BA, also known as Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, is a three-year undergraduate programme that covers a variety of sociological theories, social interactions, cultures, stratifications, and relationships. Sociology is the study of human societies and their institutions, communities, populations, gender, race, and age groups. The syllabus for BA sociology is extensive and divided into six semesters. It covers topics such as social institutions, societies, and culture, as well as social research methods, data collection, statistical analysis, positivism, functionalism, and population theories.
BA Sociology is one of the most sought-after courses in the stream of Arts and Humanities. BA Sociology syllabus deals with different Human Behavior, Social Life, Human Relationship, Social Changes, etc. BA Sociology syllabus includes all the important aspects of society. Through the BA Sociology subjects, students understand everything in a correct manner. In a nutshell, the BA Sociology course syllabus demonstrates that our society is diverse in nature. It covers topics such as social institutions, societies, and culture, as well as social research methods, data collection, statistical analysis, positivism, functionalism, and population theories. The course combines core and elective subjects.
The BA Sociology syllabus includes the following subjects:
The BA Sociology course subjects provide complete knowledge of social issues such as poverty and illiteracy, as well as how to eradicate and implement the best possible solutions to these problems. By taking the course, students gain an understanding of Social Work and its relevance in today's world. The BA Sociology course syllabus is usually developed based on learning objectives and expert opinions. Therefore, the BA Sociology course is designed to provide comprehensive learning. The course seeks to improve knowledge and learning abilities in the subjects. Lastly, the knowledge provided throughout the course allows students to better understand our society.
After completing the course, candidates can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, counselling centres, mental hospitals, old age homes, prisons, and journalism. They can work as field workers, volunteers, social workers, sociologists, programme coordinators, teachers, project officers, rural development officers, welfare officers, and other roles. The average salary for a fresh graduate of BA sociology is INR 3 LPA, which is determined by a variety of factors such as skills, academics, and experience.
BA Sociology course syllabus is completed through six semesters. At the initial stage, teaching is imparted on the basic principles of Sociology to give an idea of what Sociology is all about. Then, students gradually get to know about Social Problems, Anthropology, India’s Social Movement etc. In some colleges/universities, soft skill subjects/skill-based subjects are also included in the BA Sociology syllabus. The course aims to make the students ready for higher studies in the same domain. BA Sociology course comes with various objectives. Some of them are mentioned below:
Tabulated below is the semester-wise BA Sociology syllabus. The syllabus can vary from college to college. But the core concepts of the course are usually the same for all institutions that offer BA in Sociology courses.
The first year of the course includes the following BA Sociology subjects:
Semester I | Semester II |
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Principles of Sociology I | Principles of Sociology - II |
Indian Society | Social problems in India |
Social Psychology | Social Anthropology |
Skill-based subject (Elective) | Skill-based subject (Elective) |
The second year of the course contains the following BA Sociology course subjects:
Semester III | Semester IV |
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Classical Social Thinkers I | Classical Social Thinkers II |
Social Movements in India | Research Methodology and Statistics |
Social Demography | Political Sociology |
Soft Skills - III | Soft Skills - III |
Environmental Studies | Environmental Studies |
The BA Sociology course syllabus for the third year has the following topics:
Semester V | Semester VI |
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Rural Sociology | Medical Sociology |
Urban Sociology | Media, Society and Communication |
Industrial Sociology | Project |
Sociology of Development | Extension Activities |
Value Education | - |
BA Sociology subjects are different academic subjects based on Sociology. The sole purpose is to train the minds for sociological imagination, social issues, and others. BA Sociology syllabus includes both the core and elective papers. Core papers are taught almost in all semesters. Elective or optional papers are taught after a few core subjects are introduced to the students. The BA Sociology course subjects also incorporate projects. In some colleges/universities, skill-based subjects are also important learning content in the syllabus. Like the syllabus, the subjects of BA Sociology may be different for different institutions. After studying all the BA Sociology subjects students will be able to understand sociology and its impact on society.
Listed below are the subjects taught in the BA Sociology course:
Individual and Society | Collective Behaviour |
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Social Institutions | Personality and Culture |
Groups | Leadership |
Socialization | Public Propaganda, Public Opinion |
Marriage and Family | Social Change |
Caster and Class in India | Social Mobility |
Social Change in India | Social Processes |
Roots of Hindu Social Organization | Social Control |
Poverty and Unemployment | Crime and Delinquency |
Terrorism | Economic Organization |
Problems of Women and Children | Political Organization |
Religion | Socio-Religious National Movement |
Social Reform Movements | Tribal Movements |
New Social Movements | Population Theories |
Population Programmes and Policies | Sources of Population Data |
Sociology is the Common Subject for all the semesters of the BA Sociology courses. As it is previously mentioned Sociology is the study of Social Sciences. BA Sociology deals in a broader way of that study. As it is all about Sociology and its different aspects, every BA Sociology subject included in the syllabus is based on it. Whether it is Social Anthropology or Political Sociology or Sociology of Development, the chief subject is Sociology. Throughout the course, it is an effort to give an explain Sociology from different perspectives. Hence, the most important Sociology related subjects are included in all the semesters of BA Sociology course.
BA Sociology Optional Subjects are taught to the students to portray different aspects of Sociology. The BA Sociology subjects taught as optional papers help the students to understand the subjects in a better way. These subjects take the learners deeper into the subjects. The purpose of such subjects is to make the student understand the allied topics of sociology. Without understanding these topics, the overall learning would not get complete shape. One of the important benefits of these BA Sociology course subjects is that they enhance the power of understanding, expand the knowledge area and develop the potential of identifying the key areas of Sociology. Like the compulsory subjects, the optional subjects may vary according to the format of BA Sociology syllabus, a college or institute follows. The following list shows the BA Sociology Optional Subjects:
· Sociology of Development
· Economic Sociology
· Women Studies
· Sociology of Education
· Sociology of Indian Society
· Social Anthropology
There are different universities in India that offer BA Sociology courses in Open Distance Learning Mode. The BA Sociology course in distance education is offered to provide an in-depth study of Sociology. The objective of the course is to present a perspective of Sociology beyond the discipline. The BA Sociology syllabus for distance education includes both core and elective topics. The BA Sociology subjects included in the syllabus improves the skills and abilities of the students. For example, a learner’s reading and writing potential get improved by practicing the assignments and course exercises. Likewise, the student’s critical understanding level and analytical skills are also improved through the learning process of the course.
The BA Sociology course syllabus of distance education includes all the age-appropriate topics. Students get a comprehensive understanding of the BA Sociology course subjects through this course. One of the most important benefits of distance learning the course is that the students can pursue the course at their pace. The 3-year course can be completed within 6 years. The study materials and the BA Sociology course syllabus is designed to support all the features of distance education. The syllabus structure may be different for different universities that offer the course through distance mode. But, in all cases, subject themes remain the same. The BA Sociology course syllabus include core, specific elective, generic elective and skill enhancement subjects. A general idea of the BA Sociology course subjects included in the distance learning education mode is given here:
Core Topics | Specific Elective Topics |
---|---|
Introduction to Sociology | Tribal Cultures of India |
Sociology of India | Environmental Sociology |
Political Sociology | Indian Sociological Traditions |
Sociology of Gender | Ethnographies |
Sociology of Religion | Visual Anthropology |
Social Stratification | Urban Sociology |
Sociology of Kinship | - |
Sociological Research Methods | - |
Skill Enhancement Subjects | Generic Electives |
Tourism Anthropology | Disaster Management |
Public Health and Epidemiology | Sustainable Development |
Ability Enhancement Core Papers | |
Environmental Studies | |
English Communication skills |
There are some colleges that offer BA Sociology admission through entrance exams. These colleges want to test the students’ potential and basic understanding level of the subjects. The popular entrance exam for BA Sociology course is CUET UG etc. Exams like CUET Sociology contain objective type questions. It is a computer-based test conducted by NTA once in a year. Mentioned below is the BA Sociology syllabus for CUET Exam:
BA Sociology Entrance Exam Syllabus 2024 | |
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Structure of Indian Society | Social Change and the Polity |
Social Institutions: Continuity and Change | Social Change and the Economy |
Social Inequality and Exclusion | Arenas of Social Change |
The challenges of Unity in Diversity | New arenas of Social Change |
Process of Social Changes in India | Social Movements |
BA Sociology books are extremely important for completing the course. We have listed some of the most important books that can be used as a course guide.
Text Books | Reference Books |
---|---|
The Principles of Sociology by Franklin Henry | Sociology- An Introduction by Gelles J. Richard, Ann Levine |
Social Problems in India by Bhattacharya, S.K | Reconceptualising Caste, Class & Tribe Sharma by K.L |
An Introduction to Social Anthropology by Jha, Makhan | Poverty Alleviation and Housing Problem by Kohli and Sharma |
Introduction to Anthropology by Beals, R, & Haijer | Poverty and Underdevelopment by Attachand |
Introduction to Social Anthropology by Majumdar, D.N. & T.N. Madan | Cultural Anthropology by Richney. H. Crapo |
An Introduction to Social Anthropology by Lucy, Mair | Classical Social Theory by Craib, Ian |
Masters of Sociological Thought: Ideas in Historical & Social Context by Coser, Lewis. A | Introduction to History of Sociology by Barnes, H.E |
The Making of Sociology by Fletcher, Ronald | Population Theories and Demographic Analyses by Ghosh B.N |
Social Movements in India by Rao M.S.A | Methodology for population studies and development by Mahadevan and P.Krishnan |
The Sociology of Social Movements by Banks, J.A | Social Demography by Ford. T.P. and D’ Jong G.F |
Social Background of Indian Nationalism by Desai, A.P | Sociological Theory and Social Structure by Merton, Robert k |
From Untouchable Dalit: Essays on The Ambedkar Movement by Selliot, Elmer | Sociological Theory: Its Nature and Growth by Timasheff, Nicholoas |
Principles of Population Studies by . Bhende, Asha. A and Tara Kanitkar | Political Sociology by Ali Ashaf and Sharma B.N. |
Fundamentals of Demography by Hans Dr. RajBA Sociology Course Structure | Political Sociology by Bhattacharyya.D.C |
BA Sociology course can broadly be divided into two categories core and elective subjects. The course curriculum engages students to learn by engaging themselves in social campaigns with more emphasis on practical learning, attending lectures of eminent guest teachers of the nation and worldwide, group discussion between the students which provide them with a friendly fun atmosphere to open up and learn etc.
Sociology projects are designed meticulously so that they unfurl an amazing and engrossing opportunity for students from humanities and science backgrounds. They also prepare the students who want to opt for further studies. Real-time and challenging social issues for the project work give the students a captivating platform to grow themselves. Some of the most sought-after project topics for undergraduate programs are the Sociology of food, Juvenile Justice System, Drug abuse in Youth, Sociology of gender, Race Nationality and Ethnicity etc. Sociology projects are designed in such a way that it helps the students to understand social issues in a better way and provide a road map for the solution.