many others.
Read More: Top Arts Colleges in Major States of India:
- Top Arts Colleges in Tamil Nadu
- Top Arts Colleges in West Bengal
Courses Available
The students need to pass their 10+2 board examinations and apply for admission to the institutes to pursue their choice of courses in Arts or Humanities. Most of the institutes provide admission to the courses based on merit, i.e., the marks obtained by the candidates in their board examinations. There are, however, entrance exams conducted to provide admission in some of the coveted institutes.
Below is a list of the most popular courses that a candidate can opt for while choosing a career in Arts or Humanities.
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in:
- Ancient History
- Astrology
- Bengali
- Economics
- Education
- English
- English Literature
- Fine Arts
- Hindi
- History
- Journalism and Mass Communication
- Kannada
- Malayalam
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Rural Development
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Tamil
- Telugu
There are a number of sought-after courses that provide a degree in BA (Hons) as well apart from the ones mentioned above. The difference between a degree in BA and a degree in BA (Hons) is that in the latter there will be a particular specialization that needs to be studied during the entirety of the course whereas the former does not offer any specialization.
The top courses under BA (Hons) include the below-mentioned.
Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Law (BALLB) (Hons.) Bachelor of Arts (BA) (Hons.) in:
- Bengali
- Economics
- Education
- English
- Geography
- Hindi
- History
- Journalism
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Sociology
Apart from those mentioned above, there are courses in B.Des which are in popular demand. These courses are offered by institutes specifically offering courses in design. Some of the most sought-after courses in this category are listed below.
Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) in:
- Communication Design
- Exhibition Design
- Fashion Design
- Game Design
- Graphic Design
- Interaction Design
- Interior Design
- Jewellery Design
- Product Design
- Textile Design
- User Experience Design
Read More:
- Top Fashion Design Colleges in India
- Top Interior Design Colleges in India
Both the BA and BA (Hons) courses are offered for a duration of 3 years with the exceptions of BALLB and BALLB (Hons) which are offered for a duration of 5 years.
There are plenty of courses offered in different other specializations as well under Arts and Humanities. Students can also apply for a diploma degree in any of the following courses among many others.
- Diploma in 3D Animation
- Diploma in Education
- Diploma in Event Management
- Diploma in Fashion Designing
- Diploma in Interior Design
- Diploma in Multimedia
- Diploma in Photography and Videography
- Diploma in Retail Management
- Diploma in Travel and Tourism
The diploma courses are offered for a duration of 2 years although there are certain courses which are offered for a duration of 1 year.
The above-mentioned courses are just a glimpse of what the courses under Arts and Humanities offer. There are a number of courses available which are not mentioned above which provide substantial career opportunities to students.
List of Colleges
There are a number of colleges in the country providing courses in Arts and Humanities. They are equipped with the necessary infrastructure to impart relevant knowledge and skills to the students. Below is a list of some of the premier and sought-after institutes for Arts and Humanities.
- Lady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi
- Loyola College, Chennai
- St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata
- St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
- Christ University, Bangalore
- Miranda House, New Delhi
- Madras Christian College, Chennai
- Hans Raj College, New Delhi
- Fergusson College(Autonomous), Pune
- Presidency University, Kolkata
- Delhi College of Arts and Commerce – [DCAC], New Delhi
- Hindu College, University of Delhi, New Delhi
- Jadavpur University, Kolkata
- Bethune College, Kolkata
- Loreto College, Kolkata
- University of Lucknow, Lucknow
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
- Sacred Heart College, Ernakulam
- Shanmugha Arts Science Technology & Research Academy, Thanjavur
- Government Arts College, Coimbatore
There are some institutes and universities that have also been declared as Institutes of National Importance by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India.
- Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan
- Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai
- Nalanda University, Rajgir
- Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development
The candidates should keep in mind that the above-mentioned institutes do not comprise an exhaustive list of premier institutes, rather there are a number of institutes affiliated with a number of universities throughout the nation that offer the courses. The candidates must understand their passion and choose a course in an institute that suits them.
The average course fee for pursuing a degree in Bachelor of Arts is around INR 4000 to INR 65,000 per annum and it depends upon the institutes and the course being pursued. Candidates pursuing a degree in Bachelor of Arts (Honours) would need to pay a fee of INR 20,000 to INR 80,000 per annum. For students to pursue a degree in BA LLB, an annual fee ranging from INR 45,000 to INR 15 lakhs is required.
Eligibility
Students aspiring to pursue Arts and Humanities in their undergraduate degree must meet specific criteria before applying to institutes offering these courses.
- Applicants must have passed their 10+2 board examinations from a recognized board or council in India.
- They must achieve a minimum of 50% marks in their 10+2 board examinations. However, some institutes may set a minimum requirement of 45% marks for reserved category candidates.
- While many institutes admit students based on merit, i.e., their marks in their 10+2 board examinations, some institutes conduct entrance examinations. These entrance exams, conducted at central, state, or university levels, include prestigious examinations such as CUCET, BHU UET, IPU CET, NPAT, JNUEE, PUBDET, NIMSEE, and TISSBAT.
Students should prepare adequately for these examinations to maximize their chances of securing admission to reputable institutes.
Aspiring candidates should also develop non-academic skills to distinguish themselves while pursuing a career in Arts and Humanities. They should possess:
- Good communication skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Ability to work under pressure
- Goal-oriented mindset
- Problem-solving skills
- Inquisitive nature
- Management skills
- Intellectual curiosity
- Analytical thinking
- Organizational skills
Career and Scope
The career path after obtaining a degree in Arts and Humanities is diverse. Individuals can choose from various career paths, including:
- Journalist
- Reporter
- Content Writer
- Editor
- Public Relations Associate
- Clinical Social Worker
- School Social Worker
- Mental Health Social Worker
- Child & Family Social Worker
- Historian
- Interpreter
- Civil Services
- International Relations
- Event Planning
- Public Administration
It is noteworthy that there are numerous other job opportunities and sectors offering a wide range of positions for graduates with a degree in Arts and Humanities. Some of the sectors where graduates can find employment include:
- Educational Institutes
- Media Houses
- Foreign Affairs
- Export Companies
- Law Firms
- Human Resources
- Administrative Departments
- Archaeology
On average, the salary for a fresh graduate in Arts and Humanities ranges from INR 2.5 LPA to INR 5 LPA, with an average salary of around INR 4 LPA.
Students can also pursue higher studies such as post-graduation and Ph.D. degrees thereafter.
