Complete HUMSS Strand Study Guide 2025
The Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strand is designed for students who want to pursue careers that involve understanding human behavior, society, culture, and governance. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know to excel in your HUMSS subjects and prepare for college.
1. Philippine Politics and Governance
This subject provides a deep understanding of the Philippine political system, constitutional framework, and civic responsibilities. It's essential for students aspiring to careers in law, public administration, and government service.
Key Concepts:
- The 1987 Constitution: The supreme law of the Philippines, establishing the framework of government, fundamental rights, and state policies. Know its preamble, articles, and key provisions.
- Three Branches of Government: Executive (President), Legislative (Senate and House of Representatives), and Judicial (Supreme Court) - their powers, functions, and checks and balances.
- Bill of Rights (Article III): Fundamental freedoms including due process, equal protection, freedom of speech, religion, press, and assembly.
- Electoral System: Role of COMELEC, suffrage qualifications, party-list system, and election processes.
- Local Government: Structure of LGUs (provinces, cities, municipalities, barangays) and the Local Government Code of 1991.
2. Introduction to World Religions
This subject explores major world religions, their beliefs, practices, and cultural impact. Understanding religious diversity is crucial for fostering tolerance and working effectively in multicultural environments.
Major Religions Overview:
- Christianity: Based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. Key concepts: Trinity, salvation through faith, sacraments. Largest religion in the Philippines (~86% Catholic).
- Islam: Founded by Prophet Muhammad. Five Pillars: Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj. Second largest religion in Philippines, predominant in Mindanao.
- Buddhism: Founded by Siddhartha Gautama. Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path to end suffering and achieve enlightenment (Nirvana).
- Hinduism: Oldest major religion. Concepts: Brahman, karma, dharma, reincarnation, moksha. Sacred texts: Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita.
- Judaism: Monotheistic religion of the Jewish people. Torah, Sabbath observance, kosher laws, concept of covenant with God.
- Indigenous Philippine Beliefs: Animism, ancestral spirits, Bathala, babaylan/catalonan traditions, ritual practices.
3. Creative Writing
Creative Writing develops your ability to express ideas through various literary forms. This subject enhances creativity, communication skills, and appreciation for literature - valuable for careers in writing, journalism, and communications.
Literary Forms and Techniques:
- Fiction Elements: Plot (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution), character types, setting, theme, point of view (first, second, third person).
- Poetry: Forms (sonnet, haiku, free verse), elements (meter, rhyme scheme, stanza), figurative language (metaphor, simile, personification, imagery).
- Drama: Dialogue, stage directions, dramatic structure (acts, scenes), types of conflict, character motivation.
- Creative Nonfiction: Personal essay, memoir, literary journalism, combining facts with literary techniques.
- Philippine Literature: National artists, major literary periods (pre-colonial, Spanish, American, contemporary), Filipino literary traditions.
Essential Literary Devices:
Figurative Language
- • Metaphor - direct comparison
- • Simile - comparison using "like" or "as"
- • Personification - human qualities to non-human
- • Hyperbole - exaggeration
- • Imagery - sensory descriptions
Sound Devices
- • Alliteration - repeating consonant sounds
- • Assonance - repeating vowel sounds
- • Onomatopoeia - words that imitate sounds
- • Rhyme - matching end sounds
- • Rhythm - pattern of stressed syllables
4. Disciplines and Ideas in Social Sciences
This subject introduces the major social science disciplines that study human behavior and society. It provides the theoretical foundation for understanding social issues and conducting research.
The Social Science Disciplines:
- Anthropology: Study of human cultures, both past and present. Key concepts: culture, ethnocentrism, cultural relativism, ethnography, participant observation. Famous anthropologists: Franz Boas, Margaret Mead.
- Sociology: Study of society, social relationships, and institutions. Key concepts: socialization, social stratification, deviance, social institutions (family, education, religion). Founders: Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, Karl Marx.
- Psychology: Study of mind and behavior. Branches: developmental, social, clinical, cognitive psychology. Key theories: psychoanalysis (Freud), behaviorism (Skinner), humanism (Maslow).
- Economics: Study of production, distribution, and consumption. Key concepts: scarcity, opportunity cost, supply and demand, GDP, inflation, market types.
- Political Science: Study of government, politics, and power. Key concepts: state, sovereignty, legitimacy, political ideologies (democracy, authoritarianism, socialism).
- Linguistics: Scientific study of language. Key areas: phonetics, syntax, semantics, sociolinguistics, language acquisition.
5. Applied Social Sciences
This subject focuses on the practical application of social science knowledge to help individuals and communities. It prepares students for careers in counseling, social work, and community development.
Key Areas:
- Counseling: Helping individuals cope with personal, social, or psychological problems. Approaches: person-centered, cognitive-behavioral, psychoanalytic. Core skills: active listening, empathy, rapport building.
- Social Work: Professional practice of helping individuals, groups, and communities enhance well-being. Principles: respect for persons, social justice, integrity. Methods: casework, group work, community organizing.
- Communication: Theories of mass communication, interpersonal communication, media effects, and public relations.
- Community Development: Participatory approaches to improving communities. Concepts: empowerment, capacity building, sustainability, stakeholder engagement.
- Philippine Social Welfare: DSWD programs, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), social protection, disaster response, services for persons with disabilities.
College Courses for HUMSS Graduates
Law & Politics
- • Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
- • Political Science
- • International Studies
- • Public Administration
- • Diplomacy & IR
Social Sciences
- • Psychology
- • Sociology
- • Anthropology
- • Social Work
- • History
Communications
- • Journalism
- • Mass Communication
- • Broadcasting
- • Creative Writing
- • Public Relations
Education
- • Secondary Education
- • Special Education
- • Guidance Counseling
- • Educational Psychology
- • Library Science
Liberal Arts
- • Philosophy
- • Literature
- • Linguistics
- • Religious Studies
- • Fine Arts
Business & Tourism
- • Human Resource Mgmt
- • Tourism Management
- • Hotel & Restaurant Mgmt
- • Events Management
- • Marketing (with focus on consumer behavior)
HUMSS Study Tips & Strategies
- 📰Stay Current: Read newspapers, news websites, and magazines regularly. HUMSS subjects connect to current events - Philippine politics, social issues, religious developments.
- ✍️Write Daily: Practice writing essays, reflections, and creative pieces. Writing is central to HUMSS and improves with regular practice.
- 💬Engage in Discussions: Join debates, discussions, and recitations. HUMSS develops critical thinking through discourse and argumentation.
- 🔗Connect Disciplines: See relationships between subjects - how politics affects economics, how psychology relates to sociology, how religion shapes culture.
- 📚Read Primary Sources: Read the actual 1987 Constitution, religious texts, and literary works - not just summaries. Understanding original sources deepens comprehension.
- 🎬Use Multimedia: Watch documentaries on history, politics, religions, and social issues. Visual content reinforces learning and provides real-world examples.