Literature vs. Commerce: Which is the Right Course for You?

Are you confused about choosing the right pre-university course (PUC) stream after your 10th exams?

Making informed educational choices after the completion of your secondary education can be a challenging task as it will help set the foundation of your career. Among the different options and subject combinations available, the two most significant streams that emerge are the humanities and commerce.

Literature is one of the components of the humanities stream, which also delves into the historical and cultural aspects of human existence. On the other hand, the commerce stream focuses on business-related subjects such as economics, business studies, and accountancy. Let us dive deep into each of these streams to understand which is the right course for you!

Literature vs. Commerce: Course Duration and Eligibility

PUC humanities and commerce have a duration of 2 years, thereby serving as a bridge between secondary and undergraduate studies (10+2). The primary eligibility criteria for PUC admission is the successful completion of your secondary education from SSLC, ICSE, CBSE boards or equivalent. At the end of these two-year PUC programmes, you have to take board exams or final exams that will determine your eligibility for admission to undergraduate programmes at colleges and universities.

Literature vs. Commerce: Curriculum

Along with English literature, you need to also study other subjects in a PUC humanities programme. There are two subject combinations that are available in humanities programmes, viz., HEPyS, and EPPyS. While HEPyS offers a combination of history, economics, psychology, and sociology, on the other hand, EPPyS offers economics, political science, psychology, and sociology as subject combinations. Besides these two subject combinations, you can also learn languages, such as Hindi, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, and others.

The commerce PUC programme offers five types of subject combinations, viz., ABMS, ABES, ABEM, ABECs and ABSCs. ABMS covers subjects such as accounts, business studies, mathematics, and statistics, whereas ABES covers subjects such as accounts, business studies, economics, and statistics. On the other hand, ABEM focuses on accounts, business studies, economics, and mathematics, and ABECs on accounts, business studies, economics, and computer science. Lastly, ABSCs offers a subject combination of accounts, business studies, statistics, and computer science. Moreover, you can take up language electives, such as Hindi, and Sanskrit, or a regional language such as Kannada, among other options.

Literature vs. Commerce: Career Opportunities

Upon completion of your PUC and higher education in relevant fields, you can explore diverse career opportunities in each field. As a humanities student, your background in literature can serve as a solid foundation for various career paths. You can pursue a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) and venture into teaching, with possibilities ranging from becoming a school teacher to a college lecturer or even a professor in higher education institutions. If you have a passion for creative writing, there are opportunities in journalism, content writing, and copywriting. Conversely, you can explore roles in the publishing industry, such as an editor, proofreader, content developer, or literary agent. Furthermore, your strong communication skills can open doors to exciting career prospects in fields like public relations (PR) and corporate communication.

On the other hand, the commerce PUC stream helps you to gain expertise in the fields of accounting, finance, and auditing. With the help of this exposure, you can pursue various professional qualifications such as Chartered Accountancy (CA), Cost and Management Accountancy (CMA), or Certified Public Accountancy (CPA). You can utilise your skills and knowledge to grab lucrative opportunities in areas such as banks, financial institutions, and insurance companies. Additionally, you can explore careers in economic research, policy analysis, and consulting. Lastly, you have the option of starting your own consulting firm, where you can provide specialised services to clients in areas such as financial or tax management.

Final Thoughts

Choosing humanities or commerce streams in your pre-university course (PUC) can be confusing. While the humanities encompass literature, history, and psychology, commerce delves into the realms of business, economics, and finance. Therefore,  before you consider the options at hand, it's essential to pause and contemplate your passions, strengths, and aspirations as your decisions will serve as the foundation for your future endeavours.