Applicants need to have passed the class XII examination with at least 50% marks from CBSE or any re
The BA Honours programme in Sociology is designed to develop students’ critical awareness of the relationship between self and society, and to question common sense assumptions about their everyday world. The programme aims to cultivate reflexive orientation through a combination of innovative courses that are theoretical, methodological and topical.
Applicants need to have passed the class XII examination with at least 50% marks from CBSE or any re
Programme Details:
Concept:
Through a combination of relevant courses that are theoretical, methodological and topical, the programme engages students with the history of sociology in India, while imparting a comprehensive understanding of the sociology of Indian society. At the same time, the programme introduces students to concepts and topics that are crucial to the comprehension and analysis of societies and cultures beyond India. Taking change rather than continuity as their fundamental pivot-point, several courses trace questions of identity and selfhood through various social formations such as neighbourhood, community, village, city, nation and diaspora. In each instance, students are encouraged to examine the ways in which ‘glocal’ (global and local) influences shape emergent societal formations and practices, flows of people and things, and social movements for change. Courses that examine the multiple dimensions of power and domination—the economic, cultural, religious and symbolic—provide students with a rich appreciation of the interlocking aspects of social life that produce enduring inequalities and marginalizations. In addition to these substantive gains, students will also develop practical skills in assessing competing sociological explanations, challenging stereotypical thinking, designing research projects and suggesting possible pathways for change in the real world.
Objectives:
The Honours programme in Sociology is designed to facilitate students to question common sensical assumptions about the social world and develop a critical awareness about inequalities and marginalizations. In keeping with AUD’s overall mission and focus on social justice, the programme aims to critically engage students with hierarchies in our everyday social institutions. Over the course of three years, the programme is geared to produce an awareness of how the self is part of caste, class, gender, sexuality, ethnic and other inequalities that have been produced historically and are being re/produced contemporaneously. The objective is that through this critical analysis, students will develop an ethically nuanced relation between the self and the other.
Program outcomes:
The Programme outcomes of the undergraduate Sociology programme at AUD are:
Overall structure (programme template with course organisation, course titles, credits, etc.):
A student who enrolls in the BA Sociology Honours programme has to complete 96 credits in 6 semesters. Out of the total of 96 credits, 48 credits will be earned from 12 core courses. The remaining 48 are to be earned from Compulsory Foundation courses and Electives that can be chosen from Electives offered by Sociology and/or from other undergraduate programmes at Ambedkar University. The following is the BA Sociology Honours course structure.
Total: 96 credits
Semesters: 6
Total core and credits: 12 core courses and 48 credits
Monsoon Semester (MS) & Winter Semester (WS)
1st semester (MS)
2nd semester (WS)
3rd Semester (MS)
4th semester(WS)
5th semester (MS)
6th semester (WS)
Electives
Applicants need to have passed the class XII examination with at least 50% marks from CBSE or any re
AUD caters primarily to the study of the humanities and the social sciences. It aims to bridge academic excellence with concerns of social justice and equity and aspires to make teaching and learning processes liberating undertakings that carry transformative potentials across diverse strata of society. The BA programmes housed in SUS are central to the University’s vision and offer students a unique liberal arts education that acquaints them with diverse approaches to knowledge. It aims to achieve a good balance between the range and depth of the subjects studied. The programmes aim at developing students’ critical awareness of relationship between self and society, and at questioning common sense assumptions of their everyday world. This is done through innovative pedagogies involving theoretical, methodological and transformative aspects of teaching-learning processes.
The seven programmes in the School offer courses which respond to societal questions at local, national, global levels. These are related to understanding of historical and contemporary perspectives on caste, class, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, language, disability, and the interactions between these factors. Study of these factors orients students towards a nuanced, humanistic and holistic understanding of the local, the national and the global perspectives. The interdisciplinary structure of the School enables the students to credit and audit courses across disciplines, and therefore develop cross-disciplinary perspective to the understanding of society.
The School not only aims at providing disciplinary and interdisciplinary education to students but at imparting a critical understanding of their own role as local, national and global citizens. The emergence of this understanding is also premised on the way in which the student is envisaged not merely as recipient of knowledge but as an active participant in production of the university itself as a space of emergence of critical understanding.
Applicants need to have passed the class XII examination with at least 50% marks from CBSE or any re
Programme scheduling (semesters; years; whether includes inter-semester breaks or not; etc.):
Semester system
What are the intended aims of the programme?
The Honours programme in Sociology aims to develop students’ critical awareness of the relationship between self and society and to question common sense assumptions about their everyday world. Over the course of three years, the program aims to impart a layered understanding of the socio-cultural, institutional and interpersonal processes through which caste, class, gender, sexuality, ethnic and other inequalities have been produced historically and are being re/produced contemporaneously.
How does the programme link with the vision of AUD?
In keeping with AUD’s overall mission and focus on social justice, the programme aims to cultivate this reflexive orientation by introducing students to the social through the twin lenses of social inequalities and marginalizations, creating socially aware democratic citizens.
How is the proposed programme positioned vis-à- vis the programmatic scheme envisaged for the School at its inception? How does the programme link with other programme(s) of the School?
The BA program in Sociology is located in the School of Undergraduate Studies (SUS), which is the academic location for AUD’s undergraduate programmes: BA Honours with majors in English, Economics,Sociology, History, Psychology, Mathematics, and Social Sciences and Humanities. The SUS has a broad interdisciplinary philosophy of exposing students to a combination of foundational, core disciplinary and interdisciplinary elective courses over three years. To that end, the Sociology program links with the above mentioned programs in SUS through its interdisciplinary vision. By offering core courses that are electives for other programmes in SUS, and by opening up students to other courses offered in SUS, through the option of electives, Sociology connects to diverse courses that are meant to support liberal arts education by preparing students to be critically conscious and aware of their socio-political, cultural, and economic environments.
Does the programme connect to, build on or overlap with any other programmes offered in the University? Is it offered in collaboration with any School/Centre at AUD (if yes, please specify the nature of collaboration)?
The core courses of Sociology are electives for other programs at AUD. Similarly, Sociology students are encouraged to take electives from other disciplines as well. Hence the entire thrust is to offer certain relevant theoretical, methodological and topical matter to students graduating in sociology; at the same time, opening them up to other theories, methods and themes in interrelated fields. At AUD, since all faculty members are expected to teach SUS courses, the expertise and vision of faculties in other schools such as School of Liberal Studies, School of Human Ecology, School of Development Studies, or School of Culture and Creative Expressions are useful for students exposed to an interdisciplinary education. Students therefore benefit from being exposed to diversely experienced faculty with their own areas of research and teaching. As a result, just as sociology students in SUS are benefited from faculty expertise in other disciplinary areas, sociology faculties contribute to the intellectual growth of SUS students in other disciplines as well.
How is it positioned in relation to other similar programmes in the field?
Sociology sits along with English, Economics, History, Psychology, Mathematics, and Social Sciences to offer unique perspectives in social issues that range from questions on social movements, culture and identity, gender/sexuality and caste based marginalizations to law and the workings of the Indian state.
Is there a sufficiently defined body of knowledge and literature to support the programme?
Yes. The discipline of sociology is well established, with an existing and ongoing body of knowledge that speaks to topical, methodological and theoretical issues around India as well as other parts of the globe.
What are the program specific graduate attributes?
Graduates of BA Honours in Sociology from AUD will have a well-grounded theoretical knowledge on the core sociological courses as offered at the BA Programme. They will learn the application of disciplinary knowledge through the inter-disciplinary lens that AUD allows from the basket of electives offered to students. Given the variety of pedagogical and assessments methods that each of the BA Sociology core as well as elective courses offer (as appended) will enable students to also develop strong communication skills (writing, oral presentations, field work/visits) as well as research skills since most of the assignments are developed in a manner that enable students to engage in some research and data collection work. Courses such as on Social Research help direct the graduates to this level. Development of critical and reflective reading, thinking and writing has always remained the essence of learning at AUD. Class room discussions, group discussions, presentations, quizzing and Q and A sessions are some of the assessment methods through which graduates develop skills on analytical reasoning, cooperation and team-work, self-directed learning, sensitive to socio-cultural realities, qualities of leadership readiness and so on. Since AUD has a system of continuous assessment, it definitely assists the graduates during their entire 3 year programme to sharpen their skills and equip them to address issues sensitively as well as rationally. Importantly, usage of ICT tools and e-learning mechanisms as illustrated in most of the courses will armour graduates with digital literacy and skill. Such a comprehensive programme would ensure that graduates do have the ability to adapt and adjust with the changing work and socio-cultural situations. Thus, graduates from the BA Sociology programme would have the following attributes:
What are the professional trajectories that the graduates of the programme may pursue?
Graduates of BA Honours in Sociology from AUD will have sound training in the discipline and a good grasp of interdisciplinary scholarship, enabling them to pursue graduate studies and beyond in a number of related fields in the social sciences, whether in Sociology, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Economics or Political Science. They will also be well placed to take up employment in affiliated professional fields such as media and journalism, human resources related management or urban planning. Alternatively, they will be equipped for a career in the non-governmental and governmental sectors.
Are there sufficient in-house faculty resources available for the programme? If not, please provide an estimate of additional faculty resources required.
The Sociology programme currently has seven full time faculty members. Additional requirement - 2 permanent faculty members. Occasionally contractual/adjunct faculty members contributes towards classroom transactions.
Rationale for the nomenclature of the programme
Sociology as a programme is widely accepted in India and abroad, recognized by different official bodies that are disciplinary as well as governmental.
Teaching-learning:
Instructional strategies:
Primarily lecture based with occasional field visits and visits to Non-governmental organizations.
Special needs for the programme (instructional space: studio, lab, clinic, workshop, etc.; equipment, software, any other – please specify):
NA
Linkages with external agencies (e.g., with field-based organizations, hospital; any others):
Depending on the courses taught, instructors will connect students with non-governmental organizations
Applicants need to have passed the class XII examination with at least 50% marks from CBSE or any re
Course Code | Course Title | Course Credit |
SC801 | Introduction to Sociology | 4 |
SUS1FC035 | Indian Society Continuities, Contradictions and Paradoxes | 4 |
Course Code | Course Title | Course Credit |
SC04 | Marriage, Kinship and Family norms | 4 |
SC817 | Sociological Theory | 4 |
SUS1SC805 | Conceptualising Rural and Urban Societies | 4 |
SUS1SC845 | Sociology of Work | 4 |
Course Code | Course Title | Course Credit |
SUS1SC845 | Sociology of Work | 4 |
Applicants need to have passed the class XII examination with at least 50% marks from CBSE or any recognised Board. (Relaxation of 5% marks for SC/ST/PwBD/D-OBC (NCL)/Defence/KM).