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DETAILS
The School of Liberal Studies (SoLS) offers one-of-a-kind transdisciplinary learning and field-based training in disciplines across the humanities, social sciences, and mathematics.
SoLS offers the following Four-year undergraduate programmes (FYUP) as options for dual majors leading to a BA/BSc research honours degree in Liberal Studies:
- Applied Mathematics
- Applied Statistics
- Economics with Data Science
- History
- Literature
- Political Science
- Psychology and Behaviour
- Sociology
Example: A BSc in Liberal Studies with a double major in Psychology and Behaviour, and Economics with Data Science, could be beneficial not just for those keen on pursuing an MBA in HR or Finance, but also for those interested in financial markets and human behaviour. A BSc. in Liberal Studies, with a major in Economics Data Science, and History, could become a joint major programme geared towards understanding the evolving nature of societies and economic systems and applying their knowledge and training in policy paradigms. Similarly, B.Sc. in Liberal Studies, with a major in Psychology and Behaviour, and Political Science, could help unravel demographic and social changes influencing individual behaviour. The possibilities are endless.
History
The Four-Year Undergraduate BA/B.Sc. programme in Applied and Public History focuses on the History of Modern and Contemporary South Asia, Global History, Intellinectual Histories of the South, History and Philosophy of Science, Medicine, and Technology. Besides its focus on training the students in historical methods, the History programme stresses on the importance of learning how to do history in public, to move beyond academia.
The BA/B.Sc. Specialization in History programme offers holistic training in empirical historical research practices, while focusing on public and applied histories for a ‘just and sustainable future’. It covers ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary periods to offer students hands-on training as future researchers, academics, administrators, and policymakers. Students majoring in History are also expected to learn one modern Indian language and one European language. This requirement is waived for those pursuing a second major in an allied discipline.
Teaching and resources
Students will be taught by eminent academics who have global standing in their subjects. Teachers in the programme have been trained in historical studies at leading universities of the world and are specialists in their focus areas. Besides textual and archival research practices, skills necessary for historians in a changing world such as heritage conservation and policymaking are the programme’s focus areas.
Duration: 3 + 1
Key Highlights
- History undergraduate programme focused on research and evidence-based practice
- Case studies, field trips, original archival-field based research driven pedagogic models in sync with our motto ‘Imagining a world beyond classrooms’
- Option for 3+1 internationally recognized degree
- Archival-field based research thesis in the fourth year, followed by industry fellowship
Specialized Tracks
- Intellectual History
- Political History
- History and Philosophy of Science
- History of Medicine
- History of Technology
- Legal History
- Policy Studies
- Environmental Histories
The BA/B.Sc. in History undergraduate programme is flexible, allowing students the opportunity to pursue a second major in an allied discipline. Should a student choose to focus solely on the History undergraduate programme as a single honours subject, it requires completion of 120 credit courses. All students majoring in History as their only honours subject would have to complete all core and elective courses.
Those opting for a second major in an allied discipline should complete all the core courses in History, with a total credit of 54 (66 if they opt for a fellowship and dissertation in History).
Course credits (core courses): 54
Dissertation: 7 credits, Fellowship: 5 credits, Total course credits for those opting for history as part of dual major: 66.
History-specific optional courses – Credits: 54.
Total credits for History honours or those majoring only in History: 120
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 programme stresses the importance of learning how to do history in public, to move beyond academia. Since this is a key component in most history departments today, the student would be able to secure MA/PhD positions in globally recognised institutions.
- History remains the most important subject for almost all public and administrative services in India, and the History undergraduate programme at SoLS, with its in-depth focus on South Asia, is ideal for those aspiring for a career in the civil services
- The programme is focused on empiricism, thus equipping its students to work in a variety of archival research-driven public and private sector institutions, including museums, galleries and repositories, journalism and media houses, editorial positions, research-driven policy organisations, researchers for biopics and historical content on OTT platforms, scriptwriters, etc.
- With private sector institutions focused on archiving and building repositories, historians trained in this programme would be an ideal fit for employment in economies of the future
- The language training in Indian and European languages offered by the programme trains our students to operate as global citizens, which is ideal for a future in international institutions such as the UN, UNICEF, and World Bank, and those focused on emerging economies
XII std from an IB Board with a minimum score of 24.
OR
Valid SAT Score
OR
Minimum 50% marks in class X and XII (any Stream)
- Math/Eco/ Political Sc. in 12th will be preferred.
- Non-Mathematics background students will undergo the Remedial Mathematics module in Semester 1.
Personal Interviews
|
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 |
Career Prospects
- The programme stresses the importance of learning how to do history in public, to move beyond academia. Since this is a key component in most history departments today, the student would be able to secure MA/PhD positions in globally recognised institutions.
- History remains the most important subject for almost all public and administrative services in India, and the History undergraduate programme at SoLS, with its in-depth focus on South Asia, is ideal for those aspiring for a career in the civil services
- The programme is focused on empiricism, thus equipping its students to work in a variety of archival research-driven public and private sector institutions, including museums, galleries and repositories, journalism and media houses, editorial positions, research-driven policy organisations, researchers for biopics and historical content on OTT platforms, scriptwriters, etc.
- With private sector institutions focused on archiving and building repositories, historians trained in this programme would be an ideal fit for employment in economies of the future
- The language training in Indian and European languages offered by the programme trains our students to operate as global citizens, which is ideal for a future in international institutions such as the UN, UNICEF, and World Bank, and those focused on emerging economies
Eligibility
XII std from an IB Board with a minimum score of 24.
OR
Valid SAT Score
OR
Minimum 50% marks in class X and XII (any Stream)
- Math/Eco/ Political Sc. in 12th will be preferred.
- Non-Mathematics background students will undergo the Remedial Mathematics module in Semester 1.
Selection Criteria
Personal Interviews
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) 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)
