Bachelor of Arts [BA] {Hons.} (Sociology) Syllabus, Course Structure and Program Schedule 2025-2026

B.A. Hons. Sociology: Course Structure
The course for a B.A. Hons. Sociology is distributed over three years. As part of a Bachelor degree in Sociology, students also have to study a minimum of two concurrent subjects out of which at least one is a language paper and one is an interdisciplinary subject.
The course delivery methods include classroom discussions, lectures, seminars, solo and group presentations, and visual programmes.

Scheme of Assessment

The final assessment for a Bachelor degree in Sociology is based on the performance in a theory paper and various modes of internal assessment. The various methods of internal assessment are:

Assignments
Quizzes
Presentation
Classroom ParticipationIndustrialization
Project

The weightage for Theory Examination and Internal Assessment is as follows:

Type of Assessment	Weightage
Year-end/Semester Examination	75%
Internal Assessment	25%

Now coming to the syllabus for B.A. Hons. Sociology, the core courses generally remain the same for all universities. Below is an outline of the syllabus:

Name of the Course	Topics	Description
Introduction to Sociology	Nature and Scope of Sociology – The Sociological Perspective, Origins and History of Discipline Sociological Concepts – Individual and Group, Culture, Social Change Theoretical Orientations – Functionalism, Marxism, Interpretive Sociology, Interactionism Sociology and its relationship to other Social Sciences – History, Social Anthropology, Psychology Sociological Concepts – Order & Social Control, Difference and Inequality, Institutions	This paper introduces a student to the idea and concept of Sociology. In this paper, a student learns the nature and scope of sociological in the contemporary world.
Sociology of India	The Rise of Sociology and Anthropology in India Social Institutions – Caste, Class, Tribes, Village, Kinship, Religion India as an object of knowledge – Introduction, the Colonial Discourse, the Nationalist Discourse, Subaltern Critique Social Change – Change and Resistance, Sanskritization and Westernization, the Dalit Movement in India, the Women’s Movement in India, Peasant Movement in India, Middle Class Aspirations Communalism, Secularism and Nationalism Visual programme – Contemporary sources on social institutions and Indian society	In this paper, a student learns the evolution of sociology in India and the various movements which contributed to the development of present social structure in India.
Sociology of Religion	The sacred and the profane Magic, Science and Religion Representation of World Religion – Islam, Hinduism, Christianity Religious Practices – Rites of passage, Practices of inversion	In this course, a student learns the sociological aspect of religion and various religious practices.
Economic Sociology	Perspectives on Economic Sociology – Formalism and Substantivism, New Economic Sociology Forms of exchange – Reciprocity and Gift, Exchange and Money Systems of Production, Circulation, and Consumption – Hunting and Gathering, Domestic mode of Production, Peasant, Capitalism and Socialism Globalization, Economy and Society	This course analyses the various sociological concepts related to economy and trade practices.
Sociology of Kinship	Introduction to the study of Kinship – Basic Concepts, Approaches, Descent, Inheritance, Authority, Residence, Alliance, Culture Conceptualizing Family, Household, and Marriage Re-casting Kinship – Kinship and Gender, Relatedness, Re-imagining Families, New Reproductive Technologies	In this paper, a student has to study the idea and concepts of Kinship and their importance in the structure of a society.
Political Sociology	Nature and context of Sociological study of Politics Concepts and Paradigms – Power and Authority, Political Systems, Conflict and change, Action and Process in Politics State and Society – States, Classes and Elites, Democracies and Civil Society, Protest, Movements, and Resistance Society and Polity in India	In this course, a student learns the sociological concepts associated with Polity and different political systems.
Environment and Society	Social Construction of Nature and the Environment Ecological Perspectives – Cultural Ecology, Political Ecology Contemporary Environmental Concerns – Environmental Movements, Gender, and Environment, Global Issues	Environment forms an integral part in the development of a society and its culture. In this paper, students learn about the relation between Environment and sociology as a science.
Sociology of Gender	Gendering Sociology Gender as a Social Construct – Sex, Gender, Sexuality, Production of Femininity and Masculinity Gender differences and inequalities – Gender, Class, Caste, Race; Family, Work and Property Rights Gender, Power and Resistance	Gender occupies an important place in the framework of society. This course focuses on the various constructs associated with gender and how these reflect on the structure of society.
Sociological Theories	Karl Marx Max Weber Talcott Parsons Emile Durkheim G.H. Mead and E. Goffman Pierre Bourdieu	This paper includes some of the famous theorists and their theories about society and social systems.
Social Stratification	Understanding Social Stratification – Natural inequalities and social inequalities; Hierarchy and differences Approaches to study Social Stratification – Functionalist approach, Marxist approach, Weberian approach, Feminist approach Social Inclusion and Social Exclusion Social Mobility Contemporary Issues and debates in stratification	Social stratification is the system of ranking categories of people in a hierarchical system. In this paper, students learn about the various systems and methods of social stratification and the issues related to stratification.
Methods in Sociological Research	Sociology as a Science – Objectivity, Understanding and Reflexivity The Comparative Method Relationship between Theory and Research Concepts, Hypotheses, Field Analyzing data : Quantitative and Qualitative Research Design and Data Collection – Survey method, Sampling, Questionnaire, Interview, Focus Group Discussions, Participant Observation, Case Study Statistical Methods – Statistical Analysis, Measures of Central Tendency, Measures of Dispersion and Correlation	This is a research-based paper where students are taught various methods of research and data analysis and have to carry out a research project.
Urban Sociology	Ecological and Cultural Perspectives in the study of Urban sociology The city and society Dimensions of urban life – Neighborhood, Slum, Migration, Popular Culture	After independence, urban life has emerged as a crucial player in the structure of the Indian social system. Keeping it in mind, this course analyzes the various aspects of urban society.
Industrial Sociology	Industrial Society: Concept and Approaches – Industrialization, Industrialism, Post-industrial society, Information Society Aspects of Industrial Society – Industrial Bureaucracy, Alienation, Industrial Conflict Industrialization in India – Labor Policy, Informal Sector, Impact of Globalization	The industrialization has altered the structure of society in India. This paper analyses the contribution of Industrialization on Indian society.