Top Humanities Courses at Undergraduate Level: Full List, Examples and Careers (2027)
Last updated: 24 October 2026 · By the UniCoach Team
Key takeaways
• Humanities are subjects that study human culture, ideas, language, history and society, such as English literature, history, philosophy, languages and the arts.
• Popular undergraduate humanities degrees include English, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Economics, Liberal Arts and Media Studies. Some of these, such as psychology, economics and political science, sit between the humanities and the social sciences.
• Humanities graduates build writing, research, critical thinking and communication skills that lead to careers in law, journalism, policy, education, marketing, UX research, HR and civil services.
• Abroad, the UK offers focused three-year bachelor's degrees, while the USA and Canada offer flexible liberal arts degrees where you can combine subjects.
What are humanities courses?
Humanities courses study how people think, communicate and create meaning, through literature, history, philosophy, languages, religion and the arts. Unlike the natural sciences, which study the physical world through experiments, the humanities use reading, interpretation, argument and writing to understand human experience. Many universities group the humanities with the social sciences, which study society and behaviour more systematically.
List of humanities subjects
Here is a list of humanities subjects you will find at most universities:
• English literature: novels, poetry, drama and literary theory
• History: ancient, modern, Indian, world and economic history
• Philosophy: ethics, logic, political philosophy and philosophy of mind
• Languages and linguistics: French, German, Spanish, Japanese, and the study of how language works
• Religious studies and theology: world religions and their history
• Classics: ancient Greek and Roman language, literature and history
• Art history and visual arts: painting, sculpture, architecture and design history
• Music and performing arts: music theory, theatre and film studies
• Cultural studies: popular culture, identity and media
• Archaeology: past societies through material remains
Closely related social science subjects that humanities students often choose:
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Political science and international relations
• Economics
• Anthropology
• Media and communication studies
Examples of humanities classes
If you are wondering what humanities classes actually look like, here are typical examples of first- and second-year humanities courses at universities abroad:
• Introduction to World Literature
• Shakespeare and Early Modern Drama
• Modern Indian History or History of South Asia
• Introduction to Ethics
• Logic and Critical Reasoning
• Introduction to Political Philosophy
• Introduction to Psychology
• Social Inequality and Society
• Media, Culture and Society
• Introduction to Linguistics
• Art and Visual Culture
• Religion in the Modern World
Many science, engineering and business students take one or two of these as humanities electives to meet breadth requirements, especially in the USA and Canada.
Best humanities courses at undergraduate level
These are the most popular undergraduate humanities degrees, with what each one leads to:
1. BA English Literature
Builds advanced reading, writing and analysis. Leads to publishing, content and copywriting, journalism, teaching, communications and law.
2. BA History
Trains you to research, weigh evidence and build arguments. Leads to law, civil services, policy, heritage and museums, research and journalism.
3. BA Philosophy
Sharpens logic and argument. A strong base for law, policy, ethics and technology roles, and further study.
4. BA Political Science and International Relations
Covers government, global politics and policy. Leads to civil services, diplomacy, think tanks, NGOs, journalism and public policy.
5. BA or BSc Psychology
Studies the mind and behaviour. Leads to counselling (after further qualification), HR, UX research, market research and clinical or organisational psychology after a master's.
6. BA Sociology
Studies society, inequality and social change. Leads to social research, NGOs, policy, HR and development work.
7. BA Economics
Bridges the humanities and quantitative social science. Leads to finance, consulting, policy, data analysis and banking.
8. Liberal Arts
Lets you combine several subjects, such as philosophy with economics or literature with computer science. Popular in the USA and increasingly in India.
9. Media, Communication and Journalism
Covers media theory, digital media and reporting. Leads to journalism, PR, advertising, content strategy and social media roles.
10. Modern Languages
Combines a language with its culture and literature. Leads to translation, international business, diplomacy, tourism and teaching.
Which is the best course for humanities students?
The best course is the one that fits your strengths and career plan:
• Love writing and reading? English, Journalism or Media Studies.
• Interested in law or civil services? History, Political Science or Philosophy.
• Curious about people and behaviour? Psychology or Sociology.
• Like numbers as well as ideas? Economics or a Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) combination.
• Want flexibility? A Liberal Arts degree.
Career options after a humanities degree
Humanities graduates work in a wide range of fields:
• Law (after an LLB or JD)
• Civil services and government
• Journalism, publishing and content
• Marketing, advertising and public relations
• Human resources and recruitment
• UX research and product roles in tech
• Teaching and academic research
• NGOs, policy and international development
• Counselling and psychology (after further qualifications)
Many humanities students also go on to a master's abroad in fields such as public policy, international relations, journalism, psychology or management.
Where can Indian students study humanities abroad?
• UK: focused three-year bachelor's degrees (four years in Scotland), with strong humanities departments and one-year master's options. See Study in UK.
• USA: four-year liberal arts degrees where you choose a major after exploring subjects, and many scholarships at liberal arts colleges. See Study in USA.
• Canada: flexible arts degrees with co-op options at some universities. See Study in Canada.
• Ireland: arts and humanities degrees with lower fees than the UK at many universities. See Study in Ireland.
• Australia: three-year Bachelor of Arts degrees with wide subject choice. See Study in Australia.
Most universities ask for strong Class 12 marks and an English test score. Check the exam guides and compare destinations on our study abroad hub.
Get help choosing your course
Choosing between humanities subjects is easier when you talk to someone who has studied them. Book a free counselling session or talk to a UniCoach mentor studying abroad.
What subjects come under humanities? English and other literatures, history, philosophy, languages and linguistics, religious studies, classics, art history, music and performing arts, cultural studies and archaeology. Psychology, sociology, political science, economics and anthropology are social sciences that are often grouped with the humanities. What are some examples of humanities classes? Common examples are Introduction to World Literature, Modern History, Introduction to Ethics, Logic and Critical Reasoning, Introduction to Psychology, Media and Society, Introduction to Linguistics and Art and Visual Culture. What is a humanities elective? A humanities elective is a humanities course taken outside your main subject, such as an engineering student taking Introduction to Philosophy. Universities in the USA and Canada often require students to take a few electives across subjects. Which humanities course has the best career scope? Economics, psychology, political science and English often lead to the widest range of jobs, from finance and HR to law, policy and media. The best scope depends on your skills, further study and the country where you plan to work. Is psychology a humanities subject? Psychology is usually classed as a social science, and at some universities as a science (BSc). Many universities place it in their arts, humanities and social sciences faculty, which is why it often appears in humanities lists. Can Indian humanities students study abroad? Yes. Universities in the UK, USA, Canada, Ireland and Australia accept Indian students from the humanities stream for arts, humanities and social science degrees, usually based on Class 12 marks and an English test score.Last updated: 24 October 2026 · By the UniCoach Team
Key takeaways
• Humanities are subjects that study human culture, ideas, language, history and society, such as English literature, history, philosophy, languages and the arts .
• Popular undergraduate humanities degrees include English, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Economics, Liberal Arts and Media Studies . Some of these, such as psychology, economics and political science, sit between the humanities and the social sciences.
• Humanities graduates build writing, research, critical thinking and communication skills that lead to careers in law, journalism, policy, education, marketing, UX research, HR and civil services.
• Abroad, the UK offers focused three-year bachelor's degrees, while the USA and Canada offer flexible liberal arts degrees where you can combine subjects.
What are humanities courses?
Humanities courses study how people think, communicate and create meaning, through literature, history, philosophy, languages, religion and the arts. Unlike the natural sciences, which study the physical world through experiments, the humanities use reading, interpretation, argument and writing to understand human experience. Many universities group the humanities with the social sciences, which study society and behaviour more systematically.
List of humanities subjects
Here is a list of humanities subjects you will find at most universities:
• English literature : novels, poetry, drama and literary theory
• History : ancient, modern, Indian, world and economic history
• Philosophy : ethics, logic, political philosophy and philosophy of mind
• Languages and linguistics : French, German, Spanish, Japanese, and the study of how language works
• Religious studies and theology : world religions and their history
• Classics : ancient Greek and Roman language, literature and history
• Art history and visual arts : painting, sculpture, architecture and design history
• Music and performing arts : music theory, theatre and film studies
• Cultural studies : popular culture, identity and media
• Archaeology : past societies through material remains
Closely related social science subjects that humanities students often choose:
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Political science and international relations
• Economics
• Anthropology
• Media and communication studies
Examples of humanities classes
If you are wondering what humanities classes actually look like, here are typical examples of first- and second-year humanities courses at universities abroad:
• Introduction to World Literature
• Shakespeare and Early Modern Drama
• Modern Indian History or History of South Asia
• Introduction to Ethics
• Logic and Critical Reasoning
• Introduction to Political Philosophy
• Introduction to Psychology
• Social Inequality and Society
• Media, Culture and Society
• Introduction to Linguistics
• Art and Visual Culture
• Religion in the Modern World
Many science, engineering and business students take one or two of these as humanities electives to meet breadth requirements, especially in the USA and Canada.
Best humanities courses at undergraduate level
These are the most popular undergraduate humanities degrees, with what each one leads to:
1. BA English Literature
Builds advanced reading, writing and analysis. Leads to publishing, content and copywriting, journalism, teaching, communications and law.
2. BA History
Trains you to research, weigh evidence and build arguments. Leads to law, civil services, policy, heritage and museums, research and journalism.
3. BA Philosophy
Sharpens logic and argument. A strong base for law, policy, ethics and technology roles, and further study.
4. BA Political Science and International Relations
Covers government, global politics and policy. Leads to civil services, diplomacy, think tanks, NGOs, journalism and public policy.
5. BA or BSc Psychology
Studies the mind and behaviour. Leads to counselling (after further qualification), HR, UX research, market research and clinical or organisational psychology after a master's.
6. BA Sociology
Studies society, inequality and social change. Leads to social research, NGOs, policy, HR and development work.
7. BA Economics
Bridges the humanities and quantitative social science. Leads to finance, consulting, policy, data analysis and banking.
8. Liberal Arts
Lets you combine several subjects, such as philosophy with economics or literature with computer science. Popular in the USA and increasingly in India.
9. Media, Communication and Journalism
Covers media theory, digital media and reporting. Leads to journalism, PR, advertising, content strategy and social media roles.
10. Modern Languages
Combines a language with its culture and literature. Leads to translation, international business, diplomacy, tourism and teaching.
Which is the best course for humanities students?
The best course is the one that fits your strengths and career plan:
• Love writing and reading? English, Journalism or Media Studies.
• Interested in law or civil services? History, Political Science or Philosophy.
• Curious about people and behaviour? Psychology or Sociology.
• Like numbers as well as ideas? Economics or a Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) combination.
• Want flexibility? A Liberal Arts degree.
Career options after a humanities degree
Humanities graduates work in a wide range of fields:
• Law (after an LLB or JD)
• Civil services and government
• Journalism, publishing and content
• Marketing, advertising and public relations
• Human resources and recruitment
• UX research and product roles in tech
• Teaching and academic research
• NGOs, policy and international development
• Counselling and psychology (after further qualifications)
Many humanities students also go on to a master's abroad in fields such as public policy, international relations, journalism, psychology or management.
Where can Indian students study humanities abroad?
• UK : focused three-year bachelor's degrees (four years in Scotland), with strong humanities departments and one-year master's options. See Study in UK .
• USA : four-year liberal arts degrees where you choose a major after exploring subjects, and many scholarships at liberal arts colleges. See Study in USA .
• Canada : flexible arts degrees with co-op options at some universities. See Study in Canada .
• Ireland : arts and humanities degrees with lower fees than the UK at many universities. See Study in Ireland .
• Australia : three-year Bachelor of Arts degrees with wide subject choice. See Study in Australia .
Most universities ask for strong Class 12 marks and an English test score. Check the exam guides and compare destinations on our study abroad hub .
Get help choosing your course
Choosing between humanities subjects is easier when you talk to someone who has studied them. Book a free counselling session or talk to a UniCoach mentor studying abroad.