Humanities vs Commerce: Which Stream is Right for You?

6 minute read
Humanities vs Commerce

Almost every student in India, after passing the 10th class exam, experiences a confusing state of mind regarding whether to pursue a Humanities or Commerce stream. Course availability and job opportunities are immense in both fields; still, there are some other factors that should be analysed while making the most important educational decision in life. Commerce is a stream that deals with numbers, calculations, and analysis primarily, while Humanities deals with the study of Art, Music, Literature and History. Let’s learn the difference between these prominent streams – Humanities vs Commerce in a better way to make an informed decision.

CriteriaHumanities Commerce
SubjectsHindi, History, English, Geography, Political Science, LawEconomics, Business Studies, Accountancy, Mathematics
Best For Writing, Teaching, Media, Communication, LegalBusiness, Entrepreneurship, Management, Accounting
Toughness LevelLesser tough than CommerceTougher than Humanities
Skill RequiredCreativity, Visualization, Critical Thinking, CommunicationCalculations, Deep Analysis, Critical Thinking, Communication
Professional CoursesBA, LLB, Journalism, MA, Mass CommunicationB.Com, BBA, M.Com, MBA
Career Education, Creative Arts, Journalism, ResearchCA, CS, CFA, Economist, and Research.

What is the Humanities?

The humanities are the discipline that studies human society and its cultural aspects. Humanities include the study of both historical and geographical aspects of ancient and modern culture,  language and literature. It deals with critical and speculative deep research and analysis. Humanities help us to understand the political, legal and economic systems of any society and community.

Benefits of Studying Humanities

So, if you are interested in the study of culture, literature and history, then look at the benefits of studying Humanities:

  • Humanities help the reader to get aware of different languages, cultures and traditions from history.
  • It builds up writing skills, analytical skills and critical thinking skills.
  • Humanities provide an opportunity to understand the origin as well as the development of different cultures.
  • It makes us understand and importance of values like altruism, generosity, compassion and charity.
  • A democratic system cannot flourish without the existence of the Humanities.

What is Commerce?

Commerce is one of the most popular streams among students. The students having an interest in numbers, calculation and big data analysis opt for the commerce field. The Commerce stream deals with the study of the analytical part of business, economy, banking and finance. It gives immensely interesting as well as challenging opportunities for the students to deal with.

Benefits of Studying Commerce

Look at the benefits of studying commerce for students in the points mentioned below:

  • The Commerce stream helps the students to get knowledge about Business, Economy and Finance.
  • It is a diverse field that helps students choose a plethora of career options in the job market.
  • Commerce professionals get good perks and benefits in the sector, like stock markets, banking and business.

Humanities vs Commerce – Skills Required

Both the streams of Humanities and Commerce demand completely different skill sets from the students. Here are some skills that are required in Humanities and Commerce, and the difference between them

Humanities Humanities students are required to be creative and comfortable with deep research work. The humanities stream demands critical thinking about the subject matter.
CommerceCommerce students need to love numbers and have great analytical abilities in order to pursue disciplines like accounting, maths and finance. The student must be able to easily arrange facts most effectively.

Subjects in Humanities 

Some of the general subjects which Humanities stream students study are mentioned below.

  • Hindi
  • Sanskrit
  • English
  • History
  • Geography
  • Political Science
  • Home Science
  • Law
  • Languages
  • Psychology
  • Philosophy
  • Sociology
  • Fashion
  • Physical Education

Subjects in Commerce 

Some of the general subjects which Commerce stream students study are mentioned below.

  • Mathematics
  • Business Studies
  • Accountancy
  • Statistics
  • English
  • Information Practices
  • Computer
  • Entrepreneurship

Also Read: Subjects in Commerce Stream

UG Courses after Humanities

Humanities is the stream that provides immense, versatile opportunities to students who have an interest in creative learning and detailed research. Humanities stream students get immense opportunities both in the public as well as private sectors. Here is a list of the courses available both nationally and globally to pursue humanities courses at the UG level after class 12th.

  • B.A. English
  • B.A. Political Science 
  • B.A. Sociology 
  • B.A.  Economics
  • B.A. Geography
  • B.A. History
  • B.A. Journalism and Mass Communication
  • B.A. Hindi and other language courses
  • B.A. Fine Arts 
  • B.A. Performing Arts 
  • B.A. Liberal Arts
  • B.A. Film Studies
  • B.A. Psychology
  • B.A. Social Work 
  • B.A. Philosophy
  • B.A. Applied Psychology
  • B.A. Linguistics 
  • B.A. Digital Media and Communication 
  • B.A. Program with 2-3 subject concentrations
  • Bachelor in Culinary Arts 
  • Bachelor of Social Work 
  • Bachelor of Interior Design 
  • Bachelor of Travel and Tourism Management 
  • Bachelor of Event Management 
  • B.A. Journalism and Mass Communication (BJMC) 
  • Bachelor of Fashion Design 
  • Bachelor of Design 
  • Bachelor of Design in Animation
  • B.A. LLB. 
  • B.B.A.
  • B. Library Science 
  • Bachelor of Hotel Management (B.H.M) 
  • B.Sc. Nutrition and Dietetics
  • B. El. Ed or Bachelor in Elementary Education 

UG Courses after Commerce

Commerce is the stream that provides immense challenging opportunities to students who have an interest in numbers, calculations and mathematical analysis. Commerce stream students get immense opportunities both in the public as well as private sectors. Here is a list of the courses available both nationally and globally to pursue commerce courses at the UG level after class 12th.

  • B.Com
  • Bachelors of Business Administration
  • Economics 
  • Business Studies
  • Management Studies
  • Banking
  • Accounting
  • Investment Banking
  • Chartered Accountant
  • Company Secretary
  • Finance
  • Statistics
  • Bachelor of Hotel Management
  • Bachelor of Product Design
  • Mathematics
  • Stockbroking

Career Scope in Humanities vs Commerce

Choosing between the humanities and commerce can shape your future career path. Both streams offer diverse opportunities, but lead to different roles. Let’s explore the career scope in humanities vs commerce to help you decide wisely.

Humanities Career Scope

Here we have mentioned the career scope after studying Humanities which students can refer to while choosing between humanities vs commerce.

  • Teacher
  • Historian
  • Writer
  • Artist
  • Political Analyst
  • Social Scientist
  • Copy Writer
  • Civil Servant
  • Archaeologist
  • Social Activist
  • Lawyer
  • Psychologist
  • International Relation Expert
  • Hospitality Professional
  • Tour and Travel Guide
  • Art & Craft Expert
  • Artist

Also Read: List of Courses After 10th Standard

Commerce Career Scope

Many students who choose commerce as their career stream should know about the scope. Here we have mentioned the scope for students in commerce stream.

  • Accountant
  • Business Executive
  • Finance Executive
  • Finance Manager
  • Stromectol
  • Bank Manager
  • Marketing Professional
  • Sales Executive
  • Compliance Officer
  • Cost Accountant
  • Computer Programmer
  • IT Professional
  • Software Developer
  • Business Analyst
  • Company Secretary
  • Chartered Accountant

Also Read: Arts Stream Subjects 2025: Complete Guide for Students

FAQs

What are the main skills taught by Humanities?

Creative Thinking, Communication Skills, Critical Thinking, Detailed Analysis and Assumption are some main skills taught by Humanities.

What are the main skills taught by Commerce?

Analytical Skills, Problem Solving, Numbers and Calculations, and Multitasking are some of the main skills taught by Commerce.

What is the third stream out of three streams after Humanities and Commerce?

There are three streams, Humanities, Commerce and Science in which students get enrolled for their Higher Secondary education.

Which type of stream is best?

The best stream depends on your interests and career goals. Choose what you enjoy and where your strengths lie, whether it’s science, commerce, or humanities.

Which is better, commerce or art?

Neither is better overall; commerce suits business-minded students, while the arts are ideal for creative and analytical thinkers. Pick the stream that matches your skills and future ambitions.

Related Reads:

List of Humanities Subjects for Class 11th and 12th StudentsUniversities in Australia Without Application Fees for International Students
Career Options After 12th Arts in 2025Best Career Options after BSc Maths
Commerce Subjects in Class 11: With and Without MathematicsTop Courses After 12th Science with High Salary

If you want to get admission into a high-ranked foreign university in any of these major streams, like Humanities or Commerce, you’ll need more than just good grades. You’ll also need a flawless application because the competition is fierce. You may enlist the assistance of Leverage Edu specialists to assist you with the application process so that you can realize your goals. Call us immediately at 1800 57 2000 for a free 30-minute counselling session.

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