DETAILS

The BA/B.Sc. in History program at UPES is a comprehensive four-year undergraduate program that provides students with a strong foundation in the study of history. The curriculum emphasizes the history of Modern and Contemporary South Asia, Global History, Intellectual Histories of the South, and the History and Philosophy of Science, Medicine, and Technology. The program aims to train students in historical methods and also emphasizes the importance of applying historical knowledge in public settings, going beyond traditional academia.

The program offers a well-rounded education in empirical historical research practices, with a particular focus on public and applied histories that contribute to a just and sustainable future. Students will gain a deep understanding of ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary periods, equipping them with the skills necessary to pursue careers as researchers, academics, administrators, and policymakers. Additionally, students majoring in History are encouraged to learn one modern Indian language and one European language, unless they are pursuing a second major in an allied discipline, in which case this requirement is waived.

One of the key strengths of the program lies in its distinguished faculty. The teachers are renowned academics with global recognition in their respective subjects. They have received training in historical studies from leading universities worldwide and are specialists in their areas of focus. In addition to teaching textual and archival research practices, the program places significant emphasis on developing skills that are vital for historians in a changing world, such as heritage conservation and policymaking.

Program Highlights

The BA/B.Sc. in History program emphasises on evidence-based research practices, equipping students with the necessary skills to conduct rigorous historical investigations.
Special program mentoring for students applying to prestigious MA and PhD programs in the top 250 global universities, providing guidance throughout the application process.
Faculty support and mentoring for students not interested in pursuing an academic career, assisting them in securing industry-specific roles through UPES' career services.
Original archival-field-based research thesis in the fourth year, followed by industry fellowship, leading to a 3+1 internationally recognized BSc degree.
Placement opportunities as fellows in esteemed institutions such as Vidhan Sabhas, State Archives, NGOs, Embassies, Thinktanks, and Publicly and Privately owned museums and archives.
Archival Ideation Lab offers specialized training in conducting original research in archives, providing access to a wide range of rare and exclusive documents from the eighteenth century to contemporary times.

Duration of Program

3+1 Years (6/8 Semesters) Optional

Seats

Details

PEO1	The students in the Applied and Public History programme would be able to connect empirical training with the political philosophies that drive modern societies. Knowledge and lessons from the past are imperative for a futuristic vision and the graduates of the History programme would be trained to become changemakers of the future.
PEO2	The field-based archival training, which is the founding idea of SoLS’ History programme, has also incorporated key focus areas of current research such as Science, Technology, and Society, Democracy, Misinformation, Migration, Conflict Resolution, and Decolonisation, locating them in the emerging economies.
PEO3	Besides being trained in handling a variety of archival materials such as official records, private papers, letters, and manuscripts, they would also be trained in handling the devices used in digital repositories
PEO4	Graduates would have learnt not just academic writing but also public writing, with an understanding of applied history informing policy debates
PEO5	Graduates of the programme would be skilled in reading against the grain both the animus and syncretic strands in our shared pasts
PEO6	Public Policy and Administration is also what the students in the programme would be trained in, through direct interactions with policy makers in various sectors

The BA/B.Sc. in History program offers students a comprehensive understanding of Indian history and research methodologies. Graduates will be equipped to analyze the connection between empirical training and modern political philosophies, making them valuable contributors to the future. The program focuses on emerging areas of research, including Science, Technology, Society, Democracy, Misinformation, Migration, Conflict Resolution, and Decolonisation. Field-based archival training ensures graduates are prepared for future learning and research. The program also emphasizes multilingual training, enabling students to analyze diverse data sets and archival sources related to South Asian histories. This comparative approach equips them with the skills to address socio-political and economic issues and find effective solutions. Graduates will be well-prepared for careers in academia, teaching applied history, as well as contributing to public history for the wider community. The program also cultivates public policy, public administration, and problem-solving skills through direct interactions with policymakers across various sectors.

The BA/B.Sc. in History program emphasizes the significance of engaging with history in the public sphere, extending beyond academia. This approach opens up opportunities for students to pursue MA/PhD positions in prestigious institutions worldwide. In India, where history plays a crucial role in public and administrative services, the undergraduate program at SoLS offers an in-depth focus on South Asia, making it an excellent choice for those aspiring to enter civil services. The program's emphasis on empiricism equips students for various roles in archival research-driven public and private sector organizations, including museums, galleries, journalism, policy think tanks and content creation for biopics and historical OTT platforms. With the increasing demand for archiving and repository management in the private sector, graduates from this program are well-suited for future employment. Furthermore, language training in Indian and European languages prepares students to become global citizens, making them suitable for international organizations like the UN, UNICEF, World Bank, and institutions focused on emerging economies.

The introduction of the BA/B.Sc. in History course at UPES is an exciting opportunity for students passionate about the study of history. A BA/B.Sc. in History equips students with a unique set of skills that are highly valued in numerous industries. The program fosters critical thinking, research capabilities, analytical skills, and a deep understanding of historical events and their impact on society. These skills are transferrable and can be applied to a wide range of career paths.

The minimum eligibility criteria for BA/B.Sc. in History to be fulfilled by interested students is as follows: 50% in 10th & 12th Any Stream

Math/Economics/ Political Science in 12th will be preferred.
Non-Mathematics background students will undergo the Remedial Mathematics module in Semester 1.

The process of selection criteria for students interested in pursuing BA/B.Sc. in History offered by UPES is based on the individual's performance in Aptitude Test / Valid JEE Score / CUET

The fee for the BA/B.Sc. in History course, intended for students who want to register, is presented in the table below.

BA/B.Sc. in History

Total Fee

INR 16,60,400

For further queries and course details, connect with us for a call back.

Core (54 credits)

History Electives (Single major Core + 54)

Sem – 1 (Course Credits: 3) credits. All courses in the first semester are foundational courses in SoLS.)

Ideas of India (3 credits)

Politics in India (3 credits) (From Political Science Foundational Course)

Sem – 2 (Course credits: 6)

Gandhian approaches to Peace and Conflict Studies (3 Credits)

Introduction to Political Economy (3 Credits) {Course recognised from Political Science Grid}

(Elective Course credits: 6)

Introductory Indian Language 1 (3 Credits): Marathi/ Gujarati/ Bengali/ Tamil/ Telugu/ Urdu

Introductory European Language 1 (3 Credits): Portuguese/ Dutch/ French

Sem – 3 (Course credits: 9)

History of Ideas (South Asia) c. 1500 BC to 1947 (3 credits)

Connected Political Histories of the Twentieth Century: India and the World, 1914 - 1991 (3 credits)

History of Contemporary India, 1947 – 2000 (3 credits)

(Elective Course credits: 9)

Intermediate Indian Language (3 Credits): Marathi/ Gujarati/ Bengali/ Tamil/ Telugu/ Urdu

Intermediate European Language (3 Credits): French / Portuguese/ Dutch

Institutions of Culture and Making of Modern India (3 credits)

Sem -4 (Course Credits: 12)

Global Migration and Citizenship (3 Credits)

Approaches to Historical Research (3 credits)

From Rebellion to the Struggle for Freedom, 1857 - 1947 (3 credits)

Colonialism and Capitalism in India, 1505 - 1950 (3 credits)

(Course credits: 12)

Class and Caste in Indian History (3 credits)

Advanced Indian Language Skills (3 Credits): Marathi/ Gujarati/ Bengali/ Tamil/ Telugu/ Urdu

Advanced European Language Skills (3 Credits): French/ Portuguese/ Dutch

Environment and Development (Elective from Economics core grid- 3 credits)

Sem – 5 (Course Credits: 6)

Indian Political Thought, c. 3rd Century BCE - 1963 (3 Credits) (co-teaching with Political Science)

Evolution of the State in Ancient and Medieval India (3 Credits)

Undergraduate students will opt for a supervisor in the beginning of the semester and present a synopsis by the last week of term. They would have to submit their final dissertation (min. 10000 words, max. 15000 words) by the 7th Semester.

(Course credits: 9, {3 credits additional from Political Science})

India and its Place in the Contemporary World (3 Credits)

Indian Economy Since 1947 (Elective from Economics core grid- 3 credits)

Formation of the Modern State (3 Credits, counted from Political Science grid, co-taught)

Sem – 6 (Course credits: 9)

Applied History, Public Policy and Pedagogy: History of Education in India and contemporary challenges (3 Credits)

History through Cinema: India and its many cinemas (3 credits)

Science, Technology, and Society, in South Asia, c. 1500 BCE - 1984 (3 Credits)

(Course credits: 9)

East - West Transactions in Global Intellectual History and Political Philosophy (3 Credits)

History of Medicine in Ancient and Medieval India (3 Credits)

Rupture and Continuity in Medieval India (3 credits)

Sem – 7 (Course Credits: 9)

History of Religions (3 credits)

Contestation, Assimilation and Pluralism in Indian History, c. 3300 BCE to 1992 (3 Credits)

History of Democracy and Democratic Institutions, c. 600 BCE - 1950 (3 Credits)

(Course credits: 6)

Histories of Environment (3 Credits)

Radicalisms and Revolutions: Perspectives from the Global South (3 Credits)

Sem -8

Undergraduate students will opt for a supervisor, and present a synopsis, after which they would be allowed to work on their final dissertation (min. 10000 words, max. 15000 words). Supervisory seminar paper would incorporate field trips, thematic presentations, etc.

Final grade based on dissertation. Students are informed of their grade upon successful completion of internship/fellowship

Dissertation: 7 credits

Fellowship/Internship: 5 credits

[Optional for those interested in pursuing further research: Special programme mentoring students applying for MA and PhD programmes in top 200 global universities from August-September, Sixth Semester, anticipating application deadlines in December-January.

The faculty would liaise with UPES’ career services, and continue to mentor students, not interested in pursuing a career in academia, helping them in securing industry specific roles.]

Public and Privately owned Museum/Archive Specific Fellowships (To Be Explored)

NMML/NAI Fellowships (TBE)

Vidhan Sabha Fellowships (TBE)

State Archive Fellowships (TBE)

NGO, Embassy, Thinktank internships (TBE)

Minor in History (21 credits): All courses under this grid are compulsory for a minor in History and are only available for enrolment in the following order of gradual progression, ensuring initial courses serve as prerequisites for successive ones.

Sem 1: Ideas of India (3 credits)

Sem 2: Gandhian approaches to Peace and Conflict Studies (3 Credits)

Sem 3: History of Ideas (South Asia) c. 1500 BC to 1947 (3 credits)

Colonialism and Capitalism in India, 1505 - 1950 (3 credits)

Sem 4: History of Contemporary India, 1947 – 2000 (3 credits)

Approaches to Historical Research (3 credits)

From Rebellion to the Struggle for Freedom, 1857 - 1947 (3 credits)

Details

PROGRAM EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES (PEOs)

PEO1	The students in the Applied and Public History programme would be able to connect empirical training with the political philosophies that drive modern societies. Knowledge and lessons from the past are imperative for a futuristic vision and the graduates of the History programme would be trained to become changemakers of the future.
PEO2	The field-based archival training, which is the founding idea of SoLS’ History programme, has also incorporated key focus areas of current research such as Science, Technology, and Society, Democracy, Misinformation, Migration, Conflict Resolution, and Decolonisation, locating them in the emerging economies.
PEO3	Besides being trained in handling a variety of archival materials such as official records, private papers, letters, and manuscripts, they would also be trained in handling the devices used in digital repositories
PEO4	Graduates would have learnt not just academic writing but also public writing, with an understanding of applied history informing policy debates
PEO5	Graduates of the programme would be skilled in reading against the grain both the animus and syncretic strands in our shared pasts
PEO6	Public Policy and Administration is also what the students in the programme would be trained in, through direct interactions with policy makers in various sectors

Future Scope / Industry Trends

Career Opportunities

Placements

Eligibility

The minimum eligibility criteria for BA/B.Sc. in History to be fulfilled by interested students is as follows: 50% in 10th & 12th Any Stream

Math/Economics/ Political Science in 12th will be preferred.
Non-Mathematics background students will undergo the Remedial Mathematics module in Semester 1.

Selection Criteria

The process of selection criteria for students interested in pursuing BA/B.Sc. in History offered by UPES is based on the individual's performance in Aptitude Test / Valid JEE Score / CUET

Fee Structure

The fee for the BA/B.Sc. in History course, intended for students who want to register, is presented in the table below.

BA/B.Sc. in History

Total Fee

INR 16,60,400

For further queries and course details, connect with us for a call back.

Curriculum

Core (54 credits)

History Electives (Single major Core + 54)

Sem – 1 (Course Credits: 3) credits. All courses in the first semester are foundational courses in SoLS.)

Ideas of India (3 credits)

Politics in India (3 credits) (From Political Science Foundational Course)

Sem – 2 (Course credits: 6)

Gandhian approaches to Peace and Conflict Studies (3 Credits)

Introduction to Political Economy (3 Credits) {Course recognised from Political Science Grid}

(Elective Course credits: 6)

Introductory Indian Language 1 (3 Credits): Marathi/ Gujarati/ Bengali/ Tamil/ Telugu/ Urdu

Introductory European Language 1 (3 Credits): Portuguese/ Dutch/ French

Sem – 3 (Course credits: 9)

History of Ideas (South Asia) c. 1500 BC to 1947 (3 credits)

Connected Political Histories of the Twentieth Century: India and the World, 1914 - 1991 (3 credits)

History of Contemporary India, 1947 – 2000 (3 credits)

(Elective Course credits: 9)

Intermediate Indian Language (3 Credits): Marathi/ Gujarati/ Bengali/ Tamil/ Telugu/ Urdu

Intermediate European Language (3 Credits): French / Portuguese/ Dutch

Institutions of Culture and Making of Modern India (3 credits)

Sem -4 (Course Credits: 12)

Global Migration and Citizenship (3 Credits)

Approaches to Historical Research (3 credits)

From Rebellion to the Struggle for Freedom, 1857 - 1947 (3 credits)

Colonialism and Capitalism in India, 1505 - 1950 (3 credits)

(Course credits: 12)

Class and Caste in Indian History (3 credits)

Advanced Indian Language Skills (3 Credits): Marathi/ Gujarati/ Bengali/ Tamil/ Telugu/ Urdu

Advanced European Language Skills (3 Credits): French/ Portuguese/ Dutch

Environment and Development (Elective from Economics core grid- 3 credits)

Sem – 5 (Course Credits: 6)

Indian Political Thought, c. 3rd Century BCE - 1963 (3 Credits) (co-teaching with Political Science)

Evolution of the State in Ancient and Medieval India (3 Credits)

(Course credits: 9, {3 credits additional from Political Science})

India and its Place in the Contemporary World (3 Credits)

Indian Economy Since 1947 (Elective from Economics core grid- 3 credits)

Formation of the Modern State (3 Credits, counted from Political Science grid, co-taught)

Sem – 6 (Course credits: 9)

Applied History, Public Policy and Pedagogy: History of Education in India and contemporary challenges (3 Credits)

History through Cinema: India and its many cinemas (3 credits)

Science, Technology, and Society, in South Asia, c. 1500 BCE - 1984 (3 Credits)

(Course credits: 9)

East - West Transactions in Global Intellectual History and Political Philosophy (3 Credits)

History of Medicine in Ancient and Medieval India (3 Credits)

Rupture and Continuity in Medieval India (3 credits)

Sem – 7 (Course Credits: 9)

History of Religions (3 credits)

Contestation, Assimilation and Pluralism in Indian History, c. 3300 BCE to 1992 (3 Credits)

History of Democracy and Democratic Institutions, c. 600 BCE - 1950 (3 Credits)

(Course credits: 6)

Histories of Environment (3 Credits)

Radicalisms and Revolutions: Perspectives from the Global South (3 Credits)

Sem -8

Final grade based on dissertation. Students are informed of their grade upon successful completion of internship/fellowship

Dissertation: 7 credits

Fellowship/Internship: 5 credits

The faculty would liaise with UPES’ career services, and continue to mentor students, not interested in pursuing a career in academia, helping them in securing industry specific roles.]

Public and Privately owned Museum/Archive Specific Fellowships (To Be Explored)

NMML/NAI Fellowships (TBE)

Vidhan Sabha Fellowships (TBE)

State Archive Fellowships (TBE)

NGO, Embassy, Thinktank internships (TBE)

Sem 1: Ideas of India (3 credits)

Sem 2: Gandhian approaches to Peace and Conflict Studies (3 Credits)

Sem 3: History of Ideas (South Asia) c. 1500 BC to 1947 (3 credits)

Colonialism and Capitalism in India, 1505 - 1950 (3 credits)

Sem 4: History of Contemporary India, 1947 – 2000 (3 credits)

Approaches to Historical Research (3 credits)

From Rebellion to the Struggle for Freedom, 1857 - 1947 (3 credits)

BA / B.Sc. - Dual Specialization - History (3+1 years)

DETAILS

Program Highlights

Duration of Program

Seats

Details

Details

Enquiry Form

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

Talk to our Counsellors

APPLY NOW

PhD Admissions | RET