BA History

Are you interested in knowing about the past and how it connects to our contemporary world? Do you wish to turn your love for History into a career? History is a subject that is filled with the intriguing stories of Ancient India, Freedom Struggles, Indian National Movement, Nelson Mandela’s efforts to end Apartheid, causes of the French Revolution, Hilter’s thinking, Nazi ideology, History of Indian Art, and much more. Amongst many, BA History is one such course that allows you to tour an incredibly heterogeneous range of historical events and their accurate backdrop. Let’s discover the field of history and the career prospects that it has to offer.

Course Name	BA History
Full-Form	Bachelor of Arts in History
Level of Course	Undergraduate (UG)
Duration	3 years
Eligibility	10+2 qualified students with at least 50% aggregate marks
Admission Process	Merit + Entrance based
Examination Type	Semester Exams
Average Course Fee	INR 15,000 to INR 3 lakhs in India (and more if planning to pursue the course abroad)
Starting Average Salary	INR 3 – 7 lakhs per annum

Also, check out our blog on What Can You Do With a History Degree? 

What is BA History?

BA History or Bachelor of Arts in History is an undergraduate course to study the evolution of human civilization from prehistory to the present times. This 3 to 4-year degree offers detailed research of major historical events that took place within a country and across the world. 

Why Pursue BA History? 

• Your existence is what makes you connected to your past. History helps you understand how the society we live in came to existence.
• How is the Indian culture different from the West? It opens the gate for you to perceive various cultures around you. 
• As a student of BA History, you will come to know about how nations developed, about heroes of the past, and much more.
• History is the study of transformation wherein you’ll understand the mechanism driving change and its significance in the present time.

Basic Fields of Study in BA History

You will get to understand and learn various aspects of national and world history through the BA History program. However, since History is an umbrella term for vast domains and areas of study, the syllabus can vary from one country to another.

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Eligibility Criteria

• You must have qualified 10+2 or equivalent with Arts stream subjects from a recognized board.
• You are required to clear examinations like SAT or ACT if you want to study abroad, particularly, in the USA and Canada.
• You also need to secure a good score in English proficiency tests like TOEFL, IELTS, PTE to enroll in a BA History course.
• Some universities may also require proficiency in their official language in order to study in that particular country.

Subjects in BA History

When it comes to the subjects taught in this program, it is important to note that the curriculum will vary from one country to another. For instance, in India, the focus will be mainly on Indian history along with the major political and socio-economic developments that took place across the world. However, this will be different when you will study abroad. Not only will you get to learn about the history of the country you will study in but will also gain knowledge on the History of Asia, Africa, Europe, etc. So, here are the common subjects which will be covered in the BA History course:

• Ancient Indian History
• Medieval India
• Transformation from Modern to Present India
• Ancient World History
• Political Theory
• Pre and Post Colonisation
• USA and USSR History
• European Integration and Transformation
• History of Latin America
• African History
• World Politics

Note: This is a generalised list. The subjects as well as the BA History syllabus will vary from one country and university to another.

BA History Syllabus

The list of subjects that are taught in BA in History courses are tabulated below:

Subject	Particulars
History of India (from Ancient up to 600 AD)	Religious Development Aspects of Society Age of the Guptas Mauryan and Post Mauryan Era Vedic Corpus and Transition to Janapadas and Mahajanapadas Harappan Civilization Pre – Historic Hunter-Gatherers Reconstructing Ancient Indian History
History of India (from 600 AD to 1500 AD)	Institutional Structure (Varna System) Cave Architecture Polity Sanskrit Literature Temple Indian & Oceanic Trade Urban Centres Agricultural Expansion Ghaznavi & Ghori’s Invasion of India The Emergence of Major Political Centres – Peninsular India Arab, Bengal and Kannauj
History of India (1500 AD to 1800 AD)	Society, Religion and Culture in Mughal India The Mughal Empire Economy In Mughal India Crisis of the Mughal EmpireIdeology and State in Mughal India
History of India (1800 AD to Modern times)	Partition of India Communal Politics Post War Upsurges Pre-War Political Developments New Trends in National Movements The Gandhian Era Indian Nationalism Colonial Intervention and Growth of Modern Education Revolt of 1857 Early Resistance to Colonial Rule Rural Economy & Society Socio-Religious Movements in India East India Company – Theory of Rent
Ancient World History	Political, Sociological and Cultural History of Rome Macedonia Expansion Political History of Greece Major Centres of Ancient Mediterranean World – Persia Egypt and Mesopotamia Polis in Ancient Greece Slave Society in Ancient Greece Nomadic groups in Ancient and Central Asia Bronze Age Civilization Paleolithic & Mesolithic Cultures
Transformation of Europe	English Civil war of the 17th Century Europe Scientific Revolution Renaissance Humanism Economy of 17th Century Proto Industrialization Renaissance Economic Expansion of Europe in the 16th Century The economy in the 15th Century Development of the National Monarchy Fall of Constantinople Economic Crisis of the 14th Century Crisis of Feudalism Nature of Feudal Society
European History	Anglo – German Antagonism Age of Imperialism The Third Republic, German Reich and Paris Commune Rise of Working Class Movement and Socialist through Arts and Culture, Religion and Science of 18th Century Europe Industrialization of Europe France Under the IInd Empire Russian Modernization Unification of Italy and Germany The Emergence of Non-Nation States in Central Europe The Vienna Congress French Revolution of Napoleon Bonaparte Understanding the 18th Century Europe, Social Economic and Political Background to French Revolution
World Politics	Truman Doctrine Cold War United Nations Organization US Foreign Policy The Great Depression Reunification of Germany Indo-Pakistan Relations The League of Nations
History of East Asia	The emergence of Japan as an Imperial Power Economic Modernization Popular and Democratic Movements Meiji Restoration Japan – Pre-Restoration Period Nationalism and Communism in China Colonial Penetration in China China and Pre Colonial China
History of the United States of America	Making of the Republic Religious, Cultural and Intellectual Trends Women’s Movement Afro-American Movements US Imperialism Civil War and Industrial America Early Capitalism Evolution of American Democracy
History of Latin America	Economic Transformations Assertion of the US Hegemony Bolivar’s Vision Conquest of America and its Repercussions

Explore the Different Branches of History: Cultural, Political & More

Top Entrance Exams

Some colleges and universities give admission to students to their BA History course based on their performance in the entrance examination. They are mentioned below:

• JNUEE 2022: The JNUEE is conducted by the Jawaharlal Nehru University for various undergraduate and postgraduate programs. 
• IPU CET 2022: The Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University conducts the exam IPU CET. This exam is conducted online. It is a university level entrance examination. 
• DSAT 2022: The DSAT or the Dayananda Sagar Admission Test is conducted by the Dayananda Sagar University.

Admission Process

The admission process for the course BA History begins after the declaration of Class 12th examination results. The entire process is mentioned below:

• All aspiring candidates are supposed to fill up the application forms released by different colleges and universities. 
• After the application process is over, colleges let out their cut off marks or percentages for all aspiring students seeking admission in BA History.
• If your class 12th marks are the same as the desired cut off or in the same bracket, you will be granted admission.
• Certain universities and colleges conduct an entrance examination for which all candidates have to register themselves. Candidates are given admission to the course on the basis of their performance in the entrance exam. 

Check out Best Books on Indian History

Top Universities Abroad for BA History

Apart from academic institutions like Harvard University, University of Chicago, LSE, Yale University, University of Cambridge, etc, which have etched their name in global rankings, here is a list of some of the top universities offering BA History and various specializations.

Universities	Location	Course
Michigan State University	USA	BA Global History
University of Toronto	Canada	BA [Hons] History
University of New South Wales	Australia	Bachelor of Arts and Business in History
Humboldt University of Berlin	Germany	BA Historical Sciences
Trinity College Dublin	UK	BA in Classical CivilisationBA in Classics, Ancient History, and Archaeology
Australian National University	Australia	BA Ancient History
University of Bristol	UK	BA [Hons] Ancient History
University of California, Los Angeles	USA	BA History
National University of Singapore	Singapore	BA/BA [Hons] History
Johns Hopkins University	USA	BA-MA Accelerated Program

Top Colleges in India

Various colleges in India offer BA History. They are tabulated below.

Name Of The College/ University	Admission Procedure	Average Annual Fees (In INR)
St. Xaviers College, Mumbai	Merit-Based	INR 5,537
Nizam College, Hyderabad	Merit-Based	INR 4,600
Madras Christian College, Chennai	Merit-Based	INR 7,500
Jai Hind College, Mumbai	Merit-Based	INR 5,635
Lady Brabourne College, Kolkata	Merit-Based	INR 8,325
Fergusson College, Pune	Merit-Based	INR 9,245
Hansraj College, New Delhi	Merit-Based	INR 18,895
Christ University, Bangalore	Merit-Based	INR 25,000
Kristu Jayanti College, Bangalore	Merit-Based	INR 53,000

BA History Colleges in Delhi 

1. Lady Shri Ram College for Women
2. Miranda House
3. St. Stephens College
4. Hansraj College
5. Vivekananda College

BA History Colleges in Mumbai

1. Sophia College for Women
2. SK Somaiya Degree College for Arts Commerce and Science
3. St Xaviers College
4. Jaihind College
5. Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College

BA History Colleges in Pune

1. Fergusson College
2. St. Mira’s College for Girls
3. Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce
4. Abeda Inamdar Senior College
5. Poona College of Arts Science and Commerce

BA History Colleges in Kolkata 

1. Presidency University
2. St Xavier’s College
3. Jadavpur University
4. Bethune College
5. Loreto College

BA History Colleges in Bangalore

1. Christ University
2. Kristu Jayanti College
3. Universal Group of Institutions
4. Jyoti Nivas College
5. MES College of Arts Commerce and Science

Distance Education

Certain universities provide the course BA History to students who cannot get admission in regular courses. They are tabulated below. 

Name Of University	Location	Average Fees
Osmania University	Hyderabad	INR 10,200
Annamalai University	Annamalai	INR 7,350
IGNOU	New Delhi	INR 7,200
Tamil Nadu Open University	Chennai	INR 6,600
The University Of Mumbai, Institute Of Distance And Open Learning	Mumbai	INR 10,835

Scope of BA History

History is a wide subject that takes you on a journey of mankind and develops your insight into the future of civilization. If you are someone who gets curious about figuring out the larger picture of how the world has evolved, you can further pursue a master’s degree in history and research in their chosen specialization. Some of the study programs to gain advanced knowledge in this field are:

• Master of Arts or MA History
• Master in History (Global History and International Relations)
• Master of Philosophy or M.Phil in History
• Doctor of Philosophy in History or Ph.D. in History
• Diploma in History
• Diploma in Archaeology
• Diploma in Epigraphy
• Diploma in Museology
• Diploma in Museum Administration, Museum Modeling
• Postgraduate Diploma in Archaeology, Ancient Culture, and History
• Postgraduate Diploma in Archaeology, Museology
• Postgraduate Diploma in Archives Keeping

Understand the History of English Literature

Job Opportunities after BA History

History consists of the study of cultures and societies of the past. It is quite interesting to know that studying this subject opens up fantastic job avenues. Below is a list of job opportunities that you can explore as a BA History graduate.

• Historian
• Archaeologist
• Auctioneer
• Museologist
• Museum Curator
• Archivist
• History Expert
• Teacher or Professor
• Civil Service
• Social Worker
• Journalists
• Executive or Associate in KPOs
• Travel and Tourism Expert
• Librarian
• Politician
• Public Relations Officer
• Records Manager

Salary Trends after BA History

Some of the job profiles, along with their recent average base salaries are included below to give you a better idea of the profession’s future prospects:

Job Profile	Average Base Salary in INR
Archaeologists	3.5 lakhs to 4.8 lakhs
Historians	6 lakhs to 8 lakhs
Teachers	3.8 lakhs to 6.2 lakhs
Auctioneers	5 lakhs to 7 lakhs
Archivist	5.5 lakhs to 8 lakhs

FAQs

Studying History alters the way individuals view the world around them. If you are someone who has a strong desire to study history and is willing to develop a set of skills in a challenging but supportive environment, a degree in BA History is the right way to kickstart your career. The mentors and experts at Leverage Edu can help you choose a university that will resonate with your passion for history.