St. Stephen's College

B.A. (Hons.) – Overview

The B.A. (Hons.) is a specialized undergraduate course that focuses on an in-depth study of a specific subject. Unlike the B.A. Programme, which allows students to study a combination of subjects, B.A. (Hons.) offers specialization in a single discipline, making it more academically rigorous and focused.

At Motilal Nehru College (Evening), the B.A. (Hons.) programs generally include a variety of courses in the Arts stream. Here are some of the common options:

1. B.A. (Hons.) in English

• Focus: English literature, literary theory, drama, poetry, linguistics, and cultural studies.

• Core Subjects:

  • British Literature

  • Indian Writing in English

  • Literary Criticism and Theory

  • Postcolonial Literature

  • Modern English Literature

  • Creative Writing

• Career Paths: Teaching, Publishing, Writing, Journalism, Media, Content Creation.

2. B.A. (Hons.) in Political Science

• Focus: Political theory, Indian politics, international relations, comparative politics, and public administration.

• Core Subjects:

  • Political Theory and Thought

  • Indian Government and Politics

  • Comparative Politics

  • International Relations

  • Public Administration

  • Political Economy

• Career Paths: Civil Services, Policy Research, Journalism, International Organizations, NGOs.

3. B.A. (Hons.) in History

• Focus: The study of ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary world history, historiography, and research methods.

• Core Subjects:

  • Ancient Indian History

  • Medieval Indian History

  • Modern Indian History

  • History of Europe

  • Historiography

  • World History

• Career Paths: Archaeology, Teaching, Museums, Heritage Management, Research, Public Services.

4. B.A. (Hons.) in Hindi

• Focus: Hindi literature, literary criticism, and linguistics, with an emphasis on understanding modern and classical Hindi texts.

• Core Subjects:

  • Classical Hindi Literature

  • Modern Hindi Literature

  • Hindi Linguistics

  • Literary Criticism

  • Hindi Drama and Poetry

• Career Paths: Teaching, Journalism, Translation, Media, Public Administration.

5. B.A. (Hons.) in Sanskrit

• Focus: Classical Sanskrit literature, language, texts, and Indian philosophy.

• Core Subjects:

  • Vedic Literature

  • Sanskrit Grammar

  • Classical Sanskrit Literature

  • Indian Philosophy and Religion

• Career Paths: Teaching, Research, Translation, Civil Services, Cultural Heritage Management.

Key Components of B.A. (Hons.) Programs

• Core Subjects: These are the main subjects related to the specialization chosen.

• Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC): E.g., creative writing, communication, data analysis.

• Ability Enhancement Compulsory Courses (AECC): These typically include Environmental Science and English Communication.

• Generic Electives (GE): These could be chosen from other departments to broaden the knowledge base, such as Sociology, Economics, etc.

Career Opportunities

Graduates from the B.A. (Hons.) programs can pursue several career paths depending on the discipline, including:

• Teaching and Academia (M.A. followed by M.Ed. or Ph.D.)

• Government Services (UPSC, SSC, Banking, etc.)

• Media and Journalism

• Corporate Sector (Marketing, HR, Administration, etc.)

• Research and Policy-making

• Cultural Heritage, NGOs, and Social Services

Admission Process

• Eligibility: You must have completed Class 12 from a recognized board with specific subject requirements.

• Cut-offs: As with most Delhi University colleges, Motilal Nehru College follows the DU cut-off system, which varies each year based on the number of applicants and available seats.

• Additional Criteria: Some subjects, like Political Science or English, might have a higher cutoff or additional selection criteria (e.g., interviews or written tests for specific categories).