BA History Syllabus: Subjects, Semester, Government and Private Colleges

• Updated on  Jul 21, 2025, by Anusmita Bhatta

BA History course involves a broad scope to explore the history of ancient, medieval, and modern India along with world history. The students learn about the cultural, social, economic, and political changes that took place in various eras and develop a detailed comprehension of the historical processes and the events.

 

The syllabus comprises core papers such as the History of India circa early times to 1947, as well as Western History, Historiography, and Skill Training Courses (such as archival research and museum studies). Electives and inter-disciplinary subjects enhance the learning process by establishing a connection between history and other subjects.

 

To further stretch the knowledge beyond the foundations of ancient civilizations the curriculum is organized in a semester wise step-by-step system moving forward to current history, social reform movements and into historical trends in the world. To this extent, this wide perspective equips learners to work as researchers, lecturers, and managements in culture.

 

Table of Contents
  1. BA History Syllabus Semester-Wise Syllabus 2025
  2. BA History Syllabus For Private Institute
  3. BA History Exam Pattern
  4. FAQs

 

BA History Syllabus Semester-Wise Syllabus 2025

The syllabus of BA History provides an extensive learning of Indian history throughout ancient period to modern history with special attention to various political, social and economical developments. Other courses offered in the curriculum are those in historiography, world history and research skills that are to foster critical thinking and analyze skills. For reference, the syllabus from Jadavpur University, Kolkata is given below:

Semester I

Semester II

History of Early India (1500 BCE to Second Century BCE)

Early History of India up to the Sixth Century CE

Reading Texts in Historical Perspectives

Visual and Material Cultures in History

Calcutta through the Ages

Environmental History of India

Understanding India: Essential Features of the Constitution of India

Education: Situating Gender in History

Semester III

Semester IV

History of Medieval India (1206–1526 CE)

History of Ancient Bengal (from earliest times to 12th century CE)

History of Medieval India (1526–1707 CE)

History of Medieval Bengal (from 13th to 18th centuries)

History of Ancient and Medieval World

History of Modern Bengal (from 18th to 20th centuries)

Ancient Civilisations

History of Early Medieval India

Film and Society or Digital History (based on availability of instructors)

World History in the Classical Age

Nature and History

Semester V

Semester VI

History of Modern India (1707–1857)

Postcolonial India: Journey of the Republic

History of Modern India (1857–1950)

History of Modern Europe 1770–1870

History of Early Modern Europe (1500–1770)

History of Modern Europe 1870–1945

Early History of South India

Caste and Gender in Indian History

From Industrial War to Total War: 1790–1950

History of the United States of America (1870s to 1970s)

Semester VII

Semester VIII

Medieval India: Political Practices

Research Methodology in History

Comparative Colonialisms: Latin America and Africa

History and Historiography

Caste, Class and Culture in Modern South Asia

Women in Colonial India

History of Social and Political Formations in North Eastern India

History of War and State

Secular Thoughts and Cultural Identities in Indian History

World Since 1945

-

Dissertation

 

BA History Syllabus For Private Institute

The BA History syllabus covers Indian history from ancient to modern times, along with world history and contemporary social issues. It emphasizes critical analysis, research skills, and interdisciplinary subjects like Public Administration and Journalism to enhance students’ historical understanding and employability. The syllabus at National College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli is given below for reference.

Semester 1

Semester 2

Language Course I

Language Course II

English I

English II

History of India Up to 711 C.E.

History of India from 712 C.E. To 1707 C.E.

History of Tamil Nadu Up to 1800 C.E.

Communicative English - I

Archaeology

Modern Governments I

Environmental Studies

Indian Constitution

-

Office Automation

Semester 3

Semester 4

Language Course III

Language Course IV

English III

English IV

History of India from 1708 C.E. to 1857 C.E.

History of India from 1858 C.E. to 1947 C.E.

History of Tamil Nadu from 1801 C.E. to 2010 C.E.

Communicative English - II

Modern Governments II

Public Administration in India

Desktop Publishing

Tourism and Travel Management

Office Automation and Desktop Publishing Lab

Freedom Struggle in India

-

Value Education

Semester 5

Semester 6

History of India from 1948 C.E. to 2010 C.E.

Historiography

History of the World Up to 1452 C.E.

History of Europe from 1789 C.E. to 1945 C.E.

Economic History of India

Nationalism in Asia in the 20th Century

Journalism

History of Science and Technology

History of Europe from 1453 C.E. to 1788 C.E.

Human Rights

Working of the Indian Constitution

Gender Studies

Soft Skills

Extension Activity

 

BA History Exam Pattern

The exam pattern of BA in History is given below and it is a standardized pattern followed by most of the Indian institutes with minor changes. .

Components

Details

Theory Exams

Written papers for each subject, generally 70-100 marks each, focusing on ancient, medieval, and modern history of India and the world. Questions assess knowledge of social, cultural, economic, political, and ideological aspects of historical periods

Internal Assessment

Continuous evaluation through assignments, quizzes, class tests, presentations, and attendance, usually contributing 20-30% of the total marks for each subject

Skill Enhancement Courses

Practical or application-based assessments in subjects like archival studies, museum curation, environmental awareness, or public speaking. These may involve projects, reports, or presentations

Project Work & Viva

In the final year, a dissertation or project may be required, evaluated through a written report and an oral viva-voce

Exam Duration

Most theory and practical exams last 2–3 hours

Question Types

A combination of long-answer essay questions, short notes, and sometimes objective or analytical questions, designed to test both factual recall and critical historical analysis

  • The curriculum looks into a wide historical range as well as geography of study areas into ancient, medieval and modern Indian history as well as global social and cultural developments.
  • The three year course is usually organised into six semesters with core history papers available in each semester, e.g. early semesters focus upon ancient Indian history and ancient civilisations around the world, later semesters upon medieval and modern history
  • In addition to theoretical knowledge, the program also incorporates skill-development courses that should be evaluated with actual practices or tasks based on historical research strategies, oratory, or studying the heritage.
  • Students can usually select interdisciplinary generic electives, most of which may have separate assessment procedures, extending the assessment spectrum
  • The outgoing year project or dissertation, where relevant, takes the form of an evaluation of the skills of independent historical research, source analysis and presentation of research findings: the students ability to draw some coherence out of the chaos.
  • In the assessment, exams will not only cover the ability of the student to memorize historical knowledge, but also his/her ability to think critically and interpret history and develop a well-based historical argument, using primary sources.

 

FAQs

What is the integration of Indian history and world history in the BA History syllabus?

The syllabus brings out the ancient to the modern developments associated with Indian history alongside comparative studies of world civilizations focusing on the effect of political, economic and social movements on the interconnectedness of the world and the surrounding regions.

Which of the modules of the BA History course are practical or skills-based?

The students participate in research methodology, archival research, museum research and heritage management. There are also the possibilities of coursework (project work in history, art appreciation, and perception of modern social problems in a historical context).

Does the BA History have specialization (or elective) opportunities in the syllabus?

Yes, most universities provide an option of gender history, environmental history, military history, history of communications and region wise history like Latin American, African, and Southeast Asian history.

What is the place of research methodology in the BA History curriculum?

The research methodology is taught in undergraduate years in order to make the students acquainted with historiography, source criticism and the analysis methods indispensable in critical thinking and critical writing in academic writing.

How are ancient civilizations addressed in the BA History course?

Topics in ancient civilizations include prehistory, Harappan culture, Vedic society, Mauryan and Gupta times and other civilizations like Greece and Rome, Persia and Egypt.

What themes are covered under Medieval Indian History in BA History syllabus?

Major subjects are variations such as Varna system, temple and cave building development, development of Sultanates, development of literature and art, urbanization and social-economic tendencies up to the Mughal era.

In Modern Indian History, what major political events and movements are studied in the BA History curriculum?

These are the British East India Company, Revolt of 1857, socio-religious reform movements, emergence of nationalism, Gandhian movements, Partition and independence.

How is European history treated in the BA History syllabus?

European history modules deal with the History of the Renaissance, Reformation, French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, imperialism, two World Wars, and political changes till the Cold war period.

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