HUMSS Strands: Know Your Options After Senior Year

Shout out to senior high schoolers! Are you still undecided on which strand to take? Do you still have a lot of questions about the academic tracks available and how it fits your dream careers or skills? Or are you just trying to research as much as you can to learn something about all the strands? This K-12 blog series is for you.

Since its approval in 2013, the K-12 system has created changes in the way high school students are trained not only for educational advancement but for possible employment as well. The K-12 program basically added two more academic school years to the then-existing 10-year pre-university format of secondary education institutions. With goals of achieving educational equity, the K-12 program aims to equip students with the much-needed skills to gain employment even without a college degree.

There are mainly four possible tracks to choose from; namely: Academic, Sports, Arts and Design and Technical-Vocational-Livelihood tracks. Four different strands fall under the Academic track: Accounting, Business, and Management (ABM) strand, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) strand, Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strand and the General Academics strand (GAS).

Every week, you’ll find an article explaining what each academic track is, what subjects to expect under this track, college courses to consider, and possible careers.

What do you need to know about the HUMSS strand?

Do you love reading, writing or speaking? Are you people-oriented? Are you interested in culture, politics, or the arts? If yes, the HUMSS Strand is for you. HUMSS stands for Humanities and Social Sciences. This strand focuses on the study of human behavior and societal changes, and analysis of arts, culture, literature, and politics. HUMSS subjects include political science, anthropology, linguistics, psychology, and communication.

What are the subjects in HUMSS Strand?

Subjects offered in HUMSS Strand are very diverse ranging from literature, politics and language. These subjects focus on developing your reading, writing, speaking and thinking skills. These are the subjects that you will take if you choose to take this strand:

1. Creative Writing / Malikhaing Pagsulat
2. Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems
3. Creative Nonfiction
4. Trends, Networks, and Critical Thinking in the 21st Century Culture
5. Philippine Politics and Governance
6. Community Engagement, Solidarity, and Citizenship
7. Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences
8. Disciplines and Ideas in the Applied Social Sciences
9. Work Immersion/Research/Career Advocacy/Culminating Activity

What college courses or degree programs can I take after Senior High School?

HUMSS Strand is for students who aspire to take communication, liberal arts, education or philosophy in college. After you take this strand, you can pursue college degrees such as or related to the following:

• Bachelor of Arts in Communication
• Bachelor of Elementary Education
• Bachelor of Secondary Education
• Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
• Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism
• Bachelor of Arts major in Social Studies
• Bachelor of Arts major in Philosophy
• Bachelor of Arts major in Asian Studies
• Bachelor of Arts major in Literature
• Bachelor of Arts major in Foreign Studies
• Bachelor of Arts major in Political Science  

What are your possible professions?

Being a HUMSS student does not automatically mean that you’re an aspiring lawyer or politician. Contrary to popular belief, a HUMSS student can also be a writer, broadcaster, counselor, editor or journalist as this strand hones your communication skills, too. HUMSS opens lots of opportunities for students because of several prospective professions that you can choose from such as:  

• Tutor/Teacher Assistant
• Researcher
• Training Assistant
• Community Development Worker/Organizer
• Day Care Center Worker
• Life Coach

Interested to enroll in this strand? Know more about the courses under HUMSS strand and the schools offering HUMSS through their profile pages on Edukasyon.ph and apply directly to a school that interests you!