EDUCATION

What Are the Career Options for Students in Humanities and Social Sciences?

What-Are-the-Career-Options-for-Students-in-Humanities-and-Social-Sciences

Many people think that you get more opportunities by choosing the Science stream at the 10+2 level. The Arts stream is vilified in our country, similarly, with many people under the misconception that it cannot lead to great careers. Also known as humanities and social sciences, this stream generally includes academic disciplines such as Psychology, Economics, Philosophy, Languages, etc.

There are a great many such disciplines with the broad umbrella of humanities and social sciences umbrella, all of which instil strong communication skills, critical thinking skills, as well as ethical values such as tolerance, empathy, etc. As a whole, the best arts colleges in bhopal  (previously: liberal arts) offer students a great range of opportunities in many sectors. In this blog, we will discuss some of the most common jobs and industries these courses can unlock for you.

The Various Types and Levels of Liberal Arts Courses

Humanities and Social Science studies encompass such a wide range of subjects that it is impossible to list every course that might be offered in colleges and universities across the country. These various courses are also offered at different levels for the student to have flexibility.

Here is a table to give you a quick overview of humanities and social sciences courses in general.

Stream Humanities and Social Sciences (Liberal Arts)
Types Full-time, Part-time, Distance, Online
Levels Diploma, BA, MA, PhD
Duration 1 – 4 years (depending on the type)
Eligibility 50% or more in the qualifying exam
Admission Process Merit or Entrance Exams
Common Academic Subjects English, Philosophy, History, Economics, Geography, Foreign Languages, Sociology, etc.
Common Professional Subjects Social Work, Digital Marketing, Journalism, Public Administration, Hotel Management, etc.
Common Areas of Employment Marketing, Education, Civil Services, Armed Forces, Journalism, Tourism, Hospitality, Human Resources, etc.

Eligibility Criteria and Duration

Let us now discuss in greater detail the various eligibility criteria students have to fulfill to get into the various types of courses this stream offers by ba colleges in bhopal, and also their duration. Of course, some colleges take admission to their department of humanities and social sciences on the basis of entrance examination, but those are few and far between. Most colleges only require the following:

Type of Course Eligibility Criteria Duration
Diploma Pass marks in the qualifying examination (usually 10+2 exams) 6 months – 2 years
Bachelor’s Degree (BA) 50% or more in 10+2 exams 3 – 4 years
Master’s Degree (MA) 50% or more in relevant subjects upon graduation 2 years
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) 50% or more in post-graduation 2 – 5 years

Subjects

While we have mentioned the impossibility of attempting to list every humanities subject that are offered in colleges and universities around the world, we list some of the more common ones in our country. Some common Humanities and Social Sciences subjects in India, that can be found at Mansarovar Global University – the best university in Bhopal, include the following:

  • English
  • Hindi
  • History
  • Sociology
  • Home Science
  • Political Science
  • Economics
  • Geography
  • Social Work
  • Public Administration
  • Rural Development
  • Human Rights

Career Options

Career opportunities for graduates of social sciences & humanities abound in the market. They can find employment in many industries, across various roles. The robust communication skills as well as critical thinking and problem-solving skills that these students typically exhibit make them prime candidates for a lot of creative, research, and other jobs that require good communication.

Fields of Employment

Let us now look at some of the main fields, subfields, and some common roles in that field that graduates of this stream usually work in.

  • Psychology– Counselors, Clinical Psychologists, Human Resource Specialists, Life Coaches, Career Counselors, Research Analysts, Family Therapists, etc.
  • Law – Corporate Counsel, Litigation, Legal Publishing, Legal Media, Lecturer, Tax Laws, Intellectual Rights, International Human Rights, Criminal Law, etc.
  • History –Archivist, Lecturer, Analyst, Lobbyist, Historian, etc.
  • Archaeology –Numismatist, Epigraphist, Archivist, Museologist, Art Conservation and Restoration
  • Political Science and International Relations –Lobbyist, Political Analyst, Lawyer, Research Assistant, Diplomat, Intelligence Specialist, etc.
  • Hotel Management –Front Office Operations, Event Management, Restaurant Operations, Food and Beverage Production, etc.
  • Mass Communications and Journalism –Journalism, Public Relations, Editing, Content Writing, Broadcasting and Production, Copywriting, Event Management, etc.
  • Economics –Banking, Research, Financial Consultancy, Government Ministries, Insurance, Accounting, Analyst, Risk Advisory, Policy Making, etc.
  • Civil Services –Indian Administrative Services (IAS), Indian Police Services (IPS), Indian Foreign Services (IFS), Indian Revenue Services (IRS), etc.
  • Social Services –CSR (Corporate Social Services), Rehabilitation, Awareness Programs, Volunteering, Elderly Care, etc.
  • Languages –Translator, Lexicographer, Teacher, Foreign linguist, Writer, etc.
  • Sociology –Sociologist, Guidance Counselor, Human Resources, Market Research, Public Relations, Media Strategy.

Common Job Roles and their Salaries

We have also compiled a table of some common jobs that arts humanities and social sciences students often pursue along with their average salaries to give you a better idea about the career prospects of this stream.

Job Role Average Annual Salary (INR)
Diplomat 12 LPA
International Relations Specialist 6.63 LPA
Psychologist 8 LPA
Translator 3.6 LPA
Social Worker 3.6 LPA
Journalist 2 LPA
Hospitality Executive 2.7 LPA
Lawyer 5.2 LPA
Lecturer 11 LPA

Conclusion

As you have seen, the public knowledge that humanities and social sciences courses do not yield good careers is just a misconception. So many colleges and universities in our country continue to offer these courses not because they have nothing better to do, but because of the diversity of career paths (or the option to focus on one specific sub-disciple of a subject, if they choose to) they offer students. Along with the diversity of choices, comes very reasonable salaries which only increase as you get more and more experience in the field you’re working in. That sounds like a win-win to us!

FAQs

  1. In which sector do Humanities and Social Sciences graduates mostly find jobs?

Humanities and Social Sciences graduates mostly find jobs in the private sector these days.

  1. Are Government jobs better for graduates of Humanities and Social Sciences courses?

Yes. Though the matter of which sector is better for graduates of Humanities and Social Sciences courses is subjective, government jobs come with higher salaries and more benefits than those in the private sector.

  1. What is the scope of a BA in English?

The scope of a BA in English can go far – you could get into content writing, advertising, teaching (with a subsequent degree), research, copywriting, civil services, etc.

  1. How to get government jobs after BA?

You can get various types of government jobs after completing your BA by sitting for their respective exams. Some of the common ones include RRB, UPSC, CHSL, SET, etc.