Sociology Subjects 2025: Semester Subjects, Electives, Books and Specializations

Akansha BishtSenior Executive
A bachelor’s degree in Sociology is a three-year undergraduate program, and a master’s in Sociology is a two-year post-graduate program. This course deals with the theoretical aspects of social life, the changes in social life, human behavior to social causes, and consequences that shape the social structure and cultural factors. This course offers jobs in fields like Journalism, Survey Researching, Rehabilitation Counseling, Human Resources, Social Working, Family Counseling, Media Planning, etc. Students looking forward to building a career in the field of Sociology could take up this course. Those who would like to engage themselves in social activities and work towards the betterment of society or change society with their thoughts and ideologies are well suited for this course.
List of Subjects in Sociology -Typical Core Subjects for Sociology
Subject Title |
Subject Details |
---|---|
Sociology of India |
This subject provides an overview of the images and ideas of India from a sociological perspective. It also looks into sociological concepts in the Indian context. |
Introduction to Sociology |
This subject provides an introduction to sociological thoughts and focuses on the concepts of sociological thinkers over some time. This course also offers an understanding of various sociologists' original works and transcriptions. |
Political Sociology |
This subject provides an overview of the concepts of sociology with the theoretical and practical aspects of the political aspects. The changes in the political situation and its growth are examined to have an analytical perspective of the same. |
Sociology of Religion |
This subject provides an overview of the distinctiveness of the sociological approach in studying religion. The religious phenomenon and the customs, rituals, beliefs, etc., are examined from a much closer point of view. |
Sociology of Gender |
This subject provides an overview of the sociological aspects of gender as a critical relation with categories of gender and sexuality. This subject tries to understand concepts such as gender and their common notions. |
Economic Sociology |
Economic Sociology provides an overview of the economy and the socio-cultural environment involving various complexes—understanding the elements of economy and its production, distribution, exchange, and consumption perspectives. |
Typical Elective Subjects for Sociology
Subject Title |
Subject Details |
---|---|
Agrarian Sociology |
This subject provides an overview of the formation of the sociological collectives and the South Asian societies Agrarian buildings. It helps students understand the agrarian past and present, along with necessary theories and practical aspects. |
Environmental Sociology |
This subject provides an overview of the reflection of sociology in the environment as an objective approach. These concepts enable the students to understand the issues of the environment and the environmental developments and movements in India. The sociological perspective of the relationship between nature and social perspectives is also considered. |
Visual Culture |
This subject provides an overview of the concepts of visualising everyday culture within the boundaries of politics, identity, and resistance. It also enables the students to understand the potential representations involving sociological interest. |
Reading Ethnographies |
This subject enables the students to learn ethnographic textual and conceptual formats. Reading ethnographies help students understand the critical and analytical concepts of sociology. |
Family and Intimacy |
This subject enables the students to learn the sociological perspectives involved in the relationship between family members and their history, culture, and social contexts that can impact the relationships from misunderstandings. It also enables the students to have a clear view of the diversity of the cultural and societal norms towards which the family members should showcase empathy. |
Detailed Syllabus for Sociology
The semesters and the respective subjects of the sociology course vary from one college or institution to the other. This is an overview of the subjects and their details that form part of the curriculum of sociology syllabus.
Semester |
Core/Elective |
Subject Title |
Subject Details |
---|---|---|---|
1 |
Core |
Sociology of India |
This subject provides an overview of British and American Social Anthropology but takes a different view on Western culture and Social Culture. |
|
Core |
Political Sociology |
This subject provides an overview of the concepts of sociology with the theoretical and practical aspects per the political aspects. Analysing the changes in the political situation and its growth is part of this subject. |
2 |
Core |
Sociology of Religion |
This subject provides an overview of the distinctiveness of the sociological approach in studying religion. The religious phenomenon and the customs, rituals, beliefs, etc., are analysed from a much closer point of view. |
|
Core |
Sociology of Gender |
This subject provides an overview of the sociological aspects of gender as a critical relation with categories of gender and sexuality. The understanding of concepts such as gender and their common notions of gender. |
3 |
Core |
Social Stratification |
This subject provides an overview of the society's categorization of its people based on gender, income, wealth, education, family background, and power. |
|
Core |
Sociological Thinkers - I |
This subject provides an overview to give the students a basic understanding of Sociology and apply the said theories in their daily, real-time life experiences. |
4 |
Core |
Sociological Research Methods - I |
This subject provides an overview to equip students with the required knowledge and skillset to design social research, thus improving Social, Environmental, and Agricultural Systems. |
|
Core |
Research Methods |
This subject provides an overview of the various methods that can be incorporated while employing Research Methodology in the field of Sociology. |
|
Elective |
Environmental Sociology |
This subject provides an overview of the relationship between the societies and their natural environments and emphasises more on the Social Factors that influence Environmental Resource Management. |
Specialisations offered in Sociology
Specialisation |
Specialisation Subjects |
Subject Details |
---|---|---|
General Elective |
Rethinking Development |
This subject provides an overview of the concepts of rethinking the development of the key ideas and the animating forces of the societies and lives of people living in the communities. The students understand the different ideas, approaches, policies, developmental theories, and approaches, which conclude with the consequences and the experiences of development. |
Discipline-Specific Elective |
Urban Sociology |
This subject provides an overview of the concepts and key ideas of the sociological perspectives of the urban phenomenon in both historical and sociological concepts relating to urban sociology. The course also involves the evolution of critical thinking in urban political policy. |
Generic Elective |
Sociology of Media |
This subject provides an overview of the major themes and outlines the correlations between media and society. It also familiarises the students with various concepts and theories in media sociology. The media's production, control, and reception are represented in a sociological perspective. |
Core Course |
Sociology of Kinship |
This subject enables the students to study the concepts of relevant understanding in the family, marriage, and kinship perspectives. It enables the students to look beyond the surface of issues to innovate how and why the issues of kinship arise irrespective of the various perspectives for understanding kinship. This subject also acknowledges the historical evolution of the kinship theories and the reproductive technologies recasting the kinship ideologies. |
Books and Authors Related to Sociology
Great scholars recommend many books for students aspiring to pursue Sociology. These books are a reliable source of knowledge, and the content provided would be genuine and informative. These books could provide an insight into the subjects and their basic outline in a much more engaging way. Many of these books would be available in libraries, or the online versions of these books could also be downloaded and accessed by any student.
Subject |
Book Title |
Author |
---|---|---|
Introduction to Sociology |
Sociology |
Horton, Paul B., Chester L. Hunt, Tata McGraw Hill |
Political Sociology |
Para-Political Systems |
Bailey, F.G., University of London Press |
Sociology of Religion |
Religion as a Subject for Sociology |
Beteille, Andre, 2002, Oxford University Press |
Sociology of Gender |
Doing Gender |
Candace West and Don H. Zimmerman |
FAQs
Q. What are the key topics in Sociology?
A. The following are the key topics in sociology:
-
Political Sociology
-
Sociology of Development
-
Sociology of Gender
-
Society and Religion and
-
Other Sociological Theories
These subjects provide an in-depth analysis of the application of theories and patterns in these subjects. These subjects help the students to understand the basic concepts of sociology.
Q. How can sociology help us in our lives?
A. Sociology helps in understanding oneself better. This is because of the influence of the sociological factors that enable us to think, feel, express, understand, empathise, act, etc. Sociology helps to increase the sociological skill-sets like decision-making, problem-solving, analysing, etc., either for one's personal growth or for a professional platform.
Q. How does sociology influence education?
A. In educational institutions, social interactions influence the development of gender roles and the student's intellectual ability to learn and grasp the sociological factors. The sociological factors in educational institutions involve the students from different societies, irrespective of their differences, to interact and get along as a whole team.
Q. What makes Sociology unique?
A. Sociology becomes a unique study as it focuses mainly on the behavioural patterns of society. A lot of other studies focus on areas of economics and politics but sociology focuses only on humans and how they shape the community as a whole. Structuring the society based on human ideologies also makes this subject unique.
Q. What are the branches of Sociology?
A. There are a lot of branches in Sociology and a few of them are as follows:
-
Criminology
-
Sociology of Religion
-
Sociology of Economy
-
Urban Sociology
-
Rural Sociology
-
Historical Sociology
-
Theoretical Sociology
-
Sociology of Law
-
Sociology of Demography and so on.
Q. What are the seven areas of sociology?
A. There are a lot of areas in sociology which include:
-
Social Organisation
-
Social Psychology
-
Applied Sociology
-
Methods and Research in Sociology
-
Changes in the Social Aspects
-
Human Ecology
-
Demographics and Population
Q. How have sociologists classified the types of societies?
A. Sociologists have classified societies into six different categories of their attributes. They are classified into:
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Agricultural Societies
-
Horticultural Societies
-
Industrial societies
-
Hunting and Gathering Societies
-
Pastoral Societies and
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Post-Industrial Societies
Q. What are the three revolutions in Sociology?
A. The revolutions which made way for sociology were The French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, and The Scientific Revolution. The French Revolution shows the relationship between rulers and the people entirely. The Industrial Revolution led to the development of the domain of sociology. The scientific revolution changed the behavioural aspects of a community.
Q. What jobs can you get with Sociology?
A. A person who has completed their studies in sociology can choose their career in the following fields:
-
Paralegal
-
Social Worker
-
HR Coordinator
-
Urban Planner
-
Research Analyst
-
Community Health Worker, etc.
Q. What subjects are needed for Sociology?
A. The subjects required for Sociology are applied ethics, nature and society, media, crime, sexuality, social control, empathising social problems and their deviance, mobilisation, protest and social movements, social anthropology, economic sociology, political sociology, social control, gender roles, multiculturalism, etc.
Q. Can you work in HR with a Sociology degree?
A. Yes, a person who has completed a Sociology degree can be appointed as a Human Resource Manager. Usually, a master’s in HR is required for a person to work as an HR manager. However, a sociology degree helps a person to understand the behavioural aspects of people and how to tackle the problems arising out of various influences.
Q. How many years does it take to complete sociology?
A. The undergraduate program in sociology requires three years while the post-graduate program in sociology requires two years for completion. A full-time master’s degree takes 2 years, while an online master's degree takes only 18 months for completion.
Q. Why do you study sociology?
A. Sociology helps us understand the social differences in a society that includes human behaviour. The relevancy and other social phenomenon enable the students to grasp the changes in the patterns of customs, traditions, rituals, etc., from one society or community to the other.
Q. What is the difference between sociology and social anthropology?
A. Sociology and Social Anthropology both form part of social science. There is not much of a difference between both because they both are interrelated to each other. However, sociology relates to social interactions between individuals and groups while social anthropology deals with the study of culture and how culture shapes the group or identity of an individual.
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Oct 16, 2025
Student Forum
Answered a month ago
If you're preparing for the CUET Sociology exam, first understand the basics of the subject. An NCERT book of Class 12 will help you do that.
- You can also apply the strategic study approach, where you'll create a study schedule, focus on the important topics, and then establish a connection between
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a month ago
For BA Sociology, choose the Sociology subject in the domain-specific section. I would personally suggest you consider adding two more subjects, like History, Political Science, Psychology, etc. Also, don't forget to check the specific subject requirements of the university you're aiming for.
R
Contributor-Level 8
Answered a month ago
Here are some top Sociology colleges offering great placement options in India:
Top Sociology Colleges | Average Package Offered |
---|---|
top0 Hanumanbax Surajmall Kanoi College Placements | INR 38.2 LPA |
University of Mumbai [MU] Placements | INR 18 LPA |
University of Mumbai Placements | INR 6 - 18 LPA |
Shiv Nadar University (SNU) Placements | INR 17.9 LPA |
Delhi University (DU) Placements | INR 16 LPA |
Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.
G
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a month ago
Here are some popular Sociology course options in India:
Sociology Courses | Description |
---|---|
Diploma in Sociology | A Diploma in Sociology is a course that can be pursued by candidates after completing Class 12. On completion, the candidate will receive a certificate of completion and not a degree. |
BA Sociology | A BA in Sociology is an undergraduate-level course where a student studies the fundamental concepts related to social structure, societal issues, and related subjects. |
MA Sociology | MA Sociology is a postgraduate-level program. This course involves the comprehensive and extensive study of social stratification. Indian society and social problems. Graduates can pursue this course. |
PG Diploma in Sociology | A PG Diploma in Sociology can be pursued after a postgraduate degree. Many candidates prefer to pursue a PG Diploma over an MPhil course. |
PhD in Sociology | A PhD in Sociology is the highest qualification that one can acquire in the field. This course can be pursued by master's degree holders and those who have completed a four-year bachelor's degree as per the latest UGC guidelines. |
Note: The information is sourced from external sites and may vary.
S
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a month ago
Here are some prestigious humanities scholarships you can see below:
Name of Scholarship | Issuing Body |
---|---|
Note: The information is sourced from external sites and may vary.
M
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 months ago
Of course, around 20 universities in different countries offer Diploma in Criminology programs:
Diploma in Criminology Colleges Abroad | Tuition Fee |
---|---|
The University of Sydney | INR 12 Lakh |
Cardiff University | INR 20 Lakh |
University of Canterbury | INR 16 Lakh |
Western Sydney University | INR 16 Lakh |
Maynooth University | INR 15 Lakh |
Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.
N
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 months ago
Here are some top MA in Criminology college options abroad:
MA in Criminology college abroad | Tuition Fee |
---|---|
University of Oxford | INR 38 Lakh |
University of Toronto | INR 20 Lakh |
The University of Melbourne | INR 25 Lakh |
The University of Sydney | INR 28 - 29 Lakh |
Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.
A
Contributor-Level 9
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