Here’s the complete, semester-wise DU BA (Hons.) History syllabus under the NEP UGCF 2022 structure — covering all Discipline Specific Core (DSC) papers from Semester 1 to 6, along with the credit distribution and a quick guide to each semester’s focus.
Use this page to plan your semester ahead of time, then head to our DU History PYQs page to see how each paper has actually been examined in past years.
Programme Structure at a Glance
BA (Hons.) History carries 3 DSC papers per semester across Semesters 1–6, plus Discipline Specific Electives (DSE) starting from Semester 3. Each paper is worth 4 credits (3 theory + 1 tutorial).
Semester 1
History of India (From the Beginning to the Fourth Century BCE) — DSC-1 · Social Formations and Cultural Patterns of the Ancient World-I — DSC-2 · History of the USA: Independence to Civil War — DSC-3
As the introductory semester, Semester 1 lays the foundation with early Indian civilisation, ancient world social formations, and 18th-19th century American history — a broad geographical spread designed to establish core historical method before specialising further.
Semester 2
History of India-II (c. 4th Century BCE to 750 CE) — DSC-4 · Social Formations and Cultural Patterns of the Medieval World-II — DSC-5 · History of the USA: Reconstruction to New Age Politics — DSC-6
Semester 2 continues each Semester 1 thread forward in time — early-medieval India, the medieval world, and post-Civil War America — reinforcing the same three-track structure with more analytical depth.
Semester 3
History of India-III (750–1200) — DSC-7 · Rise of the Modern West-I — DSC-8 · History of Modern China (1840–1950s) — DSC-9
Semester 3 introduces Discipline Specific Electives (DSE) alongside the core papers — options include Global Environmental History and History of South East Asia-I. The DSC papers this semester cover early medieval Indian polity, the emergence of European modernity, and modern China’s 19th-20th century transformation.
Semester 4
History of India-IV (c. 1200–1500) — DSC-10 · Rise of the Modern West-II — DSC-11 · History of Modern Japan (c. 1868–1950s) — DSC-12
Semester 4 covers the Sultanate era in India alongside the continuation of European modernity and Japan’s modern transformation from the Meiji era through post-war reconstruction — a content-heavy semester many students plan extra revision time for.
Semester 5
History of India-V (c. 1500–1600) — DSC-13 · History of India-VI (c. 1750–1857) — DSC-14 · History of Modern Europe-I — DSC-15
Semester 5 remains core DSC (not purely elective) — covering 16th century India and the lead-up to 1857, alongside modern Europe. DSE options here include History of the USSR, Gender in Indian History up to 1500, and History of Africa.
Semester 6
History of India-VII (c. 1600–1750s) — DSC-16 · History of India-VIII (c. 1857–1950) — DSC-17 · History of Modern Europe-II — DSC-18
Semester 6 completes your core History Honours coursework — Mughal-era India through to 1950, and the conclusion of modern Europe. DSE options include Gender in Indian History (c. 1500–1950) and Fundamentals of Historical Methodology.
Full DSC Paper & Credit Structure
| Semester | Paper | Code | Credits (Theory+Tutorial) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | History of India (Beginning–4th c. BCE) | DSC-1 | 4 (3+1) |
| I | Social Formations & Cultural Patterns of Ancient World-I | DSC-2 | 4 (3+1) |
| I | History of the USA: Independence to Civil War | DSC-3 | 4 (3+1) |
| II | History of India-II (4th c. BCE–750 CE) | DSC-4 | 4 (3+1) |
| II | Social Formations & Cultural Patterns of Medieval World-II | DSC-5 | 4 (3+1) |
| II | History of the USA: Reconstruction to New Age Politics | DSC-6 | 4 (3+1) |
| III | History of India-III (750–1200) | DSC-7 | 4 (3+1) |
| III | Rise of the Modern West-I | DSC-8 | 4 (3+1) |
| III | History of Modern China (1840–1950s) | DSC-9 | 4 (3+1) |
| IV | History of India-IV (c. 1200–1500) | DSC-10 | 4 (3+1) |
| IV | Rise of the Modern West-II | DSC-11 | 4 (3+1) |
| IV | History of Modern Japan (c. 1868–1950s) | DSC-12 | 4 (3+1) |
| V | History of India-V (c. 1500–1600) | DSC-13 | 4 (3+1) |
| V | History of India-VI (c. 1750–1857) | DSC-14 | 4 (3+1) |
| V | History of Modern Europe-I | DSC-15 | 4 (3+1) |
| VI | History of India-VII (c. 1600–1750s) | DSC-16 | 4 (3+1) |
| VI | History of India-VIII (c. 1857–1950) | DSC-17 | 4 (3+1) |
| VI | History of Modern Europe-II | DSC-18 | 4 (3+1) |
Source: University of Delhi, Office of Academic Affairs – Department of History programme structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same syllabus as the CBCS History Honours programme?
No — this reflects the current NEP UGCF 2022 structure. Paper names and numbering differ somewhat from the older CBCS syllabus, so if you’re on an older batch, cross-check with your college.
Are Semester 5 and 6 elective-only?
No — Semester 5 and 6 both carry 3 DSC (core) papers each, same as every other semester. DSE (elective) papers run alongside DSC from Semester 3 onward, they don’t replace it.
Where can I find the detailed unit-wise breakdown for a specific paper?
This page covers the paper list and credit structure. For unit-by-unit topics, check the linked notes for each paper above (once added), or the official DU syllabus PDF for that paper.
Does this page cover DSE and GE papers too?
This page focuses on the core DSC papers most students search for. DSE options are mentioned briefly under each relevant semester — let us know if you’d like a dedicated DSE/GE breakdown added.
Related Resources
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