Class 12 Arts & Humanities: The Arts & Humanities are defined as any study of human traditions & culture. Courses after 12th humanities include the study of art, music, theater, history, philosophy, sociology, law, literature, language, and basically, anything having to do with human experience.
Study of humanities are mankind's attempt to answer the questions, "What does it mean to be human? Studying various 12th class arts subject and pursuing it for higher studies is our quest to find the meaning of life. Some of us have delved into science trying to find answers in atoms and cellular structure. Others try to talk out their thoughts, thus resulting in literature and music. Still, others use images to explore the meaning of life, thus resulting in visual art.
Gone are those days when only Science and Commerce were considered worthy of having a good career scope in the future. Over the past few years, courses after 12th humanities and arts are increasingly becoming popular career choices after 12th. This stream studies various disciplines such as language, human history, linguistics, anthropology, sociology, psychology, law, politics, literature, and philosophy.
Read the article till the end to be fully aware of the humanities job opportunities, and the top 10 arts colleges in India. Explore and understand the path, before you begin your journey.
The Humanities and Arts stream is particularly ideal for students who are aware of their surroundings and are eager to learn about world affairs, social issues, historical events, and society. As compared to science and commerce, students have fairly fewer number choices for 12th class arts subjects. The stream offers a plethora of 12th class arts subject choices including:
History |
Political Science |
Economics |
Geography |
Sociology |
Psychology |
In addition to these, one can opt for the optional subject choices from humanities. These include
Mathematics |
Home Science |
Legal Studies |
Fine Arts |
Physical Education |
Media Studies |
It is important to note that among 12th class arts subjects, humanities with Mathematics are increasingly becoming a popular choice of the stream as it opens the door to multiple scopes for humanities job opportunities. With the introduction of CUET, it has become even more important to have mathematics as one of your optional subjects if you want to pursue courses in Business, Economics, or Finance after the 12th.
This branch of undergraduate degree courses after 12th Humanities is offered by universities for Psychology enthusiasts. It focuses on the study of human behavior and the mind. It introduces students to different branches of psychology like criminal psychology, social, counseling, behavioral, group, etc. It opens various doors of scope for humanities job opportunities after your UG.
One of the popular courses after 12th Humanities, - BA Hons (Political Science), is a study of social science concerned with the state, government, and politics; it deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics and the analysis of political systems and political behavior. The scopes and humanities job opportunities in this subject are interesting and are talked about in detail in the table later. Explore and enroll in a UG course in this subject from one of the top 10 arts colleges in India to boost your career.
One of the popular courses after 12th Humanities, - BA Hons (Political Science), is a study of social science concerned with the state, government, and politics; it deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics and the analysis of political systems and political behavior. The scopes and humanities job opportunities in this subject are interesting and are talked about in detail in the table later. Explore and enroll in a UG course in this subject from one of the top 10 arts colleges in India to boost your career.
Among many available options for courses after 12th Humanities, a UG degree in sociology from one of the top 10 arts colleges in India is a popular choice. It is a 3-year undergraduate program that aims to understand how social structures, human relations, and the behavior of individuals influence civilizations and their cultures.
Bachelor degree courses after 12th humanities has to be a decision derived from your interest in and passion for the subject. BA (honours) in geography is a 3-year undergraduate course that spans 6 semesters. It deals with the earth and its different phenomena, features, and inhabitants. Check the list of top 10 arts colleges in India in the table below to understand the scopes and opportunities of getting a UG degree in geography from a top college.
It focuses on the key concepts of economics. Economics degree courses after 12th humanities are full of lucrative career options and opportunities. The course covers subjects like microeconomics, statistics, Indian economics, foreign trade, legal studies, money and banking, the economic history of India, money and financial markets, etc. DSE and SRCC are among the top 10 arts colleges in India, and pursuing an economics degree from these colleges will surely boost your career.
Now that we know the 12th class arts subjects, let’s quickly check out some of the popular courses after 12th humanities, top arts colleges in India, and humanities job opportunities for the students.
Course name |
Career options |
Best colleges |
BA(H) Psychology or B.Sc (H) Psychology |
Research Analysts |
University of Delhi (New Delhi) |
Clinical Psychologists |
Banaras Hindu University (Varanasi) |
|
Human Resource Specialists |
Jamia Millia Islamia (New Delhi) |
|
Forensic Psychologists |
Ambedkar University (New Delhi) |
|
Life Coaches |
Panjab University (Chandigarh) |
|
Lecturer/Professors |
||
Career Counselors |
||
BA(H) History |
Historian |
St. Stephens College (New Delhi) |
Lecturer |
Hindu College (New Delhi) |
|
News Reporters |
Lady Shri Ram College (New Delhi) |
|
Archivist |
Ashoka University (Haryana) |
|
Editors |
St. Xavier’s College (Mumbai) |
|
Analyst |
Loyola College (Chennai) |
|
Columnist |
Presidency College (Chennai) |
|
Archaeology |
Numismatist (studying old currency) |
Institute of Archaeology (New Delhi) |
Epigraphist (studying inscriptions or manuscripts) |
Department of Ancient Indian History Culture and Archaeology, Banaras Hindu University (Varanasi) |
|
Archivist (preserving information through proper documentation of evidence) |
School of Historical Studies, University of Madras (Chennai) |
|
Museologist (studying museums) |
Delhi Institute of Heritage Research and Management |
|
BA(H) Political Science |
Political Analyst |
Hindu College (New Delhi) |
Research Assistant |
Lady Shri Ram College for Women (New Delhi) |
|
Diplomat |
St. Xavier’s College (Kolkata/ Mumbai) |
|
Lobbyist |
Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi) |
|
Intelligence Specialist |
||
Economics |
Risk Advisory Associate |
Delhi School of Economics (New Delhi) |
Research Assistant |
Shri Ram College of Commerce (New Delhi) |
|
Policy Maker |
St. Stephens College (New Delhi) |
|
Analyst |
Ashoka University (Sonepat) |
|
Presidency College (Kolkata) |
||
Loyola College (Chennai) |
||
Social Services/Social Work |
journalist |
Delhi School of Social Work (New Delhi) |
human rights activist |
Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Mumbai/Guwahati) |
|
healthcare activist |
Christ University (Bangalore) |
|
You can work with NGOs and corporates on CSR projects |
Panjab University (Chandigarh) |
|
Madras School of Social Work (Chennai) |
||
Sociology |
Media Strategist |
Banaras Hindu University (Varanasi) |
Public Relations Professional |
Jamia Millia Islamia University (New Delhi) |
|
Policy Analyst |
University of Calcutta (Kolkata) |
|
Market Research Analyst |
University of Madras (Chennai) |
|
Guidance Counselor in the area of family conflicts |
Jesus & Mary College (New Delhi) |
|
Lady Shri Ram College (New Delhi) |
||
Hindu College (New Delhi) |
In this section, we have listed the top 10 arts colleges in India as ranked by the NIRF.
Ranking |
College name |
1 |
Miranda House College for Women, Delhi |
2 |
Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi |
3 |
Hindu College, Delhi |
4 |
St Stephen’s College, Delhi |
5 |
Presidency College, Chennai |
6 |
Loyola College, Chennai |
7 |
St Xavier’s College, Kolkata |
8 |
Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira, Howrah |
9 |
Hansraj College, Delhi |
10 |
PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore |
Some of the highest paying humanities job opportunities & career options are as follows:
Average salary: ₹77K/month (top 10 arts colleges in India 12th class arts subject)
Historians carry out field research, assess historical records and furnish an evaluation of past events with critical insights. They study the past by decoding the evidence found in written records or physical artifacts among other historical materials.
An appropriate 12th class arts subject and pursuing it in your higher studies from one of the top 10 arts colleges in India will be crucial for your career of being a historian.
Average salary: ₹6L/year
Art directors manage campaigns that focus on creativity and are in charge of design, illustrations, publishing, coordination, management of a team, devising strategies, and execution of campaigns. Art directors also collaborate with graphic designers and copywriters to work on marketing projects.
Choosing the ideal 12th class arts subject and continuing it in your UG from one of the top 10 arts colleges in India will be a huge boost for your career as an art director.
Average salary: ₹5.5L/year
Technical writers are responsible for writing instruction manuals, guides, and help sections on websites. They turn technical information into content that is simple to read and understand. They also interact with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to list out clear instructions for operation guides for consumers.
Enrolling in a suitable 12th class arts subject and a subsequent UG degree in the same from one of the top 10 arts colleges in India will be crucial for your success in this field.
Average salary: ₹4.7/year
Content marketing managers look after the planning, development, and implementation of different content strategies in a company. Through this, their aim is to achieve business targets by increasing brand awareness through engagement with the target audience.
Identify and choose the ideal 12th class arts subjects and pursue it in your higher studies to be a successful public relation manager.
Average salary: ₹31K/month
Foreign language teachers help students learn a new language. They are required to be thorough with their academic lessons which include grammar, composition, and pronunciation.
Choosing the ideal 12th class arts subject and continuing it in your UG from one of the top 10 arts colleges in India will be a huge boost for your career as a foreign language teacher.
Average salary: ₹26K/month
The job of a psychologist is to listen and assess the thoughts and emotions of their clients in order to provide support using therapies. Psychologists listen patiently to fully understand what is causing a patient's mental, emotional or behavioral block.
Various courses are available in the top 10 arts colleges in India, which can lead you to be a successful psychologist.
Average salary: ₹25K/month
Travel agents create travel plans for tourists and make other arrangements for them. They possess knowledge of famous tourist spots that can make the travel experience memorable.
An appropriate 12th class arts subject and pursuing it in your higher studies (UG & MBA) from one of the top universities will be crucial for you to be a successful travel agent.
Average salary: ₹22K/month
Copywriters work for a marketing or advertising agency and are tasked with writing captivating marketing and promotional materials. They write content for different company products and services to generate engagement.
Average salary: ₹21K/month
Their role may include the smooth functioning of everyday operations of a restaurant or hotel, management and supervision of the staff, and overseeing tasks like catering.
Enrolling in a suitable 12th class arts subject and a subsequent UG degree in the same from one of the top 10 arts colleges in India will be crucial for your success in this field.
Disclaimer: The salary figures mentioned above are approximate and just for your reference.
The face of higher (UG) education in India got completely revamped, with the introduction of CUET. More than 100 universities will be taking UG admissions solely through CUET 2023. To get to the top 10 arts colleges in India, it is necessary that you ramp up your preparation with a comprehensive and balanced study plan between your boards and CUET. Explore and enroll in one of the best courses after 12th humanities and leave no stone unturned to achieve the best for yourself.
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The courses a Humanities student can choose to study after class 12th includes B.A or Bsc. in Psychology, B.A in Sociology,B.A in Pol. Science,B.A in Geography,B.A or BSc. Economics etc. Students can also choose to go for B.A in liberal Arts.
Several colleges and universities offer courses in Humanities. The top colleges offering admission in Humanities courses are mentioned below.
1.Lady Shri Ram College (LSR), New Delhi
2.Loyola College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
3.Miranda House, New Delhi
4.Presidency College, Chennai
5.St. Stephens College, New Delhi
There are separate requirements for different colleges.But many courses including BSc. Economics requires you to appear for the General test. So, it is better if you choose to prepare for General test as well, as it will help you to apply for more courses.
Only this year's data is available, and till now it seems that the level of Humanities subject is easy to moderate.
Yes, for a Humanities student it is advisable to prepare for English. Since, English is a very common subject asked by colleges for various courses a student should prepare for CUET English
Yes, taking up English, GT, domain subjects (Pol science, psychology, geography, economics etc.) and any two other domain subjects (from section 2) will help you the most and would ensure you have maximum options.
No, it won't be too difficult, so you don't need to panic. It will have aptitude based questions that can be tackled easily by students who know mathematical concepts till class 10th.
Scoring better in Boards will help you. For instance, in case there is a tie in your score and another candidate's score. So, for taking admission in DU colleges, it is nice that you do well in boards too.