What is Humanities & Social Sciences?: Course Fees 2026, Subjects, Top Colleges, Admissions

Yes, Humanities and Social Sciences subjects like History, Political Science, Geography, Economics, and Public Administration are considered good scoring papers in UPSC Mains exam as optional subjects and also provide considerable weightage and marks advantage in UPSC Prelims exam. 

Many UPSC aspirants consider taking Humanities and Social Sciences stream subjects as UPSC Mains optionals for better score and success in the exam. 

Students can learn more information about UPSC exam from below link:

IAS Syllabus 2025 for Prelims and Mains exam

There are several Humanities courses available after completing the 12th grade, including Certificate, Diploma, PG Diploma, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and Doctoral degrees.  Humanities courses offer a variety of chances, such as polishing and enabling the necessary abilities to participate in the most difficult government exams or establish professional job-related skills.

Students who complete their Courses after 12th Arts have a variety of professional opportunities available to them, ranging from editor, multimedia professional, digital marketing expert, and archivist, to analyst, psychologist, and data linguist.

Social science is the study of human society and its aspects. It is a big subject which explores the cultures, societies, and languages of humans throughout history and focuses on:

Societies and Individuals

Human Behavior

Social Systems

Yes, it is a good option to pursue Humanities and Social Sciences course since it imparts knowledge pertaining to human behavior, society, culture, and ethics. These courses pave way to make careers in fields of education, public policy, law, social work, and media.

In short, these course readies students to handle complex social challenges, and therefore opens up multiple career choices.

Yes, you are eligible to pursue BA Political Science after completing Class 12 in any stream. 

Every university has set eligibility criteria, however, the standard criteria is that the candidate should have completed their Class 12 from a recognised board and should have secured a minimum of 55% aggregate to apply for BA in Political Science. Political Science courses are in high demand in the country.

Political Science is a social Science subject that instructs students on state, national, and local politics. Courses in political Science are provided at the undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and certificate levels. 

The candidate should have done their graduation in BA Sociology/BA (Hons) Sociology or should have done their BA in a similar field from a recognised university and should have secured a minimum of 55% aggregate. There is no upper age limit for the programme. The MA in Sociology discusses the evolution of society and the issues it has faced since ancient times. Students that are well-educated and learn the necessary abilities might overcome these obstacles by developing various approaches. Relevant Link: Master of Arts (MA) Course Details

Delhi University (DU) offers a wide range of UG and PG courses for humanities and social Science students. Admission is done basis CUET. 
For students, it is required to register on DU admission portal and apply for CUET, along with making relevant selection of chosen subjects. Basic eligibility includes Class 12 pass with minimum 50% marks in the best of four subjects. Once CUET results are out, DU releases merit lists and summon students to participate in the counselling process for seat allocation. Students who lack in the qualifying score and also cover the gap by applying for extracurricular and sports quotas.

CUET UG is a nationally administered entrance by the NTA. It is for undergraduate admissions in participating institutes. 
It is a unified platform to seek admission into undergraduate programs offered by leading colleges in India. 
Annually, the CUET exam spans over 500 cities in India and abroad, utilizing a computer-based mode. The examination is organized in multiple phases.

Some of the common options available for UG courses in Humanities and Social Sciences are tabulated below:

Hi,

To answer your question, sharing the options available for PG courses in Humanities and Social Sciences stream for humanities UG students:

Elective subjects are subjects that are part of a course curriculum that do not cover the core concepts related to the course. These subjects are usually choice-based. These subjects are related to the core subjects or the career path one can pursue after completing the course. 

In Humanities and Social Science subjects,  there are more theoretical aspects that need to be learned and analysed. Simply the reason why there are higher studies and students can do research work through programmes such as Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Humanities courses use interpretive approaches in which critical thinking is used to consider various ideas/ideologies. It also focuses on providing insight into themes such as the human condition and ethics. Students who pursue humanities classes after the 12th grade get in-depth knowledge of numerous areas of society such as historical events, human behavior, and the relationships between various groups.

Here are several colleges that offer Humanities and Social Science courses with an affordable fee structure:

There are several colleges that offer lucrative packages during placement sessions in colleges. Some of these are as follows:

Humanities as a stream provides a wide range of courses that can be studied after completing their 12th grade. Pursuing any of these degrees prepares you to understand the various levels of humanities and, as a result, carve out an appropriate job path. Candidates in the humanities can apply for positions in the government sector, such as banking firms, government ministries, legal firms, and political analysts.

Content Writer, Civil Services, Human Resource Manager, Defense Services, Lawyer, Journalist, Counsellor, and Therapist positions are available. As freshers, humanities graduates can expect to earn between INR 2-6 LPA.

Students can apply for jobs, however, it is advisable to continue with your further studies as History is mostly based on theoretical aspect. Through higher studies, one can narrow down on what course they would like to specialise in and then make a career in. In terms of graduate employment options, the BA History scope is one of the most diversified. The following are the employment options for BA History graduates: 

Social Science and Humanities both are branches of study that deal with human life and nature. Their techniques and focus, however, differ. The systematic and scientific study of social, cultural, psychological, political, and economic elements that influence human actions and decisions is known as social science.

Social Sciences has a scientific approach that requires research work that includes subjects such as History, Philosophy, Anthropology, Political Science, and more. Humanities is the critical and analytical examination of human culture, values, heritage, arts, literature, and philosophy. Humanities cater to subjects such as Law, Linguistics, Languages, and Economics. Check History Courses.

Yes, definitely. A graduate in BA (Hons) in Humanities and Social Sciences is an extremely beneficial base of pursuing IAS later. Since this subject provides solid foundation and understanding of subjects such as history, political science, sociology, and economics, which are also a crucial to prepare for Civil Services Examination.

Students who study and gain a comprehensive understanding of societal issues have exposure to diverse perspectives which aid in enhancing knowledge and skills which a must for clearing IAS exam.

There are several reasons why candidates prefer to pursue Humanities and Social Science courses. Some of these are as follows:

• Professionals who have completed their degrees in the humanities and social sciences have a wide range of career options.
• There are various job profiles accessible in both the private and public sectors, which draw students towards this course. Journalism, Social sector, creative arts, and civil service are just a few of the intriguing career paths available to professionals.
• The Humanities centre on art,  music, and literature, on the other hand, the Social Sciences focus on anthropology, archaeology, and politics.
• Many humanities and social Science graduates want to work in the social sector and help less fortunate people live better lives. Working opportunities exist with NGOs, Social Welfare Organisations,  Anthropology, Non-Profit Organisations, and a variety of other groups.

Students can go for undergraduate courses in Humanities and Social Sciences after 10+2. Later, they can also pursue a postgraduate degree for enhanced knowledge. Humanities programmes teach students to think creatively, reason critically, and ask the best questions, all of which are necessary skills for success in a variety of fields ranging from art and music to business and politics.

They also teach about civilisations and how they have changed through time, allowing kids to learn about communication, the production of ideas and information, how society functions, behaviour patterns and problems, historical and cultural events, and human interactions and relationships.

Humanities and Social Sciences courses offer numerous benefits which include developing critical thinking, and fostering cultural awareness. These courses also entail understanding of diverse perspectives and offers diverse electives and stream choices. 
Students have the option of taking up career in law, education, media, social work, and public policy.

As a matter of fact, all these courses favor the skills that include ethical reasoning and adaptability, which are extremely valued in a rapidly changing world. As discussed, the benefits of doing Humanities and Social Sciences courses enable the students to navigate and impact society positively on multiple levels.