BA subjects depend on the kind of BA you choose. In a BA Programme, you study two main subjects side by side, such as history and political science. In a BA Honours, you study one subject in depth, such as economics or English. Around those main subjects, every BA also has electives, language and skill courses.
This guide uses Delhi University (DU) as the example, because its syllabus pages list every paper under its Undergraduate Curriculum Framework 2022 (UGCF). All paper names below come from DU’s Academic Affairs syllabus pages, checked in October 2026. Other universities offer similar subjects but name and order the papers differently.
BA subjects list: what you can study
DU’s syllabus pages list the following BA Programme disciplines. You pick two of them as your main subjects, subject to what your college offers.
| Group | BA Programme disciplines at DU |
|---|---|
| Social sciences | History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Geography, Psychology, Philosophy, Education |
| Languages | English, Sanskrit, Urdu, Arabic, Persian, Punjabi |
| Numbers | Mathematics, Statistics |
| Commerce | BA Programme with Commerce |
| Applied and other | Physical Education, Buddhist Studies, Hindustani Music, Food Technology, Apparel Design and Construction, Human Development and Family Empowerment, Nutrition and Health Education, Community Science |
For BA Honours, DU’s single-subject (single core) syllabi include Economics, Political Science, History, English and Hindi, among others. Not every college teaches every combination, so check the college’s list during admission.
BA Programme vs BA Honours subjects
The main difference is depth. DU’s Undergraduate Curriculum Framework 2022 explains it in terms of credits:
- BA Honours (one discipline): for a Major in that subject on the four-year route, you earn at least 88 of 176 credits in it. These come from 20 core papers (DSCs) and at least 2 elective papers (DSEs).
- BA Programme (two or more disciplines): you can still earn a Major in one subject on the four-year route. That needs 80 of 176 credits in it, and the other subject becomes your Minor.
In practice, BA Honours suits students who are sure about one subject, for example economics. BA Programme suits students who want two subjects open, for example history with political science, or a social science with commerce.
BA 1st year subjects: real examples
First-year papers depend entirely on your subjects. These are the first-year core papers for some popular choices at DU.
| Course | Semester I | Semester II |
|---|---|---|
| BA (Hons) Economics | Introductory Microeconomics; Introductory Mathematical Methods for Economics; Introductory Statistics for Economics | Introductory Macroeconomics; Intermediate Mathematical Methods for Economics; Intermediate Statistics for Economics |
| BA Programme: Political Science (major) | Introduction to Political Theory; Public Administration in India | Indian Government and Politics; India’s Foreign Policy |
| BA Programme: History (major) | History of India from earliest times up to c. 300 CE; Ancient Societies | History of India, 300 CE to 1200 CE; Medieval Societies: Global Perspectives |
| BA Programme with Commerce | Business Organisation and Management; Business Laws | Financial Accounting; Human Resource Management |
| BA Programme: Economics (major) | Introductory Microeconomics; Basic Mathematics for Economic Analysis | Introductory Macroeconomics; Basic Statistics for Economics |
| BA Programme: Sociology (major) | An Invitation to Sociology; Family and Marriage | Sociology of India; Religion and Society |
| BA Programme: Psychology (major) | Fundamentals of Psychology; Fundamentals of Cognitive Psychology | Introduction to Social Psychology; Applications of Social Psychology |
| BA Programme: English (major) | Introduction to Literary Studies; Indian Classical Literature | 16th and 17th Century English Drama; 18th Century Literature |
| BA Programme: Geography (major) | Physical Geography; Human Geography | Geomorphology; Population Geography |
Each core paper carries 4 credits. Under DU’s framework, one credit means one hour of teaching a week, or two hours of practical work.
Popular BA subjects explained
Here is what the most chosen BA subjects actually involve, based on their first-year papers at DU, and the kind of work or study they usually lead to.
History
History starts with ancient India and ancient societies, then moves through medieval and modern periods. It suits students who enjoy reading and writing long answers. It’s a common choice for teaching, archives and museums, and for students preparing for civil services, where history appears in the general studies papers.
Political Science
Political Science opens with political theory and public administration in India, then Indian government and politics and foreign policy. It pairs naturally with history and is popular with students interested in law, public policy, journalism and government exams.
Economics
Economics is the most numerical arts subject. Even in BA Programme, DU’s first year includes basic mathematics and statistics alongside micro and macroeconomics. It leads to roles in research, banking and analysis, and to a master’s in economics, finance or an MBA.
English
English moves from literary studies and Indian classical literature to English drama and eighteenth-century writing. It builds reading, writing and communication skills used in teaching, content, publishing, media and corporate communication.
Sociology and Psychology
Sociology starts with how society works, family, marriage, religion and Indian society. Psychology starts with the fundamentals of psychology and cognition, then social psychology. Both suit students interested in people and research; professional psychology roles usually need a master’s degree as well.
Geography
Geography begins with physical and human geography, then geomorphology and population. It mixes science-style fieldwork and maps with social science, and leads to teaching, planning, environment and GIS-related work.
Popular BA subject combinations
In a BA Programme you combine two disciplines, so the pair matters. Some combinations students commonly choose:
| Combination | Why students pick it |
|---|---|
| History + Political Science | Overlapping reading; useful for civil services general studies, law and teaching |
| Economics + Political Science | Policy, public administration and economics-heavy exams |
| English + another social science | Writing and communication with a subject base, for media, content and teaching |
| Economics + Mathematics or Statistics | For students who like numbers and may move to finance, banking or analytics |
| A social science + Commerce | Keeps an arts degree while adding accounting, tax and finance papers |
Which pairs are available depends on the college, so check the college’s list of combinations before you fill in preferences.
BA subjects in the 2nd and 3rd year
The first year mostly teaches foundations. From the second year, the core papers in your subjects get more specialised, and you choose more electives (DSEs) within your subjects and generic electives (GEs) from other subjects. On DU’s four-year route, students working towards a Major also write a dissertation in the final year, according to the UGCF.
How BA subjects are organised under the UGCF
Besides the core papers, each semester includes other kinds of courses:
- DSC (Discipline Specific Core): compulsory papers in your main subject or subjects.
- DSE (Discipline Specific Elective): papers you choose within your subject.
- GE (Generic Elective): papers from a different discipline.
- AEC, SEC and VAC: ability enhancement, skill enhancement and value addition courses, such as language and communication courses.
The framework also lets you leave early with a qualification. After Semester II with 44 credits you get an Undergraduate Certificate; after Semester IV with 88 credits, an Undergraduate Diploma. The three-year degree needs 132 credits and the four-year honours with research or academic projects needs 176.
Which BA subject suits you? A quick guide
If you’re stuck between options, start from what you enjoy doing day to day, not from what friends are choosing.
| If you enjoy… | Look at |
|---|---|
| Reading, stories and writing essays | English, History |
| News, debates and how governments work | Political Science, History |
| Numbers, graphs and money | Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, or BA Programme with Commerce |
| Understanding people and behaviour | Psychology, Sociology |
| Maps, places and the environment | Geography |
| A job soon after college | Any subject, plus a practical skill such as accounting software, Excel or computers alongside |
BA vs B.Com vs BBA: which degree?
BA is the widest degree: you choose from many subjects across the humanities, social sciences and languages. B.Com is built around accounting, law, tax and finance, and BBA around management. If you’re between these, compare the core papers: our guides to B.Com subjects and what BBA covers list them, and B.Com vs BBA compares the two business degrees.
Can BA students study commerce subjects?
Yes. DU’s restructured BA Programme with Commerce, operational from the 2026-27 session, includes Financial Accounting, Company Law, Income Tax Law and Practice, Business Statistics and Cost Accounting among its core papers. For arts students who are thinking about accounts or tax work, that is the closest a BA comes to a commerce degree.
| Semester | BA Programme with Commerce: core papers at DU |
|---|---|
| I | Business Organisation and Management; Business Laws |
| II | Financial Accounting; Human Resource Management |
| III | Principles of Marketing; Company Law |
| IV | Fundamentals of Financial Management; Income Tax Law and Practice |
| V | International Business; Business Statistics |
| VI | Ethics and Governance; Cost Accounting |
A BA in any subject can still lead to accounts work. Our guide on whether BA students can become accountants covers that route, including CA eligibility for non-commerce graduates.
How to choose your BA subjects
- Start from the job or exam you want. Some civil services aspirants pick subjects that overlap with the optional paper they plan to take; future teachers pick the subject they want to teach.
- Check the maths. Economics Honours at DU has mathematical methods and statistics papers in the very first year, so be comfortable with numbers before choosing it.
- Keep a practical skill alongside. Most BA subjects are academic. If you want a job during or right after college, add a skill such as accounting software, Excel or computers.
For everything you can do after Class 12 in arts, see our guide to courses after 12th arts. If you are undecided between a degree and a job-oriented course, IPA’s free career counselling can help you compare routes; the 1-year courses page lists options open to arts students.
Frequently asked questions
How many subjects are there in BA 1st year?
It depends on the course. At DU, a BA Honours student takes three core papers of their subject each semester, and a BA Programme student takes core papers in two subjects. Both add electives, language and skill courses.
What is the difference between BA Programme and BA Honours?
BA Honours focuses on one subject in depth; BA Programme spreads your core papers across two subjects. On DU’s four-year route, both can lead to a Major, with 88 credits in the subject for Honours and 80 for Programme.
Which BA subjects have maths?
Economics, Mathematics and Statistics. At DU, BA (Hons) Economics has Introductory Mathematical Methods for Economics and Introductory Statistics for Economics in Semester I.
Can I study accounting in a BA?
Yes, if you choose BA Programme with Commerce where your college offers it. At DU it includes Financial Accounting, Income Tax Law and Practice and Cost Accounting. Otherwise, you can learn accounting through a separate course alongside your degree.
What are the BA Honours subjects?
BA Honours is offered in a single subject. DU’s single-subject syllabi include Economics, Political Science, History, English and Hindi, among others. Each college offers only some of them, so check the college’s list.
Can I get a job with a BA?
Yes, but the degree alone is rarely enough for a first job outside teaching or government exams. Most BA students improve their chances with a practical skill, an internship or a further course in their area of interest.
BA me kitne subject hote hain?
BA Programme mein aap do main subjects padhte hain, jaise history aur political science, aur BA Honours mein ek subject gehraai se. Iske saath electives, language aur skill courses bhi hote hain.