Bachelor of Arts in Ancient History or B.A Ancient History is a three-year undergraduate degree programme in which the students study about the written past – mainly from the starting of recorded human history up till the middle ages. The B.A Ancient History course covers roughly a duration of 5,000 years, i.e from the period of discovery of the Cuneiform script up till around the 30th century B.C – the proto literate period. Most historians describe this period as ancient history which is preceded by pre-history or pre-historical period.
BA Ancient History Course Overview
BA Ancient History course is an undergraduate course taught for a duration of three years in most of the colleges and universities located in India. BA Ancient history is a very popular course among youngsters as it is job oriented and also helps the aspirants in UPSC preparation. BA Ancient History syllabus is divided into six semesters that covers all the important aspects of Ancient History from basic to advanced level. As an academic discipline, Ancient History deals with the study of mankind’s past with topics like History, Religions, Society, Material Culture, Languages Of Ancient Greece and Rome along with the detailed concepts Of Indian History. Ancient History subjects range from Prehistory (c 1500 BCE) to the Early Medieval World (c 1000 CE).
BA Ancient History course is one of those programmes that deal with the history of Romans, Greeks, etc. and the related tales about their empires in the past. The highlight of the course curriculum is that it covers significant historical events and personalities, such as rulers and citizens of Rome and its empire, Greek heroes in the Trojan War, makers of medieval Europe and Classic Indian History. BA Ancient History course is an important asset as students get engaged in many interdisciplinary activities and they generally turn out to be better research scholars.
The course has been structured to strengthen the requisite skills of students for higher research or jobs. The students are also trained for studying and using literary texts, inscriptions, coins, art, papyri, and other such archaeological evidence to reconstruct and decode the ancient world academically. BA Ancient History career options are great as one can either do a job or pursue their higher education in the same field and do MA in Ancient History. They can also go for PhD after Master’s if they are good in research.
BA Ancient History Course Highlights
The candidates can check the major highlights of BA Ancient History course below in the table.
| Level of the Course | Undergraduate level |
|---|---|
| Course Duration | 3 years |
| Eligibility | Must have completed 10+2 from a recognised board |
| Admission Process | Direct or Entrance based |
| Examination Type | Semester- Wise |
| Average Course Fee | Rs 3K- 18K |
| Average Salary | Rs 4 lakh – 6 lakh |
| Top Recruitment Areas | Travel organisation, Museum, Government tourist offices, etc |
Why Choose BA Ancient History Course?
The students are often inquisitive about Why to do a particular course apart from their interest in the field. There are hundreds of courses available to do at graduation level and finding a suitable one is always very challenging. Here are some reasons to choose BA Ancient History:
- BA Ancient History course is becoming popular among youths because of better growth opportunities with the course.
- The career and job prospects are very good as there are demands for BA Ancient History graduates in the market.
- BA Ancient History course is an affordable course and the average BA Ancient History course fee charged in India ranges between INR 30k and INR 5 lakhs.
- The students after completing their graduation from BA Ancient History are usually offered a salary between INR 3 lakhs to INR 10 lakhs per annum which is considered to be a decent amount.
BA Ancient History Eligibility Criteria
BA. Ancient History aspirants must have qualified their 10+2 exam from a recognised Board from any stream and with a minimum aggregate of 50% in all the qualifying level subjects combined.
BA Ancient History Admission Process
Most of the top Universities and colleges conduct their own entrance exam for admission into the BA Ancient History programme and on the basis of the students’ performance in both the qualifying exam and entrance test, allocation of the seat is done. However, there are multiple colleges or institutions which offers direct admission into the BA Ancient History programme.
Preparation Tips for BA Ancient History
The students can look at the following preparation tips that they should follow to successfully complete the course:
- Syllabus Information and Consultation: The students must be sure they are completely aware about the syllabus and they understand the syllabus as well. In case of any confusion, they must consult seniors or advisors for the same.
- Prepare for a Month: There must be a proper gap of at least one month between examination date and preparation for the same. Make a list of what needs to be studied and practiced as per the strengths and weaknesses and work accordingly.
- Prepare Time Table: A workable time table is a must as it helps in timely completion of the exam preparation. A time table also helps in reserving sufficient time for revision.
BA Ancient History Required Skills
There are certain aspects that the candidate have to keep in mind before opting for the BA Ancient History course. Aspirants need to possess certain necessary skills to develop in BA Ancient History course. The course is basically a theory-based programme and for that one needs to have proper knowledge. The candidates can check certain skill sets required for BA Ancient History course mentioned below.
- Researching
- Data Handling
- Writing
- Discussing
BA Ancient History Career Options and Job Prospects
The graduates of BA Ancient History course can explore successful career opportunities in different fields such as journalism, archaeology, heritage industry, museums, computing, media, librarianship, teaching, business, administrative services, higher academic study, and other such areas that require academic versatility. The job profile of the Historians is to analyse and evaluate documentary evidence, work with several government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, public sector departments, etc.
BA Ancient History students are best suited for roles such as Evaluator, Policy Analyst, Local Historian, and Planner, etc. They can also work in the capacity of Cultural Historic Preserver and Resources Manager after gaining relevant experience. The other profiles that they are usually placed with include Information Officer, Genealogist, Gallery or Museum Curator, Records Manager, Archivist, and Librarian, Newspaper and Broadcast Journalist, Administrative Officer, etc. One can check some of these important profiles along with their salary structure below.
Job Profile Job Description Average Annual Salary Historian They are responsible for research, record, analyse, and interpret the past as per official records in sources, such as government and institutional records, photographs, interviews, newspapers and other periodicals, films, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters. INR 4 lakh – INR 6 lakh Curator Assembling, presenting, cataloging, managing, and displaying artistic and cultural collections. They are also in charge of collections/ exhibits in museums and art galleries. INR 5 lakh – INR 7 lakh Archaeologist They work closely with local authorities taking an account of all the historical structures and also advise on the archaeological implications of museums and heritage centers. They support the preservation, conservation, display and interpretation of artifacts. Also, they collaborate with universities and research organisations, carrying out research and educational work. INR 7 lakh – INR 8 lakh Archivist Their job is also very important as they acquire, maintain, and manage documents and other materials of historical importance. They work for individuals, organisations, and nations. They maintain digital records as a large part of their work is related to making information accessible to users. INR 1 lakh – INR 2 lakh Genealogist They use a variety of public and private records, immigration records, court records, and original tax books to trace family trees and descendants. They also work as consultants for their clients, and advise and undertake lines of research. INR 4 lakh – INR 5 lakh Tour Guide They can work as leading groups of visitors through points of historical, cultural, or regional interest. They know about the details of all these historical places and provide in-depth intelligence about heritage sites and famous places in a city, frequently visited by tourists, vacationers, and students. INR 2 lakh – INR 4 lakh Scope of BA Ancient History
The students can explore various career scopes after graduating from BA Ancient History. They can also go on and pursue a variety of courses to enhance their knowledge in History. The aim of the program is to train scholars to be historians and capable of making significant contributions to the field. They can look for the following courses after successfully completing graduation.
- Master\’s Degree in History and Culture
- Master of Arts History
- Master of Arts in Archaeology and Ancient History
- Master of Arts Museology and Archeology