What is MA History?
It is a 2-year postgraduate program that deals with the study of the past, which includes the people, societies, events, and problems. The program includes subjects like Ancient India, Medieval India, Modern India, World History, Indian government and politics, literature, economic history, Contemporary issues in international relations, etc.
The program is not just about the study of the past, but it also includes attempts to research, study, and explain the past. It is like the study of an on-going conversation about the past and its meaning. It also includes the study of great leaders and innovators, the individuals who have shaped history through their personalities, the strength of character, ambition, abilities, leadership, and creativity.
It also includes the study of great ideas and movements initiated by influential people, and how it influenced our societies and country politically, economically, and socially. The course teaches us advanced critical skills and historical insights through pieces of evidence, concepts, and comparative frameworks.
MA History Course Details
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Duration
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2 year
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Eligibility
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Bachelor's degree in history with a minimum of 50% marks from a recognized university
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Admission process
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Mostly Merit-based
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Areas of employment
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Museums, archaeology department, academic institutes, etc
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Job positions
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Historians, museum curators, archivists, archaeologists, high school teachers, etc.
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Why MA History?
This course highlights the great achievements and disastrous errors of mankind. Therefore helping us to understand how things were and how we might approach to make a better future. With a better understanding, it can help to organize and manage our societies for the benefit of all.
- It is an advanced course and could be beneficial for the career of the students who have done a BA in History.
- It is a course that offers vast opportunities. Jobs in government sectors are quite high. The graduates can work as historians, museum curators, archivists, archaeologists, high school teachers, etc.
- The graduates will build strong writing, analytical thinking, and research skills, that will benefit them as writers, editors, or analysts.
MA History Eligibility
• Students should have passed a bachelor's degree program from a recognized university.
• The bachelor's degree should be in history or a few other related domains.
• Should score above the cutoff scores of the concerned institutes. The minimum marks required for applying to the course is generally 50%, though it varies from University to University.
• No age bar is provided by institutes in case of MA History Admissions.
MA History Syllabus
MA History includes the detailed study of not only the history of India and its territories, but also the world history and the interrelations between Indian History and World history. In some universities, students are also taught how to use various computer application methods to analyse history in a better way. It is a semester-based course divided into 4 semesters. The detailed semester-wise syllabus is given in the table below.
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Semester
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Subjects
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Semester 1
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Aspects of Ancient India
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State and Society in Medieval India
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History of Tamil Nadu
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Semester 2
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State and Society in Medieval India
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Modern India
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Indian Government and politics
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Interdisciplinary course- History through literature
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Semester 3
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Modern India
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World history
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Computer application in Historical studies
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Contemporary Issues in International Relations
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Special Course-Research Methodology
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Cybersecurity
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Semester 4
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Historiography
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History of Tamil Nadu
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The economic history of India
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History of the Cholas/ History of the Guptas
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MA History Admission Process 2024
Most of the institutes conduct direct admission on the basis of the previous academic records of the students. The students may have to follow the following steps to apply:
• Fill the online/ offline application form of the institute.
• Send the application form to the institute or upload it online, along with the application fees.
• Send/ upload all the documents required.
• The institute will release the merit list of the selected candidates.
• Some of the institutes may call the selected candidates for a personal interview.
• Students can take admission after document verification.
MA History Jobs and Career Prospects
Job opportunities are quite vast for MA History graduates. And these jobs are usually in the private sector. The graduates can work in areas like:
- The museum, as curators, archivists, etc.
- Archaeological departments as an archaeologist.
- Media stations as a journalist, writer, editor, etc.
- Tourism as tour guides or museum guides, archiver, etc.
- Research and survey
Some of the job prospects with description are mentioned below:
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Job Options
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Job Description
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Historian
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Their work is to study and research the historical documents to draw conclusions from the past and communicate them through writing and publishing them.
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Museum Curator
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They specialize in the history of natural elements like metals, terracotta, textile, paintings, etc. Their work is to maintain the records of each item, like the item's age, from where it has been acquired, conservation methods, etc.
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High school teacher
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Their work is to share their knowledge. They design and teach lessons to high school students in the field of history.
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Archivist
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They specialize in preserving historic documents & records, repairing parchments & paper manuscripts, and microfilming the documents. They can get jobs in museums, libraries, national and state archives, etc.
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Archaeologist
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It is a research-based job that usually requires fieldwork. Their work may include excavation, coin examination, decipher inscriptions, etc. The archaeological survey of India hires archaeologists to maintain 3,600 monuments, heritage bodies, museums, and other research institutions.
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MA History Future Scope
- MA in History graduates can get a doctorate degree with a Ph.D. in History.
- The candidates who complete PhD in History can go for lecturership in any government college or university.
- The students with a degree in history can pursue their own research and publish their own papers and books on various historical events in future.
- Civil services - The syllabus for civil service exams includes history. The subject is quite vast and therefore it becomes quite easy for the MA History graduates to prepare for the exam.
- Politics - They can work as a manager, administrator, lecturer, political content writer/ journalist, consultant, etc in the field of politics, law, business, media, or public services, etc.
Conclusion
The scope of history in today’s job market is growing, and an MA in history provides valuable skills in research, critical thinking, and cultural analysis. This degree opens up various career opportunities and allows graduates to contribute to preserving heritage, shaping public policy, and educating others.
With increasing demand for historians in fields like academia, research, government, media, and cultural institutions, an MA in History is a great choice for those passionate about the past.